Five stars, one very questionable fictional-man obsession, and a full cast production that apparently wasn’t going to let me have a normal evening.
This is the one. THIS is the one.
Five stars. My favourite book in the ACOTAR series.
A Court of Silver Flames is an extremely close second, but ACOMAF still has my heart. The romance, the found family, Velaris, the bat boys, the tension. Good grief, the tension.
I loved this book the first time around, and listening to it again on GraphicAudio has reminded me exactly why.
In my ACOTAR book one review, I said that the first book was the setup and that the people abandoning the series halfway through were quitting before the real story had a chance to get going.
Well, welcome to book two.
This is where everything starts falling into place, where the little details from book one suddenly mean something entirely different, and where I finally get the Inner Circle I’ve been waiting for.
And Rhysand?
I had already fallen for that man in book one, which probably says something about my questionable taste in fictional men.
Let’s just say this reread hasn’t improved the situation.
A quick spoiler warning: This review assumes you’ve finished A Court of Thorns and Roses. I’ll talk about the aftermath of book one, Feyre’s changing relationships and the characters introduced in book two, but I’ll save the big ACOMAF reveals and ending for the spoiler section at the bottom.
If you haven’t read book one yet, start with my ACOTAR review here.
What is A Court of Mist and Fury about?
Feyre survived Under the Mountain, defeated Amarantha and returned to the Spring Court.
Happy ending, right?
Not quite.
She’s struggling with everything that happened to her, and the life she thought she wanted doesn’t feel the same anymore.
Tamlin is determined to keep her safe, but his idea of protecting her involves keeping her inside the manor, limiting what she can do and making decisions for her.
Feyre wants to learn how to use her new powers. She wants to help. She wants to feel like herself again.
And she can’t even bring herself to pick up a paintbrush.
Meanwhile, there’s the small matter of that bargain she made with Rhysand Under the Mountain.
One week every month at the Night Court.
A bargain that becomes considerably more important than anyone at the Spring Court would like.
That’s as much of the plot as I’m giving you here.
If you want the complete story, including the timeline, major reveals, character relationships and ending, I’ve also put together a full ACOMAF summary and character guide.
This review is about what I thought of the book, why I love it and whether the GraphicAudio version deserves a place in your headphones.
Spoiler: yes.
Just perhaps not on the school run.
Tamlin, we need to have a conversation
I mentioned in my book one review that certain things about Tamlin hit differently when you reread the series.
Well, now I can actually talk about it.
In book one, I could understand why Feyre fell for him. He offers her safety, a beautiful home and a life that is completely different from the one she had as a human.
And after everything she’s been through, of course she wants to feel safe.
But rereading those early Spring Court scenes when you know what’s coming in book two?
The protection starts looking a lot less romantic.
What gets me is that Feyre is telling him what she needs.
She wants to train. She wants to leave the manor. She wants to be involved in her own life.
And instead of listening to her, Tamlin keeps trying to make her world smaller.
I understand that he’s dealing with his own trauma and fear after Under the Mountain. I don’t think he’s sitting there plotting how to make her miserable.
But being frightened of losing someone doesn’t give you the right to make all their decisions for them.
And Feyre has already spent enough time being trapped by someone else’s choices.
The thing I love about the way this story develops is that Feyre doesn’t simply wake up one morning and stop caring about Tamlin.
It’s much more complicated than that.
She has to work out what she actually wants, rather than what everyone else thinks is best for her.
And watching her start to find her way back to herself is one of my favourite parts of this entire book.
I came for the romance.
I stayed for a woman learning that she’s allowed to have a say in her own bloody life.
Why I chose GraphicAudio for my reread
I’m working my way through the ACOTAR series again ahead of the new releases, starting with A Court of Splintered Harmony on 27 October 2026.
And after listening to Fourth Wing on GraphicAudio, there was absolutely no chance I was going back to a standard audiobook for this reread.
If you haven’t tried GraphicAudio before, it’s a dramatised adaptation with a full cast, music and sound effects.
Different actors play different characters, conversations actually sound like conversations, and the music gives the big moments an atmosphere that you don’t necessarily get from reading the words on a page.
Book one was a completely different experience for me on audio.
I couldn’t skim through the slower parts to get to the bits I remembered loving, and I ended up noticing things I’d missed on my original read.
Book two was different.
I wasn’t impatient to get to the next part. I was enjoying being back in the world, spending time with the characters and listening to all those conversations that I already knew were leading somewhere.
And finally hearing the Inner Circle together?
That was worth the reread on its own.
Suddenly Cassian, Azriel, Mor and Amren aren’t just names I remember from the books. They’re voices I can recognise, personalities I can hear and people I actually feel like I’m spending time with.
Which is lovely.
Until the series starts putting them in danger and I remember why getting emotionally attached to fictional people is a terrible hobby.
The GraphicAudio cast and performances
The main cast includes Melody Muze as Feyre, Anthony Palmini as Rhysand, Amanda Forstrom as Mor, Nora Achrati as Amren and Jon Vertullo as Cassian.
Henry W. Kramer returns as Tamlin, and Gabriel Michael is also part of the production.
Full cast, for reference:
- Feyre Archeron: Melody Muze
- Rhysand: Anthony Palmini
- Morrigan (Mor): Amanda Forstrom
- Amren: Nora Achrati
- Cassian: Jon Vertullo
- Azriel: Shawn K. Jain
- Tamlin: Henry W. Kramer
- Lucien: Gabriel Michael
And I have to give Anthony Palmini his own little moment here.
Because Rhysand.
In book one, Rhys had relatively little page time compared with the other main characters, but every time he appeared, he had my full attention.
Book two gives him so much more to do.
There’s the teasing, the confidence, the moments when he’s deliberately trying to annoy Feyre, and then those quieter moments when you get a glimpse of something completely different underneath all that attitude.
Hearing those changes in his voice makes the character feel much more layered.
And then there’s the banter.
Feyre and Rhys exchanging sarcastic little comments is one of my favourite things about their relationship, and the full cast brings those conversations to life.
Some of the best moments aren’t the dramatic scenes or the spicy ones.
They’re the two of them being absolute smartarses to each other.
Which is apparently my love language when it comes to fictional men.
That wedding entrance
I knew it was coming.
I’d already read the book. I’d seen the fan edits. I knew exactly what was about to happen.
And then I heard:
“Hello, Feyre darling.”
That man.
That bloody man.
Three words, one entrance, and apparently I’m right back where I was the first time I read it.
The delivery, the timing and the atmosphere make it feel like an actual event.
I would have paid good money to see Tamlin’s face.
Well, technically, I did pay to hear it.
Money well spent.
The Weaver’s cottage
Another scene that benefits enormously from the audio production is the Weaver’s cottage.
Even knowing what happens, I still found myself getting tense.
The singing, the sound effects, the creepy atmosphere and Feyre trying to move around without being noticed all work together to make the scene feel genuinely unsettling.
It’s one thing to read about Feyre trying to retrieve something from a cottage belonging to a creature that might eat her.
It’s another thing to hear the Weaver in the background while Feyre is trying not to get herself killed.
And the fact that she has to keep quiet makes it worse.
I have absolutely no desire to visit that cottage, thank you very much.
I’ll admire the jewellery from a safe distance.
Velaris, the Inner Circle and my application for Night Court residency
Can we talk about Velaris?
Because I would move there.
Immediately.
Give me a little place in the Rainbow, somewhere to paint, a view of the Sidra and the occasional dinner invitation to the townhouse.
I’m not asking for much.
What I love about Velaris isn’t just that it’s beautiful. The Spring Court was beautiful too, and look how well that worked out.
It’s the feeling of being able to breathe.
Feyre has spent so much time being told what she can and can’t do, where she can go and what she’s allowed to know.
And then she discovers this entire hidden city.
A place filled with artists, restaurants, shops, music and people who have lives outside the politics of the courts.
The Rainbow in particular feels like somewhere Feyre could actually belong.
And the House of Wind?
I would absolutely live there.
Although someone would need to sort out those stairs first.
I’m here for a cosy reading night and a spectacular mountain view, not an unexpected fitness challenge.
And then there are the bat boys
Cassian and Azriel.
FINALLY.
I’d been waiting to properly meet these two on my GraphicAudio reread, and they did not disappoint.
I love that they’re completely different from Rhys, and from each other.
Cassian comes across as loud, confident and entirely too pleased with himself. Azriel is quieter, more reserved and the one I feel like I’d need to watch very carefully.
And the way they interact with Rhys?
You can tell these men have known each other for centuries.
They have that wonderful found-family dynamic where they’ll stand beside each other through absolutely anything, but they’re also quite happy to give one another a hard time.
Add Mor and Amren into the mix, and suddenly the Night Court feels less like a collection of powerful faeries and more like a family.
An extremely dangerous family.
With wings.
And apparently terrible timing when it comes to interrupting one another.
Cassian and Nesta need their own mention
I already knew I loved Cassian and Nesta together, but listening to their early interactions again was an absolute treat.
Every time these two are in the same room, I feel like I should be pulling up a chair and getting comfortable.
Nesta is not impressed.
Cassian is absolutely not going to let that stop him.
And I am thoroughly entertained.
Knowing where their story eventually goes makes these little moments even more enjoyable on a reread.
No spoilers for A Court of Silver Flames here, but I can absolutely understand why that book is such a close second for me.
The groundwork is already being laid, and I’m enjoying every second of it.
Feyre and Rhysand: the romance was romancing
Here’s the thing about the romance in this book.
Yes, I love Rhys.
Yes, I love the flirting.
Yes, I am fully aware of Chapter 55.
But what makes this relationship work for me is everything that happens before the big romantic moments.
The conversations. The letters. The ridiculous little comments they send back and forth.
The way Feyre gradually starts having fun again.
After everything she’s been through, watching her laugh, argue, learn and make friends is genuinely lovely.
And Rhys doesn’t just offer her a different court or a different relationship.
He encourages her to discover what she can do.
He teaches her, challenges her and gives her room to make her own decisions.
That doesn’t mean he’s perfect, and I don’t think the book pretends he is.
But I love watching Feyre become more confident around him.
She doesn’t have to be quiet, agreeable or grateful all the time.
She can argue with him.
She can be sarcastic.
She can tell him he’s being an idiot.
And, respectfully, I think he enjoys that far too much.
The romantic tension builds through all those little moments, which is why the eventual payoff works so well.
By the time you get to the famous chapters, you’ve spent so much time with these two that you’re already invested.
Chapter 55 isn’t carrying the entire romance.
It’s cashing in on all the flirting, emotional connection and tension that came before it.
And I was absolutely here for the payout.
A Court of Mist and Fury spicy chapters: how spicy is it?
My spice rating: 2.5/5 chillies
I know.
I KNOW.
ACOMAF has one of the most famous spicy chapters in romantasy, and here I am giving the book two and a half chillies.
But hear me out.
I rate the overall book, not just its spiciest chapter.
And while Chapter 55 is absolutely doing the most, the majority of ACOMAF is romance, tension, flirting and emotional development.
Which I love.
But if you’re coming into this expecting the same level of spice as some of the dark romance books I usually read, this isn’t that kind of book.
It’s a slow burn with a very memorable payoff.
In my book one review, I gave ACOTAR one chilli.
This is a noticeable step up.
And if you’re listening on GraphicAudio, the full cast makes the intimate scenes feel considerably more immediate.
There are certain chapters you can happily listen to while making dinner.
And then there are chapters where you need to make sure your Bluetooth hasn’t connected to the family car.
Ask me how much I trust Bluetooth.
Actually, don’t.
Which chapters are spicy in ACOMAF?
The four main chapters to note are 2, 42, 48 and 55.
Chapter 2: The early scene
We start with an open-door scene between Feyre and Tamlin.
It’s intimate, but it feels very different from the romantic tension that develops throughout the rest of the book.
I would make a note of this chapter if you’re trying to plan your audiobook listening.
Chapter 42: The Court of Nightmares
Ah yes.
The throne.
The performance.
The tension.
This one is more about the suggestive atmosphere and physical closeness than an actual sex scene, but it certainly earns its place on the list.
And knowing that these two are supposed to be putting on a performance makes the whole situation even more entertaining.
Respectfully, I was not calm.
Chapter 48: The inn
One room.
One bed.
Two people who have spent an unreasonable amount of time flirting with each other.
What could possibly happen?
This is one of my favourite romance tropes, and ACOMAF makes very good use of it.
It’s intimate and considerably steamier than the earlier tension, but it isn’t the big open-door payoff.
Which brings me to…
Chapter 55: THE chapter
The one everyone talks about.
The one responsible for an enormous amount of the book’s spicy reputation.
And yes, there is paint involved.
I am not going to spoil the emotional build-up here because I think it’s important to experience that part of the story for yourself.
But I will say that the actual scene is worth the wait.
And on GraphicAudio?
Headphones.
Please.
I don’t care how comfortable you are listening to spicy books. A full cast production with music and sound effects is a very different experience from reading on your Kindle.
Chapter 55 is not a family-car chapter.
It is not a school-pick-up chapter.
And it is absolutely not the chapter you accidentally play through the kitchen speaker while everyone is making breakfast.
Some things should remain between you, your headphones and your questionable taste in fictional men.
My favourite moments
I have far too many.
The wedding entrance is obviously up there. I’ve already made my feelings about those three words very clear.
I also love the letters between Feyre and Rhys.
The teasing, the little comments and the fact that these two can communicate an absolutely ridiculous amount of attitude in a few written words.
Then there’s the first look at Velaris, meeting the Inner Circle, Feyre starting to train, and all those little moments when she begins to act more like herself again.
And Mor.
I absolutely love Mor.
She’s warm, glamorous, powerful and exactly the kind of woman I’d want in my corner when everything has gone spectacularly wrong.
Then there are the bat boys.
Every dinner with the Inner Circle.
Every interaction between Cassian and Nesta.
And the moments when Feyre’s powers start coming together and you get a proper glimpse of what she’s capable of.
But if I had to choose one thing that makes this book special to me, it’s Feyre finding somewhere she belongs.
Not just with a romantic partner.
With friends. With people who care about her. With a city that feels like home.
And with the freedom to work out who she wants to be.
That’s the part of the story I love just as much as the romance.
Possibly more.
Although Chapter 55 would probably like to lodge an objection.
Who should read A Court of Mist and Fury?
If you finished book one and you’re wondering whether the series is worth continuing, this is the book that made me fall properly in love with it.
If you enjoy slow-burn romance, banter, forced proximity, found family, magical cities and fictional men with wings, there’s plenty here to enjoy.
If you loved the GraphicAudio version of Fourth Wing, I’d also give this production a try.
And if you’ve already read ACOMAF but haven’t revisited it for a while, I think GraphicAudio gives you a lovely excuse to go back.
Especially if, like me, you know what’s coming and still get ridiculously excited when certain characters appear.
A quick comfort-level check
There are some genuinely difficult themes in this book, particularly Feyre’s trauma following Under the Mountain, nightmares, panic attacks, controlling behaviour, confinement, violence and the threat of war.
The later parts of the book also contain some distressing situations involving characters who have very little control over what happens to them.
If those are difficult subjects for you, check the content warnings before reading or listening.
The GraphicAudio production adds another layer through the performances, music and sound effects, so scenes involving panic or violence can feel more intense than they do on the page.
And if you’re not comfortable with explicit sexual content, Chapters 2 and 55 are the main open-door scenes to be aware of, with additional intimate content in Chapters 42 and 48.
You can love romantasy and still have your own comfort limits.
If A Court of Mist and Fury had a scent
Velaris at night.
That’s what I want this book to smell like.
Something bright and fresh to capture the city and the feeling of Feyre discovering an entirely new world.
Citrus, pink pomegranate and lush florals.
Then something warm underneath, like amber, for the candlelit townhouse, the mountain cabin and those moments when everything finally starts feeling like home.
The Spring Court in book one was roses, beautiful gardens and the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
ACOMAF is fresh night air, flowers spilling from balconies and a whole city waiting to be explored.
With just enough warmth to make you want to stay.
And a tiny hint of trouble.
Because apparently the Night Court comes with an entire collection of fictional men I’m not emotionally equipped to deal with.
(If you want to bottle it: this is more or less Starfall Nights from my own range.)
What I’d pair with this reading night
The Illyrian Storm Mule
A proper ginger kick, fresh lime and a frosted copper mug.
Get the recipe, including the alcohol-free version.
Illyrian Wings
Crispy chicken wings tossed in hot honey, lime and ginger glaze.
Get the recipe, including the oven method.
Yes, I paired a book about winged warriors with chicken wings.
And yes, I was extremely pleased with myself.
Both recipes are part of my Saturday Night Sip, Snack & Smut reading ritual, which is basically my excuse to make something delicious, get comfortable and spend an evening with fictional people.
The perfect plan for a GraphicAudio reread.
Just make sure you’ve checked which chapter you’re up to before anyone else gets in the car.
EmberSas ratings and review snapshot
A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES SERIES, BOOK 2
A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas | GraphicAudio dramatised adaptation | Reread
- Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
- GraphicAudio: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
- Spice: 🌶️ 2.5/5
- Romantic tension: 🔥 5/5
- Emotional damage: 💀 3/5
- Found family: 🏷️ 5/5
Main spicy chapters: 2, 42, 48 and 55
Favourite thing: Velaris, the Inner Circle and the romance that makes me want to start the whole series again.
Headphone warning: Chapter 55. No further questions.
Series placement: My favourite ACOTAR book, with A Court of Silver Flames an extremely close second.
Final verdict: Five stars and a new address in Velaris, please
I absolutely adore this book.
The first time I read it, I fell in love with the Night Court, the characters and the romance.
Listening to it again reminded me why ACOMAF is still my favourite book in the series.
It’s not just Rhysand, although I am certainly not complaining about him.
It’s Feyre learning to trust herself again.
It’s finding a home and a family she didn’t know existed.
It’s the letters, the banter, the friendships, the magic and the little moments that suddenly make everything from book one feel different.
It’s Cassian and Nesta being ridiculous.
It’s Mor being the friend everyone deserves.
It’s Azriel quietly observing everything while I become increasingly suspicious that the quiet ones are always the most dangerous.
And it’s Rhysand.
Obviously.
The GraphicAudio production brings all of it to life, from the creepy atmosphere of the Weaver’s cottage to the warmth of the Inner Circle and the romantic tension that practically needs its own warning label.
Five stars for the book.
Five for the production.
And no, I’m still not over Chapter 55.
Two books down on my reread, and next up is A Court of Wings and Ruin.
I’m excited to get back into it, but I’m also going to miss spending time in this part of the story.
Which is ridiculous, considering I’ve already read the series and know perfectly well that I can come back whenever I want.
Apparently, I’m emotionally attached to an entire fictional city now.
Perfectly normal reader behaviour.
Okay, ACOMAF. FIVE STARS. My favourite in the whole series, and ACOSF is a very, very close second.
I finally got to hear the bat boys on GraphicAudio, and honestly, Cassian and Nesta in the same room are already doing things to my sanity.
Velaris? I’m moving. The Inner Circle? Adopt me. Rhysand? Don’t even get me started.
The letters, the wedding, the banter, the romance. All of it. And Chapter 55 on GraphicAudio? Headphones, ladies. I am begging you to check your Bluetooth.
I loved this book the first time and I loved it just as much on the reread. Now I’m heading into ACOWAR, because apparently I enjoy becoming emotionally attached to fictional people and then putting myself through it all over again.
The spoiler lounge
Everything below contains major spoilers for A Court of Mist and Fury, including the mating bond, Nesta and Elain’s transformation, and the ending.
If you haven’t finished the book, this is your exit.
If you have, pull up a chair. I have things to discuss.
The soup. THE SOUP.
Of all the ways Feyre could have accepted the mating bond, she gives Rhysand a bowl of soup.
A BOWL OF SOUP.
This man is the most powerful High Lord in Prythian. He has an entire hidden city, a collection of extremely attractive winged warriors and more power than he knows what to do with.
And one of the most important romantic moments of his life involves a bowl of soup.
I absolutely love it.
Not because it’s some grand romantic gesture, but because it isn’t.
After everything Feyre has been through, the moment she chooses Rhys is quiet, personal and entirely her own decision.
She’s listened to him explain their connection and why he kept it from her.
And then she gives him the soup.
That’s it.
She’s choosing him.
Of course, I now have an entirely separate problem.
What kind of soup was it?
Because I cannot believe that Sarah J. Maas gave me an entire romantic subplot involving a bowl of soup and didn’t tell me what was in it.
My vote is chicken soup.
Something warm and comforting.
Do I have any evidence whatsoever?
Absolutely not.
But I have decided that this is an important literary discussion, and I would very much like to hear everyone else’s theories.
Chapter 55, and why the build-up matters
Yes, it’s spicy.
Yes, the paint is involved.
And yes, listening to it on GraphicAudio was an experience.
But I think what makes this chapter so good is that it comes after everything that’s happened between Feyre and Rhys.
It’s not just two attractive people finally getting together.
It’s all the flirting, the conversations, the trust they’ve gradually built and Feyre choosing the relationship for herself.
By the time Chapter 55 arrives, I’m already completely invested.
The spicy scene is a bonus.
A very, very good bonus.
But I don’t think it would have had anywhere near the same effect if we hadn’t spent so much time watching their relationship develop.
And after Chapter 54?
Honestly, I was already gone.
The soup did me in.
Nesta and the Cauldron
Can we please discuss Nesta?
Because in the middle of one of the most horrifying scenes in the entire book, she still manages to make me laugh.
Elain has been forced into the Cauldron, Nesta is about to suffer the same fate, and the King of Hybern is standing there behaving like he’s already won.
And Nesta?
She points at him.
That single gesture is so completely Nesta.
Even when she’s terrified, even when she’s being forced into something she has absolutely no control over, she’s still looking that man in the face and making it very clear that she hasn’t surrendered.
I laughed out loud.
Not because the situation was funny, because it absolutely wasn’t.
But because I could practically hear Nesta telling him exactly what she thought of him without saying a single word.
And knowing what comes later in A Court of Silver Flames makes this moment even more significant on a reread.
I love that woman.
Would I want to get on her bad side?
Absolutely bloody not.
Elain and Lucien
Oh, Lucien.
Of all the possible moments to discover that someone is your mate, you really had to pick that one?
Elain has just been forcibly transformed into High Fae.
Her entire life has been turned upside down.
Her sister is furious, everyone is in danger, and the situation is already an absolute disaster.
And then Lucien realises she’s his mate.
Sir.
READ THE ROOM.
I understand that he can’t control when the mating bond becomes apparent to him, but the timing is spectacularly unfortunate.
And now I have even more questions about where their story is going.
Because a mating bond is one thing.
What Elain actually wants is another.
And after watching Feyre spend an entire book figuring out that she deserves to make her own choices, I’m particularly interested in seeing how that plays out for her sister.
Feyre becomes High Lady
Remember when Tamlin told Feyre that there was no such thing as a High Lady?
Well.
Would you look at that.
Rhysand doesn’t simply want Feyre standing beside him as his partner.
He makes her High Lady of the Night Court.
His equal.
And I love that the reveal comes at the end of the book, when we discover that the ceremony happened before the mission to Hybern.
Which makes Feyre’s decision to return to the Spring Court even better.
Because Tamlin thinks he’s bringing home the woman he loves.
And he’s actually bringing home the High Lady of the Night Court.
I would pay a truly unreasonable amount of money to see the look on his face when he eventually finds out.
That ending. Good grief.
This is one of my favourite endings in the series.
Because Feyre isn’t being taken back to the Spring Court against her will.
She’s going back deliberately.
She knows what she’s doing.
She knows who she is.
And she lets Tamlin believe that he’s rescued her.
The mating bond is still intact. Hybern has broken the original bargain, not the deeper bond between Feyre and Rhys.
Her sisters are safe with the Night Court.
And Feyre is walking straight into the Spring Court with a plan.
The difference between the woman who was trapped inside that manor at the beginning of the book and the woman who returns at the end is enormous.
And that’s what I love about it.
She’s not waiting for someone to come and rescue her this time.
She’s going in to do something herself.
As the High Lady of the Night Court.
I finished this book knowing exactly what happens next and still wanted to start A Court of Wings and Ruin immediately.
Five stars.
No hesitation.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a Spring Court disaster to revisit.
Your turn, book club
If you’ve finished ACOMAF, I need to know:
Was Chapter 55 everything you expected?
Are you Team Velaris or Team Summer Court?
Which member of the Inner Circle would you invite over for dinner?
And most importantly, what kind of soup do you think Feyre made?
Because apparently, I have important things to discuss.
