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A review by bookish_kori
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Rating was difficult, as this book is so much more indulgent and easy to praise than ACOTAR upon reflection, but it also didn’t give me as much to praise as ACOWAR. I went with 3. The relationship and friendship progression between Cassian and Nesta was well done and easy to believe, even if it was hard to imagine Cassian simply forgiving her for all that she’d ever said to him when she held his barbs against him. It’s definitely a kind of play on rivals to lovers and it does make sense.
Positives: relationship progression between Cass and Nesta, a little bit of progression between Feyre and Nes, positive and strong female relationships, a sisterhood to rival the bat boys brotherhood, warrior women/Valkyrie training, positive dealing with SA trauma, empowerment and choice, positive portrayal of healing from trauma and acceptance (at least from Cassian, priestesses, and Feyre for the most part) that everyone’s journey may be different and that that doesn’t mean that we’re not still responsible for our own actions. Silly positive: they did the annual snowball fight 😂
Negatives: Feyre is really patient and doesn’t really confront Nesta after the beginning of the book. It works and Nesta isn’t nearly as rude to her as she is to Elain but it seems unrealistic for someone who argues as much and as well as Feyre. Also: fighting Elain is so anti-Nesta. It can be explained that she’s finally dealing with her own stuff since she’s not worried about Elain anymore but still it seemed off. Nesta still isn’t likable, though she’s more likable than she was before reading the book. I don’t actually think the smut happens more often or more gratuitously than it does between Rhys and Feyre. So, same as the first books: there are times and places for it and battlefields/training are not it. Also they did the snowball fight but you never find out who wins 😭
***SEMI SPOILER AHEAD***
There was NO conversation between Nesta and Rhysand. He was aggressive to her the whole time which was only explained by her being mean to his mate and that Feyre was pregnant so he was extra ornery as a mate. Then 180ed after a plot twist at the end and it was so ridiculously unrealistic I hated every interaction they had. Lastly the WHOLE PREGNANCY was INSANE. Rhys withheld vital info from Feyre, shielded her magically the ENTIRE pregnancy and ignored her distaste for that (I cannot imagine how that felt after Tamlin? The heck?), she was basically useless the entire book because of the pregnancy, and—though the inner circle still revered her as their high lady—they continued to make decisions without her and withhold information (and made decisions about Nesta without Nesta which was wild for a court built on choice). It just seemed really awful for them but then again it was from Nesta and Cassian’s POVs so maybe that’s what it seemed like the whole time to them. Maybe I just don’t like the inner circle from anyone else’s POV… but like also Cassian is IN the inner circle and *still* they looked bad.
Positives: relationship progression between Cass and Nesta, a little bit of progression between Feyre and Nes, positive and strong female relationships, a sisterhood to rival the bat boys brotherhood, warrior women/Valkyrie training, positive dealing with SA trauma, empowerment and choice, positive portrayal of healing from trauma and acceptance (at least from Cassian, priestesses, and Feyre for the most part) that everyone’s journey may be different and that that doesn’t mean that we’re not still responsible for our own actions. Silly positive: they did the annual snowball fight 😂
Negatives: Feyre is really patient and doesn’t really confront Nesta after the beginning of the book. It works and Nesta isn’t nearly as rude to her as she is to Elain but it seems unrealistic for someone who argues as much and as well as Feyre. Also: fighting Elain is so anti-Nesta. It can be explained that she’s finally dealing with her own stuff since she’s not worried about Elain anymore but still it seemed off. Nesta still isn’t likable, though she’s more likable than she was before reading the book. I don’t actually think the smut happens more often or more gratuitously than it does between Rhys and Feyre. So, same as the first books: there are times and places for it and battlefields/training are not it. Also they did the snowball fight but you never find out who wins 😭
***SEMI SPOILER AHEAD***
There was NO conversation between Nesta and Rhysand. He was aggressive to her the whole time which was only explained by her being mean to his mate and that Feyre was pregnant so he was extra ornery as a mate. Then 180ed after a plot twist at the end and it was so ridiculously unrealistic I hated every interaction they had. Lastly the WHOLE PREGNANCY was INSANE. Rhys withheld vital info from Feyre, shielded her magically the ENTIRE pregnancy and ignored her distaste for that (I cannot imagine how that felt after Tamlin? The heck?), she was basically useless the entire book because of the pregnancy, and—though the inner circle still revered her as their high lady—they continued to make decisions without her and withhold information (and made decisions about Nesta without Nesta which was wild for a court built on choice). It just seemed really awful for them but then again it was from Nesta and Cassian’s POVs so maybe that’s what it seemed like the whole time to them. Maybe I just don’t like the inner circle from anyone else’s POV… but like also Cassian is IN the inner circle and *still* they looked bad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, War, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Torture, Gore, and Suicidal thoughts
Rough sexual content, minor exhibitionism, minor mentions of sexual roleplay, etc. Basically it’s like a 3 or 4/5 peppers spice book 🌶🌶🌶🌶 depending on your rating system. No BDSM really. Mentions of rape and sexual violence regarding main character and side characters/priestesses.