Calling all of BookTok. If you don’t know what that means, you should definitely look into it. I promise it will be life-changing.

I’ve done it. I’ve finally read one of the most celebrated book series online – A Court of Thorns and Roses. Now if you look up the publication date of the first book in the series, it dates all the way back to 2015 when I was only 11 years old. When the newest installment of the series came out during quarantine in 2021, A Court of Silver Flames, the reading community took up a sudden interest. I failed to join the bandwagon for almost a year but now, after reading all of the books, I wish I could go back and yell at the past me for waiting so long.

Or maybe it was for the best because now all I can think about is how boring the world is outside of Prynthia, where the story takes place.

For those who don’t know, A Court of Thorns and Roses, written by Sarah J. Mass, is a fantasy series following the tumultuous encounters of one Feyre Archeron, who is a total girl boss, as she navigates through both the human and Fae world. Yes, you heard that right – Fae. You can think of Fae as morally gray fairies, and who doesn’t love a morally gray character, especially when they have dark hair and violet eyes. I’m talking about you, Rhysand.

But that’s getting ahead of myself. While on the surface the ACOTAR series seems light and fluffy, and trust me, there are moments that left me howling, the series navigates through tough topics such as sexual assault, emotional abuse, PTSD and depression. Always be sure to check trigger warnings and age ratings before diving in. Don’t let that scare you away though, the Illyrian babies, who you’ll meet in the second installation, provide enough comedic relief. If you think you know what an Illyrian baby is, you don’t. But trust me, you want to know.

My favorite part of the book by far is Rhysand, who you’ll meet in the first book. If you think I’m crazy for loving that certain High Lord, just wait. I promise you’ll love him too.

Don’t let the size of the books scare you either. 600 plus pages may appear a bit daunting but by the end, you’ll be wishing for more. And the covers are just so pretty to look at.

If you are a romance novel enthusiast like me, don’t be afraid of trying out fantasy. This series might contain one of my favorite love stories of all time. And the fantastical places, people, and creatures, no matter how scary, will blow your mind.

My favorite of the series has to be A Court of Mist and Fury, which is the second installment. Maybe it’s because Rhysand is featured the most in that one. Sue me, I can’t get enough of him. The character development in this one too was just “chef’s kiss”. Even though the characters might not be human, their emotions feel so real that any reader can connect. You really get to explore the supporting characters more in A Court of Wings and Ruin.

That leads us to the friendships. Although romance takes up a significant portion of the plot, I loved how Mass intertwined the budding relationships between characters to show how important friendship is to healing one’s soul.

If all that wasn’t enough to convince you, maybe this will. The series depicts some of the strongest female heroines, plenty of action, mystical elements, and some really attractive guys. Mass does not disappoint for a single second.