Reviews with content warning for Murder - A Court of Thorns and Roses

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A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

1138 reviews

kpham16's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional 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

Content Warnings

louise_french_rider's review against another edition

5.0

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: Complicated

ACOTAR pulled me out of a massive reading slump—and for that alone, it deserves praise. But what really gripped me were the characters. I loved them all, even the ones I suspect I’m not “supposed” to. Feyre is fierce and flawed in all the right ways, and her bond with Tamlin had me completely invested. (Yes, I’m a proud Tamlin defender.) But if I had to pick a favorite? It’s Lucien. His loyalty, sarcasm, and hidden depth made every scene he was in stronger.

The plot was darker and more emotionally charged than I expected, and it hooked me fast. Maas builds a world that’s both enchanting and brutal, and she doesn’t shy away from consequences. This isn’t just a fantasy romance—it’s a story about sacrifice, survival, and hard choices.

I’m in. Fully. This series has my focus now.

Content Warnings

fiona_reads2's review against another edition

2.5

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Oof brutal read - I had to grit my teeth to get through this one so I could feel a part of the hype but oh my lord talk about a Mary Sue fantasy story. I was pretty down with the plot and the forbidden romance through the first half of the book, but the whole second half threw me for a loop and I could not wrap my mind around any of the character’s motivations.

My friend said the second book and the rest of the series is better. Thankfully the second audiobook is available on Libby to rent immediately!

Content Warnings

el_viral's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I liked this book more than I thought I would - I hate the term romantasy, which seems to be a thing now - I'm happy to have some romance in my fantasy, but not fantasy in my romance, and this trod a fine line, but kept me hooked. The world-building is very good, and the characters each have a solidly different voice. It does, however, have a few points that drag, and then a lot seems to be packed in at the end. I got this copy free, but would consider buying more in the series.

Content Warnings

owlly17's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad fast-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

Content Warnings

sekatorek's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

elaine_fdes's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Introduction (Basic Info and Summary)

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Fantasy Romance / New Adult Fantasy

Series: First in the ACOTAR series

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a lush, romantic fantasy that blends elements of a Beauty and the Beast retelling with fae mythology and political intrigue. The story follows Feyre Archeron, a mortal huntress whose life changes forever when she kills a wolf in the woods and is taken across the wall into the land of the fae as punishment. What starts as a slow-burn romance soon unravels into a darker tale of curses, manipulation, and survival, set in a richly imagined world of courts, magic, and ancient threats.

Initial Impressions

TikTok made me buy this entire series—and while I was hesitant at first (especially midway through book one), I’m glad I stuck with it. This was my first fantasy series since reading Harry Potter as a kid, and as a reader in my 30s, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The physical copy from my library drew me in with its beautiful cover, and by the end, I found myself emotionally invested. It has flaws, but the escapism it provides is undeniable.

Writing Style + Plot & Conflict + Characters

Sarah J. Maas writes in a lyrical, accessible style through Feyre’s first-person POV. The worldbuilding is immersive, though early chapters can feel repetitive or meandering. The pacing fluctuates—slower in the first half and rapid toward the end. The plot is straightforward with some familiar fantasy-romance tropes, but there’s just enough mystery to keep you intrigued.

Feyre is a determined lead, though her decision-making can be frustrating. Tamlin, the love interest, starts off compelling but ultimately feels flat. Lucien adds flavor with his sarcasm, and Rhysand—though a side character here—steals the spotlight whenever he appears. The antagonist, Amarantha, lacks depth and feels more like a plot device than a fully realized villain.

Themes, Symbolisms, Trigger Warnings

Themes include love vs. duty, survival, power dynamics, and freedom vs. control. Symbolism tied to masks, courts, and Feyre’s trials adds depth, though some themes are more developed in later books.

Trigger Warnings (Moderate): Emotional abuse, physical violence, captivity, torture, implied sexual assault, and toxic relationships.

Strengths

Immersive worldbuilding and detailed faerie lore
Romantic tension and slow-burn development
Strong visual and atmospheric writing
Memorable secondary characters (Lucien and Rhysand)
Exciting, high-stakes final act

Weaknesses

Uneven pacing, especially in the first half
Underdeveloped villain
Predictable plot (especially if familiar with the Beauty and the Beast structure)
Tamlin’s characterization lacks complexity
Frustrating character decisions from Feyre at key moments

Personal Reflections & Takeaways

Despite some early regrets about buying the full series before reading book one, I’m genuinely glad I continued. This book didn’t blow me away, but it gave me just enough magic, mystery, and romance to keep going. As a returning fantasy reader, it reminded me of how much I missed escaping into another world. It’s not perfect—but it’s addicting, and I see why it has such a huge fanbase.

Recommendations + Who Best For + Skip If
Recommended for: Fantasy romance fans, new adult readers, those looking for an accessible re-entry into the fantasy genre.
Skip if: You dislike slow pacing, fae lore, or predictable retellings.

Rating: 3.75 / 5

Content Warnings

abuehler12's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I think my expectations from the hype of this series ruined the first 75% of this book for me…not in a terrible way, just in a underwhelming, thought it was slow-moving, and uneventful way. But it might also have been because of the slightly confusing storyline that did a bad job at foreshadowing anything for the reader to figure out but instead threw it all together at the back end of the book…BUT I highly enjoyed the story when the plot picked up at the last 25% and found myself liking more side characters than main ones and loving how so many different characters impacted the progress of the plot! I agree with a lot of the reviews critiquing this book and with the ones in love with this book. A solid 3.5 ⭐️ book for a majority but again, the ending was enjoyable and held my attention to finish in one sitting that I pushed it up to 4 ⭐️

Content Warnings

ddrap's review against another edition

4.0

medium-paced

Content Warnings

allisonjoytimpe's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

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