Reading ACOTAR for the First Time | Chapters 1–15

Reading Progress

📖 Book: A Court of Thorns and Roses

📍 Chapters: 1–15

🚫 Spoilers: Through Chapter 15 only

First Impressions

I first got introduced to this book when my friend from class told me about the series. At first, I was skeptical. I mean, how interesting could a book about humans and faeries really be? But, after reading the first few chapters, I was HOOKED.

The world Sarah J. Maas creates pulled me in almost immediately. I love books that slowly reveal little pieces of the world instead of explaining everything at once, and that's exactly what this one has done so far. Every chapter seems to answer one question while creating three new ones, and I can't stop wanting to know what happens next.

I also wasn't expecting to become so invested in the characters this quickly. Even though I'm only fifteen chapters in, I already have strong opinions (which I'm sure will change as I keep reading). There's still so much I don't understand about Prythian, the blight, and what's really going on, but that's part of what makes it so hard to put down.

Character Check-in

Within the first fifteen chapters, I've already met quite a few characters, and believe me when I say I already have some opinions. These are my first impressions as of Chapter 15, so no spoilers beyond this point!

• Feyre: She's already proving to be such a strong main character. I really admire how fiercely protective she is of her family, even when they don't always deserve it. I do wish she would stand up for herself more, but I also understand why she feels responsible for everyone. Although, as a fellow youngest sister, I cannot help but have some disdain towards her family. I am excited to see how she grows throughout the series.

• Nesta: Whew... she's making it really hard for me to like her right now. I know there has to be more to her story, but after the first fifteen chapters, she's definitely my least favorite. I'm hoping she gets some character development because right now she's testing my patience.

• Elain: She seems so sweet compared to Nesta, but I don't feel like I know enough about her yet. I'm curious to see if she'll have a bigger role later because right now she almost feels like a mystery. I wish both her and Nesta would really step up when it comes to helping with the family.

• Papa Archeron: I have such mixed feelings about Papa Archeron so far. On one hand, I feel for everything he's been through and understand that losing his fortune and suffering a permanent injury changed his life. On the other hand, it's frustrating to watch Feyre carry the weight of providing for the entire family while he seems to accept their situation. I did appreciate his heartfelt goodbye to Feyre before she left for Prythian, and it made me wonder if there's more to his character than we've seen so far.

• Tamlin: I honestly don't know what to think about him yet. On one hand, he seems kind and patient with Feyre, but on the other hand, the way he barged in the Archeron house and captured Feyre doesn't sit right with me. He definitely has me intrigued, and I feel like he's hiding something.

• Lucien: A hot new bombshell has entered the villa!!! His sarcastic personality makes every scene he's in more entertaining, and I love the back-and-forth between him and Feyre. He acts like he doesn't care, but I have a feeling there's more beneath the surface.

• Alis: She seems genuinely caring, even though she's a faerie. I like that she's looking out for Feyre, and I'm interested to learn more about her.

• The Suriel: Okay... this was one of the coolest parts of the book so far. Such a creepy but fascinating character. The whole interaction left me with about a million more questions than answers.

Favorite Moments:

• Meeting the Suriel: This was probably one of the coolest chapters so far. The Suriel was creepy, mysterious, and somehow answered questions while creating even more. It definitely became one of my favorite scenes.

• Feyre killing the wolf: This is such a strong opening. It immediately shows how resourceful and fearless Feyre is, and it sets the entire story in motion. I also love how, at the time, neither Feyre nor the reader fully understands the consequences of her decision.

• The naga attack: The ending of Chapter 15 had me completely invested. Feyre trying to survive on her own, the chaos of the attack, and Tamlin arriving just in time made for a really exciting ending to this reading section.

• Feyre and Lucien's banter: Every interaction between these two has been entertaining. Lucien's sarcasm balances Feyre's stubbornness really well, and I always find myself smiling during their conversations. I fear that Tamlin is the love interest, but I ship these two...

• Nesta telling the Children of the Blessed to get lost: I know Nesta isn't exactly winning me over right now, but I have to admit this scene made me laugh. She has absolutely no filter and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Even though she's harsh, her confidence is entertaining.

Things I'm Curious About

The first fifteen chapters have already introduced so many questions, and I know I’m probably only scratching the surface. I want to keep track of the things that are making me curious now so I can look back later and see what I got right, what I completely missed, and what shocked me.

Some questions I already have:

• What is really causing the blight spreading across Prythian?

• What is the story behind the masks? Why are the Fae cursed to wear them?

• Can Tamlin actually be trusted, or is there more to him than he’s letting on?

• Why does Lucien act the way he does? Is he just sarcastic, or is there something deeper going on?

• Why does Feyre seem to be treated differently by some of the Fae?

• What exactly happened between the human world and Prythian?

• Are the legends Feyre grew up hearing actually true, or have humans been misunderstanding the Fae for centuries?

My Predictions 🔮

Okay, this section is where I get to make my (probably wrong) theories.

I want to write down my guesses as I go through the series so I can come back later and see whether I was onto something or completely fooled.

Current theories:

• I feel like Tamlin is hiding something. I don’t know if it’s good or bad yet, but I definitely don’t think we know the full story.

• Lucien seems like he has more depth than he lets on. The sarcasm feels like a defense mechanism.

• I have a feeling the blight is connected to something much bigger than just a random curse.

Final Thoughts (For Now) ✨

Fifteen chapters in, I can already tell that this series is going to be a journey. I went into A Court of Thorns and Roses knowing almost nothing, and somehow I already have theories, favorite characters, questions, and about a hundred things I need answers to.

So far, I’m really enjoying the way Sarah J. Maas has built this world. There is so much mystery surrounding Prythian, the Fae, and the curse that I feel like I’m constantly trying to piece together what is actually happening. I have a feeling that a lot of the things that seem small right now are probably going to become very important later.

Feyre has already proven that she is stubborn, resilient, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. I’m excited to see how her character develops and what this world brings out of her. I’m also curious to see which characters I end up loving, which ones I end up questioning, and which predictions I completely embarrass myself with.

For now, I’m officially invested. I have questions, I have theories, and I’m ready to see where this story goes.

See you after the next reading check-in 👀