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michealasharp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
sp00ky_n3rd's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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
3.0
I am SO conflicted on how to rate this book.
On one hand, Nesta is such an annoying character, and I disliked her for most of the book. On the other hand, Maas has written trauma, addiction, mental health, and the road to recovery SO WELL.
I was also so frustrated reading this because the story was drawing me in and kept getting interrupted by an unnecessary amount of really explicit sex scenes. Both the amount of them and how explicit they were was unnecessary. In some way, they were relevant to the story, but it was not balanced well with the story at all.
How badly balanced the book is had me so sure I was gonna rate it 3 stars max all the way through UNTIL the last couple of hundred pages. As it got to the end, Maas actually gave us the meat of the story and the tension and drama that made the rest of the series so good. This is what has me conflicted.
Some parts of it: 2 stars
Some parts of it: 3 stars
The last couple hundred pages: 4 stars.
Probably wouldn't recommend though. Should have stayed a trilogy!
On one hand, Nesta is such an annoying character, and I disliked her for most of the book. On the other hand, Maas has written trauma, addiction, mental health, and the road to recovery SO WELL.
I was also so frustrated reading this because the story was drawing me in and kept getting interrupted by an unnecessary amount of really explicit sex scenes. Both the amount of them and how explicit they were was unnecessary. In some way, they were relevant to the story, but it was not balanced well with the story at all.
How badly balanced the book is had me so sure I was gonna rate it 3 stars max all the way through UNTIL the last couple of hundred pages. As it got to the end, Maas actually gave us the meat of the story and the tension and drama that made the rest of the series so good. This is what has me conflicted.
Some parts of it: 2 stars
Some parts of it: 3 stars
The last couple hundred pages: 4 stars.
Probably wouldn't recommend though. Should have stayed a trilogy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Pregnancy
barocap001's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death
dandelionsanddragons's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
3.0
review contains spoilers
I thought I’d enjoy this book more since it deals with PTSD (something I can relate to) and while I felt connected to Nesta and loved watching her development, the book made me uncomfortable or bored too often.
The training scenes were so dragged out and repetitive that I often skipped parts of them.
The dialogue in the sex scenes made me so uncomfortable it was so cringey and it only got better towards the end when it wasn’t just driven by lust.
the blood rite scene at the end was so dragged out I actually skimmed through. lot of the pages.
the ending made up for a lot of it so I still give this 3 stars
I thought I’d enjoy this book more since it deals with PTSD (something I can relate to) and while I felt connected to Nesta and loved watching her development, the book made me uncomfortable or bored too often.
The training scenes were so dragged out and repetitive that I often skipped parts of them.
The dialogue in the sex scenes made me so uncomfortable it was so cringey and it only got better towards the end when it wasn’t just driven by lust.
the blood rite scene at the end was so dragged out I actually skimmed through. lot of the pages.
the ending made up for a lot of it so I still give this 3 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
annelisezj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
cait_coll's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I am a simple woman, I don’t kid myself by thinking I read this series for the plot. I don’t overly enjoy the characters, the plot or really anything. It’s very watered down fantasy which is fine! Sometimes I’m in the mood for very easy world-building and a bit of cheeky smut, but oh my god it is never-ending in this book. The little plot there is is immediately minimised by their constant shagging. Any tension in the plot fizzles out immediately because you have to read through five pages of smut before you get back to the story. As I say, sometimes you’re just in the mood for simple and easy reading, but at this stage I was bored of the world, I wanted more tension, drama and danger. I don’t exactly know what I was expecting, even in Feyre’s books, the battle scenes weren’t well written, very anti-climatic and honestly boring to read, and thus has not changed in this book.
I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re looking for high fantasy, but if you looking for easy reading to giggle at late at night, by all means, read away!
I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re looking for high fantasy, but if you looking for easy reading to giggle at late at night, by all means, read away!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, and Medical content
sarahbethhh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
2.75
I loved hearing more about Nesta and Cass. The story line was fun and the character arc was great. But the smut just yanked me away from the story. It didn’t feel intentional or woven in at all. I have no issue with graphic scenes, but the majority of these ones felt awkward, forced. But this book made me understand Nesta more, which is what I wanted from the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Rape, and Blood
krinavdb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
booksinacottage's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and War
jaelaheath's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I either LOVE sjm books or don’t like them. I didn’t like this book. Hot take, I know.
First I want to talk about the few things that I really liked about this book…
Nesta. I hated Nesta before this book, and while her perspective doesn’t justify some of the things that she has done, it makes sense. Like the whole situation with their childhood and her resentment towards her father, mwah. Her character growth and realizing that she is not the mistakes she has made, i have grown to honestly love her.
The house, I think it is absolutely beautiful that Nesta brings the house to life. And the fact that sjm included the darkness in the house, it was so poetic and beautiful.
And thats it. Literally.
Now for what I HATED.
The sex scenes were literally jump scares, Nesta always compares his dick to a sword?? At one point she literally describes their sex as impaling herself.. I’m sorry please it was so bad. My vagina literally sewed itself shut reading that. SJM needs an anatomy class too I’m pretty sure because the way she describes breasts… you’d think she doesn’t have any of her own. Not to mention, that it did not make sense. One second Cassian would say “I love Nesta, she destroyed me” the next scene he was saying “her ass is on display for me” to telling her that everyone hates her?? Like Jesus, pick one. Are you in love with her, is she an object, or do you hate her? So poorly written.
Also, SJM is SO bad at writing villains, the villain was boring, flat, and pointless. Every female villain she rights is exactly this, so sooooooo boring. And then every male villain? A rapist. Why are there so many rapists in this world? (I know it’s kind of accurate, but seriously get more creative)
And her hero’s??????????? Almost worse. She creates these beautiful powers and women who are so badass and powerful and then she just rips it away before it’s even good. Like Amren?? I just want to see one powerful woman stay a powerful woman.
Rhysand… god this book RUINED rhysand for me. He’s so “I love women’ and letting them make choices” but then So so bad, and he’s just straight up a “moody bastard” as described. A straight up dick.
In fact the entire inner circle pissed me off in this book. Hopefully Nesta is just an unreliable narrator but they were all such dicks omg. Even Cassian the “love interest”.
SJM is so predictable with her endings it’s TIRING.
Anyways this book was bad. And had far too many pages.
First I want to talk about the few things that I really liked about this book…
Nesta. I hated Nesta before this book, and while her perspective doesn’t justify some of the things that she has done, it makes sense. Like the whole situation with their childhood and her resentment towards her father, mwah. Her character growth and realizing that she is not the mistakes she has made, i have grown to honestly love her.
The house, I think it is absolutely beautiful that Nesta
Spoiler
a death god of sortsSpoiler
the rite, I liked the dynamic of fortified female friendship, the girls showing how badass they’d trained to become, and the sacrifices they made for each other. First friendship ever fully developed in this series in my opinionAnd thats it. Literally.
Now for what I HATED.
The sex scenes were literally jump scares, Nesta always compares his dick to a sword?? At one point she literally describes their sex as impaling herself.. I’m sorry please it was so bad. My vagina literally sewed itself shut reading that. SJM needs an anatomy class too I’m pretty sure because the way she describes breasts… you’d think she doesn’t have any of her own. Not to mention, that it did not make sense. One second Cassian would say “I love Nesta, she destroyed me” the next scene he was saying “her ass is on display for me” to telling her that everyone hates her?? Like Jesus, pick one. Are you in love with her, is she an object, or do you hate her? So poorly written.
Also, SJM is SO bad at writing villains, the villain was boring, flat, and pointless. Every female villain she rights is exactly this, so sooooooo boring. And then every male villain? A rapist. Why are there so many rapists in this world? (I know it’s kind of accurate, but seriously get more creative)
And her hero’s??????????? Almost worse. She creates these beautiful powers and women who are so badass and powerful and then she just rips it away before it’s even good. Like Amren??
Spoiler
and Nesta, develops her powers and learns to hone her strength and be selfless, and then just gives it away?? I get saving Feyre after Feyre has done so much to save Nesta BUT, the one things “the mother” gives her back is an Illyrian birth canal? Spare me.Rhysand… god this book RUINED rhysand for me. He’s so “I love women’ and letting them make choices” but then
Spoiler
literally withholds important medical information from Feyre about the fact that her baby could literally kill her?? And then basically threatens to kill Nesta for telling her??In fact the entire inner circle pissed me off in this book. Hopefully Nesta is just an unreliable narrator but they were all such dicks omg. Even Cassian the “love interest”.
SJM is so predictable with her endings it’s TIRING.
Spoiler
Yet another ending where there are no real consequences, no one of any importance actually dies, so no I will never believe that any one is going to stay dead in these damned books. It’s not that I want the characters to die, but God don’t put them in dire circumstances time and time again if you are never going to kill anyone. If Nesta had sacrificed her life for Emerie and Gwyn or for Feyre and the baby, this would’ve been so much betterAnyways this book was bad. And had far too many pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail