A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAF) is the second installment of the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. Taking place three months after the events of A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR), Feyre struggles with the trauma and violence she endured Under the Mountain. While she undergoes a journey of healing, she must also reconcile with her newly granted life as a High Fae, after the High Lords resurrected her from the dead. Amidst all the turmoil, Feyre finds herself trapped in a suffocating engagement to High Lord Tamlin, whose over-protective tendencies become too controlling. However, she finds an unexpected ally and path to freedom at the last moment. As Feyre explores her independence and her newly granted life, she uncovers hidden powers within herself, which she will soon come to rely on, since Prythian is still not safe. Tensions are high in the Fae Lands even after Amarantha’s fall. A second Human and Fae War against the King of Hybern is looming ever closer and no one is sure who is foe and who is friend. As she navigates her new life in Prythian, Feyre must make difficult choices and come to terms with her past, all while finding a new inner circle of friends.
This guide offers an in-depth look at the world of Prythian in ACOMAF. For a deeper exploration of the characters, please visit the Ultimate ACOMAF Character Guide.
NOTE: Major spoilers ahead for the earlier installment and for the current book.
Table of Contents
What is the world in ACOMAF?
The ACOTAR series takes place in Prythian, a continent divided into seven Fae Courts each with its own High Lord, unique landscape, and local culture. At the center of Prythian lies the Middle, an empty territory under no court’s jurisdiction that acts as a neutral meeting place for all the courts. The Middle also divides the northern Solar Courts from the southern Seasonal Courts. The Solar Courts are the Night Court, the Day Court, and the Dawn Court; these courts follow the natural cycle of day and night, and also experience all four seasons. Whereas the Seasonal Courts of the Spring Court, the Summer Court, the Autumn Court, and the Winter Court are eternally immersed in their respective seasons. At the bottom of Prythian lies a giant invisible Wall, an ancient barrier that has separated the Human and Fae lands for 500 years. The Wall was erected as part of a treaty between six mortal queens and the High Fae after a bloody war. This ancient magical barrier stretches from west to east across Prythian and the Continent, decreeing that the Fae are free to roam north of the Wall, while the humans are relegated to the smaller strip of land south of the Wall. Humans cannot see or pass through the Wall, though from certain angles, they may catch glimpses of a faint webbing of light. The Fae, however, can sense the barrier and perceive the small cracks that have formed within it. Beyond Prythian’s western shores lies the domain of Hybern, a militaristic Fae kingdom steeped in old magic and under the rule of the King of Hybern. He seeks to restore the Fae to their position of power as the dominant race in Prythian and to once again, have all mortals enslaved. To the east of Prythian lies the Continent, a large mass of land ruled by a group of Mortal Queens and similarly divided with the Wall to separate the Fae from the humans. Such is the world of Prythian, a realm where mortals and Fae coexist in a delicate and uneasy balance.
- The Spring Court is a land of eternal spring, filled with meadows and lush forests.
- The Summer Court boasts turquoise waters and pristine white sand beaches.
- The Autumn Court is a fiery realm of crisp leaves and red and orange harvest colors.
- The Winter Court is a frozen land of icy white snow and blue frozen lakes.
- The Dawn Court is a place of soft light and healing, nestled high amongst the clouds.
- The Day Court features expansive golden deserts and vast libraries.
- The Night Court is a dark and dangerous mountain territory far to the north.
What does the Spring Court look like in ACOMAF?
The Spring Court is one of the seven High Fae Courts of Prythian, ruled by High Lord Tamlin. Situated directly north of the Wall and the Mortal Lands, it is the closest Fae Court to the humans and consequently sees the greatest degree of interaction between humans and Fae. The court is a land of eternal spring, where lush forests, blooming flowers, and vibrant gardens flourish throughout the year. At its heart stands Tamlin’s luxurious manor, an elegant estate surrounded by sprawling grounds with a large lake and a magnificent rose garden, reflecting the beauty and abundance of the court. The Spring Court appears peaceful and picturesque and in the depth of the court lies a pool of starlight, rumored to give anyone who drinks from its waters happiness until their final breath. Nearby is a small village settlement that was damaged during Amarantha’s reign but has been slowly rebuilding since her defeat. Yet despite all its outwardly beauty, with its green rolling hills and gorgeous landscapes, the Spring Court can be stifling at times, with its rigid traditions and expectations leaving little room for change.

The Spring Court

Tamlin's Manor

The Library

Feyre's Bedroom

Feyre's Bathroom

The Garden

The Hallways

The Art Gallery

The Lake Bridge

The Painting Studio

The Temple

The Village

The Courtyard

The Receiving Room

The Pool of Starlight
What does the Night Court look like in ACOMAF?
The Night Court is one of the seven High Fae Courts of Prythian and under the rule of High Lord Rhysand. It is also one of the three Solar Courts of Prythian, along with the Day and Dawn Courts. In terms of land size, it is the largest out of all the courts, with a vast mountainous territory stretching across the northernmost reaches of Prythian. Although it was long thought to be steeped in darkness and shadow, and home to those with a taste for cruelty and violence, that image is largely false. In truth, the Night Court is divided into two sub-courts: the public-facing Court of Nightmares, centered around the Hewn City, and the hidden Court of Dreams, home to the magnificent city of Velaris. The Night Court has historically camouflaged the Court of Dreams and instead displayed the Court of Nightmares to the outside world and deliberately fostered a fearsome reputation that protected them from outside threats and kept the other courts at bay. However, beneath all the darkness lies a city filled with beauty, art, and a fierce desire to protect itself. The Night Court is often symbolized by a mountain under three shining stars.
The northernmost region of the Night Court is also home to a territory called Illyria, that is comprised of the Illyrian Mountains and the Illyrian Steppes. Despite the harsh and severe climate, it is home to the Illyrians, a powerful race of warrior Fae whose culture is organized around autonomous war-bands that are led by a single war-lord and centered around their young men training to become powerful warriors, with the rest of their families, primarily the women, taking on a more background role. These war-bands can be belligerent at times with much infighting, but during times of war, they all unite beneath the Night Court’s command to form the formidable Illyrian Legion.

The Night Court

The Night Court Sigil

The Illyrian Mountain and Steppes

The Illyrian War Camps
What does the Moonstone Palace look like in ACOMAF?
The Moonstone Palace is the official residence of the High Lord of the Night Court, serving as its formal seat of power and a symbol of the court’s wealth and lethal nature. Perched high atop the same mountain in which the Hewn City is built under, the palace is built from gleaming alabaster moonstone and marble, with open air halls, balconies, and terraces that expose its inhabitants to the brilliant night sky. As Rhysand’s official seat of power, the palace is closed off to the general public; the only person who may reside here is his cousin Mor, who prefers to stay away from her family in the Hewn City. Although the palace is a thing of beauty and magnificence, it exudes an aura of power, standing as a reminder of the High Lord’s authority over the fearsome corners of the Night Court.

The Moonstone Palace

The Balconies

The Dining Room

Feyre's Bedroom

Feyre's Bathroom

The Hallways

The Kitchen

The Veranda

The Lounge

The Library

The Terrace

The Meeting Chamber
What does Rhysand's Town House look like in ACOMAF?
The Town House is Rhysand’s private residence in Velaris, located in the heart of the city and serving as a comfortable retreat for him and his Inner Circle. Though elegant and luxurious, it is designed to feel warm and lived-in rather than overly grand. Rhys has a line of credit established with essentially every shop and establishment in Velaris, allowing the household to obtain whatever they need without concern for cost. It serves as both a home and a place of quiet refuge for the Night Court Inner Circle. There is also a small rooftop garden that provides a spectacular view of Velaris.

Rhysand's Town House

The Foyer

The Dining Room

The Sitting Room

Feyre's Bedroom

Feyre's Bathroom

The Rooftop Garden
What does Velaris look like in ACOMAF?
Unbeknownst to the other courts of Prythian, the Night Court is far more than a realm of darkness and shadows. Their sinister reputation was merely a façade, carefully crafted to conceal its most prized possession. Velaris is the hidden City of Starlight and the heart of the Court of Dreams, one of the two sub-courts of the Night Court. Concealed from public knowledge for the last 5,000 years, the city lies nestled within the far western reaches of the Night Court, its existence known to none beyond its inhabitants, including even those who dwell within the Court of Nightmares. Surrounded by vast, towering mountains and warded against prying eyes to show only barren rocks, Velaris is a breathtaking city of glittering streets, bustling markets, charming shops, restaurants, and cafés. At its heart lies the Rainbow of Velaris, its most treasured quarter and a safe haven for artists, musicians, dancers, and performers of every kind. Unlike the darker corners of the Night Court, Velaris was created as a sanctuary for dreamers and those seeking peace, and its secret has been fiercely protected from the outside world for countless centuries. Today, it is the beloved home of High Lord Rhysand and his Inner Circle and is perhaps the Night Court’s most closely guarded secret.

Velaris

The Sidra River

The Streets

The Restaurants

The Bridges

The Shops

The Bars

The Canals

The Docks

Rita's

Inside Rita's

Amren's Apartment
What does the Rainbow of Velaris look like in ACOMAF?
The Rainbow of Velaris is the most treasured quarter of the city, a brightly painted haven where creativity and self-expression flourish. Perched upon the hills along the banks of the Sidra River, it is home to artists and performers of every kind, from musicians, dancers, and actors to painters, sculptors, potters, and weavers. Its colorful streets are filled with galleries and studios, inviting pedestrians to stop by and visit. More than simply a district devoted to the arts, the Rainbow embodies the freedom and beauty at the heart of Velaris, offering a place where artists can create and share their work without fear.

The Rainbow of Velaris

Dancers in the Rainbow

Musicians in the Rainbow

Woodworking Studios

The Theater in the Rainbow

Performers in the Rainbow

Cafes in the Rainbow

Sculpture Gardens

Jewelry Studios

Pottery Studios

Amphitheaters

Glass Studios
What do the Four Market Squares look like in ACOMAF?
The Four Market Squares of Velaris, known collectively as the Palaces, form some of the city’s busiest commercial spaces. Two lie on the southern side of the Sidra River, the Palace of Thread and Jewels, known for clothing, textiles, supplies, and jewelry, and the Palace of Bone and Salt, where food, produce, livestock, sweets, and spices can be found. Across the river on the northern side are the Palace of Hoof and Leaf, the twin to the Palace of Bone and Salt, and a fourth, unnamed palace.

The Palace of Thread and Jewel

The Palace of Bone and Salt

The Palace of Hoof and Leaf
What does the House of Wind look like in ACOMAF?
The House of Wind is one of High Lord Rhysand’s residences within the Night Court. It is carved directly into the largest of the red mountains overlooking Velaris, with its stone halls and terraces seemingly growing from the mountainside itself. One of the most imposing structures in the Night Court, it serves not only as a residence but also as a place for official business and gatherings of the Night Court. Within are numerous bedrooms and chambers for visiting guests or emissaries. Atop the mountain is a vast training ring open to the sky, while deep beneath the mountain lies an enormous subterranean library tended to by priestesses. Reachable by flight, winnowing, or a daunting climb of ten thousand steps from the city below, the House of Wind stands secluded above Velaris, both a fortress and a home.

The House of Wind

The War Room

The Dining Room
What does the House of Mist look like in ACOMAF?
The House of Mist is a cozy and secluded log cabin tucked deep within the remote mountains of the Night Court, away from any prying eyes. Surrounded by towering peaks, dense forests, and the ever-present mountain mist, the cabin offers a quiet retreat where few would think to look. Belonging to Rhysand and Mor’s family, the house is strictly warded to prevent outsiders from winnowing in, any strangers wishing to enter must first be granted explicit permission. During their youth, Rhysand and Mor were often sent to the House of Mist for periods of solitude and self-reflection. Nowadays, Rhysand primarily uses it as a venue for his annual boys’ weekend getaways with Azriel and Cassian, where they indulge in hunting and snowball fights.

The House o fMist

The Living Room

The Kitchen

Feyre's Room

Feyre's Bathroom

The Backyard
What do the Sacred Temples look like in ACOMAF?
Across Prythian are numerous secluded temples, home to priests and priestesses devoted to their own pantheon of gods and sacred traditions of the land. Often built in remote valleys, hidden forests, or high upon mountainsides, these sanctuaries can be difficult to reach and are deliberately removed from the bustle of the courts. Yet their isolation does not make them unwelcoming. The temples have long served as places of refuge for those with nowhere else to turn, offering food, shelter, and protection to travelers. In particular, orphaned children are often taken in and raised within their walls. Though their quiet halls may appear humble from the outside, many of these temples are far older than the courts themselves, and carefully guard traditions and relics whose origins have been all but forgotten.

Sangravah

Cesere

Itica
What does the Prison look like in ACOMAF?
Built into one of Prythian’s Sacred Mountains and located on a remote island in the Western Isles lies the Prison, an ancient stronghold that contains the most dangerous creatures of Prythian. Surrounded by bitter winds, sheer cliffs, and violent waves, the island is as inhospitable as it is difficult to reach. The Prison is said to predate the High Lords and rumored to be among the oldest places in all of Prythian, its depths holding not only some of the most dangerous and powerful beings ever known, but also some of the oldest, with some having near-legendary status. Powerful wards prevent anyone from winnowing or flying directly to its entrance, forcing visitors to make the arduous journey on foot before reaching its towering gates. Once inside, darkness consumes the mountain, where ancient magic and wards keep its inhabitants confined. Though it falls under the domain of the Night Court, the Prison is regarded as a jurisdiction unto itself, a silent, ancient fortress under its own law and from which only one prisoner has ever escaped.

The Prison Mountain

The Prison Gates

The Prison Interior

The Prison Cells
What does the Summer Court look like in ACOMAF?
The Summer Court is one of the seven High Fae Courts and one of the four Seasonal Courts of Prythian. At its helm is the young High Lord Tarquin, who inherited the court after his cousin, the prior High Lord Nostrus, was killed by Amarantha for staging a rebellion. Amarantha then eliminated much of the Summer Court royal family but a few members survived her purge. Despite its bloody history, the Summer Court has historically been a vibrant and prosperous realm situated along the warm southwestern coast of Prythian, renowned for its glittering turquoise waters, sandy shores, and lush tropical landscapes. Its capital city Adriata is abundant with trade and maritime wealth, and the entire court flourishes beneath long, radiant summers and warm, sunny weather. Its people are known for their love of music, art, celebration, and the pleasures of life, giving the court an atmosphere of warmth and vitality, despite its decades of brutality.

The Summer Court

Adriata

The Summer Court Palace

The Pleasure Barge

Feyre's Bedroom

Feyre's Bathroom

The Dining Room

The Hall of Jewels

The Summer Court Temples
What do the Mortal Lands look like in ACOMAF?
To the south of the Wall lie the Mortal Lands, the domain of humankind, which have remained largely untouched by the magic, conflicts, and politics of the Fae Courts for the last 500 years. Among the most notable estates is the Archeron family estate, a grand country manor gifted to the Archerons by High Lord Tamlin in exchange for taking Feyre away from the mortal realm. Farther south from the Wall lies the estate of Lord Nolan, a powerful mortal lord who harbors a deep hostility toward the Fae and has fortified his lands extensively against the possibility of their return.

The Wall

The Archeron Familiy Estate

Lord Nolan's Estate
What does the Court of Nightmares look like in ACOMAF?
The Court of Nightmares is one of the two sub-courts of the Night Court and is the dark counterpart to Velaris, the Court of Dreams. It is under the stewardship of Keir and his wife, who rule from their subterranean seat in the Hewn City, which was carved eons ago under the same mountain that houses the Moonstone Palace. The Court of Nightmares is the public face of the Night Court, and its inhabitants are ruled by ancient customs and a ruthless hierarchy, with power often enforced through intimidation and cruelty. Many refuse to recognize Rhysand as their High Lord, viewing his Illyrian heritage as inferior to that of the High Fae. Historically, the High Lords of the Night Court have ruled from the Hewn City, until one High Lord broke tradition and built and established a new court in Velaris. This High Lord staged a coup to remove the vilest of the courtiers of the Hewn City and hoped to create a better Night Court in Velaris, but over time both cities developed into their own sub-courts. Rhysand still maintains a residence in the Hewn City for appearances’ sake but his inner court lies in Velaris. Unlike Under the Mountain, the Court of Nightmares is a true underground city with proper streets and avenues that wind their way throughout the mountain. Due to the natural gases that permeate the atmosphere and the lack of sunlight, there is a perpetual green tint in the air. To outsiders, the Court of Nightmares is a place of shadows and savagery, a place to be avoided at all costs.

Entrance to the Court of Nightmares

The Avenues

The Hewn City

The Archways

The Gates to the High Lord's Residence

The High Lord's Residence

The Chambers from the High Lord's Residence

The Throne Room from the High Lord's Residence

The Cityscape

The Promenade

The Temples

The Fountains
What does the Weaver's Cottage in the Middle look like in ACOMAF?
The Middle is a neutral region in the center of Prythian and divides the Solar Courts of the the Night, Day, and Dawn Courts, from the Seasonal Courts of the Winter, Autumn, Summer, and Spring Courts. It is a heavily forested region and home to a Sacred Mountain as well as other mysterious places such as the Weaver’s Cottage. Tucked away from the eyes of both humans and Fae, the cottage is home and prison to the Weaver of the Wood, an ancient and fearsome creature known for fortifying her cottage with the remains of those who cross her path.

The Middle

The Weaver's Cottage

Inside the Weaver's cottage
What did Under the Mountain look like in ACOTAR?
Under the Mountain was an oppressive, subterranean stronghold beneath the Sacred Mountain in the Middle of Prythian, where Amarantha had established her twisted imitation of a Fae Court. It was a place of darkness and suffocation, a realm of stone, shadow, and fear. At its heart was a mock court where the High Fae of Prythian were bound for Amarantha’s entertainment. Feyre ventured into its depths to save Tamlin and had to complete three deadly tasks set by Amarantha. In the end, she defeated Amarantha and freed the High Fae from her clutches, thereby ending her reign and the court Under the Mountain.

The Sacred Mountain

The Entrance Gates

The Foyer

The Prison

The Courtyard

The Chamber

The Prison

The Staircases

The Tunnels

The Hallways

The Bathing Chamber

The Ballroom

Amarantha's Throne
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