Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - A Court of Silver Flames

Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

94 reviews

krosebooks's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book is very similar to ACOMAF, but with Nesta in it. I might be scared to read some long books but not by SJM.

I love a mental health troupe and Cassian and Nesta have an amazing love story. I appreciated that this book wasn’t geared towards YA audience. It made the themes hit harder and the parallelism to ACOMAF showed that.

Content Warnings

l0053yn0053y's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I was able to get through the first 2 books of the ACOTAR series with ease because of how well the plot carried me through the story, I needed to know what happened next. The third and fourth I read at a reasonable pace because I was hoping it would get better.
This was such a slow read! I had a hard time because I didn't really enjoy Nesta's character from the first 4 books and Cassian just didn't seem like he was a very dimensional character to begin with...he was a very stereotypical support character, the barbarian of the group.

I will start with the good.

As Nesta works through her trauma she does face challenges that push her to become a respectful likeable character as she realizes her true worth. I think it showed a wonderful character development on her end. But how that development comes about...it just all felt very forced. I felt like all of the characters were very 2-dimensional besides Nesta. The plot was a bit sloppy and very rushed at the end....the sex scenes just seemed to be added to spice up the plot but it didn't make sense nor was it a healthy way for both Nesta and Cassian's characters to help with her healing...it just didn't flow as the first 2 books did. It also seemed a bit of a repeat of the second book just with more focus on the training side....and my biggest gripe with this book is HOW THE FUCK CAN THEY HEAL A MAN WITH GUTS HANGING OUT OF HIM BUT THEY CANNOT PERFORM A CESARIAN PREGNANCY??? This was the biggest issue I had as it was supposed to be the big conflict where the story turns but I just found it so ridiculous. I also knew that none of the characters would die so I didn't care....I was hoping just for it to be some poetic justice that Nesta might sacrifice herself and save Feyre and Nyx or something drastic...but similar to the third one, the ending was rushed, everyone nearly died, but everyone was saved in the end...go team! Then when Cassian and Nesta realize they were mates just felt so underwhelming and glossed over....Then the bonus chapters I wish hadn't been included because Azriel just seemed all out of character and there hasn't been any growth/development that the reader has seen so it just didn't seem like the right place and time to introduce that side of the story. I really hope she wraps up the Az/Elain/Lucien triangle and Feyre fucking follows up on her promise to Vassa...how long is that temporary release? I bet when the characters return it won't be long...Maas has to build the tension somehow...

I was absolutely in love with this series but have slowly had my appreciation shifted to losing it as the plot line has gotten sloppy and so have the characters....

Content Warnings

itsmelaurenc's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

I had my reservations but I’m so glad I stuck it out, prob one of my favorites of the whole series.

Content Warnings

picaresquedreamer's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

holz_18's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

bree_h_reads's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Honestly, this was the best book in the entire series. Despite the weak ending I felt this was the strongest and best written book out of all 4.5 ACOTAR books. I really hope the shifting POVs continue with these books, as I think it really helps the plot stand up and justify how ridiculously long these books are.

As always the narrator was amazing, but I think this is her best performance. There was just so much more emotion put into the dialogue AND narration. It really sold me on the story and feelings. Which was important as this book is VERY focused on emotions and how they impact the characters. The exploration of trauma and healthy vs unhealthy coping mechanisms was written better than I anticipated. I also really appreciated the friendship Nesta developed with other women in the book and how that aided her recovery. It’s something that was sorely missing from Feyre’s story.

The relationship dynamics in this book were pretty hit-or-miss for me. I thought Azriel and Nesta had the best written dynamic. I really enjoyed the few interactions they had. And the change of Elaine and Nesta’s dynamic as a reaction to their trauma was also interesting. It didn’t feel out of place. It also allowed for more expansion on Elaine’s character, which I really liked. Aside from that, Cassin and Nesta’s dynamic was fine. I didn’t find it anything special, but I enjoyed the way they played off each other. The rest of the dynamics were pretty lacking, and actually made me dislike the Inner Circle. While Nesta wasn’t the kindest, it was clearly a response to being abandoned by the others. My dislike was further driven by their upset at Nesta being traumatised. Where they were gentle and patient with Feyre, they were short tempered and cruel to Nesta. Again, Nesta wasn’t perfect, but it was because the people that were treating her poorly had abandoned her when she needed community. The worst dynamic was Nesta and Rhysand. While it was pretty strong when they hated each other, their reconciliation at the end was horribly rushed. Especially considering Rhysand’s HORRIBLE actions in the book.

On that note, wow. Mister Your Choice shows his colours by taking away Feyre’s choices. Shocker. I am blown away. Truly. Shocked. It’s not like he’s been doing this, but more subtle the entire series. Honestly, if anyone is still swoony over Rhysand after he WITHHELD MEDICAL INFORMATION from his wife about how she MIGHT DIE is a new low. It’s disgusting behaviour and the fact the book brushed it off and shamed Nesta for telling Feyre the truth is INSANE.

My only other gripes are the spice and end, which just felt very rushed. Along with the wedding, their mating ritual happening so abruptly really threw me. The spice was hilarious, but not on purpose. I really don’t like the way SJM writes spice, so I mostly zoned out during those scenes.

Overall it was a just okay book. Nothing special, but better than the others. I presume due to less Rhysand content.

Content Warnings

neliadiedenise's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

hannalizzy's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

I laughed, I cried, I got turned on. What more can you ask for? Nesta is a nasty bitch with a heart of gold and I love her and relate to her and am so so proud of her. I cannot wait until the next one.

Content Warnings

theimposter's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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

Content Warnings

jas_thompson's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense slow-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

I love this world overall, but the pace of the book felt off. The main romantic relationship had a lot of toxicity for most of the book and it made it hard to read at times. Overall, the FMC had a lot of development. I loved her interactions with her friends and the theme of women empowering women.

Content Warnings

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