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

adventurous dark emotional funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was much more fun than the last book! Yes to the PTSD, all the trauma processing! Yes to the change of villains in the story! Great main couple, where he wants her to be free and strong yet they can both be vulnerable and playful with each other.

However, my least favourite parts of the SJM-EU are very present.
I love a soulmates AU, but does it have to be "the female feeding the male accepts the bond"!? I adore Feyre rescuing Rhys. But I get so tired of how, even in the We Are All Powerful universe that women are "breeding mares" and objects. It makes me so upset that it takes me out of the story. I like fantasy to escape reality, I don't want it to remind me I am a worthless object all the time. Every story can't be the Handmaid's Tale. 

Changing up who the damsel is works well in this story. And I am happy there are finally female friends for Feyre to talk to! Still think Nesta is still more tell than show when it comes to how "awful" she is. Sounds more like she was a grumpy teenager for a while - and by that logic we are all awful. She just seems protective and guarded? 

"Am I expected to bear your offspring?" made me go ewwwwwwww.

Writing style kills me.  "The wolves were faster. I was faster." "He wanted to protect the city. Protect me". " Together - together we'd find our peace, our future. Together". Drives me up the wall. I swear with good editing this could be a great streamlined 350 page book. As a good 20% is repetition of words in the same bloody sentence. 
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