Why Are Original Copies of A Court of Thorns and Roses Selling for So Much?
If you’ve perused Pango lately, or #booktwt or #booktok for that matter, you’ve probably noticed a certain 2015 fantasy bestselling series is currently in high demand. That series, of course, is author Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses series, and specifically, first editions copies.
While Maas’ ACOTAR series has always been popular, it wasn’t always the collector’s item that it is now. Since the series’ new covers debuted in 2020, editions with the older covers have been harder to come by, and those who own them have noticed.
The ACOTAR series is big on #booktok to this day, but it hit a real peak in the summer of 2021, shortly after the release of the fifth and final book in the series. If you’ve seen any of the ACOTAR books on #booktok, you likely saw the new covers: understated, with bright yellow text in an updated font over an ominous silhouette and monotone backdrop. These contrast with the original covers, which depict the protagonist Feyre in elegant, body-hugging gowns, the images cut off at the nose. The original covers show the books for what they are: sexy high fantasy novels that fall in the new adult genre, initially marketed as young adult, while the simpler new covers reveal less about the context, presumably to attract a broader audience.
On the right, the original cover art. To the left, the updated version.
A lot of Sarah J. Maas fans were understandably upset by the redesign as it’s important for many readers and book collectors to have complete matching sets of their favorite series. Some readers even started a petition for A Court of Silver Flames’ cover to be changed to match the old series covers so that it wouldn’t ruin their collection. Other readers resorted to creating custom dust jackets so that their collection could match, and sold them to other fans. And some have given up on the (unattainable) dream of owning a perfect collection of the old covers, instead opting to sell their original editions for a high profit and starting a new collection of the new covers.
Those who wish to get their hands on an original hardcover edition of any of the ACOTAR books, which includes A Court of Thorn and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight (the 2021 release, and A Court of Silver Flames never got the OG cover treatment), should be willing to pay a hefty price. ACOTAR is currently selling for upwards of $150 USD, ACOMAF’s highest listing price is $120 USD, ACOWAR is listed at $125 USD and ACOFAS is currently selling for $110 USD.
Even crazier, the now-discontinued 2019 coloring book that Maas (affectionately known as SJM) still has listed on her website has been reselling for upwards of $100 USD lately, and was selling for up to $400 USD back in 2019. One Twitter user lamented her frustration upon discovering that her copy which she thought was intact had actually been defaced by her child.
The saga of the ACOTAR covers and their pricing on the used market is a fascinating case study in the collectors passion that many readers bring to the books they love. For most folks though who are just interested in reading these novels, though, you can still find the newer editions for typical used and retail prices. Or, if you’re looking to opt for a different YA fantasy pick, try Claire Legrand’s tale of two prophesied queens, Furyborn, or Throne of Glass, another captivating read by Sarah J. Maas.