I Don't Read Fantasy—Here's What I Thought About ACOTAR

Diving Into ACOTAR As a Non-Fantasy Reader

I’ve always been a mystery lover. Give me an Agatha Christie novel, a thrilling whodunit, or a fast-paced psychological twist, and I’m hooked. But fantasy? Not my thing.

Yet, after years of seeing A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) dominate BookTok, bookstagram, and every bookstore shelf, I figured—why not? Could this massively hyped series change my reading habits? Could I, a die-hard mystery fan, actually enjoy a fantasy novel?

Here’s my honest take on ACOTAR from the perspective of a non-fantasy reader—the struggles, the surprises, and whether I’d pick up Book 3.

Step One: Learning to Accept Fantasy Worlds 🏰

Let’s get real—one of the hardest things about reading fantasy is learning the rules of the world. It’s like jumping into a new game without knowing how to play.

When I started ACOTAR, I felt like I was wading through a fog of fae politics, strange terminology, and unfamiliar world-building. Unlike mystery books, where I instantly know the rules (there’s a crime, a detective, and a culprit), fantasy requires time to adjust.

🧐 The struggle?

• Keeping track of the different fae courts (Spring Court, Night Court, Day Court… help).
• Remembering who’s who (Tamlin, Lucien, Rhysand—so many new names).
• Understanding the magic system (What are faebanes? Who exactly controls what?).

But once I accepted the world and stopped questioning every detail, things finally clicked—and I started enjoying the ride.

The Turning Point: When ACOTAR Hooked Me

For the first few hundred pages, I won’t lie—I struggled. I listened to the audiobook in my car, tried reading at night, but I just wasn’t connecting. Then, somewhere around chapter 20, something changed.

✨ What hooked me?

• The Beauty and the Beast vibes in Book 1 (classic fairytale retelling, but darker).
• The character growth—Feyre goes from a skeptical outsider to someone I genuinely rooted for.
• The romance tension (I live for a slow burn).

Once I hit the final quarter of the book, I was all in. The stakes were high, the world made sense, and I needed to know what happened next.

Book 2: A Whole New Obsession

After Book 1, I immediately bought Book 2, A Court of Mist and Fury—and wow.

📖 Why I Loved It More Than Book 1:

• The introduction of Rhysand (swoon).
• A deeper, more immersive world (Velaris? I need to move there immediately).
• Stronger character dynamics—we see Feyre struggle, heal, and rebuild herself.

This book felt like it had more layers, more depth, and it totally outshined Book 1 for me.

Things I Struggled With As a Non-Fantasy Reader

Even though I ended up enjoying ACOTAR, some things were still hard for me to get into:

💥 Action & Battle Scenes – I’m the type of person who zones out during long fight scenes in movies, so reading them? Also not my favorite. I skimmed through some of the action-heavy sections to get back to the character interactions.

🌍 Complex Politics & Magic Systems – High Lords, different courts, magical abilities—I eventually got it, but it took way more effort than my usual reads.

🔥 The Spice Levels – Let’s just say, this series is NOT YA. If you go in expecting mild romance, be warned—it’s intense.

Would I Read More Fantasy After ACOTAR?

Honestly? Yes. This series pushed me out of my reading comfort zone, and I’m glad it did.

Here’s what I learned from stepping into fantasy:
✔ Give the world-building time—the first few chapters are always the hardest.
✔ Fantasy is best enjoyed when you stop questioning everything and just accept the world.
✔ Audiobooks help—hearing fantasy names aloud made it so much easier to keep track.

I’m taking a short break (back to my mystery thrillers!), but I’ll definitely be picking up A Court of Wings and Ruin soon.

Fantasy Is a Whole Different Reading Experience

Diving into ACOTAR as a non-fantasy reader was like stepping into a completely new world—literally. At first, I felt lost, overwhelmed by the world-building, and unsure if this genre was for me. But once I let go, everything clicked, and I finally understood the obsession.

It turns out, switching genres can be a game-changer. Even if fantasy isn’t your usual go-to, sometimes all it takes is the right book to open a whole new reading experience. ACOTAR challenged me, surprised me, and in the end, made me want more.

So, will I read more fantasy? Absolutely. But first, a quick break for some mystery novels—because old habits die hard.

Stay adventurous with more bookish discussions—only at Woke Waves Magazine!

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