I just finished Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series and was so overwhelmingly entertained that I now need space to rant. After I finished it and wanted to discuss it with friends the way I do with trending shows/movies on Netflix, I remembered that I am the lone reader in my friend group. So for the other book-loving loners – let’s get into it! I’ll include the briefest five book run-through I can possibly manage toward the bottom of this post if you haven’t read it yet, and anything I consider a spoiler will be in a different color text. You have been warned!
There are five books that make up this series: A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight, and A Court of Silver Flames. Throughout these books, I couldn’t help but constantly admire the world Maas built. Even the small snippets of the courts that don’t get the same amount of attention as the Spring and Night Courts are appreciated. Every character feels vital, and their stories are as in-depth as they need to be to give you some insight as to why they are the way they are now. I will admit that while it made sense, Feyre’s hesitance to everything and everyone was annoying at times, and I kept feeling like I wouldn’t have acted the same if I were in her situation. Nevertheless, she’s a lovable and even more important – respectable heroine who goes through more than one person should have to endure in a lifetime. Her character growth is so gradual that you don’t even notice the changes until you look back at the way she was in the previous books, which to me, is the way it should be.
And now the rapid-fire spoilers. The evolution of Feyre as she realized the Spring Court and Tamlin wasn’t for her, just as she also began to realize how comfortable she found herself at the Night Court and with Rhysand is one of the most satisfying storylines I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Part of me feels that Tamlin has been hammered a little too far down after Feyre left him, and maybe he deserves to find happiness with someone else. I would love to hear more about the Lucien-Elain-Azriel triangle now that Nesta and Cassien had their time in A Court of Silver Flames. Also, the Morrigan and Emerie need to be a thing.
A Summary to Get You Started
- Feyre Archeron and her family are poor and starving so she hunts to keep them all sustained.
- While hunting, Feyre kills a big ‘ol wolf, and a towering wolf that can speak comes to punish her for killing what was actually a faerie by taking her to Prythian for the rest of her life.
- Prythian is supposed to be the scary and dangerous magic land of high fae and other faeries that humans have been kept from for hundreds of years by a magic wall that they cannot cross.
- When Feyre gets to Prythian she essentially has it made – it’s actually gorgeous, and she’s kept in the Spring Court with the powerful and handsome High Lord. (really felt for her here, poor thing)
- The spring court has been cursed by an evil queen, and they cannot remove the animal masks stuck to their faces.
- Things get crazy in Prythian, and she has to go through trials created by the queen to save Tamlin and break the curse put on the Spring Court before it spreads throughout the rest of the lands.
- While going through the trials, Feyre meets the High Lord of the Night Court, Rhysand. For some reason, the other very handsome high lord helps her through the trials while still acting like Damon Salvatore.
- After going through the trials, Feyre stays in Prythian and has other challenges that help her find who she really is and a place to call home.
All in all, if you want a series that will take up a huge portion of your time (in a good way), then the ACOTAR series is highly suggested. I would at least advise to give the first book a try and go from there. You can start your addiction, er – purchase the first book here: ACOTAR on Amazon.
Fiction Fiend 