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adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Bad summaries:
500+ y/o guy falls for a 19 year old with an educational disability who doesnt know what to do with her life and then introduces her to royalty hell and forces her to save him from his eternal doom at the hands of a sadistic evil woman who kills for fun š¤·š½āāļø
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Solid, expertly written book. Some issues with depictions of trauma.
New Adult Dark High Fantasy about a young woman who accidentally kills the friend of a fae lord while hunting. He forces her to come live in the fae world for the rest of her life. They become romantically involved and other faeries find out he's with a human. This enrages the jealous queen, who then tries to kill her and destroy his house by making him her slave. She even has another man she keeps for her own enjoyment already while terrorizing the entire kingdom and just slaughtering everyone who gets in her way. It's clear she enjoys toying with people and lashing out when she doesn't get what she wants. Things go from 0 to 300 quick.
ACOTAR has an initially slow start that really picks up in the middle. Full of action and a badass female protagonist who is also fragile emotionally and physically in comparison to the immortals around her. It's a little spooky and gritty. Lots of monsters and mystery. It's violent and dark and has a lot of great twists. Even the ending of this book is a twist in itself for the rest of the series. Book 1 is sort of: "What had happened was..." in a way that genuinely feels like immersing in a fairytale and then later seeing it has gone very very wrong. You get more and more of some great character building as it becomes less Disney and more reality, making it a really fun read.
Great intro to the series. Though a little flawed for the more serious themes it explores and how they are represented in book 1, (I feel they aren't remedied until the start of book 2) but they are mostly remedied by a large percentage when they are. That's a dangerous game when depicting a high fantasy that is realistically depicting so much trauma. There are a lot of themes which may offend or trigger but the characters just sort of live in it... So, read on! But just be aware this book may insinuate it is actually ignoring the important subjects it means to talk about... attention to them just comes in late.
You can tell that Maas is a smart writer who has seen many fairytales she was really fed up with. She takes every opportunity to bring in the rage she wishes those characters showed. And she is an expert writer who hides some really sweet details throughout her books. You may come out with an even better perspective and deeper appreciation on a second read because it does such a good job of upsetting the reader on the first read.
Definitely recommended. I just feel that an important part of the readership might fall off before the series really gets into what it's largely about, which was frustrating as a reader and as someone who can closely relate to some of those issues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Kidnapping
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Slavery
Discussions about abuse, neglect, etc are less prevalent in book 1 and more prevalent in book 2. For the worse in my opinion. Because it doesn't allow for discussion ABOUT the abuse and that it is abuse until this book has ended. The characters just live in the abuse in book 1 and not much is done about it or contextualized. It's very realistic and well-researched but the handling isn't very delicate to start. However, the abusive bits also aren't graphic and book 2 has more delicate handling and continued light mentioning coupled with a more serious discussion. Disappointing weakening of book 1 a bit. But hey... surviving trauma also teaches you that we can't expect perfection. The year was 2015. I'm glad it was talked about at all.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I swore I would never read this series because itās long and Iām normally not a big series person - but I have been proven wrong. I actually really enjoyed this book! It was unpredictable, funny, and full of adventure that reminded me of the books I grew up reading. Itās been a super long time since Iāve read a true fantasy book so it was so fun to get lost in this world. I do have some major qualms that I am hoping are addressed in the next books, however, like the underlaying hints of abuse that are kind of threaded throughout her relationships with every man she encounters? Also the lack of female friendship (other than Alis) made it lose a few points in my mind because it made the book feel so catered to the romance instead of the plot and characters. I will be reading the rest and I am excited to see what comes!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book could have been better, not in terms of plot, that I was fine with, but in terms of character actions, and the author desperately needing a GOOD editor.
If I have to read the phrase "lazy smile" again in this series, I'm likely to throw myself into the abyss. A thesaurus would be a very advantageous resource for this author and an editor willing to point out the gross overuse of certain phrases.
Outside of the complaints about unfortuately typical YA romantic toxic relationships, and lack of character diversity, it does have a feeling of being a reimagined Beauty & the Beast but in a Fae world to explain the magic. Unlike Beauty & the Beast, our main character has a stubborn streak that is spiteful to the point of self sabotage.
She does have character growth with her stubborness and her "oh woe is me" attitude does improve. She begins to take time to understand those around her, especially of her dysfunctional family.
If I have to read the phrase "lazy smile" again in this series, I'm likely to throw myself into the abyss. A thesaurus would be a very advantageous resource for this author and an editor willing to point out the gross overuse of certain phrases.
Outside of the complaints about unfortuately typical YA romantic toxic relationships, and lack of character diversity, it does have a feeling of being a reimagined Beauty & the Beast but in a Fae world to explain the magic. Unlike Beauty & the Beast, our main character has a stubborn streak that is spiteful to the point of self sabotage.
She does have character growth with her stubborness and her "oh woe is me" attitude does improve. She begins to take time to understand those around her, especially of her dysfunctional family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked the story i just couldnāt handle how dumb the MC was being in the beginning so i switch to the audio book to get around that part. Iām glad i listened to the audio book as this is a very descriptive book and - even when listening - i got a little lost in what was going on by how much description was going on. but the story itself is really good, definitely ramps up near the end, which makes sense given itās a series (i donāt usually read series books). I grew to like the MC although I still think sheās a little slow (could be argued as stubbornness instead, i havenāt quite yet decided).
but the plots great, story building is great and weird thing to pick up on but the names of the characters are great too. Gonna listen to the next audio book in the series soon!
Also Jennifer Ikeda is a great narrator! Her at x1.35 speed was the perfect reading pace for me!!
but the plots great, story building is great and weird thing to pick up on but the names of the characters are great too. Gonna listen to the next audio book in the series soon!
Also Jennifer Ikeda is a great narrator! Her at x1.35 speed was the perfect reading pace for me!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
i enjoyed the last 10% of the book, the rest of it made me want to bang my head continuously into a cinderblock wall.
i get that she had to set up the world and make the ~love story~ make sense but jesus it was slow.and the set up with rhysand just feels so out of place in the situations. this put me in the worst reading slumpā¦ i wasnt able to finish anything since i picked this book up in MAY and i had to basically hold myself at gunpoint to finish it. itās AUGUST.
feyre is illiterate as a plot point but sheās also an idiot. being uneducated and being an imbecile are different things, and she is both.
tamlin is boringgg, and worse, heās blonde. i cannot bring myself to gaf abt him. blond men are a plague.
amarantha is a drag, she couldāve been a really interesting villain but instead we get these weak little challenges. likeā¦that riddle was the easiest thing iāve ever read (and CORNY, especially with it coming from someone who is supposed to be so heartless and wretchedā¦) ā¹ļø
other āvillainā is interesting but i have to sayā¦i know that rhysand is the endgame but jfc chill w the descriptions of his beauty while youāre ~enduring deathly trials bc you are so unbelievably in love~ lmao š¤Øš¤Øš¤Ø
also, the phrase āmy bowels turned wateryā needs to die a fiery death... why did she say it three timesššš GIRL now iām sick to my stomachš
whatever, iāve now read it and i never have to endure it again and iāll know wtf my friend is talking about when she references it. thatās enough for me ĀÆ\_(ć)_/ĀÆ
i get that she had to set up the world and make the ~love story~ make sense but jesus it was slow.
feyre is illiterate as a plot point but sheās also an idiot. being uneducated and being an imbecile are different things, and she is both.
tamlin is boringgg, and worse, heās blonde. i cannot bring myself to gaf abt him. blond men are a plague.
amarantha is a drag, she couldāve been a really interesting villain but instead we get these weak little challenges. likeā¦
other āvillainā is interesting but i have to sayā¦
also, the phrase āmy bowels turned wateryā needs to die a fiery death... why did she say it three timesššš GIRL now iām sick to my stomachš
whatever, iāve now read it and i never have to endure it again and iāll know wtf my friend is talking about when she references it. thatās enough for me ĀÆ\_(ć)_/ĀÆ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Classism
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Vomit, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent