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Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

132 reviews

challenging dark emotional slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

It took me four months to finish this book. FOUR months! Every time I picked it up I just wanted it to be done. Now that I’m finished with it I’ve been drawn back to other books and am reading again.

As much as I want to like this book, I dislike how long it is and how dragged out Nesta’s growth was. It shouldn’t take months to read a book and not should we feel like we’re experiencing years and months while reading. The last one hundred or so pages tho? I loved them! I wanted more of that! Give us more action!

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous emotional slow-paced
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was great in the way a soap opera is great. The plot (in terms of the larger world’s politics and magic’s role in it) was almost incoherent, but the romance and friendship plots were fun, and I loved the FMCs arc (Nesta is by far the most complex and compelling character in this series now that Feyre and Rhys annoy the hell out of me).  

I enjoyed every minute of this book but also suspended the critical thinking part of my brain. When I turn it back on, all of the inconsistencies in characters, magic system, and world building and all the forced plot elements and holes are glaringly obvious. I’m really, really hoping that all these things are intentional and part of some big, elaborate plot that SJM is laying the groundwork for and that will all come together at the end of the series, but at this point that seems unlikely (even tho TOG has shown she’s capable of plotting and writing a great series!) I’d put my money on this just being bad writing and poor series planning. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful 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: Complicated

This is by far the best of the ACOTAR series. Cassian and Nesta are my favorite couple and I love that this book is from their point of view. Cassian never keeps Nesta from doing anything, he shows her how to use her strength to fight her own demons and only steps in when needed. That is a man. One who sees the power in women and helps them to nurture it. This one was just so good!!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional inspiring medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
Strong character development: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional reflective 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 review will have spoilers as I feel there's not a good way for me to really explain my feelings without delving too deep. Apologies in advance.

-Plot-
I enjoy that Nesta got her own book. I found interest in her when first introduced and knew she was going to become something more. This book though has some issues with me and mostly it's not really Nesta. I love that she too is on a journey of redemption and healing but feel some character assassination happens as she was doing better in book 3 but by the novella and here she just seemed so downright awful (not that she wasn't. She's flawed and morally grey) but more so it's the flaws within the story and the lost potential that left this book a little disappointing. If you're here for story driven plot...this is not it. This book is character driven and erotic.

-characters-
Nestanever is one of my favorites. I was drawn to her morally grey character. I love the idea of redemption for her. I enjoyed her struggles with her inner demons but it truly could have been more.
  • Why couldn't she struggle along with the plot aftermath of the 3rd book? Why is the story put on hold?
  • Why is it more focused on her made family than her actual sisters? Don't get me wrong I love the Valkerie sisters but why lose the deeper and meaningful conversations and healing the sisters themselves needed? Where was that?
  • Why Why Why did she needed to be nerfed? I wanted more struggle with her power. More of a power dynamic between her and Rhys. Tbh she could have replaced Amren and earn her right. I believe in that.
  • She really changed her body? Why...like...seriously Why? I mean I get why but I felt it was unnecessary. I don't picture her thinking such things for a long time then again that could be the bond talking.
Cassian:
  • Why doesnt he really stand up against his friends when they are in the wrong or being awful? Sometimes they acted just as awful as Nesta. Like they really left Nesta to her demons and when they saw that time wasn't working they lock her in the house of wind? Why??? 
  • The part where Nesta reveals to Feyre that everyone's been hiding her fate, everyone made at Nesta and awful to her but why did he make her freaken walk 5 days, tired and dehydrated and after she breaks down decides to sleep with her...what? Where's his own accountability? Actually where is the whole groups equally accountability  to Nesta's?
  • Also when they're on the bridge...i hated him in that moment. That to me...was not Cassian and he would have never.
Everyone else:
  • Frustrating, hypocritial, but I can be aware it's more towards Nesta view point. Again how can they be so accepting of Elain when she was right there beside Nesta?
  • Feyre would NOT have swept under what the others did to her so easily but I suppose with the threat she would power through it...just hated how quickly it was handled and again Nesta is the only one held accountable
  • Also how is Feyre already pregnant? I thought it was super difficult plus I knew it was gonna be a catalyst. I really disliked it kinda cut Nesta's moment short...but I digress
  • I very much dislike Amren in this book. Nuff said.
  • The Queen Brialynn is a freaken joke. Thats all i have to say cause her big entrance and exit was laughable 
  • The humans? Lucian? The other courts? Barely a appreance and hardly plans of peace being made minus Mor off into other fae territories.
-world building-
It felt the story was put on hold and this was injected. Why couldnt Nesta's healing journey flow with the plot like Feyre did in ACOMAF? She could have still been the himans advocate, with Rhys and Feyre as they continue juggling this very fragile peace. Instead...the world just kinda at a standstill. We dont really hear of the other courts, lucian and the himans are barely even in this book or touched on and the whole threat of the queen was pathetic. I would have been more interest as Nesta struggles with her fathers death as she begins to get a hold of her power. Fighting the nature of it and perhaps a dynamic between her and Rhys. The fear of her truly becoming evil. Fighting that said evil but really once she begins to accept herself and her powers...she freaken nerfed and any interesting dynamics like of her and Eris or the queens or anything is out the window.
-spice-
It's definitely the spiciest and Sarah upped her game but I really wanted more plot. More raw passion between her and Cassian. Was it hot and sexy. Yes but I guess I was hoping for more than just physical romance...
-readability-
It is a good read overall. Was it my favorite? No. I think it had a lot more possibilities. Been more emotional and engaged. I would reread this. I love the characters still (...maybe Amren not so much) and feel the plot could have been stronger...but again it's my opinion and you may not feel the same. Either way...this book series is still one of my favorites. Hopefully some of this made any sense. It was late writing this lol

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings