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A review by masucolmusings
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
i can’t give a solid review because i listened to a podcast about acotar before reading it and i knew what to expect going in.
that is to say, i was kind of surprised by how much of a slow burn this was. and when i say slow burn, i mean slow. the last third of the book is where most of the action happens, but that’s to be expected in the first novel of a series. personally i think it does a good job setting up the world we’re in and the stakes and you try to figure out everyone’s motives along with feyre because we’re seeing things unfold through her.
everyone raves about the world building and prose in this book; i liked it but i wouldn’t say it’s exceptional, personally. i appreciated that i could conjure up this world in my head from the book’s intricate descriptions and that’s what i like about fantasy in general. acotar paints prythian beautifully and i will be reading more!
after the second book i think i’ll have more of a concrete idea of how i feel towards the series. i am looking forward to seeing the development of rhysand (at this point everyone knows the enemies to lovers plot being set up perfectly for the next installment) though i do question the circumstances of his connection to feyre. bargaining and trickery are not good foundations for a love story but hey, what do i know. anyway, tamlin’s there too i guess (he’s fine, i don’t hate him but i feel neutral about him as well lol)
that is to say, i was kind of surprised by how much of a slow burn this was. and when i say slow burn, i mean slow. the last third of the book is where most of the action happens, but that’s to be expected in the first novel of a series. personally i think it does a good job setting up the world we’re in and the stakes and you try to figure out everyone’s motives along with feyre because we’re seeing things unfold through her.
everyone raves about the world building and prose in this book; i liked it but i wouldn’t say it’s exceptional, personally. i appreciated that i could conjure up this world in my head from the book’s intricate descriptions and that’s what i like about fantasy in general. acotar paints prythian beautifully and i will be reading more!
after the second book i think i’ll have more of a concrete idea of how i feel towards the series. i am looking forward to seeing the development of rhysand (at this point everyone knows the enemies to lovers plot being set up perfectly for the next installment) though i do question the circumstances of his connection to feyre. bargaining and trickery are not good foundations for a love story but hey, what do i know. anyway, tamlin’s there too i guess (he’s fine, i don’t hate him but i feel neutral about him as well lol)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Alcohol, Abandonment, Body horror, Gore, Genocide, Murder, and Slavery
Minor: Vomit and War