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A review by talknerdybookblog
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Representation: Supporting character of colour, Bisexual side character
Read my review on my blog: Talk Nerdy Book Blog | A Court of Silver Flames Review
Nesta is now my favourite character in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. She’s so freaking awesome. This book had serious Heir of Fire vibes with Nesta’s poor mental health, especially how her powers are so intertwined with her trauma. The character growth and new friendships MADE this book.
Rhys & Feyre and Co. are insufferable for the majority of this book. I get that Nesta’s is the definition of prickly and straight-up mean and rude. The way they approached trying to help Nesta was filled with ultimatums, consistent humiliation and maligning. It’s like no one realized Nesta’s trauma was just as valid as Feyre’s in book 2 of the series or Elain’s. I loved how Nesta pointed out to Elain how unfair it was that Elain was allowed to wallow in despair for MONTHS. Yet, because Nesta’s trauma manifested in drinking and sleeping around, everyone suddenly became the morality police: Nesta was only allowed to grieve and hurt their way. It honestly felt like everyone just wanted Nesta to present as OK, even if she was dying inside, so they didn’t have to worry.
Did anyone else notice how Nesta dealing with her trauma was made continuously about the Night Court? It was never about how Nesta was feeling but how her actions reflect on them. No one took the time to decentre themselves and ask why: case and point being the real reason Nesta ran out of the last Winter Solstice celebrations when everyone was like RuDe.
The saving grace of A Court of Silver Flames was Nesta’s new friendships with Gwyn and Emerie. They were amazing, and I love them all dearly. Cassian and Nesta were also great together – although Cassian took way too long to put Rhys in his place.
Also, I’m so over all the powerful women in this series having their powers curtailed, but Rhys gets more and more messages that suggest he’s The Chosen One. The scene about Nesta’s sword (no spoilers) was horrible: shame on Amren and Rhys. Throughout the book, there’s consistent messaging that only Rhys is allowed to have these sUpErPoWeRfUl abilities; hence, why everyone sees Nesta as a threat despite her never using her powers in anger.
I also was so annoyed how Nesta would make some really great points about the problematic power dynamics in Feyre’s group (what Rhys and his friends elect to keep secret from Feyre and Nesta is a-la-Tamlin). However, because she did it to lash out, Nesta always came across as lower than dirt to the rest of them, which undermined the credibility of her very valid point. Sigh.
Finally, the ending was incredibly rushed. There was so much happening in the last few chapters that I wish there was more time for the reader to process everything. Also, one gaping mistake: Cassian never said 'I love you' to Nesta (she did, though). It's obvious he does, but in the 700+ book, he doesn't say it once, which felt really odd.
Overall, I loved Nesta’s story so much – her growth, her friendships, and her romance with Cassian, that the high-handedness of Rhys’s court only decreased the rating by 0.5-stars, which says a lot.
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Safety Rating: Safe
• No cheating
• No OW/OM drama
– Cassian has been celibate since he met Nesta
– Nesta was not celibate but there was no drama about it
• Does have the Heroine and Hero pushing each other away
• Does have brief moments of separation between the couple
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Discussion of past r@pe and sexual assault
• Attempted r@pe
• PTSD
• Depression
• Violence with blood and gore
• Discussion of past physical abuse
Ending:HFN
Read my review on my blog: Talk Nerdy Book Blog | A Court of Silver Flames Review
Nesta is now my favourite character in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. She’s so freaking awesome. This book had serious Heir of Fire vibes with Nesta’s poor mental health, especially how her powers are so intertwined with her trauma. The character growth and new friendships MADE this book.
Rhys & Feyre and Co. are insufferable for the majority of this book. I get that Nesta’s is the definition of prickly and straight-up mean and rude. The way they approached trying to help Nesta was filled with ultimatums, consistent humiliation and maligning. It’s like no one realized Nesta’s trauma was just as valid as Feyre’s in book 2 of the series or Elain’s. I loved how Nesta pointed out to Elain how unfair it was that Elain was allowed to wallow in despair for MONTHS. Yet, because Nesta’s trauma manifested in drinking and sleeping around, everyone suddenly became the morality police: Nesta was only allowed to grieve and hurt their way. It honestly felt like everyone just wanted Nesta to present as OK, even if she was dying inside, so they didn’t have to worry.
Did anyone else notice how Nesta dealing with her trauma was made continuously about the Night Court? It was never about how Nesta was feeling but how her actions reflect on them. No one took the time to decentre themselves and ask why: case and point being the real reason Nesta ran out of the last Winter Solstice celebrations when everyone was like RuDe.
The saving grace of A Court of Silver Flames was Nesta’s new friendships with Gwyn and Emerie. They were amazing, and I love them all dearly. Cassian and Nesta were also great together – although Cassian took way too long to put Rhys in his place.
Also, I’m so over all the powerful women in this series having their powers curtailed, but Rhys gets more and more messages that suggest he’s The Chosen One. The scene about Nesta’s sword (no spoilers) was horrible: shame on Amren and Rhys. Throughout the book, there’s consistent messaging that only Rhys is allowed to have these sUpErPoWeRfUl abilities; hence, why everyone sees Nesta as a threat despite her never using her powers in anger.
I also was so annoyed how Nesta would make some really great points about the problematic power dynamics in Feyre’s group (what Rhys and his friends elect to keep secret from Feyre and Nesta is a-la-Tamlin). However, because she did it to lash out, Nesta always came across as lower than dirt to the rest of them, which undermined the credibility of her very valid point. Sigh.
Finally, the ending was incredibly rushed. There was so much happening in the last few chapters that I wish there was more time for the reader to process everything. Also, one gaping mistake: Cassian never said 'I love you' to Nesta (she did, though). It's obvious he does, but in the 700+ book, he doesn't say it once, which felt really odd.
Overall, I loved Nesta’s story so much – her growth, her friendships, and her romance with Cassian, that the high-handedness of Rhys’s court only decreased the rating by 0.5-stars, which says a lot.
Follow Me
Blog • Instagram • Goodreads • Facebook • BlogLovin'
Safety Rating: Safe
• No cheating
• No OW/OM drama
– Cassian has been celibate since he met Nesta
– Nesta was not celibate but there was no drama about it
• Does have the Heroine and Hero pushing each other away
• Does have brief moments of separation between the couple
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Discussion of past r@pe and sexual assault
• Attempted r@pe
• PTSD
• Depression
• Violence with blood and gore
• Discussion of past physical abuse
Ending: