All the work of Sarah J. Maas draws heavily from classic fairy tales and mythology, which she then changes to subvert the original material’s patriarchal message. In the case of the series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, the central character plays many familiar roles. Feyre starts out as a Cinderella character—the youngest sister of three, who shoulders heavy responsibilities for the entire family. Feyre’s cruel biological mother plays the role of the wicked stepmother. After entering the Fae world, Feyre becomes identified with Beauty from Beauty and the Beast. Her further adventures with the High Lord of the Night Court place her in the role of Persephone to his Hades.

In the original tales mentioned above, the heroine’s passivity is her defining trait. Cinderella does little more than make a wish and wait for a shoe that fits. Beauty “keeps sweet” and tames the Beast with smiles. Persephone pines in the underworld for six months every year until she returns to the upper world in the spring. It is important to remember that mythology and fairy tales are meant to express a culture's values and teach people how to behave in the real world. The message in all these instances is that docile females must wait to be rescued and will be rewarded for their passivity.