Reviews

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

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kristamariet's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

joanna1905's review against another edition

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3.0

Re-read #3 - 02/11/2019

Overall a decent read, I understand why people think it's boring but I think it will probably prove to be a good bridge between the original series and the upcoming novels.

Elain talks more in this book than she does in the whole series but still has almost zero personality.

Nesta is the absolute worst as always. Has there ever been an ever a more self-entitled character to ever exist? Especially as a character who's not actually meant to be the bad guy? The audacity this woman has to complain about not being included in family photos when all she's ever done is abuse said family (aside from Elain) is ridiculous.

The inner-circle are CLEARLY doing their best to help her while also trying to not force themselves on her, healing themselves, running the night court, handle the dissent in the camps and trying to forge a new treaty. You can't help people who don't want help. I really hope the upcoming books see Nesta just pursue some other life, far away from the inner circle and from Cassian.

I also hope it's addressed that Nesta was just as much Feyre's abuser as Tamlin was (in fact probably more so considering the length of time was much longer). Even Tamlin manages to see an error in his behaviour but Nesta genuinely does not care that she verbally, emotionally and financially abused Feyre from at least age 14 (though it was probably happening long before that). Everyone (except Rhys) just consistently lets her get away with everything - so I hope it is addressed that women can be abusers too and that Nesta has been one for a long time. It also scares me that it seems like Nessian is going to happen because I truly don't see Nesta changing, so I really do not want to see them mate and have her continue her abusive behaviour in the name of being 'quirky and firey' and 'building sexual tension' etc. If they do prove to be mates I hope it follows the 'mates who aren't right for each other' plot and Cassian finds someone who will actually care about him.
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Re-read #2 - 12/10/18:

While I did enjoy this slightly more than the first time I read it, I still think it's a bit of a letdown. However, in the grand scheme of the world, I think this book will prove itself to be a necessary bridge.

I stand by everything I said about Nesta the first time. I've loathed her since book one but after ACOWAR it seemed like she might be redeemable, but alas she remains a piece of trash. If she had been a good person prior to going through the traumatic events in ACOMAF then I could potentially forgive her for becoming so horrible because having PTSD isn't her fault. But she was a piece of crap beforehand and continues to be a piece of crap.

I know it sounds super selfish because I do love this world, but if the next book is about Nesta I don't even want it. My only hope is that she'll die or run off and be a pos elsewhere and Cassian can settle down with that cute Illyrian shopkeeper.

Moral of the story is that Nesta is garbage and she's one of the worst characters that I've ever read.
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I'm not going to lie, this book wasn't as good as I had hoped. I totally get its purpose and I think that once we get the next book it will make sense as to why this book was needed to bridge the gap between the two halves of the series. However, on its own, it was pretty meh.

This book only reaffirmed one thing. My all-consuming hate for Nesta. She is the most self-centred bitch I have ever read about in a book and just thinking about her makes me want to throw up. She acts as if becoming a fae ruined her entire life, never mind that for a vast majority of their lives they were poor and starving. She let her baby sister go into the forest winter after winter so that she could eat, never raised a finger to help, got mad a Feyre when she was asked to help and expected Feyre to put food in her stomach and new boots on her feet. NEVERMIND THAT SHE WAS THE ELDEST SISTER AND ALL OF THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HER RESPONSIBILITY. On top of all this never once did she act grateful for everything that Feyre did for the family but she would worship and protect perfect little Elain who was as useless as a rock.

She has the audacity to resent Feyre for finally being happy and still can't find it in her non-existent heart to be grateful for everything Feyre does for her. She continues to expect Feyre to provide for her and pay her rent so she can drink and fuck and not do anything for herself. She didn't even bother to wish her sister happy birthday or get her a gift. Then in the sneak peek of the next book she has the audacity to be mad that Feyre doesn't have paintings of her on the wall - well perhaps if you weren't such a piece of scum you would have been included.

I'm furious that Cassian is going to get saddled with Nesta, he is such a good fun loving guy and she is honestly trash. Not to mention has a history of being emotionally abusive, I would honestly love it if she could just be killed off - the King of Hyburn was a better person than her.

I'm really disappointed that it looks like the next book will be Nesta and Cassian centric, an entire book of Nesta's bullshit will make me sick and be such a waste of time and money - which is a pity since I love this series. I wish she would be killed off and the next few books could focus on Mor, Cass, Az, Elain and Lucian. Speaking of, I wish Az and Elain were mates, who even cares about Lucian.

Another thing that really annoyed me was the widows and mothers of the fallen Illyrian soldiers are stirring up trouble. I understand that they are grieving and how devastating it must be to lose someone especially when you're looking at eternity without them. However, what the hell did they expect? These men and women are trained soldiers, some of the best in the realm - the train for the purpose of war. What exactly did they think they were doing all that training for? To show off at tea parties? I don't understand the logic of getting mad at warriors being sent to fight in a war - it's not as if it was some crap war that Rhys started...they had to kill the King of Hyburn to save everyone.

Overall while I did enjoy this book it was nowhere near as good as ACOMAF or ACOWAR, which made it a bit of a letdown. It was great getting to see more Feyre and Rhys cuteness and it reaffirmed my love for all of the inner circle. However, like I said I expect once we get the next book this book will fall into place nicely.

Now let's just let us all pray that the next book isn't entirely Nesta centric, hopefully, we will also get other povs as well because I'll straight up cry if I have to read like a book only about that piece of garbage.

sweetsorrows's review against another edition

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4.0

as a novella/middle novel, this book was a nice read. like a gentle epilogue, you feel like you're watching a hallmark movie. i'm a sucker for happy/nice epilogues, so this book made me feel cozy. there's no big climax/fight scene because there isn't meant to be any. it's like a check-up on your favorite magical friends.

maegan's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

mavisbird's review against another edition

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5.0

This was so cute! I thought it was nice to see more of the characters just interacting and not such high stakes. Very sweet. Perfect little Christmas tale!