Why A Court of Thorns and Roses books were banned

Sarah J. Maas’ Cutting thorns and roses the series was banned in several US states for various questionable reasons. Often, novels face bans and are restricted in schools at the state leveldue to imaginative settings combined with adult content. Young adult and fantasy books are common targets for book bans in more conservative states, as they often deal with more adult and mature themes. For example, Lord of the Rings it was banned for reasons ranging from the alleged promotion of witchcraft to violence and moral ambiguity.

That is, the trend of banning books that young adults would otherwise like to read is not new; when the Harry Potter the books were banned, the students were not happy. However, due to the nature of fantasy novels that challenge social norms or address taboo topics through allegory, they are extremely vulnerable to censorship. Lately, the genre has been particularly targeted thanks to the romanticism subgenre, which often includes explicit and erotic scenes. After A Court of Thorns and Roses’ Recent ban in Utah made history as part of the state’s first list of banned books.

A Court of Thorns and Roses books were banned for sexual content

These books raise important questions about sexuality in literature

Sarah J. Maas’ series was banned in the state of Utah for its sexual content and portrayals of mature relationship dynamics. Sexual relationships between characters like the Archeron sisters and their male partners are examined for the way they address heavy themes of unequal power dynamics and sexual situations. While it is true that some parents may want their children to hold off on reading these books until they reach a certain age, ACOTAR ban highlights the greatest scrutiny on the romance genre thanks to its “steamy” or sexually explicit scenes – in particular, because these books are aimed at young women and women’s and girls’ sexuality is always unfairly policed.

It is the nature of romance books and adult literature plots to contain sexually explicit content, but that is exactly what is criticized in these popular young adult fantasy books. However, the relationships in ACOTAR all contain powerful emotional connections and complex themes of self-discovery within the respective novel; These are important for young readers to experience safely, through books. In Cutting thorns and rosesWhen Feyre Archeron is trapped under the mountain, she is placed in compromising and graphic situations, but these chapters provoke real conversations about power dynamics, consent, and women’s safety and power.

ACOTAR continues the trend of banning fantasy books and series

Fantasy and romance books are often targeted for bans

When fantasy books are banned, awareness of potential excess and censorship increases. In recent years there has been an increase in rates of book banning, an attempt to create a society in which Students in the US today have fewer choices for reading materials than ever before before. In fact, according Columbia University“The American Library Association reported a record number of attempts to ban books in 2022 – a 38% increase from the previous year.” Book bans limit the messages students are introduced to, and fantasy themes often challenge authority, adding additional context to these bans.

Fantasy series including Harry Potter, The Lord of the Ringsand Your dark materialsto name just a few, have all been the target of book bans like the one facing Cutting thorns and roses. Historically, people who ban books have not been on the right side of history. Book bans, however, have a way of creating the opposite desired effect, with people going out of their way to buy or check out banned books to see what all the fuss is about. Reading gives young people the ability to access a wide range of ideas and experiences securely; it is an outlet for exploration and new ideas that should not be limited based on geographic location, political ideology, or religious censorship.