ACOTAR 6: A Court of Splintered Harmony | Our Full Spoiler Review
We finally have A Court of Splintered Harmony in our hands, and we have SO much to talk about. Like the rest of the world, we've been waiting for this book for what feels like forever, and now that we've finished our first read, we're ready to get into all of it. What we loved, what surprised us, the characters we're questioning, and all the little details that have us already thinking about what Sarah J. Maas has planned next.
This is our full, honest, unfiltered ACOSH review. We're fresh off our first read, so we're still processing a lot of what happened and trying to piece everything together. One thing we can all agree on is that this book feels very different from the ACOTAR we've known for years, and we actually loved that.
If you've finished A Court of Splintered Harmony and desperately need someone to talk about it with, this is the episode for you.
FULL SPOILERS AHEAD for A Court of Splintered Harmony and the entire Sarah J. Maas universe, including Crescent City and Throne of Glass. You've been warned!
Our First Reactions to A Court of Splintered Harmony
We're all giving this book five stars, which probably isn't surprising, but we also think it's going to be one of the more divisive books in the ACOTAR series. It's a pretty significant departure from the romantic fantasy we've come to expect. There are so many new characters, territories, political conflicts, and pieces of lore being introduced that it feels much more like the beginning of an epic fantasy story.
We spent a lot of time talking about how well Sarah J. Maas handles the different POVs, especially when we're seeing characters we've known for years through an entirely different lens. Everyone has their own motivations and biases, and suddenly we're realizing just how much of what we thought we knew about these characters came from someone else's perspective. We also loved the pacing, even though so much of this book is dialogue, political setup, and character development rather than action.
Azriel's POV, His Shadows, and Truth-Teller
We finally get Azriel's POV, and we learned a lot more about him than we were expecting. His childhood was heartbreaking, and it's pretty clear that his past has shaped the way he sees himself. We talked about his relationship with his shadows, the fact that the wind and even the stone seem to speak to him, and whether some of those voices could be connected to Koschei or another power that's been influencing events for a very long time.
We also finally learn how Azriel came into possession of Truth-Teller, although that explanation raises about as many questions as it answers. Knowing more about the dagger's history, its connection to Gwydion, and the strange way Azriel seems to view it has us paying very close attention to what's happening with both weapons.
And obviously, we have to talk about Azriel and Elain. We were not expecting to get thrown into that relationship quite so quickly, but we're certainly not complaining. Between their secret relationship, Rhysand's reaction, and the political complications surrounding Elain's mating bond with Lucien, there's a lot to unpack.
Nesta, Cassian, and the Inner Circle
One of the biggest conversations we had was about how the Inner Circle is treating Nesta after she gave Bryce Quinlan the Mask in Crescent City. She made a decision that saved an entire planet, and now everyone seems more concerned that she didn't ask permission first. We had a pretty hard time understanding why some of the characters were so angry with her, especially when several of them admitted they would have made the same choice.
Cassian's perspective was the one we could actually understand. His frustration seemed less about Nesta's decision and more about feeling like she'd shut him out of their relationship. We really loved the conversations between them because they felt like two people trying to work through something difficult rather than a conflict created just for the sake of drama.
We're also learning more about Nesta's powers, including her ability to winnow, and it feels like we're only beginning to understand what she's capable of. With more Made objects appearing and the political situation becoming increasingly complicated, we think Nesta is going to have a pretty significant role in what's coming.
Feyre, Rhysand, and the Future of the Night Court
We spent some time talking about Feyre's experience with motherhood and how much we appreciated seeing that part of her life represented so openly. The breastfeeding conversations in particular felt very real, and we liked that Sarah J. Maas didn't shy away from writing about the realities of having a baby. Feyre is still Feyre, but her life has changed, and it makes sense that motherhood would be an important part of her story now.
Outside of that, things are getting pretty tense in the Night Court. The Inner Circle is arguing, the other courts and territories are questioning their decisions, and Rhysand seems to be carrying quite a bit more than he's letting on. His reaction to the idea of becoming High King was especially interesting to us, and we spent some time discussing what he might know that the rest of the characters don't.
The Unseen, New Territories, and All the New ACOTAR Lore
We could probably do an entire episode just about chapter two. Sarah J. Maas introduces so much new information about the world beyond Prythian, including Vallahan, Montesere, their political leaders, and the different beliefs and magical practices that exist outside the courts we're familiar with.
The Mistress of the Unseen was one of the characters that really caught our attention. Between her tattoos, her magic, and the way Feyre reacts to her, we aren't convinced she's anything like the fraudulent priestesses we've encountered before. We talked about whether the Unseen could be connected to another deity, what the repeated references to whispers might mean, and how all of this could tie into the larger conflict.
There are also some interesting references to the Children of the Blessed, the original priestesses, and characters we haven't heard about in a long time. We're definitely paying attention to who Sarah J. Maas is choosing to bring back into the conversation.
Made Objects, the Dread Trove, and Ancient Magic
We got some much-needed clarification about Made objects and the Dread Trove, including who can wield them and how many other powerful objects might still be out there. Apparently, quite a few of them are beginning to stir, and we have a feeling that's going to become a major problem.
There's also the question of why these objects are waking up now. Koschei's growing power seems to be part of the conversation, but we're curious about how the different magical objects, their histories, and the people connected to them will come into play as the story continues.
Koschei, Vassa, and the Ancient Fae Warrior
Even though Koschei isn't physically present for much of the story, we learned some interesting things about his history and the women connected to him. We spent time discussing the ancient female Fae warrior who trapped him, the bloodline of the women at the lake, and how this new information might change some of the theories we've had about Vassa and Theia.
We're also becoming increasingly suspicious of how much the characters actually know about Koschei and what it would take to defeat or release him. There are still so many pieces missing from this part of the story, but we're starting to see how it might connect to the larger Massverse.
Elain, Lucien, and the Mating Bond
Elain's relationship with Azriel is obviously a major topic of conversation, but we also spent time discussing what all of this means for Lucien. There's a political element to their mating bond that makes the situation much more complicated than simply deciding who Elain wants to be with, and Rhysand is clearly very aware of that.
We talked about Elain's agency, how mating bonds influence the characters, and the fact that we're finally seeing some movement in a storyline that's been debated for years. Lucien also continues to be an interesting character, especially as we learn more about his abilities and the things he seems capable of noticing that other characters miss.
Gwyn, the Priestesses, and Bryaxis
The priestesses have become a much bigger part of the story, and we're very interested in what Sarah J. Maas is doing with them. Between Gwyn's singing, the descriptions of her light, Clotho's mysterious gift, and the magic surrounding the priestesses, there are quite a few details that stood out to us.
Then there's Bryaxis, who made a rather unexpected appearance at Nyx's naming ceremony. We talked about why Bryaxis showed up there, who might have been involved, and why the creature seems so different from the one we encountered earlier in the series. We also loved getting to see Nesta and Feyre fighting together, especially with everything that's been happening between Nesta and the rest of the Inner Circle.
The Ending, Gwydion, and Truth-Teller
We have a lot of questions about the ending, particularly what happened with Gwydion at the Prison and how Amren might be involved. The circumstances surrounding the sword's disappearance felt far too important to overlook, and we're not convinced we have the full picture of what's happening.
Truth-Teller is another big question for us. Azriel spends so much of this book concerned about what the dagger might do now that Gwydion has returned, and yet it's left unattended by the end of the story. Both Gwyn and Erebos have shown an interest in its whereabouts, which feels like something we're probably going to be talking about for a while.
We have a lot of thoughts about where this could all be going, but we're saving our more detailed theories and predictions for our next episode.
Let's Talk About ACOTAR 6
We genuinely loved A Court of Splintered Harmony, and we're really excited to see where Sarah J. Maas takes this story. There are so many new questions, so many relationships changing, and so many little details that we already want to go back and reread.
If you've finished the book, come talk to us! We want to know what you thought, whether you agree with our takes, and what stood out to you the most.
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