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A review by starlit_pathways
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
One of my rare ratings below a 3-star. I have enjoyed stories like this before ('Land Of The Beautiful Dead" by R. Lee Smith, a Beauty & The Beast inspired romantasy with a brooding death god MMC in a mask and the feisty YA FMC protagonist who just wants him to stop with the zombies, already – which made me weep by the end, and "Spinning Silver" by Naomi Novik – which was a fantasy romance take on the Rumplestiltskin fairytale with well-written and well rounded female protagonists and a similar "taken to live in a fantasy world" plot), so conceptually I wasn't opposed to a romantasy or fantasy romance rendition of an old folk or fairytale – certainly the Cupid & Psyche or Beauty & The Beast stories, I have been known to have an affinity for.
It's unfortunate that I feel I ultimately wasted the strength and willpower it took to get through this book.
I went into it knowing quite a lot of the opinions surrounding it – good, yes, but mostly bad. It did colour my perception somewhat going in, but a lot of the thoughts I developed were my own.
For one, my immediate impression was that the writing style both over-the-top and underdone, flipping between the past and the present day in the opening scene, giving an exposition dump without a lot happening for a while.
It got worse for me as it went; the logic in it felt flawed and inconsistent as the main character was so contrary that she at multiple points disregarded what was not only common sense but advice given to her for her survival – which is not to mention how I found several components of the story ethically questionable at best (e.g. the significant age and maturity gap in the main relationship, the scenes that either bordered on being or outright were sexual assault), and the major villain more than severely lacking. The most momentum the story had to me was nearer the end, but I ended up wondering why Feyre was still alive at all by that point, and why a lot of it had to happen at all, if not for sheer plot convenience.
I could understand why somebody might like it, as the atmosphere of the world felt like it had a distinctive character, which is hard to achieve. It had its sexier moments, too, which I know appeals to some, and there were some side characters that even I engaged with (I'm a Alis girl first and foremost – then my allegiance goes to that one kindhearted buff lady mercenary, then to Lucien, whose orange flag was not sleeping or being overly sexual with a teenager, and generally medium green flags having some good banter and development with Feyre, and getting her out of trouble on more than one occasion – plus minimal reference to the state of his abs or his eye colour). To me, however, I feel sad to say that none one of this felt like it was enough to make up for the rest of what I didn't like.
I'm undecided on whether I want to continue with the series, to see if it improves or falls even flatter for me. For now, the idea feels a little draining, but I may revisit it.
It's unfortunate that I feel I ultimately wasted the strength and willpower it took to get through this book.
I went into it knowing quite a lot of the opinions surrounding it – good, yes, but mostly bad. It did colour my perception somewhat going in, but a lot of the thoughts I developed were my own.
For one, my immediate impression was that the writing style both over-the-top and underdone, flipping between the past and the present day in the opening scene, giving an exposition dump without a lot happening for a while.
It got worse for me as it went; the logic in it felt flawed and inconsistent as the main character was so contrary that she at multiple points disregarded what was not only common sense but advice given to her for her survival – which is not to mention how I found several components of the story ethically questionable at best (e.g. the significant age and maturity gap in the main relationship, the scenes that either bordered on being or outright were sexual assault), and the major villain more than severely lacking. The most momentum the story had to me was nearer the end, but I ended up wondering why Feyre was still alive at all by that point, and why a lot of it had to happen at all, if not for sheer plot convenience.
I could understand why somebody might like it, as the atmosphere of the world felt like it had a distinctive character, which is hard to achieve. It had its sexier moments, too, which I know appeals to some, and there were some side characters that even I engaged with (I'm a Alis girl first and foremost – then my allegiance goes to that one kindhearted buff lady mercenary, then to Lucien, whose orange flag was not sleeping or being overly sexual with a teenager, and generally medium green flags having some good banter and development with Feyre, and getting her out of trouble on more than one occasion – plus minimal reference to the state of his abs or his eye colour). To me, however, I feel sad to say that none one of this felt like it was enough to make up for the rest of what I didn't like.
I'm undecided on whether I want to continue with the series, to see if it improves or falls even flatter for me. For now, the idea feels a little draining, but I may revisit it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail