Review by allisonwonderlandreads - A Court of Silver Flames

allisonwonderlandreads 's review for:

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

3.0

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I've done my best to be vague and non-spoilery for this book, but I couldn't avoid spoilers for the series at large, so if you haven't read the first 3.5 books and want to protect yourself, probably stop reading at this point.

So I have really mixed feelings about this one. I spent my weekend compulsively devouring it, I still love the world and characters, but some things just held me back from full on obsession. I liked it, but I didn't love it. Fandom, please stow your torches and pitchforks.

What I loved:

1. The House

2. Bonds of friendship forged in mutual love of romance novels

3. Some Arthurian vibes that I may have missed entirely in the previous books

4. Enemies (ish)-to-lovers romance between an ice queen and a cinnamon roll

5. Valkyries

6. A very dramatic finale

What I didn't love:

1. Length: some sections dragged

2. Recycled plot elements from previous books that dimmed my excitement in their predictability

What I'm still processing:

1. All the complexities and emotions associated with Nesta's path to recovery. The depleted family relationships add another layer to consider. I'm still pondering how I personally feel about it compared to my own experiences with mental health and those of loved ones.

2. I can't decide if I think the series uses sexual assault as a plot device or if it's providing meaningful commentary. Either way, that's a major content warning with this one.

In the end, I love Nesta. I love Nesta & Cassian. I love Nesta, Gwyn, & Emerie. Long live the Night Court, etc.

Content Warnings