As the wait for book 6 of the cancellation of the Hulu series, has not helped, leaving only speculation and theories to drive the fan base.

Even so, much of the speculation surrounding the next A Court Of Thorns & Roses book and its story has been fascinating, building on the detailed world-building and characterization Maas could jump off from. Despite the long wait, those details have let the series stay strong in book spaces, even setting some of the trends in the romantasy sphere. However, Maas' series handily avoids one trend that has cropped up within the genre, which audiences — myself included — are grateful for as the wait continues to drag onward.

I'm Glad A Court Of Thorns & Roses Didn't Leave Off On A Cliffhanger Ahead Of Book 6

A Court Of Silver Flames Fully Wrapped Up Nesta's Story

The fifth book in A Court Of Thorns & Roses closed out its story instead of leaving us on a cliffhanger, a fact that I am incredibly grateful for as the wait for book 6 continues. A Court Of Silver Flames shifted from previous books in the series by covering Nesta over Feyre, wrapping up large portions of her healing journey fully in a single installment rather than dragging it out for several books. While that means that some smaller details fell through the cracks, it does help the series overall, as its current ending is more fulfilling than frustrating.

Sarah J. Maas confirmed that book 6 of A Court Of Thorns & Roses was coming in January 2024.

By having an ending that wraps up a major character's arc over extending it, the wait for book 6 of A Court Of Thorns & Roses is a lot more bearable. Various audiences have reread A Court Of Thorns & Roses and found new possibilities behind each moment. Others have discovered Maas' series for the first time, enjoying all five books and their complete story while also coming up with their own ideas on what could be next. A cliffhanger would have minimized that, placing all the focus on one pivotal moment.

The Wait For Book 6 Would Be More Agonizing If A Court Of Silver Flames Didn't Have A Proper Ending

Ending On A Cliffhanger Would Have Dampened The Series' Themes

If A Court of Silver Flames had ended on a cliffhanger, the wait for A Court of Thorns & Roses 6 would be more torturous and cause greater frustration among fans. It could even potentially have hurt ACOTAR's reputation in book spaces. A Court of Silver Flames' ending concluded Nesta's storyline succinctly, largely due to the fact that the details of it were planted during the other four books. Had the book ended on a cliffhanger, that compelling journey would no longer be the focus. And it would make a longer wait between books more unbearable for readers wanting answers.

That wait could have dampened the impact of Nesta's arc, which continues to be debated in the fan base and is one reason it has remained so well-loved. Both the nuances of Nesta's mental health story and the few open plotlines, such as Elain's arc and Koshei's plans, have helped keep the series accessible and relevant. Theorizing can be fun, but the rise of cliffhangers in romantasy has done a disservice to some narratives, which A Court Of Thorns & Roses thankfully avoided.

Cliffhangers Are Becoming Increasingly Popular In Romantasy Books

Cliffhangers Can Both Help Create Suspense But Also Hurt The Overall Narrative

The rise of cliffhangers in romantasy books has helped create great moments of suspense, but sometimes causes narrative issues that finished romantasy book series like A Court Of Thorns & Roses don't need to contend with. Several major series have ended on cliffhangers in their latest installments, with Rebecca Yarros' Onyx Storm, Rachel Schneider's Metal Slinger, and When The Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker being prime examples of this recent pattern. Though they have created great levels of excitement and let their audiences come up with thrilling theories, there is a harmful element of this trend.

Ending on a cliffhanger each time in a romantasy series could undercut the excitement and storyline, resulting in the books being seen in a less than favorable light. A story that constantly ends on cliffhangers can feel choppy in some places, as the themes and ideas for smaller arcs can evolve into something completely different and shift the entire point of their inclusion. It can also cause people to become less excited about each book as they come to expect shock over all else. By having that completed note, A Court Of Thorns & Roses avoids this even as the wait continues.