Summary
A Court of Thorns & Rosesweaves a compelling story, butthe timeline ofSarah J. Maas' fantasy seriesremains baffling, even after five books. The first threeACOTARbooks cover the same conflict, whiletheCourt of Frost & StarlightnovellaandA Court of Silver Flamesexpand Maas' world. A lot happens over the course of five books, both on a personal level for the characters and on a larger scale. Feyre Archeron comes a long way from the beginning ofA Court of Thorns & Roses,when she’s introduced as an ordinary huntress trying to keep her family alive.
Feyre’s arrival in Prythian also changes the world of the High Fae, and the continent faces many changes and challenges in what seems like a short period of time. Prythian’s conflicts take center stage inA Court of Thorns & Roses,but it’s hard to say whether they unfold in a believable succession. Maas doesn’t paint the clearest picture of the series' timeline, making it one of the most perplexing elements ofACOTAR— and doing the math only makes it more so.
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A Court Of Thorns & Roses' Timeline Is Confusing
Readers Must Look Carefully At Sarah J. Maas' Books To Determine How Much Time Has Passed
The timeline ofA Court of Thorns & Rosesisn’t explicitly outlined in Maas' books, but the series seems to unfold over the course of a few years. Certain events, like the Winter Solstice, can be used to deduce how much time passes between each book. And readers know thatFeyre is 19 years old whenACOTARopensand several years old when she and Rhysand start a family inA Court of Silver Flames.However, the time frame remains confusing throughout theCourt of Thorns & Rosesbooks.
Readers can determine the time frame of the first three books by looking at the seasons they start and end in.ACOTARbegins in the winter and concludes in the fall (viaFandom.com), which means Feyre’s initial stay at the Spring Court and journey Under the Mountain happen in less than a year.ACOMAFpicks up during the Winter Solstice and ends in the spring — an incredibly short span of time given all that happens. AndA Court of Wings & Ruinhas the most baffling timeline of all, as it unfolds in just a few months, despite tackling a full-blown war.
A Court of Frost & Starlightsees Feyre turning 21, which confirms thatonly about two years pass during the originalACOTARtrilogy. Since the novella tackles the aftermath of the war, it appears to be a few months out fromACOWAR.AndA Court of Silver Flamesis set about a year later. Such details aren’t immediately clear. And even after carefully piecing together the books' timeline, it’s obvious that it doesn’t make much sense. In fact, it feels rushed for such a lengthy fantasy series.
Why The ACOTAR Series' Timeline Doesn’t Make Much Sense
Feyre’s Journey & Prythian’s Conflicts Feel Too Rushed
Even those willing to break down the approximate timeline ofA Court of Thorns & Roseshave to admit that it doesn’t make much sense. The fact that the first three installments take place in about two years is enough to give any reader whiplash.It’s difficult to believe Feyre could go through so much in such a short amount of time, and that’s not even the strangest part of the time frame.ACOMAFbuilds to the war between the King of Hybern and Prythian, but it doesn’t truly arrive untilACOWAR— and then it’s over almost as soon as it begins.
Even those willing to break down the approximate timeline ofA Court of Thorns & Roseshave to admit that it doesn’t make much sense.
It feels unrealistic for any war to conclude that quickly, but it’s especially strange given that most of Prythian’s leaders and fighters are immortal. Time passes differently for them, and they likely wouldn’t rush to face a threat to their kingdoms. Of course, the timeline isn’t just wonky on the political end. Feyre’s relationships also unravel quickly, and her life choices change drastically from one moment to the next, with too little time passing to justify such developments. Overall,theACOTARbooks suffer from the speed at which they take place. The timing makes little sense and adds to the confusion.
The ACOTAR Books Should Have Dragged Out Their Major Conflicts For Much Longer
The Story’s Personal & Political Plots Would Have Benefited
If there’s one thing that could have helpedA Court of Thorns & Roses’timeline, it’s dragging out the books' conflicts for a longer period of time.Maas would have needed to set each novel over a longer period to make this work— either that, or make the series longer by adding installments. But expanding the timeline of the series would make sense of the major conflicts, allowing them to feel more fleshed out and believable. Feyre’s transitions from book to book would definitely feel more realistic if Maas had let a few more years pass during and between theACOTARsequels.
Prythian’s politics and conflicts would also feel more natural with an extended timeline, thoughA Court of Wings & Ruincould have benefited from more battle scenes before closing out its war. The lead-up to the conflict with Hybern feels more gripping than the actual climax, and just tweaking the timeline wouldn’t fix this. It would allow readers to fill in the blanks, though, suggesting that more happened behind the scenes. Unfortunately,A Court of Thorns & Roses' current timeline doesn’t leave the door open for such speculation. Instead, it confirms how unbelievable the story’s trajectory is.
