A Court of Silver Flames is the fifth book in the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. Picking up several months after A Court of Frost and Starlight and a year after the War against the King of Hybern in A Court of Wings and Ruin, stubborn and proud Nesta deals with the horrors of war by pushing away her loved ones and drowning herself in self-destructive habits. She resents being Made into a High Fae, feeling like an outsider in a world she never wanted to join, and refuses to adapt to life in the Night Court. Forced into training with Cassian, a battle-hardened Illyrian warrior, she must confront the wounds of her past and break the walls she has built around herself. As tensions spark between them, their tumultuous journey is threatened by a looming danger from their past. Amidst the shadows of war and guilt, Nesta finds healing through empowering others and builds friendships in unexpected places.
This guide offers an in-depth look at the characters in ACOSF. For a deeper exploration of the world, please visit the Ultimate ACOSF World Guide.
NOTE: Major spoilers ahead for earlier installments and minor spoilers ahead for the current book.
Table of Contents
Who are the main characters in ACOSF?

Nesta Archeron
Nesta is the eldest Archeron sister, she is proud, stubborn, and angry. Still reeling from the death of her father and the War with Hybern, Nesta puts herself into a self-imposed exile, spurning any help from her family and spending all her time at bars. She refuses to move on with her new life as a High Fae in the Night Court.

Gwyneth (Gwyn) Berdara
Gwyn is a mixed-race Fae, who was born at the Sangravah temple to a Courtless mother. She later became a priestess but her temple was attacked by Hybern. She had a twin sister named Catrin, who did not survive the attack. Gwyn carries the scars of the War that nearly broke her in both body and mind, and tries to heal at the Library of Velaris.

Emerie
Emerie is an Illyrian from the Windhaven Camp, her mother died when she was a child and her father later clipped her wings. She misses flying and the sense of freedom it gave her. Her father recently died in the War, leaving her the family clothing shop and as she tries to manage it independently, she faces much opposition from her Illyrian relatives.
Who is in the Night Court Inner Circle in ACOSF?

Feyre Archeron
Feyre Archeron is the High Lady of the Night Court and the first High Lady in all of Prythian. She use to be mortal but lost her life defeating Amarantha. In gratitude, each of the 7 High Lords of Prythian bestowed upon her a drop of their magic, thereby resurrecting her as a High Fae. She is focused on rebuilding Velaris and establishing her life with Rhysand, while also encouraging Nesta to seek help.

Amren
Amren is an ancient and otherworldly being, and acts as Rhysand’s Second-in-Command in the Night Court. She is capable of immense and unearthly power as was displayed in the War against Hybern. She is a newly resurrected High Fae and must adjust to her new body, namely remembering to eat solid foods. She continues to balance her friendships with her duties to the realm.

Morrigan (Mor)
Mor is a High Fae and Rhysand’s cousin, she is also Third-in-Command of the Night Court. She is known for her confidence, battle prowess, and the power of Truth. Though her family once ruled the Night Court, they now reside in the Hewn City, and she remains estranged from them. Engrossed in diplomatic efforts, Mor spends much of her time between the various courts keeping abreast of any news.

Cassian
Cassian is an Illyrian bastard who had a difficult life as an orphan. Through pure grit and determination, he became a powerful warrior and later the Commander of the Night Court armies. At his full power, he wears 7 red siphons. He is often bold and brash, but fiercely loyal to Rhysand and Azriel. Tasked with training Nesta, Cassian becomes both a nuisance and her biggest supporter.

Azriel
Azriel is an Illyrian bastard who had a cruel upbringing with his father and step-mother. He is also a Shadowsinger, a rare breed of Fae that is able to manipulate shadows, a skill which helped him become Rhysand’s Spymaster. At his full power, he wears 7 cobalt siphons. He is often quiet and reserved in his mannerisms. Azriel continues monitoring the growing threat from the Mortal Queens and Koschei.

Rhysand
Rhysand is the half-Fae, half-Illyrian High Lord of the Night Court. He is a charismatic and powerful leader with the ability to mist or pulverize objects into a fine powder. He is also a Daemati, any Fae that are blessed by the Mother with the exceptional rare abilities to read and control the minds of others to various degrees. Frustrated with Nesta's attitude, he gives her an ultimatum to change her life or be exiled from his court.
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Elain Archeron
Elain is the middle Archeron sister, she is gentle and kind. Although she is the middle child, she is often protected by her sisters. Elain was Made into a Seer by the Cauldron and is slowly adjusting to life in the Night Court. Tired of Nesta's prickliness, Elain tries to be the peacemaker but is often dismissed. Instead, she spends much of her time helping the citizens of Velaris rebuild their gardens.
Who is in the Night Court Court of Dreams in ACOSF?

Madja
Madja is a High Fae healer in Velaris, she is Rhysand’s favorite healer and often attends to the Night Court Inner Circle’s wounds and ailments.

The Blacksmith
The local Blacksmith works in a smithy on the outskirts of Velaris and creates weapons for the Night Court.

Rita
Rita is a friendly Fae who lives in Velaris, she owns a popular bar that is frequently visited by the Night Court Inner Circle.
Who are the Illyrians in ACOSF?

Proteus
Proteus was a wealthy Illyrian merchant who owned a clothing shop in the Windhaven Camp. He was Emerie’s father and was abusive towards her and her mother growing up. He died in the War against the King of Hybern.

Bellius
Bellius is a young, hot-headed Illyrian warrior with misogynistic beliefs. He is also Emerie's cousin.

Kallon
Kallon is an Illyrian warrior from the Ironcrest Camp, he is arrogant and insolent, often deliberately causing trouble.

Lord Devlon
Lord Devlon is an Illyrian war-lord who rules the Windhaven Camp. Although he is considered to be one of the more fair war-lords, he holds many superstitions against Illyrian women taking up arms.

Balthazar
Balthazar is a young and kind Illyrian, who unlike most of his peers, does not harbor misogynistic views.

Enalius
Enalius was a warrior-god amongst the Illyrians. He died defending Mount Ramiel from ancient enemies, and the annual Blood Rite is performed in his memorial.

Rhysand's Mother
Rhysand's Mother was originally a seamstress in a war-camp, until she was discovered to be the Mate of the then High Lord of the Night Court. She made sure Rhysand was educated in both the Fae and Illyrian cultures and became a surrogate mother to Cassian and Azriel. She was killed by Tamlin’s father in an ongoing court feud.

Rhysand's Sister
Rhysand's Sister was half-Fae and half-Illyrian just like her brother. Rhysand does not speak often about her but remembers she loved visiting the artists’ quarter in Velaris. She was murdered alongside her mother by Tamlin’s father in an ongoing court feud.

War-Bands
War-Bands are the specialized cavalry and social units of the Illyrians, made up of young men trained to become fierce and disciplined warriors. However, with that much testosterone, they are prone to much in-fighting.

Azriel's Mother
Little is known about Azriel’s Mother, other than she bore Azriel out of wedlock to an already married Illyrian Lord and likely faced much stigma.

Cassian's Mother
Cassian's Mother was an Illyrian war-camp laundress, who bore Cassian out of wedlock to an Illyrian warrior, she couldn’t or wouldn’t remember.

Emerie's Mother
Emerie's Mother was an Illyrian woman from the Windhaven Camp, she was married to Proteus and together they had a son before having Emerie. She was often beaten by Proteus and did her best to shield Emerie from the abuse.
Who are the priestesses in ACOSF?

Clotho
Clotho is a high priestess who works at the library in Velaris, she helps manage the other priestesses and acolytes. She is mute and her hands are injured and permanently disfigured from an earlier attack.

Lorelei
Lorelei is a quiet priestess.

Merrill
Merrill is Clotho’s assistant, she can be quite demanding and overbearing at times. She is descended from Rabath, Lord of the Western Wind, and as a result can command the wind.

Roslin
Roslin is a talkative priestess who has stayed within the library for 60 years.

Deirdre
Deirdre is a priestess who enjoys working in the solitude of the library.

Ananke
Ananke is a shy priestess who prefers spending her time in silent prayer.

Ilana
Ilana is a quiet priestess with a small crush on Azriel.

Riven
Riven is a particularly quiet and shy priestess who arrived at the library 80 years ago.

Hana
Hana is a priestess who enjoys playing the lute during religious services.
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Catrin Berdara
Catrin Berdara was Gwyneth Berdara’s twin sister and was a priestess at the Sangravah temple before it was sacked by the King of Hybern. Gwyn remarks that her twin had always been the strong one.
Who are the mortals in ACOSF?

Mr. Archeron
The Archeron sisters' father was once a wealthy merchant, but he lost everything after a failed venture. His leg was crippled by his creditors, while his spirit was broken by his misfortunes. He brought much needed military forces to the War against Hybern at the very last moment and redeemed himself in his daughters’ eyes.

Mrs. Archeron
The Archeron sisters' mother died of typhus when the sisters were still young. She was strict and domineering and favored Nesta over the other daughters because of her promising marriage prospects. Nesta was also the daughter that most closely resembled their mother.

Cousin Urstin
Urstin is a distant cousin to Mrs. Archeron, but she lives on the Continent and either did not receive Nesta's letters for help or ignored them.

Tomas Mandray
Tomas Mandray was the son of a poor woodcutter in Feyre’s Village, he use to fool around with Nesta and was going to ask for her hand in marriage, but she rejected him and had to fight off his advances.

Lord Graysen
Lord Graysen was the son of a wealthy lord, Graysen and his family despised the High Fae and built extensive fortifications around their estates. He was engaged to Elain Archeron but he called off the engagement when she became High Fae.

Heiress
There was once an unnamed heiress at a ball who was mean to Elain, and in retribution Nesta made sure to steal the heiress' intended target at the ball.
Who is in the Spring Court in ACOSF?
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Tamlin
Tamlin is the High Lord of the Spring Court, he is able to shape shift into any form he desires and is also able to shape shift others. He is a powerful but tormented High Fae. Tamlin spends most of his days in his beast form and wallows in despair as his court slides further into decay and abandonment.
Who is in the Summer Court in ACOSF?

Tarquin
Tarquin is the High Lord of the Summer Court, he is also the youngest High Lord and although he lacks experience, he is very kind. He is able to control water as well as winnow, the ability to transport oneself instantaneously.

Cresseida
Cresseida is a High Fae and Princess of Adriata, she is cousin to Tarquin and older sister to Varian. She is friendly and flirty and has the ability to create glamours and illusions.

Varian
Varian is a High Fae and Prince of Adriata, he is cousin to Tarquin and captain of Tarquin's guards. He harbors feelings for Amren and is Cresseida’s younger brother.
Who is in the Autumn Court in ACOSF?

Beron Vanserra
Beron Vanserra is the High Lord of the Autumn Court, he is noted for his cruelty, maliciousness, and greed. He is able to control fire as well as winnow. He is Lucien’s father.

Lady of the Autumn Court
Wife to High Lord Beron, she is Lucien’s mother and has always lived under the oppression of her husband. Like many of the Autumn Court, she is able to control fire. She has 7 sons.

Eris Vanserra
Eris Vanserra is the eldest son of High Lord Beron and is also Lucien’s eldest brother. He often comes across as cocky and arrogant as the heir apparent to the Autumn Court.
Who is in the Dawn Court in ACOSF?

Thesan
Thesan is the High Lord of the Dawn Court, he has exceptional healing abilities and is also able to winnow. He is said to glow the brightest amongst all the High Lords and has a calming personality.

The Peregryns
The Peregryns are a race of winged fae that live in the Dawn Court and make up Thesan’s aerial army. Like their namesake, they have colorful feathered wings that come in a range of colors and patterns from browns and whites to gold and black.

Captain of the Peregryns
The Captain of the Peregryn aerial legion is a formidable warrior and also Thesan’s lover.
Who is in the Winter Court in ACOSF?

Kallias
Kallias is the High Lord of the Winter Court, he is able to manipulate ice and also winnow. He is cautious and reserved in his behavior and has a habit of wearing fur even in the warmer courts.
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Viviane
Viviane is Lady of the Winter Court and Kallias’ mate. She is noted for her warmth and kindness. She is old friends with Mor and is not afraid to speak her mind.
Who is in the Day Court in ACOSF?

Helion
Helion is the High Lord of the Day Court, he is incredibly powerful with multiple skills, from air and light manipulation to shape-shifting and winnowing, but he is most noted for his ability to detect and break spells, giving him the moniker ‘Spell-Cleaver.’ While he puts on a serious front, he is good-natured and flirtatious.

The Pegasus
The Pegasus are a breed of winged horses that are able to fly, they are incredibly rare. High Lord Helion use to have a large herd, but many of them were slaughtered by Amarantha, leaving him with only 7 breeding pairs.

Meallan
Meallan is High Lord Helion’s most cherished Pegasus and his trusty steed.
Who is in the Night Court Court of Nightmares in ACOSF?

Keir
Keir is the Steward of the Hewn City also known as the Court of Nightmares. He is Mor’s father and has a strained relationship with her, she remembers him as a mean and hateful person.

Mor's Mother
Mor's mother resides in the Hewn City alongside Keir, she is estranged from her daughter and views her as a disappointment. Mor does not like speaking about her.

The Darkbringers
The Darkbringers are a legion of elite warriors from the Court of Nightmares. They are highly trained but often left underutilized.
Who is in the Band of Exiles in ACOSF?

Vassa
Vassa is the mortal Queen of Scythia, who was sold by the other Mortal Queens to Koschei. He enchanted her to turn into a firebird by day and human by night, she is also bound to his lake. He granted her a reprieve to join the War. She currently resides with Lucien and Jurian in the Mortal Lands and seeks to break her curse.

Jurian
Jurian is a legendary human general from the Human Fae War, who helped free the humans from Fae enslavement. He incurred Amarantha’s everlasting wrath for murdering her sister, and as punishment she tortured him and bound his soul and eye to a ring for eternity. The King of Hybern used the Cauldron to resurrect him into a new human body. He found companionship with Lucien and Vassa.

Lucien Vanserra
Lucien Vanserra is the youngest High Fae lordling of the Autumn Court, he has 6 older brothers and is uninterested in royal titles. He fled his court and found refuge in the Spring Court as Tamlin’s emissary and confidante. He bears no love for his family. With the Spring Court now in tatters and Tamlin refusing his aid, Lucien feels forlorn but finds companionship with Jurian and Vassa.
What magical creatures are in ACOSF?

The Attor
The Attor was a large grotesque, bat-like creature that served as Amarantha’s messenger. It enjoyed tormenting both humans and faeries alike, and was known to be vindictive. Feyre killed it during the attack on Velaris.

The Bogge
The Bogge is a type of lesser faerie that only becomes corporeal once a person lays eyes upon it, otherwise it remains a disembodied voice. It strikes fear into its beholder and no one knows its true form.

Bryaxis
Bryaxis was an amorphous creature of darkness that was imprisoned at the bottom of the library in Velaris. She fed on fear and was able to shape-shift. She is considered an entity of pure terror. Feyre enlisted her help in the war against Hybern, but in the aftermath, Bryaxis escaped.

Seven-Headed Lubia
Seven-Headed Lubia was a terrifying creature that lived at the bottom of the ocean but would occasionally surface to hunt maidens on the western coast of Prythian. Cassian caught it and sent it to the Prison.

The Kelpie
The Kelpie are an ancient species of male fae that live under water and have the ability to shape-shift. They often take on the appearance of horses and try to lure their victims into the water to drown them. They have a never-ending hunger and eat mortals and fae alike.

Blue Annis
Blue Annis was a monster that craved female flesh. She nearly killed Cassian and shredded through his chest, nearly reaching his heart before Azriel arrived. She is locked up in the Prison.

Lightsingers
Lightsingers are charming and ethereal beings that inhabit swamps and act as friendly guides to lost souls, however, their true motives are to drown wanderers simply for fun.

Water Nymphs
Water Nymphs are a species of lesser fae that inhabit the seas and are noted for their beauty.

River Nymphs
River Nymphs are a species of lesser fae that inhabit the waters in the Spring Court, they are lithe and stunningly beautiful with webbed fingers. They do not tolerate crossbreeds within their midst.
Who are the death gods in ACOSF?

The Bone Carver
The Bone Carver was a primordial being able to see parts of the future and was highly sought after for his clairvoyancy skills. He appeared differently to everyone who saw him and traded in knowledge and secrets, often revealing cryptic truths in exchange for intriguing stories or items. He revealed that he was twin brother to Stryga, the Weaver, and that Koschei was their older brother. He died in the War against Hybern.

The Weaver, Stryga
The Weaver was an ancient crone who wove on her loom in a secluded cottage. She appeared old and frail with milky blind eyes but ate those who trespassed into her cottage and fortified her home with the bones, fat, and hair of her victims. She was one of the most formidable creatures in Prythian. She was twin sister to the Bone Carver and Koschei was their older brother. She also died in the War against Hybern.

Lanthys
Although not an otherworldly god, Lanthys is a powerful and ancient death-lord of Prythian, he is immortal and rode in the Wild Hunt, a period of terror and conquest led by the Daglan. He is said to have fathered the Bogge and often appears as a mist. He is sadistic and currently trapped in the Prison.
Who are the holy figures in ACOSF?

The Cauldron
The Cauldron is an ancient and powerful artifact that is semi-sentient and believed to be the source of all life and magic in Prythian. It has immense power to create and destroy, as well as transform objects and beings into more powerful versions of themselves. These afflicted items and persons are then referred to as Made, and are imbued with great magical abilities.
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The Mother
The primordial Mother and main deity, she unleashed the mysterious contents of the Cauldron by tipping it over and thereby created Prythian and the known world. She is a mythical and omnipotent figure that represents nurture, fate, and life.
Who are the historical figures in ACOSF?

King Fionn
King Fionn was an ancient Fae hero who overthrew the Daglan and then became the first High King of Prythian.

The Daglan
The Daglan were an ancient species of quasi-gods and monsters that ruled Prythian eons ago.

Oleanna
Oleanna was the High Priestess who gave Fionn the Cauldron-dipped sword, Gwydion, with which he defeated the Daglan.

Amarantha
Amarantha was originally a military commander in the King of Hybern’s forces, she was sent back to Prythian 100 years ago as an emissary but went rogue and took over Prythian for herself. She enchanted the land and restrained the Fae’s magic for 50 years. Feyre broke Amarantha’s curse and ended her blight.

Nephelle
Nephelle was a Seraphim in Drakon’s legion, but she was born with small, deformed wings so she could not fly with armor or equipment and became a cartographer instead. She became best friends with Miryam.

Clythia
Clythia was Amarantha’s younger sister, she was once a gifted Fae commander in the King of Hybern’s forces. However, she fell in love with Jurian, who used her for information and then killed her when he had no further use for her. Her death was a huge blow to Amarantha.

Miryam
Miryam was a half-Fae, half-human slave from the Black Land on the Continent. The Fae Queen of the Black Land gifted Miryam to a Fae Prince, Drakon, as an engagement gift. However, he was disgusted by the gift and freed Miryam instead.

Drakon
Drakon was a half-Fae, half-Seraphim Prince, he was sympathetic to the humans’ cause and did not believe the High Fae had the right to keep humans as slaves. He later fought alongside Jurian’s human rebellion in the War.

The Seraphim
The Seraphim are a species of winged Fae that follow Prince Drakon. They are fierce aerial warriors with white angel-like wings and are considered to be the counterparts to the Illyrians.
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Tanwyn
Tanwyn was a former Valkyrie, who perished in the War 500 years ago. The Valkyrie were a clan of female warriors that were species agnostic and had members from all different types of faerie races. They were sadly wiped out in the Human Fae War from 500 years ago.
Who are the antagonists in ACOSF?

The King of Hybern
The King of Hybern was an enigmatic and cruel ruler of Hybern, he believed humans were insignificant pests and sought to destroy the Treaty that ended human enslavement in Prythian. He was killed by Elain and Nesta in the recent War.

Briallyn
Briallyn is one of the mortal queens, she is vain and selfish and allied herself with the King of Hybern. Along with the other queens, she sold Vassa to the death lord, Koschei, and murdered Demetra. She was the first queen to enter the Cauldron and although she became a High Fae, the Cauldron stole her youth and beauty. She is now a withered old crone, who seeks vengeance.

Koschei
Koschei is a dark and omnipotent sorcerer, he was bound to a lake on the Continent eons ago by an ancient Fae warrioress. He has been trying to break his bondage but to no avail, and has become known for enchanting and imprisoning women to his lake. No one knows what he does with his prisoners.
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