The biggest question we have after reading A Court of Silver Flames

A Court of Silver Flames takes Sarah J. Maas’ bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series to the next level, introducing darker, more uncomfortable emotional themes and a lot of extremely explicit sex. The result is more a complex character study of one of the series’ most prickly and difficult characters – Nesta Archeron – and less a sweeping fantasy adventure than some of the series’ previous efforts.

This is also a novel that feels fully formed, a  complete story in and of itself. Sure, it introduces a new villain for Rhys, Feyre, and the Night Court, and the looming threat of another war they may or may not be able to win. But though those are all things that feel like they will naturally carry over to the as-yet-untitled sixth book in the series, there’s no hint that the next novel will feature Nesta as its primary protagonist.

And the thing is, it doesn’t feel like it really needs to. Nesta’s journey throughout Court of Silver Flames is about her own self-acceptance and healing, and by the end of the novel, she’s in a place where she’s admitted her feelings for Cassian, reconciled with her sister, and made her peace with all the choices she’s made. Nesta’s story certainly isn’t over by any stretch – the novel hints that at some point she and Cassian will want to have children and her work with her Valkyrie sisters will certainly continue. But those stories are clearly not going to be the direct focus of the series’ next book.

That leaves us with one big question to ponder after finishing A Court of Silver Flames though: Who, exactly, exactly will be the protagonist of the series’ next installment?

Possible A Court of Silver Flames follow-up: Elain’s story

The most obvious choice for the character at the center of the next book would seem to be Elain. She’s the Archeron sister we know the least about, and who probably has the most unanswered questions around her story. She seems to have adjusted to being High Fae more quickly than Nesta did, certainly, but she had her fair share of problems along the way. (And likely many that we, as readers, never saw.)

Elain is a Seer, but we have little understanding of her powers or what they mean. She’s adorably close with Shadowsinger Azriel but mated to Lucien, the sort of naturally heartbreaking set-up that lends itself to a good and likely tragic romance. Since both Rhys and Feyre and Nesta and Cassian are mates who have also chosen each other romantically, we’ve never actually seen what happens if it turns out you’re mated to someone you don’t actually like all that much.

Lucien’s involvement in Elain’s tale would also be a natural way to bring Tamlin and the Spring Court more fully back into focus. (Plus, Lucien is an intriguing character in his own right, and this would be a natural way to include him more fully in the story as well.)

Possible A Court of Silver Flames follow-up: Mor’s story

Admittedly, I’m personally most partial to this because Morrigan is one of my favorite female characters in the entire Court of Thrones and Roses series, and she felt painfully absent in A Court of Silver Flames. Yet, her absence also seemed terribly purposeful, and a novel focused on her character could grant us more insight into what she’s been doing in Vallahan and how she feels about everything that happened with Eris in this book.

But mostly, it’s just that Mor’s a fascinating character who deserves her full moment in the spotlight. She’s suffered terribly and worked hard to earn the right to choose her own future, after everything that’s happened to her. She deserves a similar story to Nesta’s, in which she is given the chance not just to heal, but to forgive herself for centuries of pain that is not her fault.

Plus there’s the outstanding issue of her sexuality (she’s bisexual, but generally prefers women) and Azriel’s unrequited feelings for her. Basically, Mor deserves some happiness on her own terms, and that’s a story I’d read.

Possible A Court of Silver Flames follow-up: Amren’s story

True, this is probably the most unlikely direction for the Court of Thorns and Roses series to go, but a novel focused on the strange and ancient Amren would certainly be an intriguing departure from what fans likely expect. And as the Night Court gears up to battle Koschei the Deathless, another old and essentially immortal being, there’s a certain symmetry to the idea as well.

We don’t even have a firm grasp on what Amren is, exactly, or at least what she used to be before the Cauldron remade her as a High Fae, and we have little knowledge of her history. Yet, she’s taken to her life in the Night Court, serving as Rhys’s second in command, and building a real – and apparently quite sexual -relationship with Summer Court resident Varian, who seems to basically be her live-in boyfriend at this point.

Perhaps Amren isn’t the most obvious choice for a sequel protagonist, but she’d certainly be one of the most interesting.

Who do you think will be the focus of the next A Court of Thorns and Roses book? Sound off in the comments.