Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

89 reviews

bree_h_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional slow-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? Yes

2.5

Honestly, this was the best book in the entire series. Despite the weak ending I felt this was the strongest and best written book out of all 4.5 ACOTAR books. I really hope the shifting POVs continue with these books, as I think it really helps the plot stand up and justify how ridiculously long these books are.

As always the narrator was amazing, but I think this is her best performance. There was just so much more emotion put into the dialogue AND narration. It really sold me on the story and feelings. Which was important as this book is VERY focused on emotions and how they impact the characters. The exploration of trauma and healthy vs unhealthy coping mechanisms was written better than I anticipated. I also really appreciated the friendship Nesta developed with other women in the book and how that aided her recovery. It’s something that was sorely missing from Feyre’s story.

The relationship dynamics in this book were pretty hit-or-miss for me. I thought Azriel and Nesta had the best written dynamic. I really enjoyed the few interactions they had. And the change of Elaine and Nesta’s dynamic as a reaction to their trauma was also interesting. It didn’t feel out of place. It also allowed for more expansion on Elaine’s character, which I really liked. Aside from that, Cassin and Nesta’s dynamic was fine. I didn’t find it anything special, but I enjoyed the way they played off each other. The rest of the dynamics were pretty lacking, and actually made me dislike the Inner Circle. While Nesta wasn’t the kindest, it was clearly a response to being abandoned by the others. My dislike was further driven by their upset at Nesta being traumatised. Where they were gentle and patient with Feyre, they were short tempered and cruel to Nesta. Again, Nesta wasn’t perfect, but it was because the people that were treating her poorly had abandoned her when she needed community. The worst dynamic was Nesta and Rhysand. While it was pretty strong when they hated each other, their reconciliation at the end was horribly rushed. Especially considering Rhysand’s HORRIBLE actions in the book.

On that note, wow. Mister Your Choice shows his colours by taking away Feyre’s choices. Shocker. I am blown away. Truly. Shocked. It’s not like he’s been doing this, but more subtle the entire series. Honestly, if anyone is still swoony over Rhysand after he WITHHELD MEDICAL INFORMATION from his wife about how she MIGHT DIE is a new low. It’s disgusting behaviour and the fact the book brushed it off and shamed Nesta for telling Feyre the truth is INSANE.

My only other gripes are the spice and end, which just felt very rushed. Along with the wedding, their mating ritual happening so abruptly really threw me. The spice was hilarious, but not on purpose. I really don’t like the way SJM writes spice, so I mostly zoned out during those scenes.

Overall it was a just okay book. Nothing special, but better than the others. I presume due to less Rhysand content.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Blood, Sexism, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Moderate: Miscarriage, Stalking, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Rape, and Child abuse

vermontsnowboarder's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

3.0

This is my second favourite book in the ACOTAR series. But it has its flaws. 

What I liked:
-

I think that the description of depression and being able to see it through Nesta was powerful. It was clear that Nesta was struggling, and we were shown this in many ways (rather than told, which I hate.)

- The friendships that Nesta developed
- The overall storyline - I love this world but what I liked about this book in particular is getting to see it through Nesta's eyes.

What I didn't like (and why it didn't get rated higher)
-

I disliked how Nesta's family treated her. There were so many instances, especially at the beginning of the book. Nesta is struggling, and their answer is to shun her and make her shelve books and work out?

-

Cassian, though a character I enjoy reading, really only seemed to be invested in Nesta because she was his mate. He wasn't helping her because it was the right thing to do; he was helping her because he wanted her. Azriel contrasted this - he didn't have to be there, didn't have to be kind, and yet he was just as solid of a rock, probably more so because it was his choice.

- The backstory that takes place behind Nesta's healing journey wasn't developed enough. It was almost like it was there to be there. We caught glimpes and pieces but none of it was written well enough to be interesting.

I wish that Eris was better developed - there is a lot there and perhaps we'll see more in future books.

The most frustrating thing about these books, actually any of Maas' books, is that because there are more coming she doesn't do a good job of sprinkling crumbs.

Eris is a good example - we might see more of him in future stories, and because of that she didn't take the time to make his time in this book as well written as it should have been.

An example of crumbs that were done well was Cassian explaining the prison to Nesta and mentioning that he thought the prison was stocked with inmates to hide the harp and other powerful things. The description of the chamber the harp was in. Those are very important details for when you read Cresent City, they aren't thrown in your face or highlighted too much, and are well written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Confinement

Moderate: Kidnapping and Gore

Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Blood, and Child death

readwithyesi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Gore

Moderate: Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Blood, Rape, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Medical trauma and Medical content

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calcified_boner's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I found myself liking Nesta less and less as the book went on. In previous books she had something to her, but now it seems she's gone the same way as literally every other SJM protagonist. She is almost indistinguishable from the horde; another sassy, unlikable-but-not-really, uniquely special and overpowered, faux feminist girlboss who is ultimately beholden to a man. 

And the Feyre pregnancy plot was ultimately not enjoyable and plain stupid. (C-sections are a common procedure, are you telling me a society with very advanced magical medicine can't figure out how to chop someone open??) I fail to see how Rhysand is better than Tamlin in any capacity, being that he would have just had her be unaware of the risks of her pregnancy. 

Honestly this whole book just felt confused, under baked and unnecessary. 

And a personal aside, I just don't particularly enjoy pregnancy plot lines. Abort that thang. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Misogyny, Blood, Cursing, Death, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

neliadiedenise's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, War, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Violence, Abandonment, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, and Vomit

ziracrow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Confinement, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Vomit

thatswhatshanread's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective 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

5.0

Although it took me about an entire month to read it, the 750 pages were worth it! At first I was skeptical of the third person POV, but it really suited Nesta and Cassian’s story. I loved how the focus shifted between the two seamlessly, between romance and action, between lust and rage. Nesta’s character development was outstanding and happened naturally across the pages, not just all at once at the end. Once again, the last 100 pages were INTENSE and ruined me, but they were fearless and passionate and so fitting to the characters’ separate arcs.

I adored the friendship and found family between Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie, and even the House. Nesta realizing that she did deserve love even after all of the horrible things that happened before was a satisfying plot point, even if it took her a long time to get there. We love a proper redemption story.

It was funny and sometimes ridiculous (in a good way) how Nesta and Cass tried to act like FWB for much of the book, but they were NEVER that casual. They both literally risked their lives for each other on PURPOSE before they’d ever even KISSED. It was way too laughable how they both pretended to not care for one another, and how spectacularly they failed. So stubborn, the both of them.

“The music was no longer the most beautiful thing in existence. He was.”

The grit, the determination, the unbridled power unleashed(!!!!)…. All of the right relationships gained. The SPICE!!

An incredible read, even despite the Wattpad direction that Rhys and Feyre’s story went (I still love them sooooo much but the pregnancy storyline was a little too Breaking Dawn for me). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Confinement, Cursing, Medical trauma, Death, Bullying, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, War, Murder, Death of parent, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Self harm, Classism, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Stalking

sbordo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, and Eating disorder

Minor: Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Confinement

evawithane's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.5

Starts out slow. I personally wasn't a fan of the main character until about halfway through the book due to the way she was portrayed in the earlier books - and by the end I found myself relating so much to her and rooting for her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Blood, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and War

shansbookjournal's review against another edition

adventurous fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, Alcoholism, and Mental illness

Moderate: Sexism, Pregnancy, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and War

Minor: Confinement, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Eating disorder, and Cursing