While full news of upcoming Cutting thorns and roses The book hasn’t been released yet, Sarah J. Maas has already included hints of what can be expected in the next chapter and an ongoing theory says it won’t be good for Morrigan. Now, the end A Court of Silver Flames caused many theories to spiral about the Inner Circle and where it is. Due to tips in ACOSFand some foreshadowing of previous events A Court of Thorns and Roses books, theories began to circulate that someone would betray the Night Court.
Morrigan has blended into the series’ setting since A Court of Wings and Ruin, more than expected for a beloved main character like her. Its distance from narrative has inspired theorists to suggest her absence and mysterious behavior will reveal her as a traitor to the Inner Circle during the next A Court of Thorns and Roses book. If this theory is true, the effect it would have on the rest of the plot and the other main characters would be monumental. If Maas gives Mor a villain arc, it will substantially limit future possibilities for this series.
The theory that Mor will betray ACOTAR’s inner circle explained
If someone is going to betray the inner circle, why not Mor?
The theory that a member of the Night Court’s Inner Circle will betray the group is not new. After working together for centuries, it’s not unbelievable that a character could eventually be led astray. However, since ACOSFthose rumors have spread faster due to a very specific quote from human queen Briallyn. The quote suggests that the Night Court has a traitor among them:
“There are many in the world who would be happy to see the Night Court fall. Who would betray their so-called High Lord for a chance at power.”
Likely because she was shrouded in mystery and unanswered questions for most of the series, this theory points to Mor betraying the Night Court next. ACOTAR book. Mor’s “Power of Truth” Cutting thorns and roses adds fuel to this fire because it is inexplicable and she is not especially known for honesty (she lies countless times and keeps secrets). At the same time, she is also not particularly skilled at recognizing when someone is lying to her. Without being linked to the truth, Mor’s power seems to have more to do with deception than honesty and could be more manipulative in nature than originally thought.
The lack of information about Mor’s abilities must be a deliberate choice by Maas, who is known for leaving only crumbs of information when building up to a bigger reveal. Maas’ Easter eggs further plant the idea that Mor is an unreliable source, as Eris and Jurian suggest that Mor is hiding the truth about her history. There is still not enough information about Mor to free her from suspicion. Everything known about her has been relayed by Feyre (a demonstrably unreliable narrator). Without her powers or sometimes her whereabouts being explained, Mor is the main target of suspicion.
Mor’s absence for most of A Court of Silver Flames makes this theory possible.
Without Morrigan’s eyes, it’s unclear what she has been up to
A Court of Silver Flames is full of chaos and looming implications of a larger war with Koschei. At the same time, this is the first complete book in ACOTAR series that was told with third-person narration instead of Feyre Archeron’s point of view These elements of ACOSF serve as a distraction from Mor’s prolonged absence. Claiming to be in Prythian forming alliances and assessing threats to the Night Court, the Inner Circle is left to blindly believe Mor about his actions abroad. To make matters worse, Mor appears with little to show for her time away.
Inner Circle members who had a strong involvement in ACOSF (like Cassian and Azriel) are less suspected of betrayal because the chances of them being able to sneak right under Rhysand’s nose are low. On the other hand, if Rhysand was as distracted as he seemed when trying to save Feyre from her life-threatening pregnancy, he wouldn’t have had time to track Mor down and hold her accountable. Although Mor claims she was doing emissary work, she could actually be doing anything.
It is possible that Mor will be fueled by resentment over Rhysand’s leniency toward the harmful practices of this subsection of his court and make a strategic move that puts the Inner Circle at risk, even if accidentally.
Critics of this theory might suggest that because Mor is such a likable character, it doesn’t make sense for her to betray the Night Court out of the blue. But a closer look at Mor’s character provides a clue as to why this might not be true. The Night Court has been very sympathetic to the archaic and horrendous practices of the Court of Nightmares.which is Mor’s home and the root of her trauma. It is possible that Mor will be fueled by resentment over Rhysand’s leniency toward the harmful practices of this subsection of his court and make a strategic move that puts the Inner Circle at risk, even if accidentally.
Mor revealing himself as a traitor in the next A Court of Thorns and Roses book would be devastating
Does Morrigan really deserve a villain arc?
Mor’s heroic debut in A Court of Mist and Furyrescuing Feyre from the Spring Court solidified her as one of the most endearing and loyal characters Maas created. She also has over 500 years of history with her cousin Rhysand and the Inner Circle, living with them in the Night Court since she was eighteen. Destroying a beloved character with a plot as devastating as this betrayal would completely undermine the importance of your relationships and growth. The Night Court would effectively lose her as third-in-command and ally, changing the future of the books forever.
Another reason why it would be so devastating to lose Mor as a credible character is that she is the only LGBTQ+ main character in ACOTAR. Maas’ stories often lack diversityespecially when it comes to romance or sexual orientation. Destroying Mor’s character arc and cutting short her story of self-acceptance isn’t a great choice, as it limits the inclusion of these books. If Mor betrays the group, Maas will be villainizing the only character without a cis-straight love story, which would destroy her chance at finding love (and our chance at reading a different kind of romance).
What Mor’s betrayal of the inner circle would mean for a court of thorns and roses
This twist would change the entire plot of any future ACOTAR book
It’s vital to remember that Mor has a lot of confidential information about the Night Court, as she is third in command behind Rhysand and Amren. There is many possibilities of what could go wrong in the future of the series if Mor activates the Inner Circlemainly due to the current state of war at this time of the Cutting thorns and roses timeline. Mor’s loyalty to her court would affect the entire outcome of the war in Prythian because she has the power to destroy the Night Court from within, as Feyre did the Spring Court.
Instead of Mor continuing to be the supportive, trustworthy, and courageous character we’ve grown to love Cutting thorns and roseswriting a villain arc into her story would eliminate any possible opportunities for her to get the robust, fully developed plot that she deserves. Instead of seeing her fall in love or even learn the best ways to utilize powers against enemiesa villain arc would make Mor a more two-dimensional character. Her backstory hasn’t been explored enough, meaning it’s simply too early to summarize her and make her an antagonist for shock value.