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slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found ACOTAR very hard to get through. Feyre, the main character, is insufferable and being in her head is annoying. She definitely suffers from "main character syndrome" and that made me not really care for her.
Maas has a tendency to repeat the same things over and over again, in different ways. Some chapters were completely unnecessary. The first half of the book felt like it was going nowhere.
I think the "spice" in this book is still quite mellow, thankfully. However, consent being an important part in healthy and meaningful relationships... I think none of the characters pass as someone respecting boundaries. Tamlin and Rhys (not going to call them love interests because why would you call your kidnapper and a literal demon who makes a deal to own you that?) are both examples of thirst traps with a bit of personality and background scribbled around them to eventually try to "redeem" their behavior.
The 'ritual(s)' and acts of these characters are, again, seen by the fans of these books as something morally grey (or just 'hot'). But I cannot in good concience say anything positive about it. The lack of consent in this book is utterly disgusting, and I am wondering how people are not only ok with it, but actively defending it. I have seen cosplayers of these characters really pushing boundaries, which is concerning. The 'primal' thing really is too much for me, I find it incredibly cringe and makes me feel sick. Also, please stop purring.
The whole "mating" thing (which is only a thing we hear about from Tamlins parents) is gonna play a big part in the next books (my friend told me because I was appalled and needed to rant), and it is not only super problematic but also just plain vile in my opinion. The uncontrollable urge to mate, all respect and consent feel like a side issue... no thanks.
Needless to say this is probably my #1 reason I am not going to read any further. This does not set up realistic expectations for a healthy and responsible relationship.
I feel like this book is glorifying rape and that just doesn't sit well with me.
Also, what about lgbtqia+ people? They seem to be non-existant in this world.
I honestly do not understand why people like this book so much. It feels like a bad judge of character and justifying bad deeds just for the sake of a sexy scene doesn't turn this book into something 'good'. Why is it do popular? Don't people usually have standards? If you think this is normal I'm genuinely asking you to question your real life relationships...
I loved the concept of the curse fusing the masks to peoples faces, the courts sound absolutely magical and there is a lot of potential there, but we didn't see much of it apart from the spring court. I guess Maas will touch upon more in other books and I hope she doesn't turn them into empty shells of what could have been. She has a masters degree in creative writing, but honestly I found the "world building" and the writing in this book average at best.
The creatures in this world are definitely scary and I would have loved to see more of them. However, that is basically all I really enjoyed about this world Sarah J Maas created, most of it sadly fell flat in the end. The creatures felt like they only appeared just to fill chapters. You could say it's world building, but they are mentioned once or twice and then never spoken of again. And even then- it didn't push the story forward.
Finally, do NOT get me started on the premise of the curse. Its whole premise was stupid and clearly written to fit the story. The backstory of Amarantha and her sister had potential, but turned into somethings lame and laughable. She felt like a cartoon villain whose only character traits were: 'evil' and 'sexually frustrated'. She didn't even feel like a smart character.
No, I don't think it was a good plot. No, I don't think the story made sense. No, I wasn't emerged in the world like I am in other books. No, I don't feel like the villain was villainous and the hero was heroic. It was all very generic and I found it, quite frankly, disappointing.
I give this book 1,5 out of 5 stars. Because Lucien was a character I cared about (still feel like he was unintentionally written to be a closeted gay and I just want to tell him everything will be ok), the creatures and world still have potential and I liked the description in some (yes, some) chapters. However, I don't think I'll finish the series as this was so underwhelming I feel like I would prefer to spend my time with other books I know I will enjoy more.
Maas has a tendency to repeat the same things over and over again, in different ways. Some chapters were completely unnecessary. The first half of the book felt like it was going nowhere.
I think the "spice" in this book is still quite mellow, thankfully. However, consent being an important part in healthy and meaningful relationships... I think none of the characters pass as someone respecting boundaries. Tamlin and Rhys (not going to call them love interests because why would you call your kidnapper and a literal demon who makes a deal to own you that?) are both examples of thirst traps with a bit of personality and background scribbled around them to eventually try to "redeem" their behavior.
The 'ritual(s)' and acts of these characters are, again, seen by the fans of these books as something morally grey (or just 'hot'). But I cannot in good concience say anything positive about it. The lack of consent in this book is utterly disgusting, and I am wondering how people are not only ok with it, but actively defending it. I have seen cosplayers of these characters really pushing boundaries, which is concerning. The 'primal' thing really is too much for me, I find it incredibly cringe and makes me feel sick. Also, please stop purring.
The whole "mating" thing (which is only a thing we hear about from Tamlins parents) is gonna play a big part in the next books (my friend told me because I was appalled and needed to rant), and it is not only super problematic but also just plain vile in my opinion. The uncontrollable urge to mate, all respect and consent feel like a side issue... no thanks.
Needless to say this is probably my #1 reason I am not going to read any further. This does not set up realistic expectations for a healthy and responsible relationship.
I feel like this book is glorifying rape and that just doesn't sit well with me.
Also, what about lgbtqia+ people? They seem to be non-existant in this world.
I honestly do not understand why people like this book so much. It feels like a bad judge of character and justifying bad deeds just for the sake of a sexy scene doesn't turn this book into something 'good'. Why is it do popular? Don't people usually have standards? If you think this is normal I'm genuinely asking you to question your real life relationships...
I loved the concept of the curse fusing the masks to peoples faces, the courts sound absolutely magical and there is a lot of potential there, but we didn't see much of it apart from the spring court. I guess Maas will touch upon more in other books and I hope she doesn't turn them into empty shells of what could have been. She has a masters degree in creative writing, but honestly I found the "world building" and the writing in this book average at best.
The creatures in this world are definitely scary and I would have loved to see more of them. However, that is basically all I really enjoyed about this world Sarah J Maas created, most of it sadly fell flat in the end. The creatures felt like they only appeared just to fill chapters. You could say it's world building, but they are mentioned once or twice and then never spoken of again. And even then- it didn't push the story forward.
Finally, do NOT get me started on the premise of the curse. Its whole premise was stupid and clearly written to fit the story. The backstory of Amarantha and her sister had potential, but turned into somethings lame and laughable. She felt like a cartoon villain whose only character traits were: 'evil' and 'sexually frustrated'. She didn't even feel like a smart character.
No, I don't think it was a good plot. No, I don't think the story made sense. No, I wasn't emerged in the world like I am in other books. No, I don't feel like the villain was villainous and the hero was heroic. It was all very generic and I found it, quite frankly, disappointing.
I give this book 1,5 out of 5 stars. Because Lucien was a character I cared about (still feel like he was unintentionally written to be a closeted gay and I just want to tell him everything will be ok), the creatures and world still have potential and I liked the description in some (yes, some) chapters. However, I don't think I'll finish the series as this was so underwhelming I feel like I would prefer to spend my time with other books I know I will enjoy more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It felt like I was reading a faerie version of Beauty and the Beast at times, but still enjoyed the book overall. I found the main character to be relatable and kept me engaged in the story. I love the concept of the realms and hope there is more to come as I continue on in the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Incredibly lazy writing in the world building ,metaphors & story initiation & conclusion
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Vomit
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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 didn't know what to expect going into A Court of Thorns and Roses, but I can absolutely say I was pleasantly surprised. This book is one of those that's super easy to get invested in once you get past the first few chapters. It's a spicy, fantasy-based romance at heart, but it has a little bit for everyone. There are darker, bloodier parts for the more horror-based fans, spicy and slow-burning romance scenes for the romantics, bright and whimsical settings for the general fantasy reader, and tons of world-building for the immersive reader. You'll find yourselves really getting into the characters and their growth as well. One word of warning - this book will toy with your emotions if you're the type of reader to get emotionally involved in your reading; there are many happy moments, sad moments, passionate moments, and brutal moments all happening in a tense, twist-and-turn format. While I sing the novel's praises, there indeed some issues with how some parts are written, how long it takes the characters to realize things, and how long it takes to get going in the beginning. Some lines fall flat, some characters take a long time to really develop, and the start of the novel burns a bit too slow for me. However, all of these issues are wiped away with how intensely powerful the middle and latter portions of the novel flow. The emotional impact, immense character development, and epic worldbuilding carry the novel quickly away from its flaws. Highly recommend this one for any fan of darker fantasy, passionate romance, or deep immersion into another world. It absolutely sucked me in and made me emotional; I'll absolutely be continuing the series when I can get my hands on the next books
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit
Blood and gore: Bloody deaths via stabbing, eviscerating, throat-ripping, crucifixion, etc. One character's crucified body is left hanging for months on a cave wall. A group of creatures gets ripped apart. One character gets its wings ripped off. The main characters discover a severed head on a statue at one point. It has some very gruesome scenes.
Torture: The main character is mentally and physically tortured by dark fae powers a few times in the story. The pain and feeling is detailed.
Murder: The main characters murder a few different characters, many in bloody ways.
Injury/injury detail: The main character experiences an injury during battle with protruding bones that sits and grows infection for way longer than it should.
Sexual content: A couple characters have sex at least twice in the novel, with at least two other scenes where they come close to doing so.
Vomit: A few characters vomit at the sight of a bloody/grisly injury. One character vomits after drinking too much fae wine. One character vomits a few times due to an injury.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Rape
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not a masterpiece of literature, but sure an entarteining, “guilty pleasure”, fun read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Vomit
adventurous
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:
Yes
Despite not being my usual choice of book, this has reignited my passion for reading. I couldn’t wait to pick it up again to find out more about the world, the dynamics and the outcomes of decisions. Although I did find some of the choices and writing questionable at points, the world building and character growth and development made it a worthwhile read! I can see why this book has so much hype around it and have immediately picked up the next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Sexual harassment, War
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, Blood
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, Murder
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
slow-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:
Complicated
This is the entryway into this highly acclaimed series, but it’s probably the hardest/slowest of the books to read. I had too high of expectations and also didn’t realize it was technically YA. After adjusting my expectations, I really enjoyed the last half of the book and look forward to completing the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Sexual harassment