Review by sweetheart_ok - A Court of Silver Flames

sweetheart_ok 's review for:

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

3.5

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

As the next installment in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, A Court of Silver Flames takes a sharp turn into the mind of Nesta Archeron—a character who has long stood at the edges of the narrative, bristling with anger, pride, and unhealed wounds. This book gives her center stage, and while that choice makes for a bold character study, the execution left me conflicted.

On one hand, I appreciated the opportunity to explore Nesta’s interior world. She is a complicated, often unlikable character whose trauma manifests in self-destructive behavior, bitterness, and isolation. Watching her try to rebuild—however slowly and painfully—felt real. I found myself rooting for her healing, even when she made it difficult. Her relationships with Cassian and her sisters (especially the messiness there) felt like important steps toward growth, even if the development was inconsistent.

There are some wins here. Nesta’s budding friendships, her commitment to physical strength through training, and the unexpected bond she forms with other women in the Night Court were some of my favorite parts. The book gives us not just one, but three powerful women working through pain and finding their own ways to fight back. That was a pleasant surprise and a welcome shift in focus.

However, I struggled with a few key elements. The romance between Nesta and Cassian felt over-reliant on explicit scenes that didn’t always match the emotional pacing of their connection. I enjoy romance and tension, but the graphic nature of their relationship sometimes overshadowed the plot, which already felt a bit thin. The core conflict—particularly involving the human queens—lacked depth and urgency. It was hard to invest in the stakes when the villains barely registered as a threat.

I also found Nesta’s personal growth arc to be rushed in spots. Her major breakthroughs often felt unearned or came too quickly after minimal interactions or conversations. While I wanted to see her grow, I needed more substance to believe in that transformation.

In the end, I think A Court of Silver Flames is worth reading for fans of the series, especially those curious about Nesta’s perspective. There’s grit and emotional weight to her story, even if it doesn’t always land. While I had issues with the pacing, the romance, and the plot development, I still came away with a new level of respect for Nesta—and that surprised me more than anything else.

Content Warnings