| Type | Region |
|---|---|
| Located in | Prythian |
| Head | None |
| Appears in | A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015), A Court of Mist and Fury (2016), A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017), A Court of Silver Flames (2021) |
Contents
Location
The Middle is an unclaimed territory situated between Prythian’s seven Courts, functioning as a vast, wild expanse that belongs to none of them. At its center rises the Sacred Mountain, a bald, barren peak visible from both land and air. For nearly fifty years, this mountain was known as Under the Mountain while Amarantha ruled from beneath it. The Middle also contains a dense, ancient forest and the Bog of Oorid, a dangerous wetland steeped in old magic.
The region is intentionally unmapped; it is forbidden to chart anything beyond broad landmarks, leaving much of its terrain unknown and unreachable except on foot. The Middle is saturated with primal magic and operates under its own rules and laws. Those who enter without respect for its protections—or who cause harm without just cause—risk becoming trapped within it forever.
Confirmed canon also places two additional sacred mountains in Prythian: Ramiel in the Illyrian Mountains and the Prison Mountain on the Night Court’s island. Together with the Sacred Mountain in the Middle, they form the trio of “sister peaks” referenced throughout the series.
Description
The Middle is a wild, untamed region marked by stark, shifting terrain and heavy concentrations of primal magic. Its landscape includes dense forests, treacherous bogs, and wide stretches of empty land where natural features appear untouched and ancient. At its center rises the Sacred Mountain, a massive, barren peak visible from great distances. Much of the Middle feels unsettled and unpredictable, its terrain shaped by old magic that lingers in the earth, the air, and the surrounding wilderness. Because its land cannot be mapped and changes in subtle, unexplained ways, the Middle presents a landscape that appears vast, raw, and resistant to control.
Relevance
The Middle has played multiple significant roles throughout Prythian’s history. Long before the events of the series, an ancient female Fae confined Stryga, one of the Old Gods, to a cottage located within this territory. When Prythian was later divided into seven courts, a strip of land was intentionally left outside all jurisdictions and preserved as a neutral meeting ground for the High Lords, allowing them to convene without stepping into a rival court.
Because it falls under no High Lord’s rule, the Middle became a containment zone for dangerous faeries whose natures made them unsafe elsewhere. These beings—such as kelpies—were not imprisoned for crimes but simply kept separate from the courts to prevent harm.
During Amarantha’s occupation, she established her domain in the Sacred Mountain at the heart of the Middle and created the underground court known as Under the Mountain, forcing most of Prythian’s population to live under her rule. The Spring Court was the only exception, as Tamlin was given fifty years to break the curse placed on him.
In A Court of Mist and Fury, Feyre traveled into the Middle to visit the Weaver, entering her cottage to retrieve Rhysand’s ring.
In A Court of Wings and Ruin, the High Lords did not select the Middle for their wartime meeting despite tradition, as it was still associated with the horrors of Amarantha’s rule. Instead, they gathered at the Dawn Court.
In A Court of Silver Flames, when Nesta scried for the Dread Trove, the power directed her to the Middle, specifically to the Bog of Oorid.
Notable Locations
| Under The Mountain | Under the Mountain is an enormous subterranean complex carved beneath Prythian’s sacred peak. It contains vast halls, carved pillars, dungeons, maze passages, and the throne room Amarantha used during her rule. |
|---|---|
| The Weaver’s Cottage | The Weaver’s Cottage is a small, isolated hut hidden deep within the forest of the Middle. Known for its eerie stillness and powerful wards, it houses the Weaver, an ancient, deadly faerie who crafts with objects taken from those she devours. |
| The Bog of Oorid | The Bog of Oorid is a dark, dangerous swamp within the Middle, filled with primal magic and predatory faeries. Its murky waters hide deadly creatures and ancient secrets, making it one of Prythian’s most feared places. |
