Reading ACOTAR for the First Time | Chapters 32-40

Reading Progress

📖 Book: A Court of Thorns and Roses

📍 Chapters: 32-40

🚫 Spoilers: Through Chapter 40 only

Initial Thoughts

I knew these chapters would be intense, but I wasn't expecting the story to change this dramatically. Up until this point, A Court of Thorns and Roses had felt like a slow-burn fantasy romance with hints that something bigger was coming. Chapters 32 through 40 completely flipped that on its head.

The moment Feyre decides to go Under the Mountain, the stakes become very real. Suddenly, the romance takes a backseat to survival, and every chapter left me wondering how she was possibly going to make it out alive. I found myself flying through these pages because every scene felt more suspenseful than the last.

One thing I especially appreciated was seeing a different side of Feyre. She doesn't have magic or years of training to rely on. Instead, she survives by being observant, determined, and willing to keep going even when she's terrified. Watching her step into danger knowing she would likely die for the people she loves made me respect her character so much more.

These chapters also introduced so many questions. Between finally learning the truth about Tamlin's curse, meeting Amarantha, and trying to figure out Rhysand's true motives, I constantly felt like there was more happening beneath the surface. Every time I thought I understood a character, something happened that made me second-guess everything.

Needless to say, this was the section that officially hooked me.

Character Check-in

If the first half of this book introduced the characters, these chapters completely redefined them. Alliances shifted, secrets were finally revealed, and several people became a whole lot more complicated. I have stronger opinions than ever, and somehow I'm questioning almost every first impression I had.

Returning Faces

• Feyre: She continues to impress me. Feyre willingly walked Under the Mountain knowing there was a very real chance she wouldn't come back, and that alone says everything about her character. I also loved watching her rely on her intelligence instead of brute strength during the first trial. She may not have magic, but she's resourceful, determined, and refuses to give up.

• Tamlin: My heart honestly hurt for him in these chapters. Learning the truth about his curse and everything he sacrificed to try to break it made me appreciate him so much more. That being said... watching him sit beside Amarantha while Feyre suffered was incredibly frustrating, even if I know there was very little he could do. I'm rooting for him, but I also wanted him to do something.

• Lucien: Once again, Lucien proves why he's one of my favorite characters. Even while trapped Under the Mountain, he still risks helping Feyre whenever he can. Healing her broken nose, checking on her after the trials, and continuing to care despite everything made me love him even more.

• Alis: MVP. Without Alis explaining the curse, Feyre would have had no idea what she was walking into. She has quietly become one of the most loyal and selfless characters in the book, and I'm so glad she got to play such an important role.

• Rhysand: I am CONFUSED. Every time I think I've figured him out, he immediately does something that completely changes my opinion. He humiliates Feyre, forces her into a bargain, and somehow still ends up saving her life... multiple times. Is he manipulative? Absolutely. Is he hiding something? Definitely. Am I wildly intrigued? Without question.

• The Attor: Somehow even creepier than before. I didn't think that was possible, but this thing continues to fuel my nightmares every time it appears.

New Faces

• Amarantha: Up until this point, we've only heard rumors about her. Being able to finally encounter her was not something I would wish upon anyone. She is every bit as horrifying as everyone warned us. She's cruel simply because she can be, and she seems to enjoy making people suffer. The reveal of Clare Beddor's fate genuinely made my stomach drop, and it's clear that Amarantha isn't someone who can be reasoned with.

• Jurian: I never expected an eyeball trapped inside a ring to become an actual character, but here we are. Everything we learn about Jurian's history with Amarantha adds another layer to the world's history, and the fact that he's still somehow aware of what's happening is incredibly unsettling.

Favorite Moments:

Even though these chapters were some of the darkest in the book so far, there were still a handful of moments that had me completely glued to the page. Here are a few that stood out the most:

• Alis finally telling Feyre the truth. This was one of those moments where everything from the first half of the book suddenly clicked into place. The curse, the masks, Tamlin's behavior... it all finally made sense.

• Feyre choosing to go Under the Mountain. This was the moment Feyre officially became a hero in my eyes. She knew she was walking toward almost certain death, but she went anyway.

• The Middengard Worm trial. Easily my favorite trial so far. Watching Feyre outsmart the worm with nothing but quick thinking and a pile of bones was so satisfying.

• Rhysand secretly helping during the second trial. His little hints about which lever to pull had me sitting there thinking, What are your motives, sir? Every interaction with him somehow raises more questions than answers.

• Lucien continuing to look out for Feyre. Even in the middle of everything happening Under the Mountain, he still found ways to help her. He's quietly becoming one of my favorite characters.

• The ending of Chapter 40. Feyre finally breaking down after keeping it together for so long absolutely broke my heart. Those last few pages perfectly captured just how exhausted and overwhelmed she had become.

Things I'm Curious About

These chapters answered a lot of questions... but somehow left me with even more. Here are the things I'm most excited (and slightly stressed) to find out as I keep reading:

• What is Rhysand's endgame? I genuinely cannot figure this male out. Is he helping Feyre because he has his own agenda, or is there something more going on?

• Can Feyre actually survive the final trial? She's already beaten two impossible challenges, but I have a feeling the hardest part is still ahead. However, I also feel like there wouldn't be four more books in the series if Feyre was just going to die.

• Will Tamlin finally be able to fight back? Now that I know why he's been so restrained, I'm anxious to see if he'll ever get the chance to stand up to Amarantha.

• How much more is there to learn about Prythian? Every new piece of history makes this world feel so much bigger, and I have a feeling we've only scratched the surface.

• Will anyone make it out of Under the Mountain unchanged? It already feels like these trials are changing Feyre, and I can't imagine anyone walking away from this experience the same person they were before.

My Predictions 🔮

I'm officially entering the final stretch of the book, and here are my predictions before I know how everything ends:

• I'm hoping for a happy ending. After everything Feyre has gone through, I desperately want to see her, Tamlin, and the Spring Court finally free from Amarantha.

• Feyre will complete the final trial. She's survived every impossible challenge so far by relying on her determination and quick thinking. I have faith she'll find a way through one more.

• Rhysand is not what he seems. There is way more to his story than we've been told. I don't know whether he'll end up being a friend or an enemy, but I refuse to believe he's simply evil.

• Tamlin will finally get his chance to fight. He's spent so much of this book unable to act because of the curse. I'm predicting he'll have one big moment before this is all over.

• Amarantha is going down. Whether it's Feyre, Tamlin, or someone else who delivers the final blow, I don't see this story ending with Amarantha still in power.

• This ending is going to emotionally wreck me. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing yet... but I have a feeling Sarah J. Maas has something huge waiting in these last few chapters.

Final Thoughts (For Now) ✨

If you had asked me a few chapters ago what I thought this book was about, my answer would have been completely different. These chapters transformed A Court of Thorns and Roses from a slow-burn fantasy romance into a high-stakes story about sacrifice, courage, and survival, and I am so invested.

I feel like I'm standing right before the grand finale with a million questions and no idea how they're all going to be answered. I'm rooting for Feyre more than ever, cautiously hopeful for Tamlin, and endlessly intrigued by Rhysand. At this point, I honestly have no clue what the ending will look like... I'm just hoping everyone I love makes it out alive.

Only eight chapters left. I'll see you after the finale.