A Court of Thorns and Roses(A Court of Thorns and Roses #1)
by Sarah J. Maas
🌶️ Quick Spice Verdict
Heat Level
Moderate, building tension
Spicy Scenes
~2 scenes
POV Style
First person (Feyre)
About A Court of Thorns and Roses
When huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying beast arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a magical land, she discovers her captor is not truly a beast but a faerie lord with secrets of his own.
Reading Vibes
🌶️ Spice Level Breakdown
ACOTAR Book 1 is moderate on the spice scale. There are romantic and intimate scenes, but they're not as explicitly detailed as later books in the series. The romance builds slowly with Tamlin, and the physical scenes are present but relatively restrained compared to what's coming in ACOMAF. Think of this as the warm-up — the series gets significantly spicier from book 2 onward.
Tropes in A Court of Thorns and Roses
Characters who start as adversaries and gradually fall in love
Destined partners, often in fantasy settings
A romance that defies social rules or expectations
Romance blended with fantasy world-building
Content Warnings
⚠️ Content Warnings
- Violence
- Captivity
- Abuse themes
- Sexual content
- Manipulation
Should You Read A Court of Thorns and Roses?
✅ Perfect For You If...
- •Readers new to romantasy who want a gateway book
- •Beauty and the Beast retelling fans
- •Those who enjoy slow-building romance in a fantasy setting
- •Readers who want a series that gets progressively spicier
⛔ Skip This If...
- •You want high spice from page one — the heat comes later in the series
- •Captivity romance tropes bother you
- •You prefer standalone novels
- •You dislike fae/fairy court settings
Our Take
A Court of Thorns and Roses is the book that launched a thousand BookTok videos. Sarah J. Maas's Beauty and the Beast retelling set in a lush fae world has become the quintessential gateway into romantasy. Feyre is a compelling protagonist — a survivor who paints beauty into a harsh world. The romance with Tamlin is sweet and builds naturally, though longtime fans will tell you the real magic happens in book 2 with a different love interest. The world-building is rich without being overwhelming, and the trials Feyre faces Under the Mountain create genuine tension. This first book is more fantasy-forward with romance woven in, making it perfect for readers who want plot alongside their love story. Fair warning: once you start this series, you'll likely binge all five books.
What Readers Say
Average community spice rating: 2.7/5
midnight_reader
2024-11-03
“Honestly I'd rate this closer to a 2 on spice. The intimate scenes exist but they're pretty tame compared to what I usually read. The captivity element might bother some readers — Feyre is essentially held against her will for a good portion of the book. But the story is compelling and the fae world is gorgeous. Content warning for violence and manipulation.”
fae_court_fan
2024-08-12
“ACOTAR book 1 is a solid 3 on spice. There are intimate scenes but they're not super explicit. HOWEVER — if you're reading this series, just know that book 2 (ACOMAF) cranks it up to like a 5. This first book is more about the world-building and the Beauty and the Beast retelling. The romance is sweet and builds nicely.”
maas.devotee
2024-07-25
“I always tell people: ACOTAR book 1 is the appetizer, ACOMAF is the main course. The spice here is moderate — there are scenes but they fade a bit compared to later books. The real magic is the world Sarah J. Maas builds. The Under the Mountain sequence is genuinely terrifying. Just keep reading the series, trust me.”
📚 Series Information
A Court of Thorns and Roses is book #1 of 5 in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
Other books in this series:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Court of Thorns and Roses spicy?
Yes, A Court of Thorns and Roses has a spice level of 3/5 on our scale, which we rate as "Spicy (Moderate Scenes)." Explicit intimate scenes, moderately described. ACOTAR Book 1 is moderate on the spice scale. There are romantic and intimate scenes, but they're not as explicitly detailed as later books in the series. The romance builds slowly with Tamlin, and the physical scenes are present but relatively restrained compared to what's coming in ACOMAF. Think of this as the warm-up — the series gets significantly spicier from book 2 onward.
What is the spice level of A Court of Thorns and Roses?
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is rated 3 out of 5 on the SpicyBooks spice scale. This means it's "Spicy (Moderate Scenes)" — explicit intimate scenes, moderately described. The steam level is: Moderate, building tension.
How many spicy scenes are in A Court of Thorns and Roses?
A Court of Thorns and Roses contains approximately 2 intimate/spicy scenes. ACOTAR Book 1 is moderate on the spice scale. There are romantic and intimate scenes, but they're not as explicitly detailed as later books in the series. The romance builds slowly with Tamlin, and the physical scenes are present but relatively restrained compared to what's coming in ACOMAF. Think of this as the warm-up — the series gets significantly spicier from book 2 onward.
What tropes are in A Court of Thorns and Roses?
A Court of Thorns and Roses features the following romance tropes: ⚔️ Enemies to Lovers, ✨ Fated Mates, 🚫 Forbidden Love, 🐉 Romantasy. These tropes are central to the story and shape the romantic dynamic between the characters.
Does A Court of Thorns and Roses have content warnings?
Yes, readers should be aware of the following content warnings for A Court of Thorns and Roses: Violence, Captivity, Abuse themes, Sexual content, Manipulation. We always recommend checking content warnings before reading if you have specific sensitivities.
Is A Court of Thorns and Roses part of a series? Do I need to read it in order?
Yes, A Court of Thorns and Roses is book 1 of 5 in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. As the first book, this is the perfect starting point.
Who would enjoy A Court of Thorns and Roses?
A Court of Thorns and Roses is perfect for: Readers new to romantasy who want a gateway book; Beauty and the Beast retelling fans; Those who enjoy slow-building romance in a fantasy setting. The reading vibes are: Enchanting, Slow-building, Mysterious, Romantic, Dark fairy tale.
If You Liked A Court of Thorns and Roses, You'll Love These
Ready to Read A Court of Thorns and Roses?
Now that you know the spice level, tropes, and content warnings — grab your copy!