The reading experience

Romance

Heavy

Spice

4 out of 5

Tone

Romantic, Funny, Tense, Dark

Pacing

Moderate

Tropes

Friends to lovers, Found family, Forced proximity, Fated mates, Who did this to you, Touch her and die, Fae

Series

Ongoing series

A Court of Silver Flames Review: I Almost Gave Up on Nesta

Spoiler-free review first, followed by a clearly marked discussion of Book 5. No spoilers from later books.

I think Sarah J. Maas owes me an explanation for why I spent two years avoiding a book that I ended up really enjoying. Because after absolutely devouring the first three ACOTAR books in 2024, I hit A Court of Frost and Starlight, got bored approximately 10% of the way through, and apparently decided that was enough Prythian for the foreseeable future. I reread Books 1–3 twice rather than continue, even buying the dramatised audiobook editions because clearly revisiting hundreds of hours of material seemed more appealing than moving forward. Eventually, in 2026, the prospect of another ACOTAR release convinced me to finish Book 4 and finally tackle A Court of Silver Flames.

And I'll admit, I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about it. I'd already spent the previous book watching everyone struggle with the aftermath of the war, and the prospect of another story focused on Nesta being angry, miserable and determined to push everyone away didn't exactly fill me with excitement. I understood she was grieving, but there are only so many times I can listen to somebody being horrible to people who care about them before I start losing patience. Especially when one of those people is Cassian, who by this point had firmly established himself as my fictional boyfriend. Long hair, enormous muscles and an actual sense of humour? Nesta, if you're not interested, I have several very convincing arguments for taking him off your hands.

But something rather unexpected happened. Once I finally pushed through the beginning, I found myself becoming genuinely invested in Nesta's story, particularly the friendships she develops and the way she starts helping other women who have experienced terrible things. By the end, I'd gone from being thoroughly irritated with her to being glad she'd found a place for herself, people who understood her and a relationship with Cassian that finally felt earned. It isn't a perfect book for me, and I'd still put it somewhere around 3–4 stars, but I absolutely wish I'd given it a proper chance earlier.

What is A Court of Silver Flames about?

A Court of Silver Flames, or ACOSF, is the fifth instalment in Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Unlike the earlier books, which largely follow Feyre and Rhysand, this one shifts its attention to Nesta Archeron and Cassian. Following the war against Hybern, Nesta is struggling with her forced transformation into High Fae, the death of her father and everything she experienced during the fighting. Rather than dealing with those feelings, she's become increasingly isolated, angry and self-destructive, pushing away almost everyone who attempts to help her.

Eventually, her family intervenes, and Nesta finds herself living in the House of Wind, where she's expected to train with Cassian and work in the enormous library beneath it. What initially feels like a punishment gradually becomes an opportunity for her to discover something she's been missing: friendship, purpose and a sense of control over her own life. Meanwhile, an emerging threat involving ancient magical objects and dangerous enemies means that the wider fantasy storyline hasn't disappeared entirely.

This is a much more character-focused book than the original ACOTAR trilogy, with a strong emphasis on emotional recovery, training, friendship and romance. There's still danger, magic and action, but the real journey is Nesta learning how to live with herself. And considering what an absolute nightmare she can be at the beginning, that's quite the undertaking.

Why I struggled to get into A Court of Silver Flames

My problem with ACOSF wasn't really the quality of the writing. It was that I wasn't particularly interested in spending another entire book inside Nesta's misery. I'd already struggled with A Court of Frost and Starlight because it felt so different from the first three books. The huge battles, shocking revelations and relentless drama had been replaced by characters dealing with their feelings, and while I understood why, I found the slower pace difficult to get into.

Then ACOSF started with Nesta continuing to behave in ways I found incredibly frustrating. She's angry, defensive and determined to reject help from practically everybody, including Cassian, who seems to have developed the patience of a saint. I knew her behaviour was connected to everything she'd experienced, particularly the trauma of watching her father die, but understanding the reason behind someone's behaviour doesn't automatically make them enjoyable company.

I think that's why I put it off for so long. I was expecting more of the same slow, unhappy atmosphere that I'd struggled with in Book 4, and I wasn't particularly excited about it. Having finally read the whole thing, though, I can see that the beginning was laying the groundwork for a much bigger transformation. It's just a shame I spent two years refusing to find out.

Nesta's friendships completely changed the book for me

This was the part that really won me over. As Nesta begins spending time in the library and training with Cassian, she gradually develops friendships with Gwyn and Emerie, two women who have experienced their own terrible hardships. Gwyn is a priestess living in the library, a sanctuary for women who have survived violence and abuse, while Emerie is an Illyrian woman who has endured cruelty and oppression in a society that treats females appallingly.

What I loved was that Nesta didn't simply find a romantic partner and suddenly become a completely different person. She found friends. Proper friends, who understood what it felt like to carry painful experiences and who were also trying to work out how to move forward. Watching the three women gradually become comfortable with one another, encourage each other and build something together was genuinely lovely.

The library storyline was particularly meaningful to me. These women had been through horrific experiences, and the library offered them somewhere safe to live without being forced to confront the outside world before they were ready. Seeing Nesta become involved in helping them, particularly through the opportunity to learn new skills and build confidence, was one of my favourite developments. She'd spent so long pushing people away, and suddenly she was becoming somebody who could make a positive difference in other people's lives.

And that was far more satisfying than simply watching her fall in love.

Cassian remains an absolute catch

I think we've established my position on Cassian by now. He's enormous, muscular, has long hair and somehow manages to be one of the funniest people in Prythian. He's also loyal, thoughtful and surprisingly emotionally perceptive beneath all the warrior swagger. Basically, if Sarah J. Maas wanted to invent somebody specifically designed to distract me from the actual plot, she's done a very effective job.

What I enjoyed about ACOSF was finally getting to spend more time with him outside the wider Inner Circle. He's not simply the entertaining Illyrian warrior making sarcastic comments in the background. We get to understand more about his experiences, his insecurities and the way he sees Nesta, even when she's doing her absolute best to make herself impossible to love.

Their relationship certainly isn't straightforward. There's plenty of arguing, attraction, stubbornness and some spectacularly questionable communication, but the emotional connection gradually becomes more meaningful. And while I spent much of the previous book wishing Nesta would stop rejecting him, I eventually appreciated that she needed to find some sense of peace with herself before she could properly accept what he was offering.

Still, Cassian, if things ever don't work out, you know where I am.

The Valkyries made the story worth reading

One of the best things about this book is the formation of the Valkyries, the revived tradition of female warriors that Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie begin rebuilding through their training. What starts with Nesta reluctantly learning to fight becomes something much bigger, as women who have spent so long feeling powerless begin discovering their own strength.

I loved that the story didn't suggest these women could simply forget what had happened to them. Their experiences still mattered, and recovery wasn't presented as something that could be completed by doing a few press-ups and learning how to hold a sword. Instead, the training gave them opportunities to challenge themselves, support one another and discover what they were capable of.

And the friendships made all the difference. They weren't competing to be the strongest or most impressive. They were genuinely rooting for one another, celebrating progress and helping each other through difficult moments. The relationship between the three women became one of my favourite parts of the entire book.

It also gave Nesta a purpose beyond her anger, her family and her relationship with Cassian. Watching her become somebody who could encourage and protect others was what finally made her redemption feel convincing to me.

Is A Court of Silver Flames spicy?

Yes. Considerably more than the earlier ACOTAR books. If you thought the romantic tension in A Court of Mist and Fury was intense, Sarah J. Maas has apparently decided that subtlety is no longer required.

Nesta and Cassian have a very physical relationship, and there are frequent explicit scenes alongside the emotional development. The romance is a major part of the story, and I'd definitely describe this as one of the spicier instalments in the series.

For me, though, it was the emotional side of their relationship that eventually made it worthwhile. I already thought Cassian was an excellent character, but watching Nesta gradually become capable of accepting affection, friendship and genuine care added something much more meaningful than attraction alone.

That said, if you prefer your fantasy romance with less explicit content, this is worth knowing before you start.

Is A Court of Silver Flames worth reading?

Yes, and I'm actually annoyed with myself for not reading it sooner. I spent so long assuming it would be another slow, miserable instalment that I almost missed one of the most satisfying character transformations in the series. The beginning still wasn't particularly enjoyable for me, and I don't think it needed quite so much time spent establishing how unhappy and difficult Nesta had become, but once her friendships and training began developing, I was far more interested.

The book also has more action than A Court of Frost and Starlight, with dangerous magical discoveries and a much more dramatic conclusion. It doesn't feel exactly like the original trilogy, because the focus and main characters have changed, but there's enough fantasy adventure to remind you why Prythian became so addictive in the first place.

If you've struggled with Nesta in the earlier books, I wouldn't promise that you'll suddenly adore her from page one. I certainly didn't. But I would encourage you to give her story a proper chance, because the journey becomes much more rewarding than the opening might suggest.

My final verdict: A redemption arc worth persevering with

A Court of Silver Flames was a pleasant surprise, even if it took me an embarrassingly long time to discover that. I went into it expecting another book dominated by Nesta's anger and unhappiness, and while there's certainly plenty of that at the beginning, I ended up loving the friendships she developed and the way she gradually found purpose and confidence.

It was especially satisfying to see her build relationships with women who had experienced their own trauma, rather than having her entire recovery revolve around romance. Gwyn, Emerie and the Valkyries gave the story something that felt genuinely important, and I was glad Nesta eventually became somebody I could root for.

I'd put it at around 3–4 stars. I still prefer the original ACOTAR trilogy, and the beginning was much harder work than I wanted it to be, but the emotional payoff made persevering worthwhile. Most importantly, it completely changed how I felt about Nesta, which is quite an achievement considering how much she'd been testing my patience.

And yes, I'm even happy for her to have Cassian now.

Which might be the biggest character development of all.

🔥 SPOILERS BELOW: LET'S TALK ABOUT A COURT OF SILVER FLAMES

Major spoilers for A Court of Silver Flames from this point onwards. No spoilers from later books.

Right. Now that we've established I spent two years avoiding a book that turned out to be rather good, we can discuss what actually happens. Because between Nesta's powers, the Valkyries, the mating bond and that ending, there's considerably more going on here than one angry woman refusing to be nice to Cassian.

Nesta's intervention and the ten thousand stairs

The book starts with Feyre and the others finally deciding that Nesta's behaviour has reached the point where something needs to change. She's drinking, gambling, isolating herself and spending her money in ways that are clearly connected to how badly she's struggling. Their solution is to move her into the House of Wind, make her train with Cassian and have her work in the library.

Now, I can appreciate why everyone is worried, but I also understand why Nesta is furious. She's essentially been given an ultimatum and moved somewhere that's almost impossible to leave without assistance. Considering how much she already resents people making decisions for her, it was hardly likely to produce an immediate personality transformation.

And then there are the ten thousand stairs.

Ten. Thousand.

Frankly, I wouldn't be going anywhere either.

Watching Nesta repeatedly attempt them becomes a surprisingly effective way of showing her progress. At first, she can barely manage a fraction of the descent, but gradually, as she gets stronger and starts dealing with some of her emotions, she improves. By the time she finally conquers them, it's about considerably more than escaping the house.

Gwyn, Emerie and the women in the library

This is where Nesta's story started becoming something I genuinely loved. The priestesses living in the library have survived appalling violence, and many have withdrawn from the world because they no longer feel safe outside it. Gwyn's history is particularly heartbreaking, while Emerie's experiences growing up as an Illyrian female reveal another side of the cruelty we've already encountered in Prythian.

What I appreciated was the way Nesta gradually connected with these women through shared experiences rather than suddenly becoming some perfect, endlessly compassionate heroine. She's still sharp-tongued and difficult, but she begins paying attention to people other than herself. She encourages them, trains alongside them and becomes part of something that gives them all a reason to keep moving forward.

The three women forming such a strong friendship was lovely. I particularly enjoyed how their shared love of books, their training and their little moments of humour made them feel like genuine friends rather than characters who'd simply been assembled to help Nesta's storyline. And watching the priestesses begin participating in training when they felt ready was especially satisfying.

These women had spent so long having their choices taken away from them. Seeing them reclaim even a little control over their lives was wonderful.

The House of Wind becoming Nesta's friend

Can we also appreciate the House of Wind?

Because apparently even the architecture in Prythian has more emotional intelligence than half the people living there.

I loved the little details of the House responding to Nesta, providing food, books and comforts, and gradually becoming something resembling a companion. There's something both funny and rather touching about a magical building recognising how lonely somebody is and deciding to look after them.

Then we discover that Nesta's own magic helped give the House its consciousness because she was so desperately lonely and wanted a friend. Which is actually quite heartbreaking when you think about it. Here she is, surrounded by people attempting to reach her, but so emotionally isolated that her magic essentially creates somebody she can feel safe with.

I thought that was a lovely detail, and one of the more imaginative ways of exploring her loneliness.

Nesta's powers are absolutely terrifying

I'd almost forgotten just how powerful Nesta was supposed to be until the search for the Dread Trove began. The Mask, the Harp and the Crown are ancient magical objects with abilities that are frankly alarming, and Nesta's connection to the Cauldron makes her uniquely suited to finding and using them.

The scene in the Bog of Oorid, when Nesta puts on the Mask and emerges commanding the dead, is exactly the sort of enormous fantasy moment I'd been missing. Suddenly, we're back to ancient magic, terrifying creatures and the realisation that Nesta possesses abilities even the other powerful characters don't fully understand.

And then there's the revelation that she's accidentally created enchanted weapons.

Because apparently being an enormously powerful High Fae with stolen Cauldron magic wasn't quite enough.

I loved the contrast between Nesta feeling so powerless emotionally while possessing some of the most frightening magical abilities in Prythian. She has extraordinary power, but absolutely no idea how to feel comfortable being herself.

Cassian and Nesta are mates. FINALLY.

Well, thank goodness.

After all the arguing, attraction, rejection and ridiculous amounts of emotional tension, Cassian finally reveals that he and Nesta are mates.

And naturally, Nesta doesn't immediately react with delight.

Of course she doesn't.

We've waited all this time for the two of them to acknowledge what's happening, and she's still finding reasons to panic and push him away. But by this point, I could understand her reaction much better. Accepting the bond means acknowledging her new identity as High Fae and confronting how much her life has changed.

What made the eventual acceptance so satisfying was that Nesta had already begun changing in other ways. She'd developed genuine friendships, discovered a purpose and started believing she might actually deserve to be happy. Cassian hadn't simply arrived and fixed her.

And after spending much of Book 4 wanting to personally escort him away from her, I was genuinely happy they ended up together.

Cassian deserves somebody who loves him properly, and by the end, I felt Nesta was finally in a position to do that.

Fine. She can keep him.

The Blood Rite and the Valkyries. WHAT A PAYOFF.

The Blood Rite was one of my favourite parts of the book, because everything the women had been working towards finally became important. Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie are kidnapped and forced into a brutal Illyrian survival trial, surrounded by dangerous warriors and unable to rely on their usual magical abilities.

And instead of simply waiting to be rescued, they use what they've learnt.

I loved watching them work together, protect one another and prove how far they'd come. These are women who began the story struggling with fear, isolation and painful experiences, and now they're surviving a challenge that even trained Illyrian warriors can fail.

The fact that Gwyn and Emerie reach the summit of Ramiel while Nesta stays behind to protect them makes the achievement even more meaningful. They're not simply trying to win. They're looking after one another, even when it means sacrificing their own chance of success.

It was the culmination of everything I'd loved about their friendship.

And seeing the Valkyries return after centuries of absence?

Goosebumps.

Feyre's pregnancy and Rhysand keeping secrets

I have to admit, I wasn't particularly impressed with Rhysand keeping the full danger of Feyre's pregnancy from her.

We've spent several books watching Feyre fight for the right to make her own decisions, and now her husband knows that giving birth could kill her but doesn't tell her the full truth.

Really?

After everything they've been through?

I understand that he's terrified of losing her, particularly because their bargain means his life is connected to hers. But that doesn't make withholding information about her own body any less frustrating.

Nesta revealing the truth during an argument with Feyre is hardly the most sensitive way of handling it, and she clearly does it while angry. But the fact that Feyre hadn't been properly informed in the first place bothered me more.

It was another reminder that even characters I love can make some spectacularly questionable decisions.

Nesta saving Feyre and baby Nyx

The ending brings Nesta's entire journey together in a way I found genuinely satisfying. Feyre goes into labour, the baby's Illyrian wings create a life-threatening emergency, and suddenly Feyre, Rhysand and their son are all in danger.

Nesta, who has spent so much of the book convinced she's a terrible person and doesn't deserve love, makes an extraordinary sacrifice to save them. She gives back almost all the power she stole from the Cauldron in exchange for Feyre and the baby's survival.

And I thought that was a fitting conclusion to her redemption arc.

At the beginning, Nesta's power is something frightening, tied to everything she's endured and the anger she's carrying. By the end, she chooses to surrender most of it to protect somebody she loves.

She doesn't need to be the most powerful person in the room any more.

She's found something that matters more to her.

Feyre survives, Nyx is born safely, and Nesta's relationship with her family finally begins healing. After everything the Archeron sisters have been through, I was glad to see them moving towards something better.

Nesta's redemption was worth the wait

I think the reason I ended up enjoying A Court of Silver Flames so much more than expected is that Nesta's transformation eventually felt earned. She doesn't simply wake up one morning and decide to stop being difficult. She's forced to confront painful memories, makes new friends, learns to trust people and gradually begins accepting herself.

And crucially, she doesn't do it entirely through her relationship with Cassian.

The Valkyries, Gwyn, Emerie, the priestesses and even the House of Wind all play important roles in her recovery. By the end, she has an identity beyond being Feyre's angry older sister or Cassian's potential mate.

She has friends, strength, purpose and somewhere she belongs.

I started this book thoroughly fed up with Nesta. I finished it happy she'd found Cassian, proud of the friendships she'd built and annoyed with myself for not reading it years earlier.

Which is quite a turnaround.

Now I want to know: did Nesta win you over by the end of A Court of Silver Flames, or were you still struggling to forgive her behaviour in the earlier books? And, more importantly, can we all agree Cassian is an absolute catch?

• ACOTAR
• A Court of Silver Flames
• Nesta Archeron
• Book Review