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Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
ACOTAR is an augmented Beauty and the Beast fanfiction that romanticizes sexual exploitation and sexual violence. Feyre is essentially a Mary Sue, as her flaws are minimal and easily overcome, and her love for Tamlin feels forced--based on his beauty and inferences about his character and stories from others, rather than found in key interactions and moments between the two.
Another major pain point I felt while reading this book was the writing. I understand this is a YA novel, but I have never cringed so hard through a book. Certain phrases are heavily overused (If I have to hear about Feyre's watery bowels one more time..) and many parts are overwritten to death as if to stretch the novel. The humor in ACOTAR is far from witty, it's grating. While the sexual scenes have some heat, the inclusion of growls and claws and other animalistic behaviors gave me the ick. While the storytelling is there, the writing just isn't worth it!
If you're just getting back into reading or trying out fantasy, I can see how this would be approachable, but there has to be some better options out there.
Graphic: Sexual violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
As many have mentioned, the writing is juvenile, the story has been done many times before, and there are some problematic ideas. Many of these characters start out as obnoxious tropes, but I find throughout the story they become less and less over the top. While I would describe this book overall as junk food, I do keep catching myself thinking about it. It is cringe and cheesy, but I think readers need to remind themselves that it is a romance first, fantasy second. Despite that fact, I find myself intrigued with the fae world and more invested than I ever thought I would be. Many moments (not necessarily romantic/sexy ones) caught me off guard emotionally. Specifically,
Speaking of sexy, it doesn't even get that crazy. I'm don't know why it is described as so spicy, but I found the sex scenes about as interesting as Fifty Shades of Gray....so not great.
Overall, not sure why this book is so hyped up, but I really enjoyed parts of it. With as many books as this author has written, I feel like her writing should have improved a bit by now lol. If you regularly read fantasy and supernatural fanfiction online, this "real" book is for you!
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, War
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Confinement, Cursing, Misogyny, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, War