A review by pandalesque
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

3.5

I enjoyed listening to the first and second book via audiobook. I think the narrator did a good job. Though like every time with audiobooks and with a single narrator, It isn't always clear who talkes or within a chapter if we're still in the same paragraph/timeline or even location. Sometimes I felt not having a map or the names of characters or things in this fantasy world were a little disadvantageous but I could easily search for it online. So all in all I can recommend the audiobook.

+
  •  I like S.J.M.'s descriptions of cities, landscapes and clothes
  • I think the basis/premise of the world is very interesting
  •  I enjoy fantasy stories where the MCs train and get to know their powers like in this story and I enjoy the fight scenes
  •  I do like that the focus is on different relationships (friendships and romantic – found family)
  •  I am invested enough to be curious how the story continues/I want to finish the series
  • I liked that they flirted via letters/texts (kinda made it feel a little 21st century)


-
  • Not a fan of her endings until now
  • Though I liked the descriptions it is a long ass book.
  • maybe I'm not getting it but sometimes I don't believe the threads of some plots come together so that they "make sense" to me. Sometimes I got confused by the world building or the magic system rules or the change in behavior or descriptions of creatures.
    -> Either I don't get it but mostly I feel like I notice how she introduces/ changes certain characters, plot points to get the story where she wants to. But I don't feel like it's quite built in nicely/naturally which takes me out of the story.
    • Why do girls already mature with 14 like humans even though they're faey?
      How they age and their development stages are confusing
  • especially the end and the cauldron and book story seems so weird and inconsistent...
  • ... also that the solution seems to be her giving herself up to Tamlin again? I don't get it tbh (for the advancement of the plot and character yes but again, felt the execution lacked)
  • the trials with the weaver, bone carver, orbe... don't seem very necessary, also the reasons behind why they encountered them are more than a little weak /not natural, except to further the romance/character development get the story where she wants
  • Very cringe at times, mostly concerning the romance plot(s)/wording (but I have that with pretty much any romance)
  • Sometimes they say: "that's his/her story to tell..." other times people go in depths about trauma's others have endured... 
  • Less spice than advertised
  • very fast character development/pivots:
  • Don't think the whole "Tamlin turning bad"-storyline is convincing enough for me and he seems dafter, also ....not necessary. I can imagine maybe the author wanted to create a situation where the readers may reflect in the sense of: "everybody could end up in a abusive relationship", "people can change", "people aren't what they seem"... I can appreciate that.... Or maybe it's just so we automatically "ship" the new couple. but I believe it could be told more convincingly. 
  • Feyre herself...


Spice/smut 🔥2.3/5
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