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A review by apalershadeofwhite
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was such a nice change from the war and trauma in the last novels/s, to finally see the inner circle just enjoying Winter Solstice and learning how to live after what they went through. I think the content of the book reads like a fanfiction almost haha because these fluffy scenes that we get in this text are usually what you see in fan-written stories and spinoffs. We all just want to see our favourite characters finally happy, which is why this book was so heart-warming to read.
I do have a tiny gripe, though... even through the changing of perspectives - we get Feyre, Cassian, Morrigan, Rhysand, and even a tiny Nesta snippet - the tense changes. It goes from first person to third person, which was originally quite confusing to me as it took me out of my reading flow. Feyre's chapters were in first person and Cassian and Mor's were in third, but then Nesta's was in first person again? This possibly could have been a way of setting up the next book and how the tense will change with the change in character focus, or it could even have been drawing subtle similarities between the two sisters and likewise the two centuries-long friends, but it was just a little jarring at first lol. I personally like to get into character's heads, but I think that would be super daunting to write the personal inner dialogue of characters that have been presented to us through another character's POV for two or three previous books. Everyone has their own ideas of what their favourite character's inner dialogue would be like, both thoughts and the way they express themselves, and I think a third-person POV takes a bit of that pressure away.
Despite obviously knowing this was a much shorter novel when I picked it up, I got to the last sentence - "to the dreams that are answered, Rhys" (which is both a heart-breaking and heart-warming final line) - and expected another chapter. I think it was muscle memory for my brain to recognise I was reading SJM and to expect a thicc boi of a novel lmao. I was actually very sad that it was so short as it made it feel more like a filler to the story, a calm before the storm of the next book, but it was still so stunningly written.
I'm so excited for the next book; I know it's based on Cassian and Nesta and I can just tell it's going to be a ride! Nesta is repeatedly described as 'queen' or 'queenly' or referred to as having 'queenly' attributes, which makes me so excited for what's in store for her character. I can just tell she's going to be such a badass!
Side note: I've always loved and found it interesting that Rhys is described in a feline way (they specifically use that word A LOT) or using cat-like descriptions and imagery. I'm not sure if it's been mentioned before and I just didn't take notice of it, but when he made the bargain with Feyre Under the Mountain and placed the tattooed eye on her palm; IT'S A CAT'S EYE! It's such a subtle details but it's so powerful, important, and effective. The attention to detail that SJM has is unmatched and unparalleled.
I do have a tiny gripe, though... even through the changing of perspectives - we get Feyre, Cassian, Morrigan, Rhysand, and even a tiny Nesta snippet - the tense changes. It goes from first person to third person, which was originally quite confusing to me as it took me out of my reading flow. Feyre's chapters were in first person and Cassian and Mor's were in third, but then Nesta's was in first person again? This possibly could have been a way of setting up the next book and how the tense will change with the change in character focus, or it could even have been drawing subtle similarities between the two sisters and likewise the two centuries-long friends, but it was just a little jarring at first lol. I personally like to get into character's heads, but I think that would be super daunting to write the personal inner dialogue of characters that have been presented to us through another character's POV for two or three previous books. Everyone has their own ideas of what their favourite character's inner dialogue would be like, both thoughts and the way they express themselves, and I think a third-person POV takes a bit of that pressure away.
Despite obviously knowing this was a much shorter novel when I picked it up, I got to the last sentence - "to the dreams that are answered, Rhys" (which is both a heart-breaking and heart-warming final line) - and expected another chapter. I think it was muscle memory for my brain to recognise I was reading SJM and to expect a thicc boi of a novel lmao. I was actually very sad that it was so short as it made it feel more like a filler to the story, a calm before the storm of the next book, but it was still so stunningly written.
I'm so excited for the next book; I know it's based on Cassian and Nesta and I can just tell it's going to be a ride! Nesta is repeatedly described as 'queen' or 'queenly' or referred to as having 'queenly' attributes, which makes me so excited for what's in store for her character. I can just tell she's going to be such a badass!
Side note: I've always loved and found it interesting that Rhys is described in a feline way (they specifically use that word A LOT) or using cat-like descriptions and imagery. I'm not sure if it's been mentioned before and I just didn't take notice of it, but when he made the bargain with Feyre Under the Mountain and placed the tattooed eye on her palm; IT'S A CAT'S EYE! It's such a subtle details but it's so powerful, important, and effective. The attention to detail that SJM has is unmatched and unparalleled.