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Yes, A Court of Forgotten Melody by Sarah J. Maas is worth listening to if you’re already invested in the ACOTAR universe and want more time in Prythian’s fae courts, though newcomers should start earlier in the series first. As the seventh book in the series that reshaped modern fantasy romance, it delivers exactly the kind of sprawling, court-hopping, slow-burn intensity fans have come to expect from Maas.
Quick verdict
This is Maas at her most expansive, and that’s both the appeal and the challenge. A Court of Forgotten Melody leans into everything longtime readers love about ACOTAR — court intrigue, high-stakes bonds, and a slow unraveling of old secrets — while stretching the canvas even wider than before. If you’ve stuck with the series this far, this installment rewards that patience.
What it’s about
The story pulls listeners back into the fractured, dragon-haunted politics of Prythian, where old alliances are tested and new threats emerge from corners of the world Maas hasn’t fully explored until now. Without spoiling the plot, expect familiar faces from earlier books to resurface alongside new players whose loyalties aren’t immediately clear. As the longest book in the series, A Court of Forgotten Melody has room to let its political threads and romantic tension breathe in ways shorter installments couldn’t.
Why it works as an audiobook
Audio suits this series’ voice-driven, multi-POV storytelling especially well. Maas writes dialogue-heavy court scenes and internal monologue in equal measure, and a strong narration cast can differentiate her large ensemble of characters — courts, kings, and love interests alike — far more cleanly than the page sometimes allows. Long series entries like this one also benefit from audio’s pacing: a good narrator can carry listeners through dense worldbuilding stretches that might otherwise feel slow in print.
Who should read it
This one is built for existing ACOTAR fans, not first-timers. If you’ve already fallen for the series’ blend of fae politics, morally gray love interests, and slow-burn tension, book seven gives you more of what hooked you. Readers who enjoyed the found-family stakes of Fourth Wing or the dark romantic fantasy of From Blood and Ash will recognize the same emotional engine here, just with several more books of history behind it.
Similar books
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros — dragons, a brutal war college, and a slow-burn romance with just as much political scheming.
- From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout — a hidden princess, a forbidden guard, and court intrigue with a similarly steamy slow burn.
- Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin — witches and huntsmen forced into an uneasy alliance, with the same enemies-to-lovers pull.
FAQ
Is A Court of Forgotten Melody a standalone or does it require reading the rest of the ACOTAR series first? It’s the seventh installment in the ACOTAR series, so it leans heavily on established characters and court politics; new listeners should start with A Court of Thorns and Roses first.
How long is the A Court of Forgotten Melody audiobook? Sarah J. Maas has billed it as the longest ACOTAR book yet, though exact run time depends on the audio edition you choose.
Do I need to listen to the ACOTAR audiobooks in order? Yes — the series builds court alliances, romances, and political stakes book over book, so listening out of order will spoil major arcs and blunt the emotional payoff.
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