Chapter Forty: The Mortal Queens' Council
Spoiler Warning: This page contains major spoilers for Chapter 40 of A Court of Thorns and Roses. Read on only after finishing this chapter.
Summary
The five mortal queens who answered the summons arrive in the sitting room alongside their guards. The eldest, a brown-skinned woman in a heavy blue gown, and a golden-haired queen with amber eyes lead the discussion; the sixth queen is reported unwell. Rhysand, Feyre (wearing a crown), Mor, Cassian, and Azriel stand ready, while Nesta and Elain watch from the bay window.
Feyre explains that war with Hybern is coming and begs for the half of the Book of Breathings kept by the mortal queens, as well as help defending the human territory. The queens dismiss the territory as a slip of land not worth their resources and call protecting it a waste. Nesta hisses that they are cowards willing to leave families to the Fae. Feyre recounts how she was killed by Amarantha after freeing Prythian, and Rhysand rebukes the queen’s condescension.
Mor then rises and asserts her identity as the Morrigan, whose gift is truth. She tells the queens of her friendship with Miryam during the War and reveals that Miryam and Prince Drakon still live on a hidden island where Fae and humans have coexisted in peace for five centuries. The ancient queen demands proof that Rhysand is a male of peace. Rhysand promises he will provide it and tells the queens to await his summons. They leave mockingly, and Elain mutters that she hopes they all burn in hell.
Key Events
- The mortal queens arrive, posturing with guards; the eldest and golden queen take the lead.
- Feyre requests the Book of Breathings and military cooperation to face Hybern.
- The queens declare the human lands expendable and refuse to give up the Book.
- Nesta calls them cowards; Feyre reveals her own death at Amarantha’s hands.
- Rhysand fiercely defends Feyre against the queen’s patronizing tone.
- Mor reveals her truth-telling power and the secret island where Miryam and Drakon have made a lasting peace between species.
- The queens demand evidence of Rhysand’s peaceful nature; he hints at something he will show them (Velaris).
- The queens depart with scorn; Elain quietly curses them.
Character Development
- Feyre: She holds her ground as emissary, showing the diplomatic skill Rhysand chose her for. When the queens belittle her, she channels her anger into cool resolve, proving she is no mere figurehead.
- Nesta: Her sharp interruption exposes the queens’ moral failure. Though Feyre tries to manage her, Nesta’s outburst reveals a fierce protectiveness for the innocent and her disdain for cowardly leaders.
- Mor: By invoking her truth-gift and naming her friendship with Miryam, Mor steps beyond her role as court beauty into a position of moral authority, risking a secret kept for centuries.
- Rhysand: He remains controlled until the queen condescends to Feyre; his lethal warning shows the lengths he will go to defend his mate. His later hint about providing proof starts the risky calculus of revealing Velaris.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Cowardice and Sacrifice: The queens hide behind “the greater good” to justify abandoning innocents, a direct critique of leaders who sacrifice the vulnerable for political comfort.
- Truth as a Weapon: Mor’s gift of truth—recognized by the queens—cuts through politicking and forces them to listen, showing that truth can be the most disarming power.
- The Possibility of Peace: Miryam and Drakon’s hidden island stands as a living symbol that Fae and humans can coexist, directly contradicting centuries of wall-building and hatred.
- Prejudice as Blindness: The queens’ refusal to see Rhysand as anything but a monster reflects the deep-rooted fear between species, endangering any chance of alliance.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter moves the mortal queens from an abstract threat to concrete antagonists. Their refusal to help the human lands raises the stakes for Prythian’s defense and forces the Inner Circle to gamble their most precious secret—Velaris—as proof. Mor’s revelation of the island plants a seed of hope that the war need not end in destruction, but the queens’ cold dismissal also underscores how prejudice sabotages peace. The chapter also showcases the team dynamic: Feyre as voice, Rhys as protector, Mor as truth-teller, and Nesta as unflinching conscience, laying the groundwork for the difficult political maneuvering ahead.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why do the queens refuse to hand over the Book of Breathings or send forces to aid the human territory?
They claim the Book is too sacred to leave their palace and that the small territory is not worth defending. However, their deeper motive is distrust of the Fae—they see Rhysand only through rumors of cruelty and value their own safety over compassion. -
What secret does Mor reveal, and why is it significant?
Mor reveals that Miryam and Drakon escaped the war and founded a hidden island where Fae and humans have lived peacefully for five hundred years. This upends the queens’ belief that coexistence is impossible and serves as living proof that the Night Court’s vision is achievable. -
How does this chapter develop the conflict between Nesta and the mortal queens?
Nesta’s outburst—calling the queens cowards—highlights her refusal to accept political convenience at the cost of innocent lives. Her stance contrasts with the queens’ cold calculation and foreshadows her future role as someone who will not stand by while others are sacrificed.