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adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
4/28/25 Struggled to get into it at first, haven’t read fantasy in a while. The plot is plotting though! 3.75 stars
8/28/25 Much more interesting now that I’ve read the second book. So much foreshadowing to look out for and new characters who’ll be important later on. 4.25 stars
8/28/25 Much more interesting now that I’ve read the second book. So much foreshadowing to look out for and new characters who’ll be important later on. 4.25 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture
Minor: Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5 Stars — Third Time’s the Charm!
A Court of Thorns and Roses and I had a bit of a rocky start, I actually tried to read it twice before and couldn’t quite get into it. But then I decided to give the audiobook a shot... and I’m so glad I did! The narration completely brought the story to life, and once I was immersed in the world of Prythian, I couldn’t stop listening. Feyre’s journey is emotional, tense, and full of beauty, and Sarah J. Maas’s rich storytelling shines even brighter when it’s read aloud. There were a few slower parts, but overall, the magic, the romance, and the stakes kept me absolutely hooked. An enchanting beginning to a series I can’t wait to continue!
A Court of Thorns and Roses and I had a bit of a rocky start, I actually tried to read it twice before and couldn’t quite get into it. But then I decided to give the audiobook a shot... and I’m so glad I did! The narration completely brought the story to life, and once I was immersed in the world of Prythian, I couldn’t stop listening. Feyre’s journey is emotional, tense, and full of beauty, and Sarah J. Maas’s rich storytelling shines even brighter when it’s read aloud. There were a few slower parts, but overall, the magic, the romance, and the stakes kept me absolutely hooked. An enchanting beginning to a series I can’t wait to continue!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this book more than I thought I would - I hate the term romantasy, which seems to be a thing now - I'm happy to have some romance in my fantasy, but not fantasy in my romance, and this trod a fine line, but kept me hooked. The world-building is very good, and the characters each have a solidly different voice. It does, however, have a few points that drag, and then a lot seems to be packed in at the end. I got this copy free, but would consider buying more in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Murder
Moderate: Xenophobia, War
dark
emotional
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
It was a fun read for the vibes and worldbuilding. It was a quick read, wasn't bad, and could have been shorter because the beginning was a bit slow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I finally decided to read this book to see what the hype is all about. It's not as good as I was expecting. To put it simply, the love interest is not at all interesting, the romance feels superficial, and there is no action for two thirds of the book. Why am I giving it 3 stars then? Because the ending was actually good. The last third of the book had lots of action, it had our heroine in peril and having to fight for her life and the lives of others, and the villain turns out to be quite terrifying.
The first two thirds of the book are centered on the romance. Feyre is captured and is forced to live with Tamlin, one of seven High Lords of the fae courts. Although she initially tries to escape, Feyre quickly gives up on finding a way out and settles into a life in a grand home with faeries. Tamlin's character fell flat for a love interest. He does not disclose any information about his life, his hobbies, his passions, except for the fact that he did not want his role as High Lord. He keeps a great many secrets from Feyre, and all he really does is keep her safe and give her supplies so that she can paint. This lack of personality made him very superficial to me, and the romance even more so because of it. It is implied that the two spend a lot of time together, but as a reader, I was not given any information on Tamlin that resulted in affection for him. I truly was not convinced by their relationship,much less that Feyre had actually and truly fallen in love with him. Additionally, given the fact that he manipulated her to lift his curse, I cannot help but wonder if Tamlin actually loves Feyre or if it's all just an act to him.
Feyre's character was not great either. She was raised to put others above herself, but while she does so without complaint, she still spends a lot of time feeling sad over it. And because she's been raised this way, she has no backbone at all.Upon discovering that Tamlin lied to her, her initial reaction is not to be upset that the man he loves had been lying about a great deal of things, but instead that she let him and many others down because she did not say 'I love you' to him. It's great for a main character to be selfless, but Feyre ignores a lot of red flags. Even if Tamlin had his reasons and he still tried to tell her without being able to, this does not excuse the initial and biggest lie of them all, that she was indebted to him and was forced to live the rest of her life with the faeries. So yes, he tried to tell her about the curse, but he still manipulated her. I will read the next book, so I hope that in the next, her confidence in herself grows, and that consequently her self-worth grows as well. I hope she'll be able to tell when a relationship is toxic or built on poor foundations. She deserves better, especially after all she has endured.
To give credit where credit is due, however, the last third of the book was actually entertaining and--dare I say--captivating.Feyre goes to rescue the Spring Court and ends up facing Amarantha, an evil queen who seeks to control all of the fae courts. In this part, Feyre actually shows how intelligent and resourceful she is. She comes across many hurdles, but still manages to get through them with some help but, more importantly, sheer will and determination. Poor girl goes through a lot and she definitely deserves a rest, but to me this part of the book really was a redeeming arc for her character. Suddenly she was no longer the helpless and self-pitying girl, but instead a strong and tenacious young woman.
The first two thirds of the book are centered on the romance. Feyre is captured and is forced to live with Tamlin, one of seven High Lords of the fae courts. Although she initially tries to escape, Feyre quickly gives up on finding a way out and settles into a life in a grand home with faeries. Tamlin's character fell flat for a love interest. He does not disclose any information about his life, his hobbies, his passions, except for the fact that he did not want his role as High Lord. He keeps a great many secrets from Feyre, and all he really does is keep her safe and give her supplies so that she can paint. This lack of personality made him very superficial to me, and the romance even more so because of it. It is implied that the two spend a lot of time together, but as a reader, I was not given any information on Tamlin that resulted in affection for him. I truly was not convinced by their relationship,
Feyre's character was not great either. She was raised to put others above herself, but while she does so without complaint, she still spends a lot of time feeling sad over it. And because she's been raised this way, she has no backbone at all.
To give credit where credit is due, however, the last third of the book was actually entertaining and--dare I say--captivating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Torture, Violence
Minor: Slavery, Vomit
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Introduction (Basic Info and Summary)
Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Fantasy Romance / New Adult Fantasy
Series: First in the ACOTAR series
A Court of Thorns and Roses is a lush, romantic fantasy that blends elements of a Beauty and the Beast retelling with fae mythology and political intrigue. The story follows Feyre Archeron, a mortal huntress whose life changes forever when she kills a wolf in the woods and is taken across the wall into the land of the fae as punishment. What starts as a slow-burn romance soon unravels into a darker tale of curses, manipulation, and survival, set in a richly imagined world of courts, magic, and ancient threats.
Initial Impressions
TikTok made me buy this entire series—and while I was hesitant at first (especially midway through book one), I’m glad I stuck with it. This was my first fantasy series since reading Harry Potter as a kid, and as a reader in my 30s, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The physical copy from my library drew me in with its beautiful cover, and by the end, I found myself emotionally invested. It has flaws, but the escapism it provides is undeniable.
Writing Style + Plot & Conflict + Characters
Sarah J. Maas writes in a lyrical, accessible style through Feyre’s first-person POV. The worldbuilding is immersive, though early chapters can feel repetitive or meandering. The pacing fluctuates—slower in the first half and rapid toward the end. The plot is straightforward with some familiar fantasy-romance tropes, but there’s just enough mystery to keep you intrigued.
Feyre is a determined lead, though her decision-making can be frustrating. Tamlin, the love interest, starts off compelling but ultimately feels flat. Lucien adds flavor with his sarcasm, and Rhysand—though a side character here—steals the spotlight whenever he appears. The antagonist, Amarantha, lacks depth and feels more like a plot device than a fully realized villain.
Themes, Symbolisms, Trigger Warnings
Themes include love vs. duty, survival, power dynamics, and freedom vs. control. Symbolism tied to masks, courts, and Feyre’s trials adds depth, though some themes are more developed in later books.
Trigger Warnings (Moderate): Emotional abuse, physical violence, captivity, torture, implied sexual assault, and toxic relationships.
Strengths
- Immersive worldbuilding and detailed faerie lore
- Romantic tension and slow-burn development
- Strong visual and atmospheric writing
- Memorable secondary characters (Lucien and Rhysand)
- Exciting, high-stakes final act
Weaknesses
- Uneven pacing, especially in the first half
- Underdeveloped villain
- Predictable plot (especially if familiar with the Beauty and the Beast structure)
- Tamlin’s characterization lacks complexity
- Frustrating character decisions from Feyre at key moments
Personal Reflections & Takeaways
Despite some early regrets about buying the full series before reading book one, I’m genuinely glad I continued. This book didn’t blow me away, but it gave me just enough magic, mystery, and romance to keep going. As a returning fantasy reader, it reminded me of how much I missed escaping into another world. It’s not perfect—but it’s addicting, and I see why it has such a huge fanbase.
Recommendations + Who Best For + Skip If
Recommended for: Fantasy romance fans, new adult readers, those looking for an accessible re-entry into the fantasy genre.
Skip if: You dislike slow pacing, fae lore, or predictable retellings.
Recommended for: Fantasy romance fans, new adult readers, those looking for an accessible re-entry into the fantasy genre.
Skip if: You dislike slow pacing, fae lore, or predictable retellings.
Rating: 3.75 / 5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting
Although the book introduces Rhysand late in the story, he plays a critical role in future installments—this book is just the tip of the iceberg. Keep going.