Romance and love
Romance, but particularly the romance between Feyre and Tamlin, is a vital aspect of A Court of Thorns and Roses. When Feyre and Tamlin meet, it seems like they hate each other. Feyre is resentful that Tamlin took her from her world; Tamlin, on the other hand, thinks that Feyre is annoying. Their love story is reflective of many love stories: once they get to know each other, their love grows stronger. Towards the end of the novel, they become inseparable. In fact, both Feyre and Tamlin sacrifice tremendously in order to support and save each other in different situations. Their relationship shows that not all love occurs overnight; sometimes, love takes time.
Killing to make a living
As a huntress, Feyre is forced to kill animals to make a living and earn the respect of her friends and community. Her decision to kill a wolf in the woods is the inciting incident in the novel. As retribution for killing the sacred wolf, a faerie named Tamlin drags Feyre into the world of the faeries and imprisons her. Much of the start of the novel examines the ethics of killing to make a living, ultimately deciding that it can sometimes be unethical.
Fighting against someone stronger than yourself
To free themselves of the restrictions caused by a curse on their land, Feyre, Tamlin, and a group of other faeries fight against an evil witch named Amarantha, who rules from her so-called Spring Court. Because of her status and magical abilities, Amarantha proves to be an incredibly powerful foe—so much so that few dare to stand up against her. But much like David's fight against Goliath, the aforementioned group is forced to employ unique and oftentimes dangerous tactics to defeat Amarantha. Ultimately, they are successful, but it becomes clear that, in order to fight against someone stronger than yourself, you need to band together with a group of people. There is strength in numbers.
