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erikalpowell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
tencutepuppies's review against another edition
5.0
(4.75/5) It’s 3 am and I’m blown away by this book. I don’t even know what to say for this, honestly. How do I put all my feelings into neat little words? I suspected I’d like this book even more than the first three (the fourth novella doesn’t count imo) and certainly infinitely more than Throne of Glass, but I was NOT prepared for how good this book was. I think I’m just going to start writing and see what comes out. Hope you’re ready for a whole fuckin spoilery rant.
The Writing:
I felt like I should touch on this first, because while I know a lot of people don’t click with Sarah J. Maas’s writing style, I really like it. I know the repetition and the use of em-dashes is a lot, though. It’s colorful and descriptive enough to build a whole scene but never boring to me, which I like. There’s just this sense of vividness I get from it. Also, it could be just because I love these characters and this world, but I always felt so at home while reading this even during the violent parts. I was just so happy to be in this world again.
However, let it be known I do not support all the purring and s*ckling that was happening. I do not claim the liberal use of the word “cock” either.
Nesta:
I knew Nesta was going to be good. I knew that. But having seen inside her mind for the first time, the way her trauma affected her so deeply and her relationships with her family, I can now say with assurance that I’ve never read a character like Nesta, especially not from SJM, who has a history of copying and pasting characters. She’s just so strong. Not in the perfect little #girlboss way Aelin was to me; Nesta was strong because she had flaws and fears and she couldn’t control herself and she’s allowed to not always be a good person. And everyone knows she’s made grave mistakes too, it’s not like everything she does is perfect in all the other characters’ eyes like some other characters I could mention...
When the story begins, Nesta is past rock bottom—she’s started to dig. I honestly think if the others hadn’t stepped in, she would have done herself in very soon after. Even before we got her POV, in ACoMaF and the novella, I could see how the final events with the Cauldron and in the war during her father’s death greatly affected her. I saw a lot of people just writing her callous outburst off as bitchy because “that’s just who she is.” But even from the first chapter of this book, it’s so clear how much she hurts about everything, even events from before she was introduced into the Fae world.
From there, her character arc is just immaculate. The way she goes from sitting around, refusing to train because she doesn’t want to fail anymore to starting to climb down the 10,000 stairs to Velaris to leading the priestesses and Emerie in training exercises to become Valkyries is so beautiful. I was a little worried that SJM wouldn’t do her right in the mental illness department, but it was so good it surpassed even my best expectations. Her growth wasn’t linear—just when she was looking a little better, she’d always lash out and make things worse—and that’s okay. That’s how real life is. And that’s how she slowly learned to control herself and her negative impulses. I literally teared up a few times because watching Nesta come to love herself despite her deep self-hatred for her failings hit so hard.
The only thing I did not love was the end, when Nesta gave up the majority of her power to let Feyre live. While I do see that she literally gave up a part of herself to save Feyre just as Feyre had done when they were starving, it felt a little like Nesta was allowed to have her moment during her book, but she was de-powered by the end so that Feysand could remain the most special and powerful. The same thing happened with Amren. I didn’t like that. Nesta’s power was part of herself that she struggled with the most to love and accept, especially the temptations that came with it. To take her power away didn’t feel like a strong move for her, it felt like a cop out.
Cassian:
Why the hell did everyone hail Rhysand as Super Respectful Feminist King when Cassian was right there? I always loved him and his sense of humor. I even freaked out when he nearly died in the war and Azriel was literally holding his entrails in because I was so gutted (lmao). He’s just so openly loving to his friends, like literally willing to die for any of them, and I love that about him. And that was before. Now, having seen the way he kept extending his hand to Nesta even when it hurt him and the way he didn’t hesitate a second to respectfully train a whole bunch of abused women despite his culture’s misogynistic views, my love has only grown.
While Nesta did get the brunt of the character development, of course, I loved Cassian’s quiet little journey. He’s always reaching to be more than what he is—just a bastard-born brute, just a fighter, not a courtier—and it’s so sad that he thinks it makes him less of a person because he’s not enough :(
Also, can we talk about how he was actually angered and griped for full chapters about how Nesta gave him head and he didn’t have time to return the favor? Real men could never.
The Romance:
It’s been angsty and filled with yearning since the beginning, but this book gave sexual tension a whole new meaning. And simultaneously burned SJM’s way out of YA forever. The 18+ scenes were...a lot. I don’t read these books for them, so they don’t really affect me like that, but there were a few times where my eyes went wide and I had to turn my phone off and take a breather. It was cute.
But the real emotional devastation happened with their non-physical growth together. Cassian kept on reaching out to her, kept making sure she was alive and okay even when she hurt him without meaning to. I loved how he made an emphasis on the fact that he couldn’t save her, that only she could do that, but he’d be with her every step of the way. That’s real love, and I’m surprised Nesta didn’t call it out sooner. They’re really just meant for each other.
Side Characters:
Azriel—Easily my favorite character, and he only had like five lines of dialogue. That’s an exaggeration, but you know what I mean. He’s just has that extra spice that no other character gives me. And he’s probably the most outspoken one about how the Illyrian culture as a whole needs to just be cut down for its deep history of rampant misogyny and domestic abuse. This is why I really liked that he aided the priestesses in their Valkyrie training too, because he knows what it’s like to be abused and wants to help others make themselves strong. King behavior. 13/10
Emerie—I was so happy when Nesta met her in her cute little shop, because I knew they’d be able to help each other as the story went on. It’s so sad her wings are clipped so that she can never fly, but I love the awareness of domestic abuse her story brought, and it only highlighted the darkness of Illyrian traditions. I teared up when she and Gwyn were talking their stories to Nesta at the end of the Blood Rite, and when they actually completed it for themselves too. Also, I saw that blush when she looked at Mor...
Gwyn—I clicked with her even more. The way she brought herself out of the library to face her fear head-on, even as Cassian and Azriel, two domineering-looking men, were actively involved in her training. Even just her growing willingness to interact with them shows that she’s slowly becoming more comfortable around the male gender as a whole after her sexual assault. I’m glad SJM included her and the other priestesses, because there’s always room for more discussion about violence against women and its survivors. P.S. If she doesn’t get with Azriel, I will scream. If they do, I think I will combust. Emphasis on bust >:)
Rhysand—What a fucking asshole he was in this book, wow. It’s interesting to see him through the others’ eyes and not Feyre’s. Because damn. I already didn’t like how he was treating Azriel and Cassian rudely before, but then Mr. “I’m a feminist because I gave Feyre a choice <3” Rhysand decided FOR Nesta that she wouldn’t know the extent of her own powers and took the swords she made??? Where was the choice there, Rhysie? Or does he only extend that freedom toward people who worship him maybe? Nesta hit the nail on the head when she mocked his need to be the most special and the Inner Court’s sort of enablement of that. (That whole talk of him as High King was not it, but to his credit, he wanted nothing of it.) But I did soften up about him again when I realized it was all about the worry for his baby and when he and Nesta embraced in the end. I thought that was really sweet. Still. He’s a piece of shit, and more reminiscent of Tamlin than ever. But of course no one wants to talk about that.
Feyre—I already liked her, of course, but she was so mature and loving in this book it made my respect for her increase. The way she handled Nesta’s issues and her falling-out with Elain was so good to see, because I was afraid she might only add fuel to Nesta’s fire. Absolutely loved seeing her tell Rhys off for being terrible. And I’m putting aside the weirdness of her not having the correct bone structure to birth her winged baby because I’m excited to see her on the side as a mother to Nyx. I don’t care what anyone says, I like that weird name. (Though why did the baby age to like a one year old in a matter of minutes?)
Elain—It’s complicated.
The Plot:
I heard some people that were complaining for a lack of plot in the beginning, but I didn’t see it. Just because they weren’t constantly going on missions doesn’t mean there weren’t entertaining things happening. I think those other external forces took a backseat to Nesta’s character development, which was the real plot. The stuff with the Blood Rite and the rising forces in the east, while I enjoyed it, was more extra when compared to the central focus of Nesta. And I liked it that way.
Final Thoughts:
Rant over. I just loved this story so much in that weird way only books that really deeply connect with you can do. There was never a point where I wasn’t thoroughly engaged and invested. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next in this world.
The Writing:
I felt like I should touch on this first, because while I know a lot of people don’t click with Sarah J. Maas’s writing style, I really like it. I know the repetition and the use of em-dashes is a lot, though. It’s colorful and descriptive enough to build a whole scene but never boring to me, which I like. There’s just this sense of vividness I get from it. Also, it could be just because I love these characters and this world, but I always felt so at home while reading this even during the violent parts. I was just so happy to be in this world again.
However, let it be known I do not support all the purring and s*ckling that was happening. I do not claim the liberal use of the word “cock” either.
Nesta:
I knew Nesta was going to be good. I knew that. But having seen inside her mind for the first time, the way her trauma affected her so deeply and her relationships with her family, I can now say with assurance that I’ve never read a character like Nesta, especially not from SJM, who has a history of copying and pasting characters. She’s just so strong. Not in the perfect little #girlboss way Aelin was to me; Nesta was strong because she had flaws and fears and she couldn’t control herself and she’s allowed to not always be a good person. And everyone knows she’s made grave mistakes too, it’s not like everything she does is perfect in all the other characters’ eyes like some other characters I could mention...
When the story begins, Nesta is past rock bottom—she’s started to dig. I honestly think if the others hadn’t stepped in, she would have done herself in very soon after. Even before we got her POV, in ACoMaF and the novella, I could see how the final events with the Cauldron and in the war during her father’s death greatly affected her. I saw a lot of people just writing her callous outburst off as bitchy because “that’s just who she is.” But even from the first chapter of this book, it’s so clear how much she hurts about everything, even events from before she was introduced into the Fae world.
From there, her character arc is just immaculate. The way she goes from sitting around, refusing to train because she doesn’t want to fail anymore to starting to climb down the 10,000 stairs to Velaris to leading the priestesses and Emerie in training exercises to become Valkyries is so beautiful. I was a little worried that SJM wouldn’t do her right in the mental illness department, but it was so good it surpassed even my best expectations. Her growth wasn’t linear—just when she was looking a little better, she’d always lash out and make things worse—and that’s okay. That’s how real life is. And that’s how she slowly learned to control herself and her negative impulses. I literally teared up a few times because watching Nesta come to love herself despite her deep self-hatred for her failings hit so hard.
The only thing I did not love was the end, when Nesta gave up the majority of her power to let Feyre live. While I do see that she literally gave up a part of herself to save Feyre just as Feyre had done when they were starving, it felt a little like Nesta was allowed to have her moment during her book, but she was de-powered by the end so that Feysand could remain the most special and powerful. The same thing happened with Amren. I didn’t like that. Nesta’s power was part of herself that she struggled with the most to love and accept, especially the temptations that came with it. To take her power away didn’t feel like a strong move for her, it felt like a cop out.
Cassian:
Why the hell did everyone hail Rhysand as Super Respectful Feminist King when Cassian was right there? I always loved him and his sense of humor. I even freaked out when he nearly died in the war and Azriel was literally holding his entrails in because I was so gutted (lmao). He’s just so openly loving to his friends, like literally willing to die for any of them, and I love that about him. And that was before. Now, having seen the way he kept extending his hand to Nesta even when it hurt him and the way he didn’t hesitate a second to respectfully train a whole bunch of abused women despite his culture’s misogynistic views, my love has only grown.
While Nesta did get the brunt of the character development, of course, I loved Cassian’s quiet little journey. He’s always reaching to be more than what he is—just a bastard-born brute, just a fighter, not a courtier—and it’s so sad that he thinks it makes him less of a person because he’s not enough :(
Also, can we talk about how he was actually angered and griped for full chapters about how Nesta gave him head and he didn’t have time to return the favor? Real men could never.
The Romance:
It’s been angsty and filled with yearning since the beginning, but this book gave sexual tension a whole new meaning. And simultaneously burned SJM’s way out of YA forever. The 18+ scenes were...a lot. I don’t read these books for them, so they don’t really affect me like that, but there were a few times where my eyes went wide and I had to turn my phone off and take a breather. It was cute.
But the real emotional devastation happened with their non-physical growth together. Cassian kept on reaching out to her, kept making sure she was alive and okay even when she hurt him without meaning to. I loved how he made an emphasis on the fact that he couldn’t save her, that only she could do that, but he’d be with her every step of the way. That’s real love, and I’m surprised Nesta didn’t call it out sooner. They’re really just meant for each other.
Side Characters:
Azriel—Easily my favorite character, and he only had like five lines of dialogue. That’s an exaggeration, but you know what I mean. He’s just has that extra spice that no other character gives me. And he’s probably the most outspoken one about how the Illyrian culture as a whole needs to just be cut down for its deep history of rampant misogyny and domestic abuse. This is why I really liked that he aided the priestesses in their Valkyrie training too, because he knows what it’s like to be abused and wants to help others make themselves strong. King behavior. 13/10
Emerie—I was so happy when Nesta met her in her cute little shop, because I knew they’d be able to help each other as the story went on. It’s so sad her wings are clipped so that she can never fly, but I love the awareness of domestic abuse her story brought, and it only highlighted the darkness of Illyrian traditions. I teared up when she and Gwyn were talking their stories to Nesta at the end of the Blood Rite, and when they actually completed it for themselves too. Also, I saw that blush when she looked at Mor...
Gwyn—I clicked with her even more. The way she brought herself out of the library to face her fear head-on, even as Cassian and Azriel, two domineering-looking men, were actively involved in her training. Even just her growing willingness to interact with them shows that she’s slowly becoming more comfortable around the male gender as a whole after her sexual assault. I’m glad SJM included her and the other priestesses, because there’s always room for more discussion about violence against women and its survivors. P.S. If she doesn’t get with Azriel, I will scream. If they do, I think I will combust. Emphasis on bust >:)
Rhysand—What a fucking asshole he was in this book, wow. It’s interesting to see him through the others’ eyes and not Feyre’s. Because damn. I already didn’t like how he was treating Azriel and Cassian rudely before, but then Mr. “I’m a feminist because I gave Feyre a choice <3” Rhysand decided FOR Nesta that she wouldn’t know the extent of her own powers and took the swords she made??? Where was the choice there, Rhysie? Or does he only extend that freedom toward people who worship him maybe? Nesta hit the nail on the head when she mocked his need to be the most special and the Inner Court’s sort of enablement of that. (That whole talk of him as High King was not it, but to his credit, he wanted nothing of it.) But I did soften up about him again when I realized it was all about the worry for his baby and when he and Nesta embraced in the end. I thought that was really sweet. Still. He’s a piece of shit, and more reminiscent of Tamlin than ever. But of course no one wants to talk about that.
Feyre—I already liked her, of course, but she was so mature and loving in this book it made my respect for her increase. The way she handled Nesta’s issues and her falling-out with Elain was so good to see, because I was afraid she might only add fuel to Nesta’s fire. Absolutely loved seeing her tell Rhys off for being terrible. And I’m putting aside the weirdness of her not having the correct bone structure to birth her winged baby because I’m excited to see her on the side as a mother to Nyx. I don’t care what anyone says, I like that weird name. (Though why did the baby age to like a one year old in a matter of minutes?)
Elain—It’s complicated.
The Plot:
I heard some people that were complaining for a lack of plot in the beginning, but I didn’t see it. Just because they weren’t constantly going on missions doesn’t mean there weren’t entertaining things happening. I think those other external forces took a backseat to Nesta’s character development, which was the real plot. The stuff with the Blood Rite and the rising forces in the east, while I enjoyed it, was more extra when compared to the central focus of Nesta. And I liked it that way.
Final Thoughts:
Rant over. I just loved this story so much in that weird way only books that really deeply connect with you can do. There was never a point where I wasn’t thoroughly engaged and invested. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next in this world.
avamonty's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Spicy!
vaguely_pink's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
tottiee's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
rubyd21's review
5.0
I’m in love, I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows it! NESTA IS ONE BAD B**** I told myself there was no way I could possibly like her but boy, was I wrong! Her character development was just amazing!
bellaolmstead's review
emotional
tense
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? Yes
4.5
katiemanos's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content