Summary

For as much merriment as theA Court of Thorns and Rosesseries is , I ’m sad to say it has a major stakes problem that ’s really confine the serial back . The ACOTAR books have been huge in every sense of the give-and-take , even get aCourt of Thorns and RosesTV showadaptation ( that may or may not be happening now ) . They ’ve blown up on BookTok for their spicy scenes and grownup porno , but also for the memorableCourt of Thorns and Rosescharactersand drive - or - perish friendships . Those parts , I love .

But something has been nagging at me , and the more book there are , the more it ’s becoming real problem : I’m just not invested in what bechance to the graphic symbol . By that , I do n’t mean that I do n’t care what happens to them , but that I do n’t have any substantial emotions making me fear for their futurity , wonder what might happen to them , or worry thing might not work out . I already know they will , because theACOTARbooks have no serious stakes and consequences .

The ACOTAR series has seriously underutilized some enchanting characters , but a fan theory sets up the pure arc for one badly emaciate character .

A collage of Feyre Archeron and the cover of A Court of Thorns and Roses

A Court Of Thorns & Roses Struggles To Kill Off Major Characters

The Way Death Works Is Inconsistent At Best

I realize it ’s fiction , and in fabrication , the author can do whatever they want . Even so , Sarah J. Maas ' series really struggles with kill off major quality . In fact , it struggles with killing off ally fictitious character at all . She surely has no trouble killing off remorseless antagonists like Amarantha and the King of Hybern , whose deaths have been swift , merciless , and permanent . When it amount to any type ally , however tenuously , with Team Night Court , however , it ’s a unlike story .

For its strengths , theCourt of Thorns and Rosesseries handles death in a really uneven path . Sometimes it ’s used as a convenient manner to get disembarrass of a persona who is the equivalent of an excess puzzle piece , such as the quick and unceremonious death ofFeyre ’s father , Mr. Archeron , an already strange storylinewith an even strange and abrupt oddment . Other characters who absolutely should have been numb due to their injuries , even with Fae strength and thaumaturgy , bounce back with almost no problem . Or they are technically dead , but preserved and subsequently resurrected , like Jurian . Yet other theatrical role who are described as reality - warp idol , like the Bone Carver , die so easily that it ’s almost laughable . It is , shall we say , discrepant at well .

Book Title

ACOTAR books and a book with a 6 on it

Release Year

A Court of Thorns & Roses

2015

Cassian in Andor Season 2

A Court of Mist & Fury

2016

A Court of Wings & Ruin

A custom image of the covers of ACOTAR books with caution signs

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

2017

A Court of Frost & Starlight

2018

An image of Feyre from the cover of A Court of Frost and Starlight and ACOTAR book covers

Custom Image by Simone Ashmoore

A Court of Silver Flames

2021

A Court of ? ? ?

A Court of Thornes and Roses temp book-tv poster

Based on theA Court of Thorns and Rosesfantasy novel series, A Court of Thorns and Roses is a television adaptation that follows Feyre Archeron, a young woman dragged into the world of faeries after slaying one of their kind. The series will follow her journey through the lands of Prythian and her relationship with one of its lords, Tamlin.

TBA

ACOTAR’s Lack Of Consequences Highlights A Major Stakes Problem

It’s Hard To Feel Genuine Emotional Investment When There’s No Real Danger To Any Character

Of course , deciding to kill off a major lineament is always a peril , for multiple reason . For starters , intact storylines may finish with their last and the whole narrative loses impulse and collapse . Or there ’s the peril of proofreader being incensed or heartbroken to a point they put the Koran series down and never pick it up , or harass the author – let ’s be honest , we’ve hear way too much of that from fandoms online thanks to social media . It may also just be the incorrect call and come across like a cheap deception pulled for shock value .

That say , while every author clamber to polish off their darlings , to be frank , I’m getting a small tired of the unrealistic plot armor ofACOTAR ’s major characters . There just really are n’t many stake . You bonk the couples will be together and mated in the end , so there really are n’t any surprise with the romances beyond the prediction of when they ’ll at last get together . That much is hunky-dory – after all , we would n’t take love affair if the fictitious character rarely got a happily - ever - after . I be intimate seeing the persona finally acknowledge their feel and cement their shackle .

The stake at this point should experience Brobdingnagian ; proofreader should be really concern their favored characters may not make it out awake .

The trouble , though , is thatthere are n’t any reliable stakes anywhere else , either . Prythian is a world that has constantly been in some land of war or business for hundred , and is preparing for another war . The bet at this point should sense immense ; readers should be really worried their favorite characters may not make it out alive . ConsideringACOTAR ’s story , where even characters who were " killed " have been brought back to life , however , that ’s just not the shell . It ’s intemperate for me to imagine any of the main quality being in any real peril . They have too much plot armor protect them . At best , a venial fend for theatrical role might be kill off , which would be far less impactful and far less bold .

How The Next Court Of Thorns & Roses Book Can Fix The Series' Stakes Issue

The Next Book Has To Make The Background Of War Mean Something

This is whyI’m hoping that the nextACOTARbook fix the stakes job – or rather , the deficiency of stakes problem . It ’s not that I am die to see reference kill off . I ’d be heartbroken to see any of the main fictitious character give-up the ghost in the kind of way there ’s no get along back from . But , to me , it feels necessary at this full stop . You ca n’t have a giant state of war , especially with magical , near - all-powerful powerful existence , without someone choke , not if you want the level to really matter . Otherwise , it ’s just roleplay , a meaningless background between sex scenes and unspoken feelings .

You ca n’t have a elephantine war , peculiarly with magical , penny-pinching - omnipotent knock-down beings , without someone dying , not if you desire the floor to really matter . Otherwise , it ’s just playacting , a meaningless backdrop between sex scenes and unverbalized impression .

That will be especially crucial in the next account book in theA Court of Thorns and Rosesseries , whereMaas has the chance to elevate theACOTARseries from a play , frothy read to something really great . The narrative has establish up the brewing war against the human world-beater to be potentially even bigger , long , and more devastating than the war against Hybern , which was over astonishingly promptly . There ’s simply no means all the characters make it out alive , and they should n’t . War ca n’t be treated lightly ; there have to be serious consequences . Otherwise , it degrade the entire story . If Maas is a fresh writer – and I trust she is – she ’ll have the guts to finally write meaningful , lasting stakes into the next book .

Based on theA Court of Thorns and Rosesfantasy fresh serial publication , A Court of Thorns and Roses is a television adaptation that follow Feyre Archeron , a immature woman dragged into the domain of fay after murder one of their variety . The serial will follow her journeying through the lands of Prythian and her relationship with one of its Creator , Tamlin .