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rowstream's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Minor: Homophobia and Vomit
readwithria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A Court of Wings and Ruin takes the threads of the previous books and weaves them together into such a good conclusion to Feyre’s story.
Do I love this book? No, not really. But I definitely had a good time with it. ACOTAR does a better job of mixing the politics with the romance, and ACOMAF does a great job with the romance with just a sprinkle of the politics, but this book struggles to balance the two well. The plot is kinda meh, and the romance has already been established so there’s not a lot of time spent on it, which makes complete sense.
I wish the war plot had been better entwined into all of the books so that it doesn’t feel so out of place. I think that SJM doesn’t fully understand the difference between “putting on a mask” and being a situationally bad person to the people you don’t like. But I also knew all of this going into the book, so it didn’t surprise me.
I know this is her most beloved series, and I really do like it, but it’s just not my favorite.
Anyway, if you go in with the expectation of fae vibes and steam you won’t be disappointed.
Graphic: Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Lesbophobia
ivegotyourpaperback's review against another edition
3.5
Also, if Rhys is the most powerful High Lord in Prythian history why can’t he just turn Hybern’s entire army into red mist. Bada bing bada boom, done in 5 minutes. No need for 700 whole pages. That’s the problem with writing a character that’s sooooo powerful.
Moving on, I liked that we finally got some queer representation in this series, however it did feel like Maas just had a lightbulb moment and went “shit, I have no queer characters. Better chuck them in now for some diversity “. 🤦🏻♀️
As for our newly minted high fae Archeron sisters, Elain is still boring, doing (mostly) nothing for the whole book and Nesta is still the prickliest woman to ever exist. At least in this book she’s got a reason to be. My problem with Nesta as a character is that she only seems to have one emotional level: angry. Which makes her feel a bit two dimensional. Also, it’s super obvious that Nesta and Cassian are going to be mates at some point.
Oddly enough, the element I liked most about this book was the politics and negotiations between the various courts. Fryer’s shenanigans at the Spring Court at the beginning of the book we’re great (though I guess ended up being redundant and counterproductive, ugh), and the meeting with all the High Lords was a highlight (I’m still salty Lucien wasn’t there though).
It’s hard to write a non-spoiler filled review and express all my thoughts. *sigh*
⚠️domestic violence
⚠️implied homophobia
⚠️violence
⚠️gore
⚠️implied torture
⚠️murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Torture
speckledstars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Spoiler:
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, and War
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Homophobia
graceskate's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Medical content, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Genocide, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Vomit, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
abbyycadabbyy's review
5.0
I want to start by saying that this book took me 30 days to read, but it felt like a week. Every time I put the book down, I was thinking about it. Every time I picked the book back up, I was never lost or confused. The layout/timing of the whole book probably had a lot to do with that.
(THE REST OF THE REVIEW CONTAINS SPOLIERS) I enjoyed every aspect of this book. I am a huge fan of fantasy politics. Even at the beginning while Feyre was at the spring court, I loved all the planning and manipulation that went on. After she gets back it went straight into the strategizing of the war. Right in the middle of that, the war starts. Of course, the book ends when the war does.
Most of the ending of the book had me crying. I cried when the girl's father comes back. The names of the ships got me. I cried when he died. I also cried when Rhysand dies. It takes a lot to make me cry so that is saying something about how much meaning and impact the events in the book had.
I could go on and on for days talking about everything I loved about the book; I won't bore you though. I couldn't even wait to start the next book.
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Homophobia
dalek_caan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
anewton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Vomit
ktia11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Homophobia
annick's review against another edition
3.25
“I forgot how boring this part is,” Amren muttered.”
Not as funny or good as book two.
The episodic quests (carver, suriel, weaver, etc) were better written than the staging and unfolding of battles. The middle act of diplomacy between the many lords was clunky. It exposed Maas’s shortcomings with writing witty dialogue of diplomacy and intrigue.
The sex wasn’t as spicy as book two. And the wit and sarcasm wasn’t as amusing.
The “fridging” of one character near the end highlighted how this is a writer that won’t let name characters die from the “good side”. (Did you notice that dead character wasn’t named but only in reference to their relationship to other characters?)
The writing had several shortcomings. Hyperbole. Unable to demonstrate the alleged diplomacy and intrigue. Clunky exposition. Excessive dialogue in battle scenes. Excessive narrative. More hyperbole.
I’m glad there is some representation of queer love. sadly misogyny is a feature of this world. So WLW (nephelle and surprise reveal) is not as acceptable as MLM (Thesian)
FFS the repetitive use of nausea as a sign of emotive reaction.
And the similes were so excessive. Eg “His eyes glowed, like lightning had struck an ocean.”
Graphic: Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia