A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

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

by Sarah J. Maas

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R.R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin--one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin--and his world--forever.

Reviewed by Rach Wood on

4 of 5 stars

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This retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast (mashed with an older, lesser-known folktale from the British Isles) is not surprising for those who know the classic, but it innovates with the creation of a new world of fairytales and nightmares.

What pleased me most was the presentation of the main character, her life to the present moment and the enmity relationship with the magical beings of Prythian, as well as the conclusion of the story, which is sufficiently satisfactory for this book to live for itself (it's a good enough read, if you don't have the energy to read the rest of the series). Unfortunately, the chapters in between bothered me, especially because of one particular male character, which I found absolutely uninteresting. At no time did I hope he would stay with Feyre.

The pacing felt jolting at times, and I felt the storyline had assets that seemed unnecessary to the higher plot. When things turned around and everything made sense, I felt hooked, but the knots could have been tied earlier. And I actually think I will love the book more if I take the time to reread it. Apart from her questionable love interests, I like Feyre, mainly because her personal issues make her relatable and interesting, and she’s really fearless every time it matters. Another one of my favorites is Lucien, who only grew more on me. Then there’s the fact that a lot of things were set up for the sequels that have me very intrigued, including more of the manipulative and mysterious Rhysand.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 4 May, 2021: Finished reading
  • 4 May, 2021: Reviewed