A Court of Thorns and Roses (Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)

by Sarah J. Maas

A gorgeously written tale as lush and romantic as it is ferocious ... Absolutely spellbinding - New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Bracken

Feyre is a huntress. And when she sees a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she kills the predator and takes its prey to feed herself and her sisters. But the wolf was not what it seemed, and Feyre cannot predict the high price she will have to pay for its death ...

Dragged away from her family for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding even more than his piercing green eyes suggest. As Feyre's feelings for Tamlin turn from hostility to passion, she learns that the faerie lands are a far more dangerous place than she realized. And Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

Sarah J. Maas is a global #1 bestselling author. Her books have sold more than nine million copies and been translated into 37 languages. Discover the sweeping romantic fantasy for yourself.

Contains mature content. Not suitable for younger readers.

• ISBN10: 1635575559
• ISBN13: 9781635575552
• Publish Date: 2 June 2020 (first published 5 May 2015)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 432
• Language: English
• URL: http://bloomsbury.com/

Reviews

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

I wasn’t a huge fan of Maas’s debut, Throne of Glass, but this was in large part because I thought the book still read like something the author had started writing at the age of sixteen, even after extensive revisions before publication. With this in mind, I decided to give Maas’s new series a chance; after all, fans everywhere are obsessively swooning over the book, and Maas has garnered a lot more writing experience finishing the Throne of Glass series..

As an amalgamation of “Beauty and the Beast” and Faerie lore, A Court of Thorns and Roses isn’t offering something spectacularly original. but it’s still wildly fun and engrossing to read. The main draw is really the romance–steamy, enthralling, and tantalizingly forbidden. That is to say, I’m not sure anyone is here for the plot, which for a long while features protagonist Feyre living it up in her captor’s mansion, doing little while pretending she’s a badass (an unconvincing characterization, in my opinion, which I did my best to ignore). The true attraction are the unfathomably handsome and off-limits Faeries, who do their best to provoke Feyre and reader’s hearts into submission.

However, the plot excels in one particular point. I always hate the part of “Beauty and the Beast” retellings where Beauty goes away and bad things happen to the Beast and “Oh, no, will she go back to save him?” We know she’s going back to save him, and it can seem like a tired and unnecessary plot tangent in uninspired retellings. Maas makes it work, though. This isn’t a pit stop in her plot; it’s when the plot really gets going and Feyre begins to show more of her character. I enjoyed this section more than I would ever have anticipated.

The downside to this section of the book, however, is that love interest Tamlin entirely disappears while Feyre takes center stage. Readers are then introduced to a different male character very much in depth, who quickly becomes far more interesting than Tamlin. When Beauty and the Beast are finally reunited…I found myself not really caring. I wanted the other guy. It looks as if I’ll be getting my wish in the second book to see more of the new guy, but that doesn’t satisfy me. I can’t help docking stars from a book that drops its own love interest and makes the ending super anti-climatic, no matter how much I liked the rest of the book.

[Cocktails and Books]

Masterful

I

[Joséphine]

Initial thoughts: What did I just finish reading?! ACOTAR is basically a retelling of Beauty & the Beast, Cinderella and Twilight. I didn't like Twilight and some of the reasons I disliked Twilight also apply to ACOTAR. The only consolation is that the tension was well-written. Everything else in between either bored or repulsed me.

I didn't expect this at all. Practically everyone I know who has read ACOTAR rated it 4 or 5 stars, which makes me wanna curl up in one corner and contemplate the odds that my copy was a misprint because I wanted to love it but didn't love a single shred. I've never been sadder about hating a book *wails*

[e_rodz_leb]

Reading With ABC http://readingwithabc.com http://readingwithabc.com/review-a-court-of-thorns-and-roses-by-sarah-j-maas/I love epic fantasies, impossibly beautiful fairies, true romance, difficult quests, and retellings.  All of these and more can be abundantly found within the covers of A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR).  From the cover, until the last word the reader is taken in an amazing journey into the world of fairies.

One of my favorite fairy tales is Beauty and the Beast.  I feel myself drawn to the story over and over.  To the possibility of falling in love with the person inside the beast, with the girl that goes off to the unknown because of her family, with the idea that love does conquered all.  ACOTAR is one of the best retellings of B&B because it combines this and much more.

Feyre’s had a hard life.  She lives in a small cottage, in a life of poverty and struggle, with her father and two older sisters.  In order to survive, she learned to hunt.  One day she kills a wolf in the woods that happenes to be Fae and she’s is taken away by a huge beast into Fairy Lands.  The beast turns out to be Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court.  Together with Lucien, Tamlin’s emissary and best friend, they keep an eye on Fayre.

Fayre is very smart, although she’s illiterate (I hope this is remedied on the next book because it’s just sad!).  She thinks like a hunter and her instincts are spot-on.  She’s always looking for a way to escape, to survive, to protect herself.  She’s introduced to the life at court slowly.  She’s given freedom to roam as long as she keeps within the Spring Court, she’s given paints and more importantly, respect, appreciating and eventually, love.

“Don't feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.”

Tamlin is quite, thoughtful, sad, constant, and often in a bad mood.  He’s fighting a “blight” that has stricken all the courts and he has a fraction of the power that he once had. I love Tamlin and the patience that he had with Fayre. Their relationship was slow to develop and full of secrets and even some guilt on both parts.  There are a few steamy scenes in the book, so younger readers should tread carefully.

“His throat bobbled. His kiss that time was deep and thorough, unhurried and intent.

I let the dawn creep inside me, let it grow with each movement of his lips and brush of his tongue against mine. Tears pricked beneath my closed eyes.

It was the happiest moment of my life.”

On the eve of a sure attack to the court, Tamlin send Fayre back home to her family in order to keep her safe.  Thanks to Tamlin her family is  now very rich, but Fayre realizes that she has to go back to make sure that Tamlin is okay, she no longer fits within her family.  This is where the second part of the story starts. 

“I love you," he whispered, and kissed my brow. "Thorns and all.”

Fayre sacrifices SO much for Tamlin.  She’s suffers a lot, both mentally and physically in order to save him and return his powers to him.  Rhysand is sort of our villain.  He’s the lover of the bad queen and a High Lord too.  He only plays to win and he always bets on himself.  For some reason, he’s interested in Fayre and he helps her, but on his awful terms.  The convoluted logic of his makes no sense to me, or anyone with an iota of decency.  I don’t hate him (he did help Fayre), but I don’t like him either.

“Rhysand stared at me for long enough that I faced him.

"Be glad of your human heart, Feyre. Pity those who don't feel anything at all.”

I loved the story.  The world building, the plot, the dialogue, the descriptions, are all perfect.  If you’ve read any of Maas’ books, you know that she’s an amazing writer (if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?!) I cannot wait for the next book.  I cannot wait to continue Fayre and Tamlin’s story.

Sarah J. Maas can do no wrong in my eyes.  In the mist of her Throne of Glass series, she started another trilogy that manages to be as good, just in a different way.  I adored ACOTAR, it is one of the best books I’ve read, not only this year, but possible ever.  I cannot recommend it enough and I hope you read it, and love it as I did.

Check out Maas’ Pintrest board for the series, it is SO pretty :)This review was originally posted on Reading With ABC

[lizarodz]

Reading With ABC http://readingwithabc.com http://readingwithabc.com/review-a-court-of-thorns-and-roses-by-sarah-j-maas/I love epic fantasies, impossibly beautiful fairies, true romance, difficult quests, and retellings.  All of these and more can be abundantly found within the covers of A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR).  From the cover, until the last word the reader is taken in an amazing journey into the world of fairies.

One of my favorite fairy tales is Beauty and the Beast.  I feel myself drawn to the story over and over.  To the possibility of falling in love with the person inside the beast, with the girl that goes off to the unknown because of her family, with the idea that love does conquered all.  ACOTAR is one of the best retellings of B&B because it combines this and much more.

Feyre’s had a hard life.  She lives in a small cottage, in a life of poverty and struggle, with her father and two older sisters.  In order to survive, she learned to hunt.  One day she kills a wolf in the woods that happenes to be Fae and she’s is taken away by a huge beast into Fairy Lands.  The beast turns out to be Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court.  Together with Lucien, Tamlin’s emissary and best friend, they keep an eye on Fayre.

Fayre is very smart, although she’s illiterate (I hope this is remedied on the next book because it’s just sad!).  She thinks like a hunter and her instincts are spot-on.  She’s always looking for a way to escape, to survive, to protect herself.  She’s introduced to the life at court slowly.  She’s given freedom to roam as long as she keeps within the Spring Court, she’s given paints and more importantly, respect, appreciating and eventually, love.

“Don't feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.”

Tamlin is quite, thoughtful, sad, constant, and often in a bad mood.  He’s fighting a “blight” that has stricken all the courts and he has a fraction of the power that he once had. I love Tamlin and the patience that he had with Fayre. Their relationship was slow to develop and full of secrets and even some guilt on both parts.  There are a few steamy scenes in the book, so younger readers should tread carefully.

“His throat bobbled. His kiss that time was deep and thorough, unhurried and intent.

I let the dawn creep inside me, let it grow with each movement of his lips and brush of his tongue against mine. Tears pricked beneath my closed eyes.

It was the happiest moment of my life.”

On the eve of a sure attack to the court, Tamlin send Fayre back home to her family in order to keep her safe.  Thanks to Tamlin her family is  now very rich, but Fayre realizes that she has to go back to make sure that Tamlin is okay, she no longer fits within her family.  This is where the second part of the story starts. 

“I love you," he whispered, and kissed my brow. "Thorns and all.”

Fayre sacrifices SO much for Tamlin.  She’s suffers a lot, both mentally and physically in order to save him and return his powers to him.  Rhysand is sort of our villain.  He’s the lover of the bad queen and a High Lord too.  He only plays to win and he always bets on himself.  For some reason, he’s interested in Fayre and he helps her, but on his awful terms.  The convoluted logic of his makes no sense to me, or anyone with an iota of decency.  I don’t hate him (he did help Fayre), but I don’t like him either.

“Rhysand stared at me for long enough that I faced him.

"Be glad of your human heart, Feyre. Pity those who don't feel anything at all.”

I loved the story.  The world building, the plot, the dialogue, the descriptions, are all perfect.  If you’ve read any of Maas’ books, you know that she’s an amazing writer (if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?!) I cannot wait for the next book.  I cannot wait to continue Fayre and Tamlin’s story.

Sarah J. Maas can do no wrong in my eyes.  In the mist of her Throne of Glass series, she started another trilogy that manages to be as good, just in a different way.  I adored ACOTAR, it is one of the best books I’ve read, not only this year, but possible ever.  I cannot recommend it enough and I hope you read it, and love it as I did.

Check out Maas’ Pintrest board for the series, it is SO pretty :)This review was originally posted on Reading With ABC

[stefu1]

Hot dog what a thrilling book. Keeps you at the edge of your seat and very well done.

second time I have read this book and it's still great. #goals

[reveriesociety_]

After a lot of people kept recommending this book to me, and ignoring the fact that I didn't like Throne of Glass that much, I picked up A Court of Thorns and Roses.



It didn't start out with a very gripping beginning, but once things got started, I just couldn't stop reading. Obviously the big plus of this story is that it amazingly blends the romantic and theme-options filled Beauty and the Beast with the universe of world-building possibilities of faeries.

I would've liked to see more romance building between Feyre and Tamlin, though, before it escalated to more. But I really can't complain that much because it wasn't bad.

One thing that did feel odd was the last 20% or so of the story. I feel like too much wanted to be crammed in that space. I mean, I thought things would get solved quickly after Feyre decided to do something, but no, it seemed like an entirely different subplot appeared. What really happened is that for the rest 80% of the book, the story had a certain tone, a certain setting, and a constant of characters that I'd gotten used to, and then, out of nowhere, we have a different setting, and new complications, that, while awesome still, at first disoriented me.

Anyway, we have to praise the author for her descriptions, because she managed to not bore me to death and also do what descriptions are meant to do, but in a beautiful way. :)

So, all I have left to say is I NEED MORE FAERIES IN MY LIFE.

[Sam@WLABB]

My daughter is a HUGE Sarah J Maas fan and now I know why! This book was fantastic. I loved Feyra and Tam so much. This book has romance, action and a pretty cool world to boot. Feyra is such a complicated person -- she has so many layers, but Maas reveals them to us a little bit at a time and what a wonderful journey we are allowed to accompany her on as she finds herself!

I don't know if I love this simply because it's amazing, or because it's by S. J. Maas. Either way, TONS of hot, steamy men.

Full review coming soon.

[Kait ✨]

I mostly loved this, but I had some issues with it that left me a bit disappointed (Emily May discusses some of those issues here). The main character was very interesting, if a bit distant and anonymous at times. The male characters in this novel are a highlight (Tamlin, Lucien, Rhys). It was a really interesting take on some classic fairytales. BUT, I did feel like the writing was a bit juvenile stylistically at times. Overall my quibbles were minor and I totally devoured this book.