Summary

• Each of Sarah J. Maas' leading ladies in her fantasy book series possesses unique strengths and flaws, but some are better heroines than others.
• Nesta from A Court of Thorns & Roses exhibits strong personality traits but struggles with likability and doesn't get enough time to develop.
• Aelin Galathynius from Throne of Glass stands out as the strongest and most developed female lead in Maas' lineup.

A Court of Thorns & Roses, Crescent City, and Throne of Glass all boast strength and courage, they also have attributes that set them apart from one another. Celaena Sardothien — later known as Aelin Galathynius — comes from a royal background and relies on physical strength to get by. Meanwhile, a lead like ACOTAR's Feyre depends more on wit and determination to succeed.

Maas' protagonists also have significant flaws, some of which are more obvious than others. Nesta's shortcomings are highlighted throughout the original Maas' fantasy book series with their arcs.

4 Nesta Archeron From A Court Of Silver Flames

Maas Needs To Spend More Time On Nesta's Character

Nesta has only been the lead character in one ACOTAR book — A Court of Silver Flames — and that makes it difficult to size her up against Maas' other heroines. Nesta has a far stronger personality than most of Maas' characters, but that's not always for the better. As the initial ACOTAR novels are told from Feyre's perspective, readers are treated to a less favorable view of Nesta. Feyre and her sister don't get along, and Nesta comes off as angry and unreasonable because of it. Fortunately, later installments offer more nuance before A Court of Silver Flames makes her a heroine.

Nesta is the epitome of a flawed female lead, and while that might endear her to some readers, it doesn't necessarily make her a great heroine.

But even as Nesta gets better characterization from Maas, it's hard to grapple with some of her actions and choices throughout A Court of Thorns & Roses. Nesta is the epitome of a flawed female lead, and while that might endear her to some readers, it doesn't necessarily make her a great heroine. Nesta's trauma offers an explanation for her guarded personality and entitlement, but that doesn't make these elements of her character easier to swallow. Nesta's past fails to justify many of her actions in the present storyline. It makes her growth feel like too little, too late.

To be fair, Maas doesn't give Nesta as much time to evolve as her other heroines, though the next ACOTAR book could change this, even if it switches leads. Nesta doesn't have as many epic moments as the other books' main characters, making her a bit less memorable as well. And although Nesta's self-sabotage and negative coping mechanisms make for a realistic and interesting journey, Maas doesn't do enough with her. Hopefully, future books flesh out Nesta's character even further. At present, she's the weakest of Maas' heroines despite showcasing serious potential.

3 Bryce Quinlan From Crescent City

Bryce's Moments Of Greatness Don't Make Up For Her Flaws

Crescent City's Bryce Quinlan isn't quite as divisive as Nesta Archeron, but she fails to leave an impression on par with heroines like Feyre and Aelin. Bryce has redeeming qualities that make her a compelling enough character to follow throughout the first three Crescent City books. However, she does take some getting used to, as she initially comes off as a bit self-centered and immature. Bryce gets the chance to grow and explore her behavior as the series continues, but she doesn't feel as relatable as Maas' other leads.

Given her three-book arc, Bryce is a bit more fleshed out than Nesta. However, Nesta's reasons for pushing people away are more understandable than Bryce's. And Bryce's development doesn't feel nearly as pronounced as Feyre's or Aelin's. While these characters have similar flaws early on, they're easier to overlook in their respective series. Bryce's shortcomings are almost too jarring in Crescent City, and it sometimes makes it difficult to get invested in her narrative. The way Bryce treats the people she cares about makes her much harder to root for than Feyre or Aelin.

At her worst, Bryce even feels like she's borrowing qualities from Maas' former heroines. This isn't a bad thing on its own, but it makes her feel less unique — and she wears her strengths and weaknesses less impressively than Maas' other main characters. Fortunately, Bryce does showcase moments of loyalty and strength that prevent her from being Maas' worst-written heroine. Bryce also has some truly epic moments throughout Crescent City thanks to her Starborn abilities. It's not enough to make up for her worst moments, but it does land her just above Nesta when comparing Maas' leads.

2 Feyre Archeron From A Court Of Thorns & Roses

Feyre's Journey Highlights Her Courage & Resourcefulness

While Nesta finds herself in the spotlight for one ACOTAR book, Feyre serves as the central heroine of all the other books in the series. Feyre starts off as an incredibly resourceful character, showcasing her commitment to keeping her family alive and protecting the people she cares about. The end of A Court of Thorns & Roses drives home how far Feyre is willing to go for the people she loves, and her journey Under the Mountain highlights her bravery. Her resourcefulness and courage crop up repeatedly in ACOTAR's sequels, and this makes her an easy lead to root for.

Feyre isn't without shortcomings, but Maas writes her with enough depth that readers can empathize with her despite these flaws. ACOTAR's heroine doesn't always treat her sisters as fairly as she should, and this is especially noticeable with Nesta in A Court of Silver Flames. But even if Feyre doesn't always approach her sisters' trauma with care, she is there for them when push comes to shove. The ACOTAR books make sure to address her mistakes, and they show readers where she's coming from. Even when she comes off poorly, it typically makes her more realistic and relatable.

A Court of Thorns & Roses also does a solid job of fleshing out Feyre's trauma, both from her upbringing and the emotional abuse she experiences while she's with Tamlin. A Court of Mist & Fury digs into Feyre's PTSD impressively, and the series makes her healing journey feel lengthier and more complete than Nesta's. This makes Feyre feel like a more developed protagonist overall. She really comes into her own over the course of A Court of Thorns & Roses, and her growth is more notable than Nesta's and Bryce's. She's only second to one heroine from Maas' novels: Aelin Galathynius.

1 Aelin Galathynius From Throne Of Glass

Maas Does A Lot With Aelin's Character Over 8 Books

Perhaps it's because Maas' Throne of Glass series consists of seven full-length books and a novella collection, but its heroine is the strongest of the author's female leads. Aelin Galathynius begins her on-page journey as Celaena Sardothien, famously known as Adarlan's Assassin. Celaena has already been through quite a lot when Throne of Glass opens, having lost her family, lover, and freedom. As she fights to get her freedom back, Celaena grows immensely. She stops running from her past and embraces her royal heritage — and her responsibility to take back Terrasen and other oppressed kingdoms from a tyrannical empire.

Aelin is cocky and brash when Throne of Glass opens, but it's easy to see where her flaws come from. Maas' original lead is tasked with surviving in a harsh world from childhood. The trauma of her upbringing is evident in everything she says and does. But beneath Aelin's cool demeanor is a much softer person. Even at the beginning of her character arc, Aelin has a strong moral com and strives to do the right thing. Despite being an assassin, she's always trying to help the people who truly need it.

Aelin's morals become more fine-tuned as Throne of Glass continues, and she feels like a totally different person when the series reaches its end. This is fitting, as she starts her journey with one name and identity and concludes it with another. Her transformation from Celaena Sardothien to Aelin is masterfully done, and her character development is undoubtedly more fleshed out than any of Maas' other heroines. Readers get to see Aelin at every stage of her journey, and they witness how she pushes past the obstacles to fulfilling her destiny.

In addition to showcasing a strong resolve and resilience — much like Feyre — Aelin also boasts physical strength. Her training as an assassin renders her capable of holding her own in a fight, and this leads to some great Throne of Glass moments. Aelin also has magic, which she regains and learns to control over her character arc. Her fiery abilities make her a force to be reckoned with, and it's difficult to imagine any of Maas' other heroines achieving the feats Aelin does. While all of Sarah J. Maas' leads are great in their own ways, Throne of Glass' main character is truly something special.