The "Worst" ACOTAR Book Was Actually The Series' Most Read Entry In 2026

Published Nov 9, 2026, 2:00 PM EST Hannah is a senior writer and self-publisher at ScreenRant. There, she focuses on writing news, features, and list-style articles about all things comics, books, anime, and manga. She works as a freelance writer in the entertainment industry, focusing on video games, anime, and literature. Her published works can be found on Screen Rant, FinanceBuzz, She Reads, and She Writes. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses series has never struggled to attract readers, but the latest Libby checkout figures reveal an interesting development in the franchise's continued popularity. One of its most divisive installments, A Court of Frost and Starlight, experienced the largest increase in library checkouts among the original five books, challenging the idea that readers consider it an easily forgettable part of the saga. Compared with October 2025, every ACOTAR book experienced an increase in checkouts during October 2026 per a press release. However, A Court of Frost and Starlight stood out with a remarkable 37.5% jump, comfortably surpassing the other installments. The numbers suggest that readers are showing renewed interest in the entire series, including the book that frequently attracts criticism across the wider series. A Court of Frost and Starlight is available to purchase now through this link A Court Of Frost And Starlight Has Always Been A Different Kind Of ACOTAR Book Custom Image by Sam MacLennan Released between A Court of Wings and Ruin and A Court of Silver Flames, A Court of Frost and Starlight serves as a bridge rather than another sprawling fantasy romance entry in the ACOTAR series. The shorter installment turns its attention to the aftermath of the war with Hybern, giving its characters room to process what happened before the series moves into its next major story. Its winter-solstice setting also gives the book a noticeably quieter atmosphere. Feyre and Rhysand's relationship, the Night Court's inner circle, and the effort to rebuild after devastating losses take priority over a large external conflict. The seasonal celebration creates space for domestic scenes and conversations that the more action-heavy installments rarely pause to explore between major plot arcs. That difference helps explain why the novella can attract the "worst" label without being an outright failure. Some readers see it as an unnecessary pause or an extended interlude, particularly because its main events feel smaller than the battles surrounding it. Others value the quieter character moments and the chance to see Prythian begin recovering, away from another looming war. Libby's Numbers Show The Novella Is Gaining Ground Custom Image by Yailin Chacon The year-over-year checkout increases cover every book in the first five-title run: A Court of Thorns and Roses rose 17.1%, A Court of Mist and Fury increased 19%, and A Court of Wings and Ruin climbed 23.9%. A Court of Silver Flames was up 26.4%, while A Court of Frost and Starlight led with a 37.5% jump. That lead is substantial: the novella's growth exceeded Silver Flames' increase by 11.1 percentage points. It also outpaced the original novel and the two installments that follow it in the main trilogy. The pattern suggests that readers returning to the series are not simply skipping the shorter book on their way to Nesta's story, as some might expect. The timing makes the renewed interest especially notable, with a new ACOTAR installment bringing readers back to Maas' world. Still, Libby's figures measure how much checkouts increased compared with the previous October; they do not provide the total number of checkouts for each title. The data identifies Frost and Starlight as the fastest-growing entry, not definitively the most-read book overall.