Exploring the Impact of “A Court of Thorns and Roses”

Few book series captivate young female readers quite like Sarah J. Maas’ “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” This immensely popular series tells the story of Feyre Archeron, a human huntress who is drawn from a desperate village into the faerie courts of Prythian. There, she encounters immortal politics, ancient magic, and a transformative romance.

However, Allie Beth Stuckey has raised some concerns regarding the craze surrounding this series, particularly within the BookTok community, which resonates with many women, including those of Christian faith. On her show “Relatable,” she delves into the series and the broader romantasy genre, arguing that they serve more than mere entertainment.

“Despite Maas’s claims that her hypersexual novels are ‘more than smut,’ the representation of relationships, morality, and sexuality in her works is hardly neutral or, frankly, biblical,” Allie states.

She further argues that these romantasy novels influence how women, including those who are Christians, perceive men and marriage, and this, in turn, affects children and society at large.

Though Allie enjoys fiction, she warns Christians against reading Maas’s works and those of similar authors because many of them contain “pornographic” elements that contradict the biblical call to focus on virtuous thoughts, as outlined in Philippians 4:8. Moreover, she believes they skew readers’ perceptions of reality, especially when it comes to relationships.

Allie highlights a moment where Maas told a podcast host that she was proud her books inspire women to leave abusive husbands.

“We agree that if there’s abuse, protection is vital for you and your kids. But what does Sarah J. Maas define as abuse?” she questions. “It feels like the definition has broadened to include behaviors that weren’t previously classified as abusive. So when she discusses women leaving their partners, I wonder: is it truly out of abuse, or is it a result of their husbands not meeting the fantastical standards of love portrayed in her novels?”

She illustrates her point with a TikTok video featuring a fan who claimed that reading the books led her to divorce, as they made her realize she deserved a more thrilling and passionate love life.

Another fan shared on Reddit that revisiting one of the series’ books revealed it had skewed her understanding of love, leaving her wondering if she could ever find a man as dedicated as Rhys, one of the characters.

“Well, you’re correct; he’s not real,” Allie quips.

This example encapsulates one of her principal critiques of Maas’s books and the romantasy genre: they create unrealistic expectations surrounding romantic relationships.

“Comparing flawed, real people—who experience sin, fatigue, distractions, and their own personal challenges—to a mythical being and then feeling disappointed when your partner doesn’t measure up? That’s concerning,” Allie remarks.

She notes that there’s a cultural trend toward seeking effortless lives and relationships without challenges, leading to a mindset where individuals feel entitled to only perfect experiences.

“Reflect for a moment: Do you, as an individual, offer perfection?” Allie asks. “No one does. Certainly not me. Yet, there’s a certain expectation that women have, especially online, expecting men to meet standards they usually don’t apply to themselves.”

Allie cites supporters of Lindsay Clancy, who show immense sympathy for a woman accused of killing her children but may not extend equal understanding to mentally ill men involved in similar situations.

She suggests the narrative that “women are always victims” has harmful repercussions, particularly for those who abandon their husbands or relationships, driven by comparisons to fictional heroes who are perfect in every way.

In the “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, Allie points out, Rhys is depicted as “the most stunning man imaginable,” powerful yet always emotionally available and supportive of Feyre, also encouraging her independence. “Is that so hard for real men? Come on, it’s not too much to ask,” she jokes.

To hear more of Allie’s insights, check out the full episode.