If you’ve spent any time at all in the Sarah J. Maas fandom, you know the vibe. Mention the Court of Nightmares ACOTAR readers immediately picture that dark, jagged throne, the smell of stagnant power, and Keir’s smug, punchable face. It’s the place that makes the rest of the Night Court look like a spa retreat. Honestly, it’s also one of the most misunderstood corners of Prythian because it isn't just a "villain lair" trope. It is a political cage.
Most people get it twisted. They think Rhysand actually likes being the High Lord of that place. He doesn't. He hates it. But the Hewn City—which is the actual physical location of the Court of Nightmares—is a necessary evil that keeps the Velaris dream alive.
The Brutal Reality of the Hewn City
The Court of Nightmares isn't some metaphorical spooky basement. It's a literal subterranean city carved into the stone of the Black Mountains. If Velaris represents the soul of the Night Court, the Hewn City is the baggage. It’s where the "traditional" Night Court values live. By traditional, I mean the cruel, power-hungry, and patriarchal nonsense that Rhysand spent centuries trying to dismantle or at least hide away.
Think about the architecture for a second. It's cold. It's sharp. Maas describes it with a heaviness that contrasts perfectly with the starlight and sea breezes of Velaris. In the Court of Nightmares, everything is about hierarchy. You’ve got the High Lord’s throne sitting on a dais that’s basically designed to make everyone else feel small.
It’s a nasty place.
The people there, led by Mor’s father Keir, are stagnant. They haven't evolved. They still practice the "old ways," which include some pretty horrific stuff regarding how they treat women and how they barter for power. It’s why Mor’s backstory is so gut-wrenching. She didn't just escape a bad family; she escaped an entire culture built on the idea that her body was a bargaining chip for the Court of Nightmares ACOTAR political machine.
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Why Rhysand Plays the Villain
This is where the nuance kicks in. To the world at large—to the other High Lords like Beron or Tamlin—Rhysand is the monster of the Court of Nightmares. He puts on the mask. He wears the black silks, he sits on that throne with a bored, lethal expression, and he acts like the ruthless bastard everyone expects him to be.
Why? Because it’s a distraction.
As long as the rest of Prythian believes the Night Court is just a bunch of underground sadists, they don't go looking for Velaris. They don't look for the City of Starlight. The Court of Nightmares ACOTAR serves as a giant, terrifying smokescreen. Rhysand essentially plays the role of a warden. He keeps the "Nightmares" contained within those mountain walls so they don't bleed out and infect the rest of the world.
It’s a heavy price. Imagine having to pretend you’re a tyrant just to keep your friends safe. It’s a recurring theme in A Court of Mist and Fury and A Court of Wings and Ruin. When Feyre first visits, she has to play the part too. She can't be the soft-hearted girl from the human realms; she has to be the icy, untouchable High Lady. That scene where she sits on Rhys’s lap while he’s on the throne? That wasn't just for spice. It was a calculated political move to show dominance over Keir and his cronies.
The Keir Problem and the Looming Threat
Keir is the steward of the Hewn City, and he’s arguably one of the most hated characters in the entire series. He’s Mor’s father, but the "father" label is used very loosely here. He’s the one who nailed the note to her stomach.
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The tension between the inner circle and the Court of Nightmares ACOTAR leadership is always at a boiling point. Keir wants access to Velaris. He wants the sunshine. He wants the wealth. Rhysand manages this by giving him the bare minimum of concessions, usually tied to military support. During the war against Hybern, Rhys had to make a deal with the devil. He had to allow Keir’s dark fliers to participate in the war, which meant eventually giving Keir a foot in the door to the rest of the world.
It’s a ticking time bomb.
Fans often ask why Rhys doesn't just glass the whole place. Why not just kill Keir and be done with it? Because power vacuums are dangerous. If Rhysand wipes out the established (albeit cruel) hierarchy of the Hewn City, he risks a civil war within his own borders. He’s balancing on a razor’s edge. He needs their numbers for his army, but he loathes their ethics.
The Mor Connection: More Than Just Trauma
We can't talk about this place without talking about Morrigan. To her, the Court of Nightmares is a tomb. Every time she has to go back there, it’s a feat of incredible mental strength.
The "Nightmares" aren't just the people; they are the memories.
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Maas uses this location to highlight the difference between "chosen family" and "blood family." The Inner Circle is the family Rhys chose. The Court of Nightmares is the family he’s stuck with by birthright. It’s a brilliant bit of world-building because it prevents the Night Court from being too perfect. It gives the setting "teeth." Without the darkness of the Hewn City, the light of Velaris wouldn't feel as earned. It wouldn't feel as fragile.
Practical Takeaways for Your Re-read
When you’re going back through the books—maybe prepping for whatever SJM drops next—pay attention to the shifts in Rhysand's body language the second he enters the Black Mountains.
- Look for the Mask: Notice how Rhysand’s internal monologue (or his dialogue with Feyre) changes. He becomes more performative.
- The Gender Dynamics: Observe how the women in the Hewn City are depicted compared to those in Velaris. It’s a stark, intentional contrast that drives home the feminist themes of the series.
- The Military Necessity: Watch how the Court of Nightmares ACOTAR forces are used in the battles. They are brutal, efficient, and entirely devoid of the "honor" you see in the Illyrian camps.
- The Hidden Details: Maas hides clues about the ancient history of Prythian in the carvings and the "old feel" of the Hewn City. It’s one of the oldest inhabited spots in the books.
The Court of Nightmares isn't just a place where bad things happen. It’s a reflection of the past that Rhysand is trying to outrun. It’s the shadow that makes the light visible. Honestly, without it, the stakes in the Night Court wouldn't be half as interesting.
If you want to really understand the political landscape of the series, stop looking at the Court of Nightmares as a villain's lair. Start looking at it as a prison where the High Lord is also the chief jailer. It changes everything about how you view Rhysand’s "cruelty" in the early chapters of the series.
Next time you're browsing fan art or theories, look into the specific history of the "Dark Fliers." There is a lot of untapped lore there regarding how they differ from the Illyrians, and it’s likely going to play a role in the future of the ACOTAR universe. Pay attention to the bargains made in those halls; in Maas’s world, a bargain made in the dark always comes to light eventually.