Scan barcode
A review by siesssie
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
4.0
1st read: 3 ⭐️
2nd read: 3.75 / 4 ⭐️
I’m having a hard time rating this one, clearly.
Part One of this book felt hollow. It was a cold shower after the experience that was ACOMAF. Feyre is definitely colder in her thought process, in her emotions and actions, rightfully so. I have wanted to read this side of her for a while, curious to know how she would present herself once her healing journey became steadier and her focus shifted from her inner struggles to the exterior ones. I don't know if it was the narration or simply the plot, but it all felt too easy. Apart from the fight with the twins, everything went exactly how she planned. I had a hard time putting myself in the shoes of the people she was deceiving and believing her if I were them. Tam-pick-me was practically non-present, and maybe that’s the big factor of why I felt like I did. After all that he did to get her back he's just *there, somewhere*. It didn’t feel nearly as satisfactory without more pushback from his side.
The book itself also felt longer to finish; it made me think back to the pace of ACOTAR, but thankfully it picked up.
I enjoyed reading Feyre’s and Lucien’s escape a lot more this time, and I finally started warming up more to Lucien, but him being Elain’s mate still doesn’t sit right with me and maybe that’s why I like to keep him at a distance.
Meeting all the High Lords was also more fun and less confusing than I remembered. Helion is so intriguing, and I’m curious to know more about him.
Mor’s backstory… really? You strung Az around for 500 years… I don’t really know what to say; it feels like SJM wanted to go in a different direction when the characters were first introduced and settled for this. If the point was Mor wanting to keep that part of herself wholly hers after all she went through, there were so many other and better ways to write from that perspective. It didn’t feel genuine.
The end of the book was the best part. SJM, the queen of dumping all plot points at the last possible minute. Slay.
I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT RHYS DIES! WTF! I wanted to scream so much. When will he stop feeling that all that he does is never enough and that he has to keep sacrificing himself? You’ve given enough. Feyre’s pain and suffering leaped out of the pages and bled through me; I was right beside her screaming for him to come back.
I melted SO MUCH at that. My knees became jelly, and I wasn't even standing. Tampetty having to see that made it even better after all he said during the meeting.
ELAIN FINALLY BECAME USEFUL! Two teaming with their dad for last-ditch effort prize winners.
Nesta, babe, I love you so much. I’m so ready for your story. Are you death? Are youuu?
Amren is one of my favorite characters. She gives few fucks and is authentic to her core. She’s more selfless than she and others give her credit for, and I wish her all the happiness and fulfillment in her new form.
Tamlin’s quick redemption arc, ugh, whatever, thanks I guess.
Ianthe’s death was pure ecstasy.
Eris is another very intriguing character; is he also wearing a mask like the ones Rhys has had to wear?
The Suriel didn't die; I refuse to accept it.
Bryaxis is such a cutie; I want more of him.
The Nephelle Philosophy is beautiful and will stay with me.
They achieved what they fought so hard for, sacrificed so much for. I’m not crying, I’m balling.
2nd read: 3.75 / 4 ⭐️
I’m having a hard time rating this one, clearly.
"Only you can decide what breaks you. Only you."
Part One of this book felt hollow. It was a cold shower after the experience that was ACOMAF. Feyre is definitely colder in her thought process, in her emotions and actions, rightfully so. I have wanted to read this side of her for a while, curious to know how she would present herself once her healing journey became steadier and her focus shifted from her inner struggles to the exterior ones. I don't know if it was the narration or simply the plot, but it all felt too easy. Apart from the fight with the twins, everything went exactly how she planned. I had a hard time putting myself in the shoes of the people she was deceiving and believing her if I were them. Tam-pick-me was practically non-present, and maybe that’s the big factor of why I felt like I did. After all that he did to get her back he's just *there, somewhere*. It didn’t feel nearly as satisfactory without more pushback from his side.
The book itself also felt longer to finish; it made me think back to the pace of ACOTAR, but thankfully it picked up.
I enjoyed reading Feyre’s and Lucien’s escape a lot more this time, and I finally started warming up more to Lucien, but him being Elain’s mate still doesn’t sit right with me and maybe that’s why I like to keep him at a distance.
Meeting all the High Lords was also more fun and less confusing than I remembered. Helion is so intriguing, and I’m curious to know more about him.
Mor’s backstory… really? You strung Az around for 500 years… I don’t really know what to say; it feels like SJM wanted to go in a different direction when the characters were first introduced and settled for this. If the point was Mor wanting to keep that part of herself wholly hers after all she went through, there were so many other and better ways to write from that perspective. It didn’t feel genuine.
The end of the book was the best part. SJM, the queen of dumping all plot points at the last possible minute. Slay.
I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT RHYS DIES! WTF! I wanted to scream so much. When will he stop feeling that all that he does is never enough and that he has to keep sacrificing himself? You’ve given enough. Feyre’s pain and suffering leaped out of the pages and bled through me; I was right beside her screaming for him to come back.
"Then hands were on my face. And violet eyes were before mine, calm and yet insistent. 'You’ve proved your point, my love,' Rhys said."
I melted SO MUCH at that. My knees became jelly, and I wasn't even standing. Tampetty having to see that made it even better after all he said during the meeting.
ELAIN FINALLY BECAME USEFUL! Two teaming with their dad for last-ditch effort prize winners.
"The King of Hybern's corpse lay in the clearing, crows already picking at it. Nesta spat on it before we approached our father."
Nesta, babe, I love you so much. I’m so ready for your story. Are you death? Are youuu?
Amren is one of my favorite characters. She gives few fucks and is authentic to her core. She’s more selfless than she and others give her credit for, and I wish her all the happiness and fulfillment in her new form.
Tamlin’s quick redemption arc, ugh, whatever, thanks I guess.
Ianthe’s death was pure ecstasy.
Eris is another very intriguing character; is he also wearing a mask like the ones Rhys has had to wear?
The Suriel didn't die; I refuse to accept it.
Bryaxis is such a cutie; I want more of him.
The Nephelle Philosophy is beautiful and will stay with me.
They achieved what they fought so hard for, sacrificed so much for. I’m not crying, I’m balling.
"Leave this world a better place than how you found it."