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adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well, I pretty much hated this. It started off okay and I quite liked the world building, but that was about all I enjoyed. The writing was sooo repetitive — Maas relies on the same few words, phrases and sentence structures to the point it was just irritating. I also didn't really care for any of the characters and found Feyre an annoying narrator, which was exacerbated by the repetitiveness of the writing (WE GET IT, FEYRE THINKS ABOUT LIGHT AND COLOURS BECAUSE SHE'S A PAINTER.)
I did find myself reading it fairly quickly, so I suppose it gets points for that, but it was mostly with an attitude of wanting to get it over with.
I did find myself reading it fairly quickly, so I suppose it gets points for that, but it was mostly with an attitude of wanting to get it over with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Vomit
Minor: Slavery, Torture, War
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Torture, Blood, Murder
Minor: Slavery, Vomit, Death of parent
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Took me a while to get into it but midday and I got hooked. Finished the second half in about a day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"All I'd been able to do for years: focus on surviving the week, the day, the hour ahead."
Feyre's entire family relies on her to survive... not that they're overly grateful for it. Unfortunately, her drive to protect her family is the very thing that gets her in trouble, and lands her trapped among the High Fae of the Spring Court.
I'll admit, at the beginning of the book, I wasn't sure what was going on or how I was supposed to relate to these characters, but it didn't take long for the pieces to start falling into place. I was surprised by how seemingly nominal details had great importance, and the characters I liked the least quickly became the ones I loved the most.
I know a lot of people describe this book as one you need to "get through" before the real story begins, but I genuinely enjoyed the ride it took me on. Even before the major plot twist in the last quarter of the book, I was pretty enthralled not only by the world Maas created, but the people in it. I was shocked by the characters who wound up being my favourites, by the intricacies of the political atmosphere... I felt like I was trying to put a puzzle together, but someone was hiding the pieces until they decided I could have them (in the best way possible)!
I definitely understand the criticisms that it's a little more slow paced, but I really thrive on heavy world building and think this book set up the series wonderfully. I enjoyed it for what it was - an introduction to Prythian and the magical world, the history of the lands, and to the characters we'll see throughout the series. It did well enough to make me want and wonder more.
Throughout the book, I found myself enjoying the relationship building as well. Not only the romantic one, but the initial sibling-like relationship between Feyre and Lucien. Without giving too much away, I feel like it's exactly what Feyre needed.
Her romance was a slow burn and I loved it. It felt really natural to watch her learn to like, and then love, the MMC. I felt like I was falling with her. He was so gentle and patient with her, which had me starry eyed as I read.
"'I love you,' I could almost hear the words - almost hear him saying them."
The one thing I struggled with the most is the drastic change with Feyre's character. I felt like we went from having this strong, defiant FMC with drive and purpose... to a docile, careless girl who simply fawned after the MMC. She kind of developed... backwards. Mind you, I do think this was partially due to the situation she was in, but I wish some of her original ambition would have returned for more than just obsession over a man.
Ultimately, this was a good read. It left something to be desired, but that's what the rest of the series is for - and I'm looking forward to it!
Feyre's entire family relies on her to survive... not that they're overly grateful for it. Unfortunately, her drive to protect her family is the very thing that gets her in trouble, and lands her trapped among the High Fae of the Spring Court.
I'll admit, at the beginning of the book, I wasn't sure what was going on or how I was supposed to relate to these characters, but it didn't take long for the pieces to start falling into place. I was surprised by how seemingly nominal details had great importance, and the characters I liked the least quickly became the ones I loved the most.
I know a lot of people describe this book as one you need to "get through" before the real story begins, but I genuinely enjoyed the ride it took me on. Even before the major plot twist in the last quarter of the book, I was pretty enthralled not only by the world Maas created, but the people in it. I was shocked by the characters who wound up being my favourites, by the intricacies of the political atmosphere... I felt like I was trying to put a puzzle together, but someone was hiding the pieces until they decided I could have them (in the best way possible)!
I definitely understand the criticisms that it's a little more slow paced, but I really thrive on heavy world building and think this book set up the series wonderfully. I enjoyed it for what it was - an introduction to Prythian and the magical world, the history of the lands, and to the characters we'll see throughout the series. It did well enough to make me want and wonder more.
Throughout the book, I found myself enjoying the relationship building as well. Not only the romantic one, but the initial sibling-like relationship between Feyre and Lucien. Without giving too much away, I feel like it's exactly what Feyre needed.
Her romance was a slow burn and I loved it. It felt really natural to watch her learn to like, and then love, the MMC. I felt like I was falling with her. He was so gentle and patient with her, which had me starry eyed as I read.
"'I love you,' I could almost hear the words - almost hear him saying them."
The one thing I struggled with the most is the drastic change with Feyre's character. I felt like we went from having this strong, defiant FMC with drive and purpose... to a docile, careless girl who simply fawned after the MMC. She kind of developed... backwards. Mind you, I do think this was partially due to the situation she was in, but I wish some of her original ambition would have returned for more than just obsession over a man.
Ultimately, this was a good read. It left something to be desired, but that's what the rest of the series is for - and I'm looking forward to it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Murder, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Slavery, Death of parent
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Chronic illness, Slavery, Vomit, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I rolled my eyes every other minute. That said I will be reading the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Slavery, Vomit, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Minor: Body horror, Death of parent
medium-paced
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
I was really skeptical of this one at first. I heard really good things, but by 300 pages in, I was just laughing at the prose. If you made the number of times the characters "growl" or "pounce" or "snarl" into a drinking game, you would very quickly be blackout drunk. I was about to DNF at 250 pages, but my friend encouraged me to finish, and I will say the book did pick up some, but continued to drag.
I think this whole novel would be better off if it were 100 pages shorter. There's a TON of fluff that doesn't contribute to the story, and I honestly interpreted lots of writing that DID end up being relevant in the end as just...bad writing.
If you're in the mood for smut, this book does NOT deliver, I repeat, does NOT deliver. The romance is questionable at best, and I wasn't into it. The main character's pure stubbornness is the only saving grace of the novel.
(also, sidenote, if this character is supposed to be so smart, why can't she solve the easiest riddle of all time?)
I'll read the second one because I'm bored at work with nothing else to do, but otherwise, I'd probably just quit. Book clearly is intended to have a sequel.
Also stream of conscious: I miss Divergent and Hunger Games. I feel like every other dystopian style novel I've read is just bleh remakes of those :(
I think this whole novel would be better off if it were 100 pages shorter. There's a TON of fluff that doesn't contribute to the story, and I honestly interpreted lots of writing that DID end up being relevant in the end as just...bad writing.
If you're in the mood for smut, this book does NOT deliver, I repeat, does NOT deliver. The romance is questionable at best, and I wasn't into it. The main character's pure stubbornness is the only saving grace of the novel.
(also, sidenote, if this character is supposed to be so smart, why can't she solve the easiest riddle of all time?)
I'll read the second one because I'm bored at work with nothing else to do, but otherwise, I'd probably just quit. Book clearly is intended to have a sequel.
Also stream of conscious: I miss Divergent and Hunger Games. I feel like every other dystopian style novel I've read is just bleh remakes of those :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Kidnapping
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you told me that SJMAAS hates this main character, I would believe you. I've never seen so much gaslighting and victim-blaming towards a character as was done to Feyre. None of them deserves her. Not her family and definitely not Tamlin (I'll probably change my mind later, this is just the first book).
The story drags on in the first half of the book, but then it becomes so engaging that it is worth it. Amarantha is such a great villain!
I loved all of this. I can't wait for the next book - 4 stars!
The story drags on in the first half of the book, but then it becomes so engaging that it is worth it. Amarantha is such a great villain!
I loved all of this. I can't wait for the next book - 4 stars!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent