| Name | Tamlin |
|---|---|
| Age | 507 (ACOTAR), 508 (ACOMAF & ACOWAR), 508-509 (ACOFAS), 509-510 (ACOSF) |
| Species | High Fae |
| Status | Alive |
| Court | Spring Court |
| Rank/Title | High Lord of the Spring Court |
| Eye Color | Green |
| Hair Color | Golden |
| Family | Unnamed Father †, Unnamed Mother †, 2 Unnamed Brothers † |
| Love Interests | Feyre Archeron (former fiancé) |
| Appears in | A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight |
Contents
Biography / History
Early Life
Tamlin was born the youngest son of the High Lord of the Spring Court, raised in a violent household where loyalty to Hybern and Amarantha was common. Too young to fight in the War, he trained in his father’s war band, believing battle was the only thing he was good at. As a child, he occasionally traveled with his father to Hybern, where Amarantha first fixated on him—feelings he never returned.
Rhysand and Tamlin: Friendship and Fallout
As young heirs, Rhysand and Tamlin briefly formed an unlikely friendship, bonding during court gatherings where Rhys — a half-Illyrian constantly forced to prove himself — recognized the pressure Tamlin faced under his father and brothers. Rhys even taught Tamlin Illyrian fighting techniques, slipping away from camps and court to spend time with him.
But Tamlin’s father grew threatened by Rhys’s rising power, and when Rhys confided that his mother and sister would be traveling alone, the Spring Court seized the opportunity. Tamlin’s father and brothers hunted them down and slaughtered them, sending their heads downriver and keeping their wings pinned as trophies. The guilt haunted Tamlin, who later burned the wings out of remorse.
When Rhys and his father discovered the murders, they retaliated. Rhys held Tamlin’s brothers’ minds and killed them, only to discover that his own father had already murdered the Spring Court’s High Lord and Lady — breaking his promise not to harm Tamlin’s mother. Then Rhys’s father went to kill Tamlin as well. Rhys tried to stop him, blocking the doorway, but Tamlin opened the door at that moment, sensed the blood, and killed Rhys’s father in a single blow. In that instant, the power of the fallen High Lords passed to their sons, making Rhys and Tamlin the new rulers of their courts.
Lucien’s Arrival & Amarantha’s Curse
Lucien fled the Autumn Court after his lover was killed, and Tamlin protected him by naming him his emissary.
Amarantha continued pursuing Tamlin, and when he rejected her, she tortured Lucien and later invited the Spring Court to a masquerade. There she cursed the entire court, trapping their masks to their faces and giving Tamlin forty-nine years to break the curse by earning the love of a human who hated Fae.
Desperate, Tamlin sent his sentries across the Wall to search for the human girl who might free his court—but found none for years.
A Court of Thorns and Roses — Timeline Events
Sends Andras Across the Wall
As Amarantha’s forty-nine years near their end, Tamlin sends his friend Andras into the mortal lands in wolf form. Feyre kills him, triggering the treaty penalty.
Claims Feyre as Payment
Tamlin arrives at the Archeron cottage in beast form, demanding the killer of the wolf. When Feyre confesses, he invokes “a life for a life,” offering instead to take her to Prythian rather than kill her. Before leaving, Tamlin glamours Feyre’s family to believe she left to care for a sick aunt and secretly sends them gold so they will no longer starve.
Reveals Himself in the Spring Court
Feyre awakens in Tamlin’s manor, where he appears in his masked High Fae form. Distrustful, she refuses his food until he forcibly compels her to eat to keep her alive.
Earns Feyre’s Trust Slowly
Despite their tense beginning, Tamlin gradually gains Feyre’s trust. He watches over her, takes her on walks, and manages dangers within his lands while trying to keep her safe.
Confronted by Rhysand
Rhysand enters the Spring Court, sees through Lucien’s glamour, and discovers Feyre. His mental intrusion terrifies Tamlin, who realizes Feyre is no longer safe with him.
Returns to the Spring Court with Feyre
With the curse lifted and Amarantha dead, Tamlin brings Feyre home to the Spring Court to begin rebuilding their shattered court and life.
A Court of Mist and Fury — Timeline Events
Turns Feyre Into a Spy
When Feyre later returns, Tamlin, desperate and furious, asks her to report everything she learns in the Night Court. He promises to find a way to break the bargain and keep her from returning.
Forges a False Alliance With Hybern
Determined to get Feyre back, Tamlin secretly allies with the King of Hybern to act as a spy for the other courts. In exchange, he allows Hybern’s armies through the Spring Court, believing it will keep his people safe.
Asks the King to Break Her Bond
Fearing for her mind and safety, Tamlin asks the King to break Feyre’s bond with Rhys. The King instead breaks the bargain, not the mating bond. Tamlin unknowingly brings home the High Lady of the Night Court.
Unwittingly Lets Feyre Spy on Him
Back in the Spring Court, Tamlin does not fully trust Feyre and does not reveal his true role as a spy. He remains unaware that Feyre communicates directly with Rhysand, feeding the Night Court knowledge of all his plans.
A Court of Wings and Ruin — Timeline Events
Welcomes Hybern’s Delegation
Tamlin receives Jurian and Hybern’s twins, Dagdan and Brannagh, at the Spring Court. Unbeknownst to him, they begin poisoning the manor’s residents with faebane.
Rebellion Erupts in the Spring Court
After Feyre kills the Hybern twins and manipulates Ianthe’s mind, rumors spread that Tamlin failed to protect his people. A rebellion breaks out, leaving the Spring Court vulnerable to Hybern’s invasion.
Reveals His Spy Role at the High Lords’ Meeting
At the Dawn Court gathering, Tamlin admits he was never Hybern’s ally but a spy feeding information to the other courts. He provides detailed intelligence on Hybern’s army, faebane stores, and battle strategy—silencing accusations of betrayal.
Aids in Rescuing Elain From Hybern
After the Winter Court battle, Tamlin helps Feyre, Azriel, and Jurian rescue Elain from Hybern’s camp, proving again where his true allegiance lies.
Leads the Spring Court to the Final Battle
Tamlin brings his armies to the Mortal Lands for the last stand—dragging Beron of the Autumn Court to the battlefield by force to secure unified support.
Attends the Post-War Treaty Meeting
Once the war ends, Tamlin attends the gathering at the ruins of the Archeron estate to renegotiate the human–fae treaty, then leaves quickly and quietly.
Appearance
Tamlin is described as strikingly handsome, appearing in his early twenties despite being centuries old. He is tall, powerfully built from years of warrior training, with:
- Golden-blond hair
- Deep green eyes flecked with gold
- Tanned skin
- A broad, muscular physique
He generally dresses in simple, practical warrior clothing, preferring functionality over courtly finery.
Spring Court (A Court of Thorns and Roses)
When Feyre first meets him, Tamlin is permanently masked by Amarantha’s curse—an ornate golden mask set with emeralds in a leaf-whorl pattern covering his brow, cheeks, and nose. Even behind the mask, his youth and striking features are noticeable.
Beast Form
Tamlin can shift into a monstrous beast, a form combining several animals:
- A bear-like body with immense strength
- A lupine head
- Massive antlers (later curling into horn-like shapes)
- Razor-sharp claws and long yellow fangs
- The same green, gold-flecked eyes, unchanged between forms
Personality
Tamlin is a reserved, duty-bound High Lord shaped by centuries of violence, complicated loyalties, and overwhelming pressure to protect his court.
Key traits
- Quiet and socially guarded:
Tamlin openly admits he struggles with conversation and connection. He keeps a small circle and finds it difficult to make friends, preferring solitude or action over diplomacy. - War-trained and self-reliant:
Raised in a warrior band instead of a court, he believes fighting is the only thing he excels at. His confidence comes from physical skill rather than politics or charm. - Kind toward humans:
Unlike his father and brothers, Tamlin refuses to harm mortals. Their cruelty horrified him, and the guilt he carries shapes his gentler attitude toward humans. - Protective to a fault:
After the trauma Under the Mountain, Tamlin becomes hyper-vigilant. His need to keep Feyre safe spirals into controlling behavior, driven not by malice but by fear and paranoia. - Temperamental:
Tamlin’s temper flares quickly, especially when those he cares for are threatened. His emotional volatility worsens after Amarantha’s curse and Feyre’s departure. - Loyal but misguided:
He is fiercely dedicated to his court and allies. In ACOWAR, his loyalty drives him to work undercover against Hybern — even though Feyre misreads his actions as betrayal.
Relationship to Music
Tamlin’s one artistic talent is playing the fiddle. It is a rare outlet for expression and one of the few things that brings him peace, contrasting with his otherwise militant upbringing.
Darker Side
Tamlin’s fear, trauma, and possessiveness can manifest destructively. His instinct to shield those he loves becomes smothering, and his grief often erupts as anger — isolating him further. His flaws do not erase his intentions, but they do define much of his downfall.
Powers & Abilities
High Lord of the Spring Court
As the High Lord of the Spring Court, Tamlin possesses immense magical strength, rooted in physical power, shapeshifting, and nature-based magic.
Core High Lord Attributes
- Immense physical strength far beyond most High Fae
- Enhanced speed, durability, and senses
- Powerful glamour magic capable of altering sight, memory, and perception
- Winnowing, allowing him to travel instantly across distances
- Rapid healing abilities, powerful enough to nearly mend shredded wings if not for Amarantha’s curse
- Wind manipulation, seen during the events of A Court of Wings and Ruin
Shapeshifting
Tamlin’s signature power is his extraordinary ability to shift forms. He can:
- Transform into a massive, bear-like beast with a wolfish head, razor-sharp fangs, antlers, and brutal claws
- Manifest partial shifts, such as claws or fangs, when angered
- Shift others, most notably when he transforms members of his court into wolves to cross the mortal border during the curse
His beast form retains his iconic green, gold-flecked eyes.
Relationships
| Feyre Archeron | When Tamlin takes Feyre to the Spring Court under the Treaty’s rules, their hostile beginning gradually turns into a romantic bond. Feyre falls for him as she learns more about his Court and the curse he is trapped under. When Tamlin is taken Under the Mountain for failing to break Amarantha’s spell, Feyre chooses to face the trials to save him. After she dies and is revived as High Fae, they return to the Spring Court together. In the aftermath, Tamlin becomes increasingly controlling—driven by fear and trauma—which causes Feyre’s mental and emotional decline. His restrictions escalate to the point of magically trapping her inside the manor. After Feyre leaves for the Night Court, Tamlin focuses on spying on Hybern by posing as an ally. Ianthe later betrays him, and during Hybern’s war preparations, Feyre pretends to still love him in order to extract information and protect her friends—leaving Tamlin unaware of her true intentions. |
|---|---|
| Lucien Vanserra | Tamlin and Lucien share a long-standing bond that begins when Lucien flees the Autumn Court after his lover is murdered by Beron. With no title left to protect him and his brothers hunting him down, Lucien crosses into the Spring Court. Tamlin—newly made High Lord and still struggling to hold his court together—claims Lucien as his own and makes him emissary, valuing his political awareness, diplomatic skills, and sharp intelligence. From that point on, Lucien becomes Tamlin’s closest companion and most trusted adviser. Through A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury, Lucien remains loyal to Tamlin even when he quietly disagrees with his decisions. He openly struggles with Tamlin’s increasing possessiveness and paranoia, yet still stands at his High Lord’s side out of duty, history, and genuine loyalty. Despite his misgivings, Lucien supports Tamlin’s choices—such as restricting Feyre’s movements—because he believes staying loyal is the only way to keep the Spring Court stable and because Tamlin had once saved his life. Their bond fractures in A Court of Wings and Ruin after Feyre’s departure and Tamlin’s desperate alliance with Hybern. Lucien sees the consequences of Tamlin’s decisions and is forced to confront the limits of his loyalty. Ultimately, he chooses to leave the Spring Court to protect Elain and to stand with the Night Court against Hybern, a choice that leaves his relationship with Tamlin strained and unresolved. |
| Amarantha | Tamlin first met Amarantha as a young male, when his father brought him to Hybern’s court for political meetings. Over the years, Amarantha developed an obsessive desire for him, but Tamlin never returned her interest. After the war with Hybern, Amarantha returned to Prythian under the guise of peace. Tamlin refused her advances—especially after she brutalized Lucien by taking his eye—openly telling her he would rather marry a human than ever accept her. In retaliation, Amarantha targeted Tamlin and the entire Spring Court, luring them to a masquerade celebration and then cursing them: their masks would remain fixed until a human woman who hated fae learned to love him of her own free will. This curse became the foundation of A Court of Thorns and Roses, driving Tamlin’s desperate search for a human who could break it—ultimately leading him to Feyre. |
