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cuteasamuntin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Confinement, Body horror, Eating disorder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and War
Be prepared for a frank, reflective exploration of the complicated journey that is PTSD recovery and healing from the trauma of intimate partner violence.essie__reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, War, Blood, Confinement, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, and Cursing
midnacine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
**Spoilers for the first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses**
What I Liked:
- World building: Prythian, Hybern, the mortal realm, and the faerie continent are extremely cohesive and well-crafted. I loved learning about Prythian and its different courts, as well as the powers Feyre had gained from the High Lords at the end of the first book.
- Action and magic: I have to say, I think this series has some of the most interesting combat scenes and such a unique take on magic that hasn't really been explored before, at least not to my knowledge. Everything is fascinating to me, and I just wanna know more and more about all of it.
- Mental illness representation: Feyre's PTSD and depression are very accurate. As a person who struggles with those same illnesses, it's nice to be able to read a book in which I feel like I understand the main character's struggles on a personal basis, something so rarely found in fantasy novels.
- Feyre's character development/the Found Family trope: in addition to her mental illness rep, I love that we got to see Feyre process her trauma and work through it. She learns to love and to trust people once again, and she surprises herself when she forms meaningful friendships. Which brings me to my next topic...
- Literally every character except for Rhysand: Cassian reminds me of my husband so he is my book boyfriend for this series. I desperately want Azriel and Mor to end up together. Amren terrifies me, which I think is the point, and Feyre's sisters are so important to me.
What I Didn't Like: Rhysand
(I was gonna make this a whole list with different sections like above but tbh it literally all boils down to Rhys so here we go)
Okay so I already didn't like Rhys in the first book. He drugged Feyre and used her as a means of getting revenge on Tamlin when he knew she cared about him. He dressed her in sheer clothing that exposed her breasts and ass and made her give him lap dances. He kissed her without her consent to make her then-partner jealous. I honestly don't know why no one talks about this, because to me, he's just as bad as Tamlin. I'm just gonna make a list of all my reactions about Rhys in the spoiler section:
2. He continually made excuses for what he'd done to Feyre Under the Mountain instead of owning up to it. He never even fucking apologizes to her.
3. Everything Rhys does "for Feyre" has an ulterior motive (i.e. "You should learn to read cuz I need to know what the Book of Breathings says", "I'm gonna put you in danger to get your own wedding ring cuz I need to know if you can sense magic objects", "I think the Attor is hunting you but I'm not gonna say anything and just use you as bait for confirmation")
4. Every time Rhys said "Feyre darling" it made my skin crawl.
5. Feyre literally will not STOP romanticizing Rhys, like you can tell SJM really wanted you to forget all the shitty stuff he did in the first book. It's almost as if she just changed her mind with Tamlin and Rhys' characterizations at the beginning of this one.
6. The ELEVEN PAGES (not an exaggeration, I counted) Rhys spent talking - uninterrupted, I might add - about how he was captured by Amarantha and making excuses for himself as to why he did the things he did Under the Mountain. First of all, this wasn't until 83% of the way through the book, like why did you take so long to talk to her about it? Plus, you still didn't apologize for any of it! I had to take a break from the book and come back to it because it was so exhausting.
7. Chapter 55 was cringey lol. I had to skim because it took everything in me to not vomit my breakfast.
8. The fact that we're expected to hate Tamlin because he got possessive and controlling of Feyre in the beginning of the book, but as soon as their mating bond kicks in and Rhys gets possessive and controlling it's supposed to be attractive??? Like I don't understand why SJM made this a thing. Please make it make sense.
At this point, I love the plot of the series and I am incredibly interested in what might happen next, but I'm really just holding out until I get Spicy Cassian in ACOSF.
Graphic: Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Moderate: Classism and Vomit
crybabybea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
Graphic: Sexism, Vomit, Sexual violence, Violence, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Rape
Moderate: War and Body horror
Minor: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
bethy_joy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Gore, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, War, Gaslighting, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Death, Rape, Confinement, Death of parent, and Murder
kaattie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Sexual content, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Addiction
amelisan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Sexual content, Child abuse, Confinement, Sexism, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Abandonment, Classism, Death, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Eating disorder
Minor: Slavery, War, and Violence
louisa_pennyfeather2021's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I started reading the ACOTAR series because I didn't understand the hype behind it. I get it now.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Classism, Sexism, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Toxic friendship, War, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
book_hangover's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexism
chuckielittle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Classism, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexism, Blood, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual assault, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts