★★★☆☆

If you’ve ever wondered what fae do on their version of Christmas break, A Court of Frost and Starlight has the answer: shop, flirt, and angst about unresolved trauma. A little fun, a little filler, and just enough tension to look forward to the next full-length novel.

This novella doesn’t aim to be an epic continuation of the series but serves as a slice-of-life breather before the next book. If you’re invested in Nesta’s arc or enjoy cozy character moments, it’s worth the read, earning a solid 3 stars and consistent with my overall enjoyment of the series so far.

The TL;DR

What’s it about?

A light, slice-of-life look at Feyre, Rhysand, and their inner circle during the Winter Solstice.

Should you care?

Perfect if you love the characters and want a cozy glimpse of their downtime, but skip if you need action or plot progression.

Reading Timeline

• Mood: Oh what fun!
• Dates: December 15-17, 2024

Main Review

The Good: Nesta’s Struggles Take Centre Stage

For a novella that’s mostly fluff, ACOFAS dives surprisingly deep into Nesta’s ongoing struggles since becoming fae. Her cold, standoffish demeanour isn’t just a personality quirk, it’s armour, forged by trauma, guilt, and the feeling of being a perpetual outsider.

Nesta is a fascinating foil to Feyre’s headstrong resilience: where Feyre channels her pain into action, Nesta implodes, retreating into bitterness and self-destruction. This contrast showcases how grief and trauma shapes people in different ways. For fans of the ice queen trope, Nesta’s moments of vulnerability offer a deeper understanding of why she’s become the way she is and why she’s worth rooting for.

The Bad: Cassian Deserved Better

While Nesta’s struggles and icy demeanour are explored in more depth, Cassian is left feeling underdeveloped in comparison. His role is primarily supportive, with peeks into his humor and charm, but his inner thoughts and emotions remain largely unexplored. As half of one of the novella’s central dynamics, his lack of depth makes their interactions feel a little one-sided, leaving his potential as a character untapped.

The WTF: Too Many Mates

Do these people do anything besides drink wine, shop, and stare longingly at each other? Also, Rhysand is somehow even more perfect here, if that’s possible.

And let’s not talk about how many times the word ‘mate’ gets tossed around in 200 pages.

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Read This

Read this if…

• You’re a die-hard fan of the series and want more time with the inner circle.
• You want a light, low-stakes interlude before diving into the next book.
• You’re interested in the tension and dynamic between Cassian and Nesta.

Skip it if…

• You’re expecting significant plot or character development — it’s fluff, not substance.

Final Take

Like a warm-up before the next big event, ACOFAS is enjoyable for fans who just want to spend more time in Prythian, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking.

⅗ Stars: A character-focused interlude with some standout moments, although it feels more like a bonus scene than a must-read instalment.