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adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Easy read and the world building kept me interested. But Feyre pissed me off too much and the romance was meh. There was a “plot twist” that happened towards the end that was such a cop-out it almost made me DNF, but I persevered. I may read the second book to see if Feyre gains some brain cells…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ACOTAR was a solid foray back into the fantasy genre for me.
Feyre, the novel’s protagonist, kills a wolf and is taken by a beast (Tamlin) to his estate in the faerie world of Prythian. He holds her there for killing his wolf friend, who was actually a faerie. Throughout the book, we find out about a twisted labyrinth of treaties, curses, and creatures who complicate things for our protagonist, for Tamlin, and for a host of supporting characters. In the end, Feyre travels Under the Mountain to save Tamlin (and his friend Lucien) and break the curse.
This book gave off definite Beauty and the Beast vibes - kidnapping a girl, holding her at a massive estate, a cursed beastly creature. I thought the main and secondary characters were generally well-written and I enjoyed the overall plot, but HOLY COW it took some time to get there. Feyre killed the wolf, was kidnapped, and was at Tamlin’s estate by chapter 6. She then lallygagged around for about 20 chapters. A few excursions into the forest, a quick intro to Rhysand, and a solstice party, sure, but very little happened again plot-wise until chapter 26. The book coasted on the relationship development and sexual tension between Feyre and Tamlin for the bulk of chapters 7-25. Don’t get me wrong, I was HERE for that, but Maas absolutely could have condensed that information from 180 pages to about 60.
My other issue with ACOTAR was the lack of anger toward Feyre by Tamlin. You’re telling me a human girl kills your friend, who you sent in an attempt to break this curse, and you’re going to just bring her to your estate and let her hang out while you hope she falls in love with you? I get that Tamlin had an ulterior motive and a timeline, but it read to me like he loved her from the jump instead of falling in love with her, which seemed odd. I think a Beauty-and-the-Beast type romance where they both started out angry and gradually fell in love would have made for a better plot.
Once the pace picked up, and once I (sort of) accepted the love story/timeline between Feyre and Tamlin, I really enjoyed the remainder of the book. Maas is a skilled fantasy writer; she had me hooked during Feyre’s entire time Under the Mountain. There were SO MANY good twists in the last 100 pages!
Overall, did ACOTAR knock my socks off? No. Will I read the next book in the series because I want to see how these relationships play out? Yes. Recommend? Sure, especially if you’re into fantasy.
Feyre, the novel’s protagonist, kills a wolf and is taken by a beast (Tamlin) to his estate in the faerie world of Prythian. He holds her there for killing his wolf friend, who was actually a faerie. Throughout the book, we find out about a twisted labyrinth of treaties, curses, and creatures who complicate things for our protagonist, for Tamlin, and for a host of supporting characters. In the end, Feyre travels Under the Mountain to save Tamlin (and his friend Lucien) and break the curse.
This book gave off definite Beauty and the Beast vibes - kidnapping a girl, holding her at a massive estate, a cursed beastly creature. I thought the main and secondary characters were generally well-written and I enjoyed the overall plot, but HOLY COW it took some time to get there. Feyre killed the wolf, was kidnapped, and was at Tamlin’s estate by chapter 6. She then lallygagged around for about 20 chapters. A few excursions into the forest, a quick intro to Rhysand, and a solstice party, sure, but very little happened again plot-wise until chapter 26. The book coasted on the relationship development and sexual tension between Feyre and Tamlin for the bulk of chapters 7-25. Don’t get me wrong, I was HERE for that, but Maas absolutely could have condensed that information from 180 pages to about 60.
My other issue with ACOTAR was the lack of anger toward Feyre by Tamlin. You’re telling me a human girl kills your friend, who you sent in an attempt to break this curse, and you’re going to just bring her to your estate and let her hang out while you hope she falls in love with you? I get that Tamlin had an ulterior motive and a timeline, but it read to me like he loved her from the jump instead of falling in love with her, which seemed odd. I think a Beauty-and-the-Beast type romance where they both started out angry and gradually fell in love would have made for a better plot.
Once the pace picked up, and once I (sort of) accepted the love story/timeline between Feyre and Tamlin, I really enjoyed the remainder of the book. Maas is a skilled fantasy writer; she had me hooked during Feyre’s entire time Under the Mountain. There were SO MANY good twists in the last 100 pages!
Overall, did ACOTAR knock my socks off? No. Will I read the next book in the series because I want to see how these relationships play out? Yes. Recommend? Sure, especially if you’re into fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood
Moderate: Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Murder, War
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The worst book I have ever read in my entire life. Misogynistic. Misogynistic. Misogynistic. It fully endorses rape culture. I kind of agree with it being banned even though there is no way to actually "ban" a book but I really don't care if libraries want to throw it out. I say go ahead! I don't care. This book can only cause harm. There is nothing positive you can get out of this. It is in essence a book that will harm women's mind and make them believe that they should enjoy men causing them harm, that being abused and harmed by men is "fun and sexy." It is a tool of the patriarchy. I kind of wanted to set the copy I owned on fire but I just let it go into the dumpster since setting a fire would be dangerous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is the worst book of the series, get through it and promise it's worth it
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first of the ACOTAR books, this installment focuses on the background development of Feyre and her relationship with the High Lord Tamlin. After making a grave mistake while working to protect and provide for her cold-shouldered family, Feyre is faced with a choice to fight a losing battle or transition into the faerie world. The Spring Court seems to treat her well, although seeming to put her in an overprotective bubble. After a turn of events that leads Feyre to put her very human skills up against some of the strongest fae-made tests, she will soon learn though that mind games in the world of fae are very real, a much bigger war is being wagered, and not everyone is exactly who they seem.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Bullying, Gore, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Classism