The reading experience

Romance

Moderate

Spice

3 out of 5

Tone

Tense, Heartbreaking, Dark, Bittersweet

Pacing

Moderate

Tropes

Fated mates, Found family, Morally grey love interest

Series

Ongoing series

A Court of Splintered Harmony Review: The Bat Boys Are in My Bad Books

Spoiler-free review first, followed by a clearly marked discussion of Book 6.

Well, this is awkward. After spending the last few ACOTAR books becoming increasingly attached to Cassian, Rhysand and Azriel, I finished A Court of Splintered Harmony wondering whether I actually liked any of them any more. Quite the achievement, considering I was seriously contemplating buying myself a Bat Boys T-shirt before starting this book. That's now firmly on hold. In fact, several characters have been deposited directly into what I like to call my brain bin, where they'll remain until Sarah J. Maas provides a sufficiently convincing explanation for their behaviour.

The annoying thing is that I actually enjoyed the book. Not necessarily because everyone was behaving particularly well, but because I was invested enough to become genuinely irritated by their decisions. There's a difference between a book annoying you because it's boring and a book annoying you because the characters you've loved for years have apparently decided to make a collective series of terrible choices. This was definitely the second kind. I had opinions, I had questions, and by the end I was mentally preparing a list of people who needed to sit down and have a very serious conversation.

And poor Nesta. After spending two years avoiding A Court of Silver Flames because I couldn't face another book about her being angry and miserable, I finally came around to her. I loved her friendships, her redemption and the life she'd started building for herself. So naturally, the next instalment decides to make me question the way everybody is treating her all over again. At this point, could someone in Prythian please allow that woman five minutes of peace?

What is A Court of Splintered Harmony about?

A Court of Splintered Harmony is the sixth instalment in Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses series, published on 27 October 2026. It begins a new interconnected storyline, The Valkyrie Cycle, following the events of A Court of Silver Flames and developments from Maas's other fantasy series, Crescent City.

Prythian is still recovering from the war against Hybern, but the possibility of another conflict is growing. Koschei the Deathless is becoming a more significant threat, old alliances are fragile and the Night Court is dealing with serious disagreements amongst its own people. Relationships that once seemed solid are under pressure, while ancient magic and long-buried secrets suggest the wider world is changing again.

Rather than being a completely self-contained adventure, this book is the beginning of a larger story. There are romantic complications, political problems and plenty of unresolved questions, so don't go into it expecting everything to be neatly tied up by the final chapter.

And if there's one thing this series has taught me, it's that immortal beings with centuries of experience are somehow still capable of communicating worse than a group of teenagers.

Read Crescent City before this one. Seriously.

Here's something I think is important for anyone planning their ACOTAR reading order: I'd recommend reading Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series before A Court of Splintered Harmony, particularly House of Flame and Shadow.

You can follow the main storyline without doing that, but certain events and characters make considerably more sense when you understand what happened with Bryce Quinlan. The books are connected in ways that become increasingly important, and reading Crescent City gives you a much better understanding of the decisions and disagreements affecting the Night Court.

If you're someone who finished the original ACOTAR trilogy and decided to take a break before continuing, this is actually a brilliant opportunity to explore another of Maas's worlds. That's more or less the approach I'd recommend, particularly if you weren't immediately desperate to carry on with the quieter aftermath books.

And Crescent City is absolutely worth reading in its own right. Bryce is a badass, there are some brilliant characters, and the series has enough action, mystery and personality to keep things interesting. It has a different atmosphere from ACOTAR, but that's part of its appeal.

Just be careful about researching the connections online before you've finished both series. I have a strict no-Reddit, no-internet-theories policy when I'm reading something for the first time, and this is exactly the sort of crossover where one innocent search can reveal something enormous.

Everyone seems to have forgotten Nesta's redemption

One of the things that frustrated me most was how quickly certain characters seemed prepared to judge Nesta again. After everything she went through in A Court of Silver Flames, I was hoping we'd see more of her building on the progress she'd made. She'd found genuine friendships, helped women who had survived horrific violence, developed her skills as a warrior and made enormous sacrifices for the people she loved.

That doesn't mean she should be immune from criticism or allowed to make dangerous decisions without consequences. Of course not. But there's a difference between holding someone accountable and behaving as though none of their growth matters.

I spent a substantial amount of the previous book getting to know Nesta properly, understanding her motivations and finally appreciating why Cassian and the Valkyries cared so much about her. So watching tensions flare again was particularly frustrating. I wanted the people closest to her to recognise that she's not the same person she was at the beginning of her story.

The book clearly wants us to question loyalty, trust and the consequences of difficult decisions. And it succeeded, because I spent a fair amount of time questioning whether some of my favourite characters deserved quite as much loyalty from me.

The Bat Boys are testing my patience

I never thought I'd be writing this, but Cassian, Rhysand and Azriel have all managed to irritate me.

Separately.

Impressively.

These are characters I've loved for different reasons throughout the series. Rhysand has always been complicated, but his loyalty to the people he cares about was a huge part of his appeal. Cassian became my favourite thanks to his humour, enormous muscles, long hair and the fact that he actually seemed capable of being emotionally supportive. And Azriel was somebody I genuinely wanted to see find happiness after everything he'd endured.

So I wasn't particularly delighted by some of their behaviour in this book. I'm deliberately keeping the details out of the spoiler-free section, but there were moments where I found myself wondering whether everyone had collectively forgotten the lessons they were supposed to have learnt over the previous five instalments.

It's interesting when an author challenges your attachment to beloved characters. Sometimes it makes them more realistic, because nobody behaves perfectly all the time. But it also risks making you lose patience with people you've spent hundreds of pages rooting for.

And believe me, my patience was being tested.

Is A Court of Splintered Harmony worth reading?

Yes, particularly if you've read the previous ACOTAR books and Crescent City. I enjoyed returning to Prythian and discovering how the different storylines were beginning to connect, even if some of the character decisions made me want to throw my imaginary Bat Boys merchandise directly into the bin.

This isn't a book I'd recommend reading on its own. There are too many existing relationships, unresolved tensions and connections to earlier events for that to be particularly satisfying. It's also worth remembering that this is the beginning of a larger storyline, so the ending deliberately leaves important questions unanswered.

If you're somebody who prefers to wait until a fantasy storyline is complete before starting it, that's worth considering. The next instalment, A Court of Forgotten Melody, is scheduled for January 2027, so this isn't a story that resolves everything in a single book.

Personally, I found the frustrations entertaining enough that I still wanted to know what happens next. The book gave me plenty to think about, even if some of those thoughts weren't especially complimentary towards the people involved.

My verdict: A good book that put my favourites in the brain bin

A Court of Splintered Harmony is one of those books that I enjoyed while simultaneously wanting to give half the cast a very firm talking-to. It made me question characters I'd previously adored, reinforced my sympathy for Nesta and left me wondering whether the next instalment would manage to redeem a few people in my eyes.

I particularly appreciated the connections to Crescent City and the sense that Sarah J. Maas is building towards something much bigger across her fantasy worlds. And while I wasn't thrilled with certain relationships, I was interested enough in the consequences to want to continue.

So yes, I enjoyed it. But my favourite fictional men have some work to do before they regain their former positions.

The Bat Boys T-shirt remains unpurchased.

And as for any permanent book-related tattoos? Well, after this experience, I'm beginning to think that's an extraordinary amount of trust to place in fictional characters whose personalities can change with the next instalment.

I think I'll stick to bookshelves.

They're considerably easier to rearrange when somebody disappoints you.

🌙 SPOILERS BELOW: LET'S TALK ABOUT A COURT OF SPLINTERED HARMONY

Major spoilers for Book 6 from this point onwards. No spoilers from Book 7.

Right. Now we can discuss why several members of the Night Court are currently residing in my brain bin. Because after everything that happened in A Court of Silver Flames, I thought we were finally moving towards a happier, healthier set of relationships.

Apparently not.

Nesta helped Bryce. Why is everyone acting like she's the enemy?

One of the most important connections in this book comes from Crescent City, particularly Nesta's decision to help Bryce Quinlan. I'm not going to recap the entire Crescent City storyline here, because that deserves its own reviews, but the important thing is that Nesta made a difficult decision involving the Mask, one of the dangerous objects from the Dread Trove.

Now, I understand why Rhysand is concerned. The Mask is extraordinarily powerful, and allowing somebody from another world to use it without consulting the people responsible for protecting Prythian involves enormous risks. That's a perfectly legitimate issue to discuss.

But the way Nesta is treated because of that decision really annoyed me.

This is the same woman who sacrificed most of her extraordinary power to save Feyre, Rhysand and their baby. The same woman who spent the previous book learning to trust others, helping survivors of violence and becoming part of something much bigger than herself through the Valkyries.

And suddenly we're back to treating her like a problem everybody needs to manage.

I'm not suggesting that saving someone's life means you're entitled to make whatever decisions you fancy for the rest of eternity. But surely, after everything, she deserves a little more understanding and a conversation that doesn't immediately turn into another argument about whether she can be trusted.

Honestly, everyone needs to stop being so pissed at Nesta.

Rhysand, you're going in the brain bin

Rhysand has always had a protective streak, and it's one of those character traits that can seem romantic until it starts creating problems for everybody around him. We've seen it before, particularly when he withheld information about Feyre's dangerous pregnancy in A Court of Silver Flames.

And now here we are again.

His anger over Nesta's decision to help Bryce is understandable to a point, but I struggled with the way he responded to her. Restricting her access to the Dread Trove felt particularly frustrating after everything she'd done to help protect the Night Court. She's one of the few people capable of wielding certain Made objects, and that ability has already proved extraordinarily valuable.

It made me wonder why the first response was to push her away rather than work with her.

I understand that Rhysand is trying to keep his family and court safe, but being frightened of what might happen doesn't automatically mean his decisions are right.

And at some point, I'd quite like him to remember that Nesta is part of the family too.

Brain bin. Straight in.

Cassian. I WAS ROOTING FOR YOU.

This one hurt my feelings more than Rhysand, because Cassian had become my favourite.

My book boyfriend.

My enormous, long-haired, muscular, funny Illyrian warrior who spent the previous book helping Nesta through some of her darkest moments.

And now I'm questioning whether he deserves the title.

What annoyed me was seeing the strain between him and Nesta after everything they'd worked through together. I wanted him to be somebody she could rely on, particularly when she was facing criticism from the rest of the Inner Circle.

That doesn't mean Cassian has to agree with everything she does. A good relationship isn't about blindly supporting every decision, especially when those decisions involve dangerous magic and potentially catastrophic consequences.

But I wanted him to understand her perspective, support her as his partner and make her feel that they were facing the problem together.

Instead, I found myself getting increasingly frustrated with how things were unfolding.

After spending A Court of Frost and Starlight wishing Nesta would stop rejecting Cassian, and then A Court of Silver Flames finally becoming happy that they'd found each other, this felt like a particularly irritating development.

I was ready to buy the merchandise, Cassian.

THE MERCHANDISE.

Do you understand the seriousness of the situation?

Azriel and the three sisters comment. Excuse me?

Azriel was another character I went into this book hoping would finally find happiness.

He's always been one of the more mysterious members of the Inner Circle, and after everything we've learnt about his painful past, I genuinely wanted him to find somebody who made him feel loved and appreciated.

But the whole idea that the three Archeron sisters should somehow correspond to the three Illyrian brothers made my eyebrows rise.

Really?

Because Feyre is with Rhysand and Nesta is with Cassian, that means Elain should automatically belong with Azriel?

That's an interesting leap.

I understand the appeal of the symmetry. Three sisters, three warriors, three romances. Very neat. Very satisfying from a fictional relationship chart perspective.

But people aren't matching accessories.

And Elain already has a complicated relationship with Lucien because of their mating bond, which makes the situation even more delicate.

I wanted Azriel to find his person, but not because the numbers happen to work out nicely. I wanted him to find somebody who genuinely chose him, and whom he chose for reasons beyond completing the Inner Circle's romantic seating arrangement.

The whole situation made me considerably less enthusiastic about him than I'd expected.

Another one hovering dangerously close to the brain bin.

Lucien deserves better than this mess

I have a soft spot for Lucien, particularly after everything he's endured with his family, Tamlin and the Autumn Court.

He's spent so much of the series trying to work out where he belongs, and every time he seems to find a little stability, somebody introduces an entirely new complication.

His mating bond with Elain has been uncomfortable and unresolved for ages. I don't think Elain should be forced into a relationship simply because magic has declared them compatible, and she absolutely deserves to make her own choices.

But that doesn't mean Lucien deserves to be treated carelessly either.

Discovering what's been happening between Elain and Azriel, particularly when other people have known more than he has, is understandably devastating.

I could appreciate why he'd feel betrayed, especially when the Night Court has also been relying on his help with important political matters.

And once again, I'm left wondering why nobody in Prythian can have an honest conversation before the situation becomes an international incident.

Honestly, these people don't need another war.

They need group therapy and a very large communication handbook.

Bryaxis turning up again. At least somebody brought the drama.

One thing I did enjoy was the return of Bryaxis.

After watching the ancient creatures become such an important part of the war in A Court of Wings and Ruin, I was pleased to see that the series hadn't forgotten about the terrifying thing that used to live beneath the House of Wind.

And naturally, it chooses a completely inappropriate moment to make another appearance.

Nyx's Naming Day.

Because why have a peaceful family celebration when you can unleash everyone's worst fears and cause absolute chaos?

I loved the reminder that there are still ancient creatures in Prythian that even the most powerful High Fae struggle to understand.

And I particularly enjoyed seeing Nesta's abilities and Valkyrie training matter again.

It was another reminder of how much she'd developed, both as a warrior and as somebody capable of handling terrifying situations.

Which made the continuing arguments about whether she could be trusted even more frustrating.

The Dusk Court mystery has me interested

One of the more intriguing parts of the book is Nesta's growing connection to the ancient Dusk Court.

Between the Prison, the eight-pointed star, Gwydion and the magical history connecting different parts of Sarah J. Maas's fictional worlds, there's clearly something much bigger happening.

And this is another reason I'd recommend Crescent City before reading this instalment.

There are connections that become much more meaningful when you recognise where certain objects, symbols and powers have appeared before.

I love that kind of world-building.

The idea that details introduced in one series can become important somewhere else makes the whole fantasy universe feel enormous.

Of course, it also means there's an increasing amount of information to remember.

At this rate, I'm going to need a spreadsheet just to keep track of who's related to whom, which magical object belongs to which ancient civilisation, and which immortal man I'm currently annoyed with.

The last category is becoming particularly crowded.

That ending. And now we have to wait?

By the end, the Night Court has more problems than it started with, Lucien's relationships are in turmoil, Elain is beginning to make significant decisions about her future and Nesta's connection to the Prison is becoming increasingly mysterious.

And then Nesta enters the Prison with Gwydion, only for the sword to be taken from her by an unknown force.

Wonderful.

Another cliffhanger.

Because apparently Sarah J. Maas looked at the number of unresolved personal arguments, political problems and ancient magical mysteries and decided the book needed one more.

I don't necessarily mind an unresolved ending when I know I'm reading the beginning of a larger story, but it does make me particularly interested in whether the next instalment can deliver on everything that's been set up.

And more importantly, whether Cassian, Rhysand and Azriel can collectively remember how to behave.

Because they've got some serious work to do.

Why I'm suddenly reconsidering fictional-character merchandise

Here's a slightly ridiculous consequence of reading this book: I've started reconsidering how permanently I want to declare my loyalty to fictional characters.

Before this instalment, I was genuinely considering buying a Bat Boys T-shirt.

Now?

Absolutely not.

And it made me think about the wider issue of getting tattoos inspired by books and fictional worlds. You can absolutely love something at one point in your life, only for your feelings about it to change later.

The controversy surrounding J. K. Rowling's statements about transgender people is a much more serious example of how someone's relationship with a beloved fictional universe can change because of its creator. Some Harry Potter fans have publicly discussed regretting or covering tattoos connected to the series after becoming uncomfortable with her views.

Obviously, being annoyed with Cassian in a fantasy novel isn't remotely the same issue. But it did get me thinking about how confidently people sometimes commit to loving something forever.

Because fictional characters can disappoint you. Authors can disappoint you. Your opinions can change.

And that tattoo of your favourite character's name is rather more permanent than the feelings that inspired it.

So my current advice?

Maybe enjoy the books, buy a nice bookmark and think very carefully before getting an immortal faerie man's name permanently etched onto your skin.

Especially if Sarah J. Maas hasn't finished writing his story yet.

Final thoughts: The next book has some explaining to do

I enjoyed A Court of Splintered Harmony, but it's certainly changed the way I feel about some of my favourite characters.

Nesta has spent so long trying to rebuild her life and earn a place amongst people who care about her, and I found myself frustrated by how quickly that progress seemed to be questioned. I wanted Cassian to be more supportive, Rhysand to be more understanding and Azriel to make choices that felt less driven by the idea of completing a perfect set of three couples.

At the same time, I loved the wider magical mysteries, the Crescent City connections and the promise of something much bigger happening around the Dusk Court.

So I absolutely want to read what comes next.

But the next book has some serious work to do if it wants me to fall back in love with the Bat Boys.

For now, the T-shirt is cancelled, the brain bin is full and Nesta has my sympathy.

Now I need to know: did A Court of Splintered Harmony change how you felt about the Bat Boys, or are you still firmly on their side? Because I'm going to need some convincing before Cassian gets his boyfriend privileges back.

• ACOTAR 6
• A Court of Splintered Harmony
• Sarah J. Maas
• Nesta Archeron, Cassian, Rhysand, Azriel, Lucien