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savvyrosereads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
2024 reread:
Rating: 5/5 stars
This will never be my favorite of the series but it has some truly ICONIC moments and I thoroughly enjoyed the reread!
Original review (December 2022):
Rating: 5 stars
Feyre and the Night Court must create alliances and battle ancient magic to save Prythian.
As the third book in the series, there isn’t a ton I can say without a lot of recap and spoiling, so I’ll keep it short. This one was a tad long for me and didn’t have the impeccable sexual tension of ACOMAF, but it was nonetheless an absolutely phenomenal roller coaster ride the whole way.
CW: Blood/death/war/grief; kidnapping; misogyny/sexism; torture/violence; sexual assault; domestic violence/physical violence
Rating: 5/5 stars
This will never be my favorite of the series but it has some truly ICONIC moments and I thoroughly enjoyed the reread!
Original review (December 2022):
Rating: 5 stars
Feyre and the Night Court must create alliances and battle ancient magic to save Prythian.
As the third book in the series, there isn’t a ton I can say without a lot of recap and spoiling, so I’ll keep it short. This one was a tad long for me and didn’t have the impeccable sexual tension of ACOMAF, but it was nonetheless an absolutely phenomenal roller coaster ride the whole way.
CW: Blood/death/war/grief; kidnapping; misogyny/sexism; torture/violence; sexual assault; domestic violence/physical violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Death, Violence, Grief, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, War, Kidnapping, Sexism, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Blood, and Torture
readnoot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
This book fascinated me from the first word to the last; I was truly entranced by the story and felt so submerged in the world and the plights of its characters. It was gripping to watch Feyre scheme in the Spring Court, the courts plan for war, and people of all species band together to fight for equality for all - human or faerie. Maas has a unique ability in guiding the reader from one opinion about a person or creature to the opposite one. She is masterfully several steps ahead of the audience, setting us up to believe one thing then surprising us with revelations that move us to believe the inverse. Her treatment of Rhysand regarding his sexual trauma is tender and not at all gratifying, which is a needed perspective of sexual violence against men. Even more, Feyre fiercely defends Rhysand when foes use his sexual trauma to try to belittle him; this felt so crucial as many times we see male partners defend their female counterparts from such abuse but do not often see it flipped like it is here. Further, I appreciated how Feyre and Rhysand’s relationship was portrayed past the honeymoon phase. They still love and cherish one another but continue pursuing their individual tasks. It was lovely to see them focus on serious day-to-day matters yet still make time to spend together as romantic partners. I also appreciated learning more about each member of the inner circle and watching them navigate challenging relationships, feelings, and circumstances as they all worked toward the same objectives of winning the war and bringing equality to the world. Just as a personal note, the scene when the Suriel is killed, leaving it and Feyre to have a heartfelt final interaction nearly made me weep; I definitely was not expecting that! Of course, an ending where everyone basically gets to live happily ever after can feel cheap, but I found it took nothing out of the story for me. I actually believe Maas did not wrap everything in a pretty bow by the end, leaving some plot points unresolved like Mor’s sexuality, the mating bond between Elain and Lucien, or the human queens . I appreciated this since it mirrors the reality of issues not always having clean resolutions. Overall, I loved this book and this series, and I am so very happy and deeply content with how everything ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Sexual violence
bree_h_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
I will give A Court of Wings and Ruin this, I did find it slightly more enjoyable than the first two books in the ACOTAR series. I do genuinely believe I could find myself coming to care more about the characters and plot if I weren’t stuck in the head of someone in love with Rhysand. That said, this book overall was not super great.
I will start out with what I liked and admit the book had some merit. I found the opening to be pretty well done. It seemed to capture very quickly the sort of environment Feyre found herself in and conveyed how she felt about it. The descriptions and narrations of Feyre’s rage and how it motivated her were also very effective early on. In the beginning the book also made it feel like the characters were very clever and I think it had the potential to be great with a bit more polishing.
As always I loved Nesta, my beloved, and her going off on Rhysand/the main group was a delight. I also didn’t mind the way Eliane’s depression and coping with events from the last book was written even if I felt the reason was a little weak and lacking in complexity. I also really appreciated and enjoyed Amrin and Nesta’s dynamic and it very quickly reminded me of why I enjoyed them both so much in the last book.
Finally, I did really like the budding dynamic and relationship between Elaine and Azriel. I HOPE in future SJM will continue that thread and explore the idea that just because two people are “mates” (gag) doesn’t mean they should be together or are good for each other. I just don’t feel like Lucien and Elaine would be any good together.
Also I did enjoy the narrator, I think she did a pretty good job with the book.
Now, I will try to keep this part brief because my previous two reviews have practically been novels and I don’t want to drag this out too much. This is also where I tend to get into SPOILERS so be warned.
Consistency, once again, is a serious problem in this book. It’s too dangerous to throw away a paintbrush BUT Feyre can light it on fire. Rhysand can’t talk to Feyre beyond day one with Tamlin, but he’s been keeping her up to date on battle plans. Feyre’s tattoo showing her commitment to Rhysand is glamoured over in the spring court, but then she has no tattoo, but then she does because Tamlin sees it, but then she doesn’t again. This could just be a problem of the narration not conveying the information in a clear way and some of my issues weren’t inconsistencies. However, that’s still a flaw that needs fixed.
I feel like I’m really starting a to see Tamlin’s character assassination in this book more too. While last book a lot of his acts felt in character, far too many in this one didn’t. And he wasn’t the only one I felt acted out of character. Mor and Cassin also stand out in my mind as having out of character moments.
As for the plot, it generally felt very all over the place. I COULD explain it all, but at the same time it just felt constructed in a very strange way. Like SJM bit off more than she could chew. I didn’t feel like any of the subplots were cohesive and I frequently forgot some existed.
There was also far too much repetition. We’re told the same information over and over and over and over again in just slightly different ways. It gets old and frustrating. Especially when the lines are almost identical. There’s also extremely repetitive word and phrase choice. “Barked”, “if I could paint the scene”, “down the mating bond”, “tugged on the mating bond”, ect. I feel like it hindered the narration and how the story could be be conveyed.
Now for Rhysand and Feyre. I do not like them and I think they’re relationship sucks. I find them to both be wildly hypocritical and it doesn’t feel like Feyre is a person outside of Rhysand anymore. Feyre was revelling in the chaos she sowed in the Spring Court and believed she was justified in what she did. But then in the last portion of the the book is all weepy as if she didn’t happily cause that. Rhysand is all about choices for victims and respecting people, but doesn’t warn Mor about her abusers or that he’ll be giving them access to her until it’s happening. Then he’s frustrated when she gets upset. (Also callback to when I said it Rhysand had to make a deal with the enemy it would he framed as a needed thing no matter how many people it hurt.) He makes a safe haven for victims of SA and then almost hookups with Feyre in it. I just couldn’t bring myself to enjoy them as characters at all.
Finally the ending. I’ll keep this part brief, unlike the book. It dragged out for FAR too long. It should have ended at MINIMUM a chapter before it did if not two. I was painfully bored during it and it was a drag.
Overall, I didn’t enjoy it much. I can see why people like it, but I personally just find it overwritten and poorly thought out. We’ll see if any of my opinions change once I get to read A Court of Silver Flames.
I will start out with what I liked and admit the book had some merit. I found the opening to be pretty well done. It seemed to capture very quickly the sort of environment Feyre found herself in and conveyed how she felt about it. The descriptions and narrations of Feyre’s rage and how it motivated her were also very effective early on. In the beginning the book also made it feel like the characters were very clever and I think it had the potential to be great with a bit more polishing.
As always I loved Nesta, my beloved, and her going off on Rhysand/the main group was a delight. I also didn’t mind the way Eliane’s depression and coping with events from the last book was written even if I felt the reason was a little weak and lacking in complexity. I also really appreciated and enjoyed Amrin and Nesta’s dynamic and it very quickly reminded me of why I enjoyed them both so much in the last book.
Finally, I did really like the budding dynamic and relationship between Elaine and Azriel. I HOPE in future SJM will continue that thread and explore the idea that just because two people are “mates” (gag) doesn’t mean they should be together or are good for each other. I just don’t feel like Lucien and Elaine would be any good together.
Also I did enjoy the narrator, I think she did a pretty good job with the book.
Now, I will try to keep this part brief because my previous two reviews have practically been novels and I don’t want to drag this out too much. This is also where I tend to get into SPOILERS so be warned.
Consistency, once again, is a serious problem in this book. It’s too dangerous to throw away a paintbrush BUT Feyre can light it on fire. Rhysand can’t talk to Feyre beyond day one with Tamlin, but he’s been keeping her up to date on battle plans. Feyre’s tattoo showing her commitment to Rhysand is glamoured over in the spring court, but then she has no tattoo, but then she does because Tamlin sees it, but then she doesn’t again. This could just be a problem of the narration not conveying the information in a clear way and some of my issues weren’t inconsistencies. However, that’s still a flaw that needs fixed.
I feel like I’m really starting a to see Tamlin’s character assassination in this book more too. While last book a lot of his acts felt in character, far too many in this one didn’t. And he wasn’t the only one I felt acted out of character. Mor and Cassin also stand out in my mind as having out of character moments.
As for the plot, it generally felt very all over the place. I COULD explain it all, but at the same time it just felt constructed in a very strange way. Like SJM bit off more than she could chew. I didn’t feel like any of the subplots were cohesive and I frequently forgot some existed.
There was also far too much repetition. We’re told the same information over and over and over and over again in just slightly different ways. It gets old and frustrating. Especially when the lines are almost identical. There’s also extremely repetitive word and phrase choice. “Barked”, “if I could paint the scene”, “down the mating bond”, “tugged on the mating bond”, ect. I feel like it hindered the narration and how the story could be be conveyed.
Now for Rhysand and Feyre. I do not like them and I think they’re relationship sucks. I find them to both be wildly hypocritical and it doesn’t feel like Feyre is a person outside of Rhysand anymore. Feyre was revelling in the chaos she sowed in the Spring Court and believed she was justified in what she did. But then in the last portion of the the book is all weepy as if she didn’t happily cause that. Rhysand is all about choices for victims and respecting people, but doesn’t warn Mor about her abusers or that he’ll be giving them access to her until it’s happening. Then he’s frustrated when she gets upset. (Also callback to when I said it Rhysand had to make a deal with the enemy it would he framed as a needed thing no matter how many people it hurt.) He makes a safe haven for victims of SA and then almost hookups with Feyre in it. I just couldn’t bring myself to enjoy them as characters at all.
Finally the ending. I’ll keep this part brief, unlike the book. It dragged out for FAR too long. It should have ended at MINIMUM a chapter before it did if not two. I was painfully bored during it and it was a drag.
Overall, I didn’t enjoy it much. I can see why people like it, but I personally just find it overwritten and poorly thought out. We’ll see if any of my opinions change once I get to read A Court of Silver Flames.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Death, Sexism, Violence, and War
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape
lateromantic's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This one was more like fanfic than the others - every chapter ended on a cliffhanger, there were repeated words, too many characters and threads and deii ex machina and spiciness and everyone gets a happy ending of sorts but it was still enjoyable. This one was also more fantasy than the others, and that's not really my style of book, but it was still fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual violence and Homophobia
lqne's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and War
Moderate: Violence, Grief, and Misogyny
Minor: Infertility, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
allydoessomereading's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.75
This book had me crying like no other ughhh the characters are so loveable and I just being in this world. It is so beautifully described that I can just see everything so vividly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, War, and Death
skudiklier's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Despite this one feeling longer and a bit slower than the previous books, it might have been my favorite? I like how Tamlin's character evolves, I like the twists, I like the complicated politics of the war and everyone's relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, War, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual violence, Torture, Sexual assault, and Vomit
Minor: Suicide
shafirareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I was a sobbing mess after I finished this. I don't know what to say. I think this book is more perfect as the last book of the series and the next books are just novellas. It kinda makes me not want to read the next books, but I'm still curious to what happen after the war with Hybern, whether the humans and the faes can live side by side. But this book, it was really good from the start until the end. I kinda disappointed in the middle of the story because Feyre didn't fully use her powers, but she always did something unexpected. I'm proud of her. I'm proud of The Court of Dreams and the ones fighting beside them. To the stars who listen—and the dreams that are answered. Hopefully, I can still enjoy the next two books as this book and the second book. The beginning of Feyre destroying Spring Court is certainly made a strong impression.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
josiee's review against another edition
dark
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Medical trauma, Biphobia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Colonisation, Cursing, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Blood, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Stalking, War, Ableism, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, and Vomit
hopeistryingtoread's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence