A Court of Thorns and Roses Ultimate World Guide (ACOTAR Book 1)

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Cover of 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas with a decorated outer border.

A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) is the first book of the eponymous ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. A spellbinding story of romance and fantasy, it is loosely based on the Beauty and the Beast. Set in the world of Prythian, where humans and faeries exist in a fragile balance, one girl becomes inexplicably entangled in the world of the Fae. Feyre Archeron, a mere human girl who hunts to provide for her family, is thrust into the treacherous realm of the High Fae after accidentally killing a disguised Fae. As punishment, she is imprisoned in the manor of the beastly Lord Tamlin, where she soon discovers a world of deadly beauty, ancient magic, and courtly intrigue. But beneath the glamour of the Fae realm, all is not well. A magical blight lays upon the land and Feyre may be the key to saving Prythian.

This guide offers an in-depth look at the world of Prythian. For a deeper exploration of the characters, please visit the Ultimate ACOTAR Character Guide. 

NOTE: This page contains minor spoilers.

Table of Contents

A black and white map of Prythian from A Court of Thorns and Roses created by Sarah J. Maas.
Map of Prythian from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas. All rights belong to the original creators.

The ACOTAR series takes place in Prythian, a continent divided into 7 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 one’s jurisdiction and which acts as a neutral meeting place for all the different courts. The Middle also divides the northern Solar Courts from the southern Seasonal Courts. At the bottom of Prythian lies a giant wall that separates the Fae lands from the Mortal Lands, a designated territory for mortals that keeps them safe from the Fae. Beyond Prythian’s western shores lies the continent of Hybern, a militaristic Fae kingdom steeped in old magic and under the rule of King Hybern, who seeks to once again enslave all mortals. To the east lies the Continent, a large mass of land ruled by the Mortal Queens and similarly divided with a wall to separate the Fae from the humans.

  • 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.

Feyre’s village is a poor human settlement where harsh winters and scarce resources make life difficult. She and her family live in a small, weatherworn cottage on the edge of the village, where the three sisters share a single cramped room. Behind their cottage, Elain tends a small garden of wildflowers, offering a rare reprieve from the grayness of their lives. Nearby, a vast forest stretches northward toward the Wall, which separates the Human and Fae lands of Prythian. Most villagers avoid the forest for fear of encountering errant Fae, but Feyre often ventures into the woods to hunt. She brings her game to the village market to barter or sell, doing whatever she can to help provide for her family.

Fan art of Feyre’s village from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass. A poor dilapidated village in winter.

Feyre's Village

Fan art of Feyre's winter forest with a wolf in the middle from the series A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Village Forest

Fan art of Feyre's village market from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A small medieval market in wintertime with poor peasants selling merchandise.

The Village Market

Fan art of Feyre Archeron's cottage in winter from the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. A poor ram shackled, stone cottage surrounded by snow.

Feyre's Cottage

Fan art of Feyre’s room in her cottage with her painted dresser from the ACOTAR novels by Sarah J. Maas. The dresser has flames, flowers, and stars.

The Archeron Sisters' Room

Fan art of Elain’s garden of wildflowers at her village cottage from the ACOTAR books. Red, blue, and pink flowers around a stone shack.

Elain's Garden

The Spring Court is one of the seven High Fae courts of Prythian, ruled by High Lord Tamlin. Separated from the mortal lands by a massive ancient wall, 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 court lies a pool of starlight, rumored to give anyone who drinks from its waters happiness until their final breath. Farther north lies the Middle, a neutral region that does not belong to any of the seven courts and is home to one of Prythian’s three sacred mountains, making the region an important and revered part of the Fae lands.

Fan art of the Spring Court with beautiful meadows, magenta flowers, and a peaceful lake from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Spring Court

Fan art of Tamlin's Manor, a Spanish style manor covered in vines and pink and red flowers from the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas.

Tamlin's Manor

Fan art of the library in the Spring Court from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. An opulent library with wooden walls and a chandelier.

The Library

Fan art of Feyre's bedroom in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR series. A beautiful paradise room with orchids and flowers and streaming sunlight.

Feyre's Bedroom

Fanart of Feyre's bathroom in Tamlin’s manor in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR series. A pristine bathtub in a Moroccan style bathroom with flowers.

Feyre's Bathroom

Fan art of a rose garden in Tamlin’s manor in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. A series of luscious hedges with red roses.

The Garden

Fan art of a hallway in Tamlin’s manor in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR series. A luxurious wooden hallway with pink and purple flowers and vines.

The Hallways

Fan art of the art gallery in Tamlin’s manor in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR books. A beautiful gallery with paintings and flowers on the walls.

The Art Gallery

Fan art of a mossy stone bridge over a lake in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR books. A single white goose floats in the lake.

The Lake Bridge

Fan art of the Pool of Starlight in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR novels by Sarah J. Maas. A mystical pond in a forest with a starry blue sky.

The Pool of Starlight

Fan art of the sacred mountain from ACOTAR. A majestic mountain with snow at the top and green forests at the bottom. Golden clouds swirl in the sky.

The Sacred Mountain

Fan art of the Wall in Prythian from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A giant and tall stone wall made of boulders to one side of a large grassy field.

The Wall

Under the Mountain is an oppressive, subterranean stronghold beneath the Sacred Mountain in the Middle of Prythian, where Amarantha has established her twisted imitation of a Fae court. It is a place of darkness and suffocation, a realm of stone, shadow, and fear. At its heart is a mock court where the Fae are bound for Amarantha’s entertainment, while winding hallways, chambers, tunnels, and ancient caverns stretch throughout the mountain. Despite its grandeur, everything from Under the Mountain feels cold and threatening, with Amarantha’s presence hanging over the entire court.

Fan art of the entrance to Under the Mountain from the ACOTAR books. A massive stone gate carved into a dark mountain base.

Entrance Gates

Fanart of an underground foyer to enter Under the Mountain from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Huge pillars carved into a dark cavern.

The Foyer

Fanart of a hallway Under the Mountain from the A Court of Thorns and Roses novels by Sarah J. Maas. A long and dark cavern hallway lit by flames.

The Hallways

Fanart of the prison Under the Mountain from the A Court of Thorns and Roses books by Sarah J. Maas. A dark iron wrought gate in a stone wall.

The Prison

Fanart of a courtyard Under the Mountain from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A polished black marble circular courtyard carved into an underground cave.

The Courtyard

Fan art of a chamber Under the Mountain from the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas. A simple black vanity set and an ornate mirror.

The Chamber

Fanart of the Fae Court from Under the Mountain in ACOTAR. A crowd of fae dressed in finery and meandering in a dark stone ballroom.

The Fae Court

Fan art of a staircase Under the Mountain from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. A series of stairs inside a damp cave with a green tint.

The Staircases

Fan art of the Midgard Wyrm's tunnel Under the Mountain from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A cavernous hole with mossy overgrowth on the walls.

The Tunnels

Fanart of a luxurious black marble bathing chamber Under the Mountain from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Bathing Chamber

Fan art of Amarantha's throne Under the Mountain from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A glooming throne atop a dais in a cavern with a blue green tint.

Amarantha's Throne

Fanart of an opulent dance floor in a cave with green lighting from Under the Mountain in ACOTAR.

The Ballroom

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