Reviews with content warning for Toxic friendship - A Court of Mist and Fury

When people say this is where the story really begins... they are right. The character develop a greater depth in this story and juxtaposition of the two courts is a refreshing change of pace. I became more emotionally invested as I hoped to and while it still isn't up there with my favorites (yet) I did find myself looking forward to the next book much more and disappointed that i had to wait for my library hold.

Content Warnings

foxo_cube's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I enjoyed reading this book. I was sceptical going in because I got it spoilt for me that Feyre ended up with Rhysand and I also just didn't really know what big event could happen. Having read it, I'm still not at all a fan of Feyre and Rhysand, but at least we had fun along the way.

The characterisation in this book is really good. A lot of the cast do feel like whole people, and, while this was something I liked about the first book, this one improves on that further. I love Rhysand's Inner Circle, and I love the "found family" aspect to the story. The trauma that those who were Under The Mountain endured affects them in different ways and feels very real.

I feel like Lucien pulled a narrative short straw, really. Not specifically due to the writing itself, but also in the plot. I really liked Lucien and I felt he was sometimes unfairly villainised - he went from being Tamlin's bestie to his yes man, but I really don't think he had much choice in the matter, the poor thing. He's being emotionally abused and controlled not unlike what Feyre went through.

The book does a decent job of showing Tamlin becoming abusive not due to any particular evilness inherent to him, but because of an inability to handle the trauma he went through. His actions aren't excused, but it isn't as jarring a turnaround in character as it could have been in a worse-written story.

With that said, one of the reasons I can't get on with Feyre and Rhysand's relationship is that everything - everything - Rhysand does is explained like "oh I did it for the good of the people/Feyre". This seems particularly bullshit when Tamlin is villainised (not incorrectly!) for some shady political stuff - especially in getting Rhysand's family killed, but also for things such as Tithing which is shitty, but also is The Way Things Are Done. Tamlin hates being a High Lord and a lot of that seems to come down to his duties that he dislikes performing but which he can't think up any alternative to. When it comes down to it, Tamlin does the things he does because, in his mind, it's the best option overall for his people and for Feyre, right? He believes that. But somehow that's cringe when he does bad things for reasons he thinks are right even though Rhysand literally gets away with "I Pontiff Sulyvahned* you for your own good I'm so cool and clever". I'm not defending Tamlin when I say this - I think he needs to get his head out his arse. I just find the double standard a bit silly.

Honestly, for a lot of the book, I was in two minds about the relationship. Going from a relationship that soured horribly to a relationship that's certainly an improvement but has red flags all over it makes sense. I've done that before, myself. I was wondering if the next book would have Feyre falling for John Bingle, Some Guy of the Secret Eighth Court, who would hopefully be another slight improvement on Rhysand. But then it turns out their relationship was that of mates and... really?

Rhysand and Feyre had some chemistry even in the first book, where he clearly developed a strange fondness for her, so him using his bargain with her to get her out of Tamlin's control makes sense. But god, he's not it. He just is not it. I like him a lot as a character, but how many times does he put her in life-threatening situations without telling her the truth about them? And the fact that she retrieves the ring he plans to marry her with in one of these deadly forays, before she has any more than a passing sexual interest in him, just... that's icky. Not it. Not it at all. Really rubbed me the wrong way. Feyre will (correctly) bitch about how Tamlin keeps too many secrets and it frustrates her but Rhysand keeps just enough of the truth hidden to keep her in the dark enough for his advantage and somehow that's just fine?! Not to mention that so much gross stuff is just swept under the carpet. Again, this man was out here Pontiff Sulyvahning her, getting her drunk off her face as an "act of mercy", apparently, and instead of even being like "yeah nah that was just not good" the book's like "he literally did it??? to cope????? he's neurodivergent and a minor????", like, nah. A man who will exploit you like that - even, or especially, if he says it's part of a plan to keep you safe - is NOT one you want to be with.

Well, I suppose they're happy, I guess. Fate, etc. etc.. I'm not convinced. But them mating means they get to have a lot of sex. I notice Maas has a fixation on pussy eating. The sex scenes are actually pretty well written, which is a mercy when there are a fair few of them.

I love Tarquin so much. Tarquin is my precious son who I adore. I was upset that the Night Court made enemies of him, although that does get the "it was for the good of the people" pass. Unfortunately, that story arc caused more drama between Rhysand and Feyre, but hey, it's fine.

Really, though, the political intrigue and work that the Night Court do to stop the King's plans for war is really good fun to read. I enjoyed that a whole lot. Seeing Feyre learn her powers was lovely, too.

The book ends on a cliffhanger. I'll admit, I prefer hints to the next book in an otherwise-standalone story, but I'm probably going to read the next one anyway, so that's okay.

I think it's a bit silly that the sisters got turned into High Fae, even if it made sense in-story. Elain is Lucien's mate, apparently, so hopefully poor Lucien will join the gang and get away from Tamlin in the next one, at least.

This is one of those reviews that I write and think, "god, this is so mean and negative". I will say outright, again, that this is a well-written book that's worth the read. Thing is, when it comes to ✨romance✨, I think I have pretty high standards of how pleasant it should be because it's fantasy, you know? If a story's just about people, and those people are in romantic relationships, then they might be messy and flawed because that's how life is. But when it's ✨romance✨, I want the world around them to be messy and flawed, but the relationship to be a net positive, even if the characters involved aren't perfect. Does that make any sense?

Oh, bonus rant: knickers. There are references to Feyre wearing tiny little lacy bras and pants. The mortal realm, at least, is set in something like mediaeval Britain, right? So she wouldn't be wearing pants. She'd wear a chemise as underwear, maybe a corset - as a peasant/huntress, if she wore the latter, it'd likely be one where the "bones" are just seams that stiffen the fabric and provide some support while maintaining the flexibility needed to do manual work. She would not wear knickers. In the Western world, it took until the 1920s for garments akin to knickers to become popular. In part this is to do with the Industrial Revolution, I believe, when synthetics and elastic became a thing; in part to do with changing trends making underwear smaller.

The faerie realm may well have magic that works like elastic, but surely Feyre would be very confused about why the fuck her underwear is so small and, in the case of a bra, so uncomfy. It's a detail that sticks out like a sore thumb. I know it's just meant to make it all sexier or whatever, but when so much love is poured into the descriptions of the clothing, I'm shocked that not a thought to historical accuracy is given. And everyone knows that strangely modern items of clothing in settings they shouldn't be are decidedly unsexy.

Or I'm just too pedantic for my own good. That could also be an option.

*"to Pontiff Sulyvahn", as I use it here, is to force someone against their will to become a dancer, especially if it's done both for gratification and as a political power move. Sulyvahn is a character/boss in Dark Souls III and a complete bastard.

Content Warnings

katievallin's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

thetearex's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

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

2.0

Content Warnings

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