I just know it, you are ready for an A Court of Thorns and Roses audiobook! But if you want to dive into Sarah J. Maas’ breathtakingly intense Fantasy world, you have to make a decision first: Which ACOTAR audiobook version do you want to listen to?
In 2025, there are now three options: Jennifer Ikeda’s original narration (books 1-2), Elizabeth Evans’ 10th anniversary recording (books 1-3), and GraphicAudio’s full-cast dramatization (books 1-5).
I love audiobooks, and I love the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. So, let me give you a few pointers on which audiobook version to pick up…
Quick note: While ACOTAR is often shelved as Young Adult Fantasy, considering how explicit it gets, I’d call it New Adult – more appropriate for all the sexy things Feyre is up to. You’ve been warned! 😉
A Court of Thorns and Roses: Dramatized vs Single Narrator
Let me quickly tell you a bit about the different types of audiobook productions. The most important ones I need you to know when we want to talk about the A Court of Thorns and Roses audiobook are full cast and single-narrator.
I believe both have their pros and cons, so it really depends on the preferences of each listener which one is “better”.
Related article: How to listen to Audiobooks
Full-cast audiobooks offer a very immersive experience. I want you to imagine this as having your TV running while folding laundry, for example. We listen, and we recognize all the different characters. There are also sound effects, and it’s often easy to get what is happening, even without looking.
In a dramatized full-cast audiobook, we get all this, but better, since it was meant to only be listened to! We won’t miss a single lingering glance.
The GraphicAudio A Court of Thorns and Roses audiobook has multiple voice actors, sound effects, and music, making it feel like a true audio play. GraphicAudio is a company that specializes in dramatized audiobooks. I love the engaging and exciting listening experiences they offer!
Many people who are new to audiobooks find it easier to follow these productions over single narrators since all the main characters have truly different voices. That means you will never get confused about who is talking, and the audiobook is so engaging that you are unlikely to lose focus.
However, some listeners find sound effects annoying and distracting, or generally don’t like the more lively narration styles in audio plays.
The Original Narration: Jennifer Ikeda
The original A Court of Thorns and Roses audiobook narrator was Jennifer Ikeda, who narrated the first two books in the series. The advantage of having a single narrator is that the story can stand more on its own. More is left to our imagination as readers, and you could say that the experience is closer to reading the book with your eyes.
However, in my experience, single-narrator audiobooks can sometimes be a bit more difficult to follow, especially during dialog scenes. Personally, I enjoyed Jennifer Ikeda’s narration very much and had a fantastic time with it. She’s an outstanding voice actor and made it very easy to distinguish between characters and follow the storyline.
I would also like you to be aware that the Jennifer Ikeda audiobooks are unabridged, which means that she reads the text to us exactly as the author has published it in print and ebooks. We get to experience the story word for word, like every other reader of these books, no matter the format, exactly as SJM wrote them.
About GraphicAudio’s Adaptation
GraphicAudio adapts the books, which, in this case, means they make small adjustments to the script so the text flows better in the format in which they give it back (e.g., they might leave out a “he said” since, due to the different voice actors, the listener will know who is talking).
While many audio plays are heavily abridged, and big parts of the text might be left out, Graphic Audio makes only light changes, so you can still confidently say that you have “read the book” after listening to the full-cast A Court of Thorns and Roses, because your experience of the text itself doesn’t differ in any meaningful way from that of someone who has read the print book.
But for completeness’s sake, I want you to be aware that only the single-narrator versions (Ikeda and Evans) are exactly word-for-word the same as the print and ebook versions.
Important note: The GraphicAudio dramatized version is split into two audiobooks per book, so you’ll need 6 audiobooks total for the trilogy (vs 3 for the single-narrator versions). This affects the total cost if you’re buying with credits or purchasing outright.
The 10th Anniversary Edition: Elizabeth Evans
In 2025, a third option entered the scene: the 10th anniversary recording narrated by Elizabeth Evans. This unabridged single-narrator version offers a fresh take on Feyre’s story for fans who’ve already experienced the original or want a different narrative voice.
Elizabeth Evans has built a devoted fanbase, and listener reviews are overwhelmingly positive. She brings her own interpretation to the characters and the world of Prythian. Like Jennifer Ikeda’s version, this is word-for-word from the published text.
My Verdict: Which ACOTAR Audiobook Should You Choose?
I don’t want to tell you which one is the best A Court of Thorns and Roses audiobook. I think the single-narrator versions (both Ikeda and Evans) and the dramatized GraphicAudio version are all really well done and super entertaining.
I love GraphicAudio productions and find them wonderful, especially when I’m up for a re-listen of a book I already know or when I’m in a book slump. The full cast adds a new dimension to the familiar story and makes it so easy to stay focused.
But I can also appreciate the intimacy of a single narrator, reading a story to me. So, I recommend that you listen to a sample of each production and see which one resonates more with you!
Looking for the right audiobook service to get ACOTAR? Check out my guides:
- The 3 Best Audiobook Apps that I never uninstall
- Which Audiobook Service is Best Based on How Much You Listen
And check out more excellent Fantasy Romance audiobooks!
Eline Blackman (pronouns: she/they) fell in love with books as a child – with being read to and reading herself. 11 years ago, she bought her first Audible book. It was love at first listen! An average of 200 audiobooks per year has become the new normal, and you will rarely see Eline without a wireless earbud. Romance and Fantasy are the go-to genres for this audiobook fan.