Honestly, if you're a Sarah J. Maas fan, you already know the struggle. Finding a specific A Court of Thorns and Roses special edition that doesn't cost as much as a used car is basically the "Final Boss" of book collecting. It’s wild. One day you’re just browsing Instagram, seeing these gorgeous sprayed edges and foil-stamped covers, and the next, you’re refreshing eBay at 2 AM hoping someone listed a copy for under five hundred dollars. They never do.
The obsession with these books isn't just about the story anymore. We’ve all read about Feyre and Rhysand a dozen times. This is about the shelf aesthetic. It’s about that tactile feeling of a high-quality hardcover that actually feels like a piece of art. But between the official publisher releases and the third-party book boxes like FairyLoot or Illumicrate, the market has become a total minefield.
The Collector’s Fever Dream
What most people get wrong is thinking there’s just one "special" version. There aren't. There are layers to this. You have the official Bloomsbury releases—like the collector's edition with the slipcase—and then you have the boutique stuff.
Take the 2019 Bloomsbury A Court of Thorns and Roses special edition. It’s gorgeous. It’s got that faux-leather look, gold foil, and it’s meant to sit on a desk looking all regal. But it’s just the first book. If you’re a completionist, this is your nightmare because they haven't given the full treatment to the rest of the series in that specific style.
Then you have the independent creators. People are literally taking standard paperbacks, ripping the covers off, and rebinding them in goat leather with custom hand-painted edges. Is it official? No. Is it $400? Usually. Does it look better than anything in a standard bookstore? Absolutely.
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The "big" ones everyone talks about are the FairyLoot sets. They are legendary. They featured exclusive covers, sprayed edges with actual patterns—not just a solid color—and those secret "under the dust jacket" designs that make your heart skip a beat. If you missed the original pre-order window, you’re basically looking at the resale market, which is a dark place. Prices for a full set of these can easily climb into the four-figure range. It’s a literal economy.
Why Some Editions Are Worth More Than Your Rent
It’s all about the "out of print" (OOP) status. Bloomsbury is smart. They know that if they keep everything in permanent print, the "specialness" fades. By making some of these runs limited, they create this frantic energy in the community.
Think about the original covers. You know, the ones with the actual people on them before the series got the minimalist "adult" redesign? Those are technically becoming "special" just by virtue of disappearing. If you have a first-edition, first-print copy of the original A Court of Mist and Fury, hang onto it.
The nuance here is that not every "special" version is actually high quality. I’ve seen some "special editions" where the sprayed edges bleed into the pages so badly you can’t even read the book without tearing the paper. It’s a gamble. Real collectors look for:
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- Sewn bindings instead of glued ones (they last longer and lay flat).
- Acid-free paper so the pages don't turn yellow and brittle by 2030.
- Artistic endpapers that feature officially licensed character art.
The Problem With Scalpers
We have to talk about the bots. It’s the same thing that happened with the PS5 and concert tickets. Every time a reputable company like LitJoy or Juniper Books announces a new A Court of Thorns and Roses special edition, the bots swoop in. Within three minutes, the "Sold Out" sign is up. Ten minutes later, those same copies are on Mercari for 300% markup. It sucks.
But there’s a counter-movement. Fans are starting to prefer the "dust jacket only" sets. Instead of buying a whole new set of books, you just buy high-end, heavy-duty paper jackets designed by artists like Nerdy Ink. It’s a clever workaround. You keep your beat-up reading copies, but they look like a million bucks on the shelf.
What to Look for Before You Drop the Cash
If you're hunting for a A Court of Thorns and Roses special edition right now, don't just click "buy" on the first shiny thing you see on Etsy. You need to be a bit of a detective.
First, check the ISBN. If the seller won't give it to you, walk away. You need to know exactly which printing you're getting. Second, look at the edges. Digital printing on book edges is the new standard, but it can look grainy. Hand-painted edges are "vibey" but prone to chipping if the artist didn't seal them right.
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Also, consider the "signed" factor. Sarah J. Maas doesn't do many public signings anymore compared to the early days. A truly signed A Court of Thorns and Roses special edition is the holy grail. But be careful—tip-in sheets (where she signs a piece of paper that gets bound into the book later) are common. They are real signatures, but some collectors value a "hand-signed" title page much higher.
It’s a weirdly complex world for what started as a YA-turned-New-Adult faerie story.
The Future of ACOTAR Collecting
With the Hulu show still in that weird "is it happening or not" limbo, the value of these books fluctuates. If a trailer ever actually drops? Expect prices to triple overnight.
Right now, we're seeing a trend toward "customization" over "mass-market special." People want something unique. They want the hidden details—like a map of Prythian etched into the leather or hidden quotes in the margins.
The reality is that a A Court of Thorns and Roses special edition is more than just a book at this point. It’s a trophy. It’s a way to show you were there before it was a global phenomenon, or that you care enough about the world of Velaris to want a piece of it that looks as beautiful as the City of Starlight itself.
How to Build Your Collection Without Going Broke
If you're ready to start your hunt for a A Court of Thorns and Roses special edition, stop looking at the mainstream sites first. The real deals happen in the shadows.
- Join Facebook BST (Buy, Sell, Trade) Groups: Look for groups specifically dedicated to SJM or FairyLoot. These communities often have strict rules against price gouging, and you’ll find fans selling to other fans at "cost plus shipping" rather than eBay prices.
- Verify the "Stated First Edition": Always ask for a photo of the copyright page. You're looking for a "1" in the number line. If the numbers start at 5 or 10, it's a later printing and shouldn't command a premium price.
- Invest in Dust Jackets First: If a $500 set is out of reach, companies like Juniper Books or Atouchofmagicau sell just the jackets. It’s the most cost-effective way to get that "special edition" look using the books you already own.
- Check Local Used Bookstores: It sounds crazy, but people often trade in "those old faerie books" without realizing they have a rare cover or a signed copy. I’ve seen $200 editions sitting on a "3 for $10" shelf because the clerk didn't know the difference between the 2015 and 2020 printings.
- Follow the Artists: Instead of waiting for a big box release, follow book rebinders on Instagram or TikTok. They often take commissions. You can send them your own copy of ACOTAR and have them turn it into a one-of-a-kind heirloom for a fraction of what a "rare" mass-produced set costs.