A review of the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" Series by Sarah J. Maas
My first read in the realm of fantasy romance - best decision ever
*There are some minor spoilers in this article - although nothing too significant is mentioned to encourage the reader’s own experience with this series.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
Rating ⭐️: 4/5
Plot 📖: 3.5/5
Spice 🌶️: 4/5
Here is a Pinterest Board and Spotify Playlist I created to match the vibe of the books.
“Hello, Feyre darling” - Rhysand. That’s it, that’s the line.
This short three-word sentence in A Court of Mist and Fury (the second book in the series) can bring the entire Booktok community to its knees. In fact, the quote is so iconic that hoodies have been designed, stickers have been printed, and a new live-action option has emerged - asking people on TikTok to repeat Rhysand's line.
Clearly, this series has captivated several readers, and the question is why? What is it about these books that makes them BESTSELLER material? Well, stay tuned because I’ve got plenty of reasons why the “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series should be your next read.
A Court of Thorns and Roses (Book #1)
I knew this book was very popular on social media, but I never really gave it the time of day because I couldn’t get over the fact that it was about "faeries”. The first thought that came to mind was that the book would be about some version of Tinkerbell falling in love, and I did NOT want to taint my happy childhood memories of Peter Pan.
Eventually, I caved due to my friend’s insistence on reading the series, and thus, a new fan of Sarah J. Maas was born. This first book surpassed all my expectations, and romance-fantasy within the fae realm became one of my favourite literary genres.
Here are my thoughts on the book:
🌹 The female MC (Feyre Archeron) is portrayed as strong, independent, and very resourceful which is really refreshing from several books in the fantasy genre that have the main character’s whole personality revolve around being ditzy and clumsy.
🌹 The world-building in this book is incredible and the style of writing immerses you in the world of Prythian. I think one of my favourite features of this book is the bringing back of the 2013/2014 dystopian era of having “factions” - In a similar way, Prythian is divided into seven courts: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Day, Dawn and lastly, Night.
🌹 Going back to the idea of books released during the 2013/2014 dystopian era, a common factor between them is the idea of having characters go through trials (ex. Maze Runner, Hunger Games, etc.) In this book, Feyre is also subjected to participating in trials within the fae realm. I love this part because the trials focus not only on strength, but also intelligence and courage. It brings a lot of the action alive in the book and makes the adventure all the more exciting.
🌹 The ending of this book is incredible and it’s written so well that you will find yourself picking up A Court of Mist and Fury as soon as possible because you just HAVE to know what happens next. The perfect way to keep your readers engaged.
A Court of Mist and Fury (Book #2)
When reading a series - I have a theory that has never proved to be wrong to this day. The second book will ALWAYS be the best book in a series, and of course, A Court of Mist and Fury is no exception.
This book is where everything comes crashing down but also comes back together in the most perfect way.
Here are my thoughts on the book:
🌹 I played right into the hands of the author because I was on #TeamTamlin from day 1 until he very quickly turned into the absolute definition of toxic masculinity, and I wasn’t having it so I switched teams real quick and welcomed Rhysand with open arms. I’ve noticed a pattern with the books I read - the first love interest never becomes the endgame love interest)
🌹 Chapter 54 - will have you SOBBING, I’m talking fountains pouring out of your eyes, soaked tissues, blurry vision and many other flu-like symptoms because it is so sad in the best way. It is a moment of vulnerability from Rhysand’s side as he confesses his love for Feyre and everything becomes so clear that he was the perfect match for her all along.
🌹 Chapter 55 - This transition hit me harder than One Direction’s break-up because I had no idea what I was in for. Now I know that books in this genre can get spicy real quick but I did not know the extent of it. PRO TIP: MAKE SURE YOU READ THIS CHAPTER ALONE!! I had no idea words could have such a powerful impact because I had to physically close the book and take a walk after this - Sarah J. Maas, you are one talented lady, and I thank you for it.
🌹 This book made me understand why in all of those videos on BookTok, Rhysand remains the reigning champion for the title “Book Boyfriend”. All I can say is yes, I agree, and he would get my vote EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
A Court of Wings and Ruin (Book #3)
I was excited about this book because I wanted to see how everything came together in the end, it was a bit slow for me at times but rest assured, there is a HEA. However, there are many hurdles, obstacles, and plot twists that it takes to get there, but it’s all part of the fun.
Here are my thoughts on the book:
🌹 As I mentioned above, the pacing of this book was off for me - genuinely like a rollercoaster, and I am not a thrill-seeker. It was confusing at times how something dramatic would happen, and then it would just be followed by filler chapters that didn’t contribute anything to the overall plot. When it was slow, it was S L O W, but I think you have to power through it to get back into the fast-paced parts, so steady yourself.
🌹 Part of what makes the series so interesting is the angst and anticipation of how Feyre and Rhysand fall in love together. The enemies-to-lovers trope is somewhat strong between these two, but all of that tension gets resolved in the second book, so there’s nothing more to look forward to now that they’re together. Although their interactions with each other through the bond they share are adorable, I think that’s one of the highlights of this book.
🌹 The plot of this book does leave a lot of plot lines open for other characters to have their own story which I think is really cool. For example, Sarah J. Maas wrote A Court of Silver Flames as a spin-off series focusing on Nesta Archeron (Feyre’s sister) and her love interest, Cassian (Rhysand’s friend) and although I have focused this review on Feyre and Rhysand’s story because it was my favorite, it does still technically fall under the ACOTAR series - but that will probably be another review.
Overall, these books are incredible and I would definitely recommend you give this series a read!!
If you have made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to read this review, I hope you enjoyed it - I love to chat about books, so comment with your thoughts, and subscribe for more book content in the near future <3