10 Pieces Of A Court Of Thorns & Roses Fan Art That Make Us Love Rhysand Even More

Rhysand “Rhys” is one of the main characters in Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses, and fans create and share stunning works of art to express their love for the character. A Court of Thorns and Roses, even more so its sequel, is one of the books that best blends fantasy and romance. When he takes center stage in A Court of Mist and Fury, Rhys becomes the crux of a storyline where romance and personal power through magic are closely entwined, while subverting some romantasy tropes according to Maas’ personal style.

Casting Rhys for the A Court of Thorns and Roses show is going to be a monumental challenge when he is a larger-than-life character. More surrealistic and fantastical art better showcases his dark and dramatic aesthetics, as well as his goofy and vulnerable sides. While his character remains ensconced in the world of literature, fanart gives readers amazing visualizations of Rhys that bring to life every aspect of his character.

10 Art Of Rhysand Rivals His Most Dramatic Entrance

Much Fanart Of Rhys Captures His Dark & Dramatic Outward Persona

Rhys is a delight to render visually because he favors darker palettes accented by glittering stars, the forte of the Night Court. In A Court of Thorns and Roses, this aesthetic serves him well as a morally ambiguous secondary villain while Ferye and Tamlin’s relationship runs its course. However, shortly after the second book begins, readers internalize a lesson about misjudging appearances and the whole tone of the series changes as the Night Court becomes the primary setting.

A Court of Mist and Fury characterizes darkness as powerful and dangerous, but also soothing, and a place for those who feel misunderstood. Art produced by the fandom still embraces the volatile persona Rhys created for himself to protect his home, enjoying the moderate villainy in it. The darkest artwork of Rhys may be downright terrifying, but empowering to those who understand it.

9 Rhysand Is Just One Member Of The Powerful Illyrian Trio

Rhys, Cassian, & Azriel Together Are A Force To Be Reckoned With

Immediately after becoming High Lord, Rhys made his four closest friends his highest-ranking advisors, to the chagrin of the traditionalist members of the Night Court who loathed being below two bastard soldiers and two women. Rhys’ mother took in Cassian and Azriel, and the three trained together in an Illyrian camp, becoming adoptive brothers to each other. Cassian became the general of Rhys’ army while Azriel became his spymaster.

There is a popular image of Cassian and Azriel flanking Rhys, supporting their brother’s rule through their power and genuine love for him. Rhys’ father once split the trio up because he feared together they might be able to overthrow him, given that Cassian and Azriel are the two most powerful Illyrian soldiers to ever live. The group’s relationship is a fan-favorite part of the series, and not just because they are formidable together.

8 Starfall Is Rhysand & Feyre’s Most Beautiful Moment

Feyre Reflects On Her Relationship With Rhys During Her First Starfall

The celebration of an annual cosmic event where stardust comes raining down from the sky is Maas going all out on the glittering vision of the Night Court she has created. This particular piece of artwork captures what this event must be like to spectacular effect. Moreover, Starfall is arguably Rhys and Feyre’s best moment in the entire series, showcasing how Rhys has helped Feyre heal after the traumatic events that take place in the first book.

Feyre casually doodles a star in stardust on the back of Rhys’ hand and is suddenly overcome with emotion when she realizes it is the first time she has painted since confronting Amarantha. What’s interesting about this interaction is that it is not explicitly romantic (although the undertones of romance are there when most readers know they are going to end up together). However, at this moment in time, Feyre just thinks of how Rhys has been a true friend and helped her find happiness again.

7 Rhys’ Mother Made All Of Feyre’s Dresses

Rhys’ Mother Had A Major Influence On His Worldview

Rhys gifts Feyre her pale blue and shimmering diamond dress to wear to Starfall, often seen in fanart and cosplays. He gives her some other dazzling garments over time, including the darker, foreboding number she wears to meet with the other High Lords as a symbol of her power. In A Court of Frost and Starlight, Rhys reveals that his mother, a passionate seamstress, made all the dresses as a gift for Rhys’ future bride.

While the image of the Lady of the Night Court at work is not of Rhys, it is one that he remembers fondly and had a huge impact on his life. Like how many of the characters are passionate about art, Rhys’ mother worked as a seamstress but continued to create stunning clothes once she became a lady because she enjoyed it. Rhys’ mother is an interesting and sadly unseen character in A Court of Thorns and Roses, connected to one of the franchise’s most iconic costumes.

6 Rhysand As A New Father

Rhys & Feyre’s Son Is Born In The Most Recent Book

Rhys and Feyre decide they are ready to have children in A Court of Frost and Starlight, and (somewhat unrealistically, given the world-building) get pregnant about a year later in A Court of Silver Flames. However, the result is a lot of heartwarming art of Rhys and Feyre with the baby. True to the motifs of the series, Nyx is the name of the Greek goddess of night, mentioned to be an ancient goddess in the A Court of Thorns and Roses setting.

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By the time of A Court of Silver Flames, Rhys and Feyre’s major character arcs are pretty much over. They are settling into a happy ending comprising a routine of work and domestic bliss. Fanart including baby Nyx typically conveys the peace Rhys and Feyre have found with their new family after all that they went through in the initial trilogy. They will also likely have more children in the future, expanding upon this theme (and giving fans more cute art).

5 Rhysand & Feyre As Jack & Sally

Nyx Complements The Couples’ Costume As Zero

Assuming that there is a Halloween-like holiday in Prythian and couples’ costumes are a thing, Rhys and Feyre would definitely do this. Halloween Town even has a similar aesthetic to Velaris, albeit one that is much more overtly spooky about its darkness than just appreciative of the concept of night. Jack and Sally share some character traits (and demonstrate distorted versions of their fashion choices) with Rhys and Feyre, as lonely outsiders who find belonging and purpose together.

A Court of Frost and Starlight is essentially the Christmas episode of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, with the gang participating in a lot of traditions typical of winter holidays. It would be a lot of fun to see them do the same thing during an autumnal celebration if Maas ever wrote another novella. Given the nature of this kind of story, it probably wouldn’t be the best A Court of Thorns and Roses book. But it would still be enjoyable for everyone to be dressed up in costumes.

4 ACOTAR Artwork Reimagines Rhysand’s Style

Rhys Would Be Right At Home In A Noir Movie

The world of fanart is so vibrant because the different artistic styles highlight various aspects of the characters — or even demand that the industry consider making the A Court of Thorns and Roses TV show animated. This piece of art renders Rhys in black and white, leaning into the most mysterious facets of his character, albeit differently than some other examples. Some combination of shattering glass and swirling black smoke is also characteristic of him, going out of his way to theatrically crash Feyre and Tamlin’s wedding.

Rhys could easily be the protagonist of a noir mystery, seeing through others’ crimes and being casually arrogant as he assesses a situation. Arguably, this is what he is doing when he is thinking circles around Tamlin in the first book. A different palette and style for Rhys emphasizes his intelligence and tastes, which would be amazing to see rendered in a short film if not the overall TV show.

3 Rhysand & Feyre’s Life As Parents Again — With Someone Else Swooping In

The Night Court Inner Circle Competes To Be The Baby’s Favorite

Nyx is born into a family of many aunts and uncles who will spoil him endlessly. Cassian and Azriel are, of course, thrilled when they hear that they are having a baby, leaving everyone to wonder when Nyx will be old enough to join the annual snowball war. One of the best things about the Illyrian trio is that they are terrifying about half the time, and the rest they are engaged in silly, petty competitions.

This piece of art is a tender illustration of the family’s life, showing their hands layered on top of each other, with details like Rhys and Feyre’s wedding rings visible. The overall color, as well as the loving image, is tranquil and shows more of the restful life the couple has cultivated. However, typical of pretty much everyone else in their family, someone is mocking Rhys by writing over some of Nyx’s clothing, trying to declare themself as the best role model available.

2 A Dazzling Night Court Wedding

The Vision Of Rhys & Feyre’s Wedding We Never Saw

Feyre says she would like to have a wedding/mating ceremony with Rhys, wanting to go through all the usual traditions of celebrating their union, but it happens off-screen sometime in between books. Nesta says that she wants to have a ridiculously decadent wedding with Cassian, which probably ended up being a lot more glamorous than Rhys and Feyre’s ceremony. However, everyone still wants to imagine what the main couple’s big day looked like.

This piece of art puts Feyre in another glittering dress, probably coming from Rhys’ mother’s trove. The artist also renders the loose outline of a veil with stars. It would have been especially surreal if their wedding had included something like this, with a little bit of Night Court magic giving Feyre an insubstantial accessory of pure starlight. Feyre has so many amazing costumes that finding something to top them for a wedding would have been a challenge — but Rhys has an amazing sense of style and creativity.

1 Welcome To The City Of Starlight

Rhys At Home In The Court Of Dreams

The moment that Feyre and the entire audience’s perception of Rhys changes is when he reveals the existence of Velaris, the City of Starlight. Thematically, Velaris and the Court of Dreams are associated with Rhys’ hope to make a better world, and what he does to defend his home during Amarantha’s regime. Art that shows Rhys in a recognizable Night Court location highlights one of the most important parts of his character.

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This piece doesn’t show the city itself, but Rhys wandering through the halls of one of the key structures in the Nigh Court (maybe the House of Wind, which he later gifts to Nesta). The atmospheric effect of the Night Court setting is still felt, as is Rhys once again being an enigmatic figure with impossible dreams that will change Pyrthian for the better. Rhys can be an intimidating adversary, but he is also one of the most hopeful characters in A Court of Thorns and Roses, exemplified by some of the best art the fandom has to offer.

A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)

Publisher(s)

Bloomsbury Publishing

Publication Date

2015-05-05