A Court of Wings and Ruin Ultimate World Guide (ACOTAR Book 3)

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A Court of Wings and Ruin book cover with Prythian map

A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOWAR) is the third installment in the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. Picking up only weeks after the climatic events of A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAF), Feyre Archeron finds herself forced back to the Spring Court and to High Lord Tamlin’s side. Playing a dangerous game of deception, she plays nice with Tamlin while secretly gathering intelligence on the King of Hybern’s war plans. With the various High Fae Courts preparing for a potential all-out war and raising their own war efforts, Feyre and her allies must navigate treacherous court politics, form fragile alliances, and find allies in unexpected places. Meanwhile, long-buried secrets and shifting loyalties threaten to unravel their collective efforts. With a new cast of characters, ancient legends return and old grudges are repaid. The fate of both the Fae and human worlds hang in the balance and Feyre, once again, will shape the destiny of Prythian as it faces an encroaching second Human and Fae War. This guide offers an in-depth look at the world of Prythian in ACOWAR.

For a deeper exploration of the characters, please visit the Ultimate ACOWAR Character Guide. 

NOTE: Major spoilers ahead for the earlier installment and for the current book.

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 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 hidden gem in a beautiful mountainous region.

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.

 
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 trashed room from the Spring Court, a disheveled bedroom with messy sheets on a bed and vines and plant overgrowth everywhere.

Feyre's Old 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

Fanart of the painting studio in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR novels by Sarah J. Maas. Canvas on an easel surrounded by flowers and pots.

The Painting Studio

Fanart of Ianthe's temple, a classic Greek style temple covered in white flowers and vines, from the ACOTAR novels by Sarah J. Maas.

The Temple

Fanart of the Spring Court village from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. A series of cozy huts and shacks surrounded by magenta flowers.

The Village

Fan art of a garden temple with flowers in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR books by Sarah J. Maas. A gazebo with a copper roof in a lush garden.

The Courtyard

The Great Hall

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

The Autumn Court is one of the seven High Fae Courts and another of the four Seasonal Courts of Prythian. Located near the southeastern side of Prythian, it is a land of fiery forests with golden leaves and crisp autumn air. It is ruled by High Lord Beron Vanserra, the oldest of all the High Lords, and his wife, the Lady of the Autumn Court. The Autumn Court is as ruthless and cutthroat as the bloodline that rules it, mirroring the brutal struggle for power that could unfold among Beron’s five living sons should the question of succession ever arise. The court will be inherited by the strongest of the princelings, not necessarily the eldest. However, at the moment, the eldest prince, Eris, is the named heir.

Sunlight streaming through an autumn forest with vibrant red leaves.

The Autumn Court

A dark and foreboding stone fortress nestled in a fall forest with orange and yellow leaves.

The Forest House

Autumn forest scene with rocky cave entrance and sunlight.

The Cave

The Winter Court is one of the seven High Fae Courts and another of the four Seasonal Courts of Prythian. Located near the center of Prythian, the Winter Court is famed for its snow-covered landscapes, glittering frozen mountains, and large furry beasts. The court is a realm of stark beauty and enduring cold. Its people are study and accustomed to harsh winters, often clad in thick furs. They are fiercely protective of their homeland, which is ruled by High Lord Kallias and his mate Viviane from their magnificent icy palace.

Vast arctic landscape with snowy terrain and cloudy sky

The Winter Court

Fan art of the Winter Court from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas. A stunning blue ice palace with many towers and turrets on top of a snowy peak.

The Ice Palace

Frozen Lake with scenic mountain backdrop in winter

The Frozen Lake

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.

Fan art of the Night Court, a beautiful alpine city surrounded by snowy mountains and a starry sky from the ACOTAR novels by Sarah J. Maas.

The Night Court

Fan art of Mount Ramiel from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas, a snowy mountain peak against a dark blue starry sky with three bright stars at the top.

The Night Court Sigil

Fan art of Illyria, a plain yellow steppe surrounded by snowy mountains and grey clouds from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.

The Illyrian Mountain and Steppes

Fan-art of the Illyrian War Camps, a scattering of bonfires and tents on a meadow under a starry night sky, from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Illyrian War Camps

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. 

Fan art of Rhysand's town house from A Court of Thorns and Roses. An elegant building with purple wisteria vines climbing up the walls.

Rhysand's Town House

Fanart of Rhysand's town house foyer from A Court of Thorns and Roses. An elegant staircase with a red-carpet runner and polished wooden walls.

The Foyer

Fan art of Rhysand's town house dining room from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A long mahogany table with several wooden chairs in an elegant room.

The Dining Room

Fan art of the sitting room from Rhysand's town house from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A stylish black fireplace in a room with rich wooden walls.

The Sitting Room

Fan art of Feyre's room in Rhysand's town house from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A beautiful bed with an ornate curtained canopy and plush armchair.

Feyre's Bedroom

Fan art of Feyre's bathroom in Rhysand's town house from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A luxurious clawfoot bathtub with an ornate vanity set.

Feyre's Bathroom

Fan art of the rooftop garden on top of Rhysand's town house from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A cute small rooftop garden with many flowerbeds.

The Rooftop Garden

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.

Fan art of Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A majestic fantasy city on a river with a crescent moon and a blue milky way in the sky.

Velaris

Fan art of the Sidra River from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A beautiful river that leads to a majestic fantasy city under a blue starry night sky.

The Sidra River

Fan art of a night street in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A bustling city street view with people walking around under a starry blue sky.

The Streets

Fan art of a restaurant in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A fancy restaurant with soft glowing candles on each table and a city view.

The Restaurants

Fan art of a bridge in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. An arched bridge over a river and underneath a sky of a thousand shining stars.

The Bridges

Fan art of a shop in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A beautiful stone storefront with vines of purple flowers growing up the side.

The Shops

Fan art of an outdoor bar in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A stunning patio with pillars, curtains, and a view of snow capped mountains.

The Bars

Fan art of canals in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A beautiful stream flanked on both sides by stone homes with vines and purple flowers.

The Canals

Fan art of docks in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. Gondolas tied up at the edge of a beautiful city with mountains in the distance.

The Docks

Fan art of Rita’s pub in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses, a wooden storefront with golden lettering spelling “RITAS.”

Rita's

Fan art of Rita’s pub in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses, the interior of a cozy pub with sofas, candles, and a rainbow flag on the ceiling.

Inside Rita's

Fan art of Amren's apartment in Velaris. A small attic room with a sloped ceiling, a bed, a fireplace, and a wooden table set.

Amren's Apartment

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.

Enchanting night market with lights and dancing couples in a magical setting

The Rainbow of Velaris

Three fairies with butterfly wings in elegant dresses dancing in a lively street with confetti in the air.

Dancers in the Rainbow

A row of green-skinned orc musicians wearing tuxedos playing cellos in a fantasy-themed concert hall.

Musicians in the Rainbow

Fantasy character carving pumpkin in magical forest setting

Woodworking Studios

An enchanting theater with a sparkling and glittering dome and a beautiful staircase leading to a river walkway.

The Theater in the Rainbow

Two red-scaled humanoid creatures performing atop a stage in a bustling market square.

Performers in the Rainbow

Fantasy characters dining in a lantern-lit village

Cafes in the Rainbow

Two nymphs with green skin and webbed hands walking through a marble sculpture garden with water fountains at sunset.

Sculpture Gardens

A fairy with purple glittering skin and white freckles, antennas, and butterfly wings making a necklace at a work bench.

Jewelry Studios

Blue-skinned people with opalescent scales and long, thin fingers making a clay pot in a ceramics studio.

Pottery Studios

Dramatic coast with stone arch lit by sunset and romantic lights

Amphitheaters

Fantasy craftsman with cat ears creating glass ornaments in candlelit workshop

Glass Studios

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.

Fan-art of the House of Wind, an elegant palace carved into a red stone mountain with a starry night sky in the background from the ACOTAR books.

The House of Wind

Fan-art of the House of Wind War Room, an elegant room with plush chairs and a topographical map and red stone walls from the ACOTAR books.

The War Room

Fan-art of the House of Wind dining room, an elegant room with a long red marble table, plush chairs, and red stone walls from the ACOTAR books.

The Dining Room

Fan art of Lucien's quarters in the House of Wind, a simple room with a bed, a blue round carpet and a large window view of a red mountain range.

Lucien's Quarters

Fanart of a luxurious kitchen in the House of Wind with a granite island and wooden bar stools in a red stone cavern from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Kitchen

Luxurious cave library with ornate desk and chandelier

Rhysand's Private Study

Beneath the House of Wind lies a vast, ancient library carved deep into the red-rock mountain, its winding tunnels and towering shelves holding centuries of Fae knowledge. Quiet priestesses spend their days reading, archiving, and caring for the Night Court’s immense collection of books and scrolls, but the library is far more than a repository of knowledge. For many of the priestesses, it has become a sanctuary, a place where they can live, work, and slowly rebuild their lives away from the outside world after enduring unspeakable trauma. Yet beneath this refuge lies something far more curious. In the library’s deepest reaches lives a creature of nightmares.

Fan art of the library under the House of Wind, a beautiful and vast underground library with shelves carved into a red stone cavern.

The Priestesses' Library

Fan art of the priestess' reading room from the library under the House of Wind, plush armchairs in a red-stone cavern lined with bookshelves.

The Reading Room

Fan art of the priestess' study room from the library under the House of Wind, a desk laden with books and surrounded by chairs in a red rock cavern.

The Study Room

The Dawn Court is one of the seven High Fae Courts of Prythian and another of the four Seasonal Courts. Located north of the Middle, it is a land of brilliant golden skies and stunning sunrises. Its territories are known for their beautiful landscapes and tranquil atmosphere while its people are famed for their inventions, cleverness, and healing magic. It is led by High Lord Thesan, who is also supported by his partner, the Captain of the Peregryns, their aerial legion.

Fan art of the Dawn Court, rolling green meadows dotted with small cottages and beautiful fluffy pink golden clouds in the sky.

The Dawn Court

Fan art of the landing dock to the Dawn Court Palace, a fantasy sunset castle with overgrown flowers on a cliffside with a sunset in the distance.

The Landing Dock

Fan art of the Dawn Court Palace, a beautiful white palace with turrets and golden domes, it sits atop a mountain peak surrounded by golden clouds.

The Dawn Court Palace

Fan art of a balcony door on the Dawn Court Palace, on ornate green door with a small balcony on a white stone palace.

The Balconies

Fan art of a hallway in the Dawn Court Palace, a luxurious hallway with oriental carpeting, purple lavender plants, and upholstered ottomans.

The Hallways

Fan art of a spiral staircase in the Dawn Court Palace, a tall spiral staircase made of white marble, in the background are pink and golden clouds.

The Spiral Staircase

Fan art of a balcony in the Dawn Court Palace, a white marble balcony with a hanging swing set and a view of a sunset with pink clouds.

The Swinging Chairs

Fan art of the meeting chamber in the Dawn Court, a pond with waterlilies surrounded by ornate chairs and pillars with vines of purple flowers.

The Meeting Chamber

Fan art of a veranda in the Dawn Court Palace, a beautiful white stone building with a staircase leading to a platform with potted plants at the edges

The Veranda

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.

Fan art of the mountain the prison is built into from ACOTAR. A dark mountainous island in the middle of a tumultuous ocean with gray storm clouds.

The Prison Mountain

Fan art of the prison gates from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas. Tall pale gates made of bleached bones leading to a dark, cavernous pit.

The Prison Gates

Fan art of inside the prison from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas. Rough hewn steps in a dark cave with indigo blue tinted lighting.

The Prison Interior

Fan art of a prison door within the prison from ACOTAR. A stone door with intricate patterns and motifs carved into it and around it.

The Prison Cells

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.

Fan art of the Summer Court from ACOTAR, a beautiful coastal fantasy city with white pillars and archways and turquoise domed buildings.

The Summer Court

Fan art of Adriata in the Summer Court, a fantasy city with white stone buildings, palms trees, and clear turquoise water.

Adriata

Fan art of the Summer Court palace, a white stone castle atop a mountain and surrounded by a thick wall with seashell motifs.

The Summer Court Palace

Fan art of the Summer Court pleasure barge, a huge wooden ship with blue awnings covering a fancy southeast asian inspired restaurant.

The Pleasure Barge

Fan art of Feyre's bedroom in the Summer Court, a beautiful bed with a huge seashell headboard and a pathway directly to the ocean.

Feyre's Bedroom

Fan art of Feyre's bathroom in the Summer Court, a shallow pool surrounded by seashells and windows looking out to the ocean and covered by curtains.

Feyre's Bathroom

Fan art of the Summer Court dining room, a luxurious ocean-view dining room in a Gothic-style room with elegant white arches and columns.

The Dining Room

Fan art of the Summer Court hall of jewels, an underground chamber filled with treasures, pearls, precious gemstones and a window to the ocean.

The Hall of Jewels

Fan art of a temple in the Summer Court, a small white stone temple at the base of a mountain and partially submerged in the ocean waters.

The Summer Court Temples

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.

A semi-invisible holographic wall of white light in a green forest.

The Wall

Fan art of the Archeron's new estate from ACOTAR, a luxurious manor with white walls, green sloping roofs, and a beautiful garden with purple lilacs.

The Archeron Familiy Estate

Fan art of Lord Nolan's estate from ACOTAR, a heavily fortified stone wall with soldiers on horses at the gate.

Lord Nolan's Estate

Feyre lived in a small, impoverished village after her father lost the family fortune. Tucked away in the far south of Prythian, within the Mortal Lands, the village lay only a short distance from the Wall. On the outskirts stood the family’s weatherworn cottage, where the three sisters shared a single, cramped room. Behind the cottage, Elain once tended a modest garden of wildflowers, offering a rare touch of beauty amid the bleakness of their lives.

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 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 Sister's Room

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.

Fan art of the entrance to the Court of Nightmares, a huge carved gate into the base of a dark mountain flanked by two gray soldiers on each side.

Entrance to the Court of Nightmares

Fan art of an avenue in the Court of Nightmares, a victorian style street with ornate street lamps in a dark cave with green-tinted lighting.

The Avenues

Fan art of the Court of Nightmares from ACOTAR, an eerie subterranean city with many stalagmite-like buildings with green-tinted lights.

The Hewn City

The Archways

Fan art of the High Lord's Castle entrance in the Court of Nightmares, symmetrical black serpent gates covered in green vines with small white flowers

The Gates to the High Lord's Residence

Fan art of the High Lord's Castle in the Court of Nightmares, a black polished stone pathway leading to a dark, gothic castle with several towers.

The High Lord's Residence

Fan art of the Court of Nightmares chamber from A Court of Thorns and Roses, a polished black marble hallway with a crystal chandelier.

The Chambers from the High Lord's Residence

Fan art of the Court of Nightmares throne room, a majestic black marble room with a dark throne and large black pillars with serpentine structures.

The Throne Room from the High Lord's Residence

Fan art of the Court of Nightmares cityscape, an exquisite underground city with bridges, arches, walkways, and green-tinted lighting in a cave.

The Cityscape

Fan art of a promenade from the Court of Nightmares, an underground city with elaborate architecture, walkways and green-tinted lighting.

The Promenade

Fan art of a temple from the Court of Nightmares, a gothic cathedral in a dark cavern with many stalactites and green-tinted lighting.

The Temples

Fan art of a fountain from the Court of Nightmares, a stone water fountain in an underground cavern with green-tinted lighting.

The Fountains

Fan art of the Court of Nightmares council chamber, an obsidian table with black chairs in a luxurious black marble room with serpentine pillars.

The Council Chamber

A tall, ornate, art-nouveau style spiral staircase and handrail in a dark green-tinted room with some ice and snow.

The Winding Staircase

Fan art of the Ouroboros mirror in the Court of Nightmares, a large oval mirror with a snake frame bordering the mirror.

The Mirror Room

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

Fan art of the Weaver's Cottage from ACOTAR, a small dark cottage with glowing windows in the middle of a dense forest.

The Weaver's Cottage

Fan art of the interior of the Weaver's Cottage from ACOTAR, a cluttered hut with drying herbs on the ceiling and wooden stools and tables everywhere.

Inside the Weaver's cottage

Cretea is a hidden magical island in the Erythrian Sea, far to the south of the Continent. It appears as an abandoned island in the middle of the waters with seemingly no inhabitants or wildlife.

Fan art of Cretea from ACOTAR, a remote island with a huge mountain in the center and lush grass covered slopes.

Cretea

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.  

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

The 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 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 Prison

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

The Bathing Chamber

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

The Ballroom

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

Where to buy A Court of Wings and Ruin

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