A Court of Thorns and Roses Character Analysis

Feyre

The novel’s protagonist, 19-year-old Feyre is a young mortal woman who, after killing a faerie disguised as a wolf, is taken north into the faerie realm Prythian. Feyre is deeply loyal to her family… read analysis of Feyre

Tamlin/the Beast

Tamlin (whom Feyre refers to as “the beast” until she learns his name) is the High Lord of the Spring Court. He’s extremely attractive, with golden hair in his more human form and the ability… read analysis of Tamlin/the Beast

Amarantha

The antagonist of the novel, Amarantha is a High Fae from Hybern who works on behalf of the King of Hybern. Though she’s beautiful, with reddish hair, Feyre notes that there’s something about her… read analysis of Amarantha

Lucien

Lucien is Tamlin’s friend and official emissary for the Spring Court. Lucien is prickly and is regularly somewhat caustic with Feyre, if not outright antagonistic. Some of this is due to him overestimating… read analysis of Lucien

Alis

Alis is a lesser faerie from the Summer Court who has been working as a servant in the Spring Court for about 50 years. She fled from the Summer Court with her nephews after her… read analysis of Alis

Rhysand

Rhysand is the High Lord of the Night Court. He’s a shockingly handsome High Fae, even by faerie standards, with dark hair, dark violet eyes, and the ability to shapeshift into something bat-like. He initially… read analysis of Rhysand

Nesta

Nesta is Feyre’s oldest sister. Though Feyre finds Nesta cruel and cold, like their mother, the novel ultimately reveals that Nesta is more than that. Feyre realizes that while Nesta certainly does hate… read analysis of Nesta

Elain

Elain is the middle sister between Nesta and Feyre. Good-natured and kind, if a bit self-absorbed, Elain never gives up on her hope for a better future, tending to a small flower garden outside… read analysis of Elain

Father

Feyre, Elain, and Nesta’s father was born into a wealthy merchant family and inherited the family business when it was already deep in debt. His attempts to improve the financial situation backfired… read analysis of Father

Mother

Feyre, Elain, and Nesta’s mother died of typhus more than a decade before the novel begins. She was a socialite with little time or interest in her own children, beyond making sure… read analysis of Mother

Isaac Hale

Isaac is a local farmer’s son who has been in a casual sexual relationship with Feyre for two years by the time the novel begins. He’s handsome and well-off, and Feyre recognizes she has no… read analysis of Isaac Hale

The Mercenary

Feyre sells the skins from the doe and the wolf to the female mercenary sitting in the village’s market. The mercenary has fought faeries before and warns Feyre about venturing too far into the northern… read analysis of The Mercenary

Andras/the Wolf

Andras is a High Fae sentry in the Spring Court. Prior to the start of the novel, Tamlin turns him into a wolf and sends him into the human realm, hoping a human girl or… read analysis of Andras/the Wolf

The Suriel

The Suriel is a lesser faerie who belongs to no specific court. He’s tall, skeletal, and wears a tattered robe. If one catches the Suriel, the Suriel is bound to answer any questions truthfully. This… read analysis of The Suriel

The King of Hybern

The faerie King of Hybern rules the kingdom of Hybern, a large island across a sea from the continent on which Feyre and Tamlin live. Hybern is entirely a faerie realm and has no human… read analysis of The King of Hybern

Clare Beddor

Clare Beddor is a mortal girl who lives in Feyre’s village and is friends with Nesta and Elain. Feyre gives Clare’s name to Rhysand instead of her own, which results in Amarantha ordering… read analysis of Clare Beddor

Jurian

Jurian is a historical human warrior who fought in the War. He and the High Fae Clythia had a passionate romance during the war—but Jurian never truly loved her. He betrayed her and her soldiers… read analysis of Jurian

Clythia

Clythia is a historical High Fae who fought in the War with humans. She was Amarantha’s sister who entered into a passionate romance with Jurian, a human warrior in the War. Clythia was… read analysis of Clythia

The Summer Court Faerie

The Summer Court Faerie is a lesser faerie whom Amarantha leaves for dead after ripping off his wings. He’s blue, with long black hair. Tamlin attempts to save the faerie with Feyre’s help, but… read analysis of The Summer Court Faerie

The Attor

The Attor is an evil faerie who works as one of Amarantha’s minions. It’s a towering beast, with bat-like ears, a long snout with lots of sharp teeth, and a tall and skeletal frame… read analysis of The Attor

Minor Characters

Tomas Mandray

Tomas Mandray is one of the woodcutter’s sons in Feyre’s village. He has been courting Nesta and plans to ask to marry her. Feyre begs Nesta to say no, saying that Tomas’s father beats his mother, and Tomas and his brothers do nothing to stop the abuse.

The Naga

The naga are a group of nefarious faeries who accost Feyre and the Suriel in the woods on Spring Court lands. They’re skeletal, strong, and fast-moving. Feyre manages to kill several, and Tamlin kills the rest.

The Bogge

The Bogge is a nefarious faerie that encroaches on Spring Court lands. It has no shape or real power—until someone looks at it, at which point it becomes real and can harm or kill. It threatens Feyre and Lucien, and several days later, Tamlin kills it.

The Lady of the Autumn Court

The Lady of the Autumn Court is Lucien’s mother. To thank Feyre for saving Lucien’s life, she assists Feyre with one of Amarantha’s impossible household tasks.

The High Lord of the Summer Court

It’s implied that the High Lord of the Summer Court has planned an escape from Amarantha’s court, but thanks to Rhysand, its extent remains unknown. However, a lesser lord in the Summer Court dies to protect others involved, including the High Lord.

The High Lord of the Autumn Court

The High Lord of the Autumn Court is Lucien’s father.

A Court of Thorns and Roses Characters