A Court of Thorns and Roses

• A Court of Thorns and Roses follows Feyre Archeron, a 19-year-old huntress who is taken to the faerie land of Prythian by a creature that demands punishment after she kills a faerie wolf in the woods. Feyre discovers that her kidnapper is a High Fae named Tamlin, and one of the seven High Lords of Prythian. As she lives with Tamlin at his estate in the Spring Court, she comes to learn that everything she has learnt about the faerie world is a lie. (2015)[1]
• A Court of Mist and Fury follows Feyre and Rhysand as they deal with after-effects of freeing Prythian from Amarantha's reign. Reeling from the horrors they faced Under The Mountain, they find their soulmates in one another. Suffering from post traumatic disorders and nightmares, they continue to stay connected through the mental bond they share. Hatred turns to understanding which blooms into passion and love as they fight through their trauma and find solace in each other. (2016)[2]
• A Court of Wings and Ruin follows Feyre and Rhysand as they gather information, rally forces and work with the other High Lords, mysterious creatures and allies to fight in the war against Hybern. (2017)[3]
• A Court of Frost and Starlight follows Feyre and Rhysand as they deal with and face the aftermath of the war against Hybern, as they mend cities, places, relationships and settle into the new normal. (2018)[4]
• A Court of Silver Flames follows Nesta and Cassian as they deal with the blazing fire between them while they face their haunting pasts, battle monsters and find acceptance and healing in each other's arms, amidst battle and betrayal. (2021)[5]

• Feyre Archeron: The youngest Archeron sister, Nesta and Elain's sister, Tamlin's former fiancé, Rhysand's mate and wife, High Lady of the Night Court. She is known as Cursebreaker for breaking Amarantha's curse and defeating her. She was killed in the process and was brought back to life by the High Lords, thus possesing the powers of each High Lord and becoming High Fae.
• Rhysand: High Lord of the Night Court and the Illyrian army, Feyre's mate and husband. He wields darkness and shadow magic and is the most powerful High Lord in Prythian's history. He can shape-shift, winnow, fly as well as read and shatter minds. He died reforging the Cauldron but was brought back to life by Feyre and the High Lords.
• Nesta Archeron: The oldest Archeron sister, Elain and Feyre's sister, Cassian's mate. She was turned into High Fae against her will by Hybern using the Cauldron. She absorbed a large amount of the Cauldron's power during her transformation from human to fae.
• Cassian: General Commander of the Night Court and Illyrian army, Rhysand and Azriel's childhood friend, Nesta's possible mate. He is a member of the Court of Dreams and is one of the most powerful Illyrian.
• Elain Archeron: The middle Archeron sister, Nesta and Feyre's sister, Graysen's former fiance, Lucien's mate, has a connection with Azriel. She was turned into High Fae against her will by Hybern using the Cauldron. She became a seer during her transformation from human to fae.
• Azriel: The quiet Illyrian shadowsinger, the Night Court's spymaster, Rhysand and Cassian's childhood friend, Elain's lover. He is a member of the Court of Dreams, the owner of Truth-teller and one of the most powerful Illyrian.
• Vassa: One of the six mortal queens, Lucien's lover. She is a fire bird who was sold off by the other queens to be cursed and enslaved by an old death lord and is a member of the Band of Exiles.
• Lucien Vanserra: Freya and Helion's son, Jesminda's former lover, former emissary of the Spring Court, Elain's mate, Vassa's lover. He was injured and scarred by Amarantha due to which he had to replace his left eye with a mechanical one. He is a member of the Band of Exiles and the heir to the Day Court.
• Morrigan aka Mor: Keir's daughter, Rhysand's cousin, third-in-command of the Night Court. Her power is truth and she is a member of the Court of Dreams.
• Amren: Second-in-command of the Night Court, member of the Court of Dreams, Varian's lover. A former inmate of the Prison, she was a mysterious creature from a different realm trapped in a fae body, who later breaks free from it and transforms into High Fae.
• Tamlin: High Lord of the Spring Court, Feyre's former fiancé. He brought Feyre into the faerie lands as punishment for killing Andras. He can shape shift, winnow, and manipulate air.
• Amarantha: Former general of the King of Hybern. She tricked the High Lords out of their power and took control of Prythian for 49 years, making her base Under the Mountain. She is killed by Tamiln after she snaps Feyre's neck.

Maas initially intended the series as a retelling of the fairy tales Beauty and the Beast, East of the Sun and West of the Moon, and Tam Lin. These tales inspired the finished series, though it was not ultimately a dedicated retelling.[12]

She began writing A Court of Thorns and Roses in early 2009, with the first draft taking about five weeks to complete.[13]

A Court of Mist and Fury's first draft was written entirely in a split point of view between Feyre and Rhys.[14] The second books went through multiple name changes, including A Court of Wind and Stone, A Court of Calm and Fury, A Court of Stars and Smoke, A Court of Wings and Stars, A Court of Venom and Silver and A Court of Stars and Frost.[15] Like the first novel, the second is based around multiple fairy tales and myths, including Hades and Persephone, where the Greek mythology inspired characters such as Rhysand and Feyre and their home in the Night Court.[16] Other fairy tale inspirations include Hansel and Gretel, which inspired the character of the Weaver,[15] and the Book of Exodus, which loosely inspired parts of the backstory for Miryam and Drakon.[14]

The final cover of A Court of Wings and Ruin was designed by Adrian Dadich, with the dress pictured on the cover originally designed by Charlie Bowater, and later adapted by Dadich.[17]

On July 12, 2016, Entertainment Weekly reported that Maas was writing five new books for the series, which would include two novellas and three further novels which would be set before and after the first trilogy.[18][19]

In 2020, the series was reprinted and published by Bloomsbury with new illustrated covers.[20]

A Court of Thorns and Roses was optioned by Jo Bamford's and Piers Tempest's Tempo Productions in November 2015.[21] The producers revealed in 2018 they had hired Rachel Hirons to work as the movie's screenwriter.[22]