A review by readnoot
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? No

5.0

This book fascinated me from the first word to the last; I was truly entranced by the story and felt so submerged in the world and the plights of its characters. It was gripping to watch Feyre scheme in the Spring Court, the courts plan for war, and people of all species band together to fight for equality for all  - human or faerie. Maas has a unique ability in guiding the reader from one opinion about a person or creature to the opposite one. She is masterfully several steps ahead of the audience, setting us up to believe one thing then surprising us with revelations that move us to believe the inverse. Her treatment of Rhysand regarding his sexual trauma is tender and not at all gratifying, which is a needed perspective of sexual violence against men. Even more, Feyre fiercely defends Rhysand when foes use his sexual trauma to try to belittle him; this felt so crucial as many times we see male partners defend their female counterparts from such abuse but do not often see it flipped like it is here. Further, I appreciated how Feyre and Rhysand’s relationship was portrayed past the honeymoon phase. They still love and cherish one another but continue pursuing their individual tasks. It was lovely to see them focus on serious day-to-day matters yet still make time to spend together as romantic partners. I also appreciated learning more about each member of the inner circle and watching them navigate challenging relationships, feelings, and circumstances as they all worked toward the same objectives of winning the war and bringing equality to the world. Just as a personal note, the scene when the Suriel
is killed, leaving it and Feyre to have a heartfelt final interaction
nearly made me weep; I definitely was not expecting that! Of course, an ending where
everyone basically gets to live happily ever after
can feel cheap, but I found it took nothing out of the story for me. I actually believe Maas did not wrap everything in a pretty bow by the end, leaving some plot points unresolved like
Mor’s sexuality, the mating bond between Elain and Lucien, or the human queens
. I appreciated this since it mirrors the reality of issues not always having clean resolutions. Overall, I loved this book and this series, and I am so very happy and deeply content with how everything ended. 
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