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

2.0

Plot:

This book starts off promisingly, delving into Feyre's PTSD and her strained relationship with Tamlin. However, it quickly deteriorates into a contrived attempt to redeem Rhysand without holding him accountable for his actions. The narrative gymnastics to justify his behavior while demonizing Tamlin are glaringly obvious. Feyre's sudden adoration for Rhysand feels forced, especially considering his previous manipulative and abusive behavior. The pacing feels rushed, with contrived plot twists undermining the story's potential depth.

**Characters:**

-Feyre's development feels rushed and unconvincing, lacking the depth and subtlety seen in previous installments.
-Rhysand's transformation from a cunning and morally ambiguous character to a saintly hero is jarring and poorly executed.
-Tamlin's character is butchered to prop up Rhysand, robbing the story of nuance and complexity. The writing relies too heavily on exposition-heavy monologues, lacking subtlety and finesse in character development.

**Romance:**

The attempt to romanticize Rhysand's past actions is unsettling, with the "mate" bond conveniently bypassing any need for genuine reconciliation or growth. The rushed pacing and lack of depth in character arcs make it difficult to invest in the romance between Feyre and Rhysand. The glorification of the "mate" bond undermines the complexity of the relationships, leaving much to be desired in terms of emotional depth and authenticity.


**Writing:**

The book suffers from an overreliance on exposition-heavy monologues, where characters inexplicably go on tangents to explain their trauma or world-building details. This storytelling approach feels lazy and lacks the nuance of skillful integration into the narrative. Rather than allowing readers to discover information organically through character interactions and plot development, the author resorts to spoon-feeding details through lengthy speeches.

The use of terms like "mate" and "male" and "female" as nouns becomes grating, detracting from the immersion in the story. Additionally, the pacing feels rushed, with plot developments and character arcs unfolding too quickly to allow for meaningful exploration or development. Overall, the writing lacks subtlety and finesse, relying on heavy-handed exposition rather than showing through actions and dialogue.