Weekend Reads #93 – An ACOTAR binge and Fangirl review

Happy Saturday y’all! I don’t know about you but my days have been all messed up this week with the holiday being on a Tuesday. All morning I’ve thought it was Friday ??‍♀️ But I digress. I’ve made no secret that this Spring was a massive reading slump for me. Towards the end of May I was getting desperate. NOTHING I read interested me and I do mean nothing. I DNFed several books though for once I do plan to go back and try them again as I don’t feel that my frame of mind gave them a good assessment. So I decided to stray from my ARC pile and pick up a favorite author and her new book. But rather than read just the one I binged the whole series in a week. Reading the A Court of Thorns and Roses series effectively ended my slump. As I’ve only reviewed the first book (which you can read here), I thought I’d share my thoughts on this series and review the last two books 😀 If you enjoy high fantasy, I highly recommend it. Fair warning, these reviews are mostly me fangirling over one of my favorite series. Feel free to fangirl with me in the comments 😀

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A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #2
Published by Bloomsbury on 2016-05-03
Length: 626 pages
Reviewing eBook from My Book Shelf
Rating:
Reading Challenges: Audiobook Challenge 2017

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas is the follow up book to ACOTAR. Personally I was leery to start it. I liked Tamlin and I loved Rhysand,  but more than that I loved Feyre AND I did not want to read a triangle. I hate this trope in YA literature (though I’m not sure I’d classify this book as YA…just saying). However I was worried for no reason. Sarah J Maas is a genius….seriously folks she is!

Please note that if you have not read the first book in this series that there are minor spoilers to that book in this review. Read at your own risk.

How far Feyre has come from the brave, human girl in the woods?! She is nothing like the girl we met in ACOTAR. Feyre is plagued with night terrors from her time Under the Mountain. She’s high fae!!!! Like what?! And she has this bargain with the Lord of the Night Court hanging over her head like a threat. Feyre starts this book terrified and I really can’t blame her. I could even identify with her to some extent. It’s miraculous that she is even functioning after what she was put through. I loved reading her progression….does that make me weird? Because she is in a really dark place during this book and it takes a good portion of the story before she sees even a glimmer of light.

Oh and Tamlin….you beast! I knew my gut was right. You were evil incarnate and I knew it. I guess evil incarnate isn’t the right term. His need for control and angry outburst increase tenfold after coming home from Under the Mountain. If it’s possible to be more screwed up than Feyre, he is. The two together are a bomb waiting to implode. Tamlin is extremely over-protective to the point that he eventually confines Feyre to the house, not letting her leave, not giving her space to breathe. Under Tamlin, Feyre is withering.

And the knight in shining armor, well shadows….Rhysand *swoon* Rhys was one of those characters that I knew there was more to him. He’s secretive and holds those secrets close. He literally swoops in and saves Feyre from her marriage to Tamlin, calling in his bargain during the ceremony. It was epic, I may have snickered just a little and sighed relief with Feyre. I liked seeing more of Rhys in this book. It helped to understand him more and the balance in his life. I want to say more but I also don’t want to spoil it!

The plot of this book is really about all the kingdoms overcoming what was done to them Under the Mountain. They are coming to terms, rebuilding their territories, and preparing for whatever the Prythian king has in store for them now that Amarantha has been defeated. This is a dark read. Feyre is struggling to come to terms with what has happened to her. She is living with a man who is beyond broken and her savior is a man who deals in shadows and secrets.

Overall I loved this book. Each page was filled with details that came to life as I read. The imagery was stunning. The creatures Feyre encounters were terrifying. And the romance was steamy and slow building. Loved it!!! If you’ve not read the first book, I highly recommend you do. If you enjoy high fantasy, this does not disappoint.

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A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #3
Published by Bloomsbury on 2017-05-02
Length: 699 pages
Reviewing eBook from My Book Shelf
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2017 New Release Challenge

A nightmare, I’d told Tamlin. I was the nightmare.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit—and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords—and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

Writing a review for the last book in any series is hard. I’m never sure what to say as I’m afraid of spoiling the series for someone who hasn’t read it yet. With A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas I’m terrified of doing just that. ACOWAR picks up a few weeks (I believe I’ve got the time line right here) after the awful cliffhanger ending of ACOMAF. So I’m going to put this here: Please note that if you have not read the previous books in this series that there are unavoidable spoilers to those books in this review. I mean really?! I still can’t believe what Tamlin did to Feyre and his own countrymen at the end of ACOMAF. REALLY?!?! I held hope that his character might be redeemable but after that I’m not so sure.

As the blurb suggests, Feyre is back in the Spring Court after having married and been crowned Queen and Lady of the Night Court. That was a good twist there. I didn’t see it coming. That Feyre and Rhys planned this, for her to be taken by Tamlin. Stroke of genius there! Feyre is out for revenge on Tamlin, but also to gain intel for Rhys. She is placed strategically so that she appears to be Tamlin’s again when in reality she is biding her time, waiting to strike.

Tamlin is more broken during this book than in the last, however I feel that he is starting to see the light again. Lucien is back in this book. He was in ACOMAF but I gave him a pass for his ignorance concerning Feyre mainly because I love him. Lucien risks everything in this book for her and I love him more. He is the same character we met before but not. He is starting to question his best friend and his tactics. Then there’s Ianthe *read that with snark* I can’t stand her, especially after what Rhys reveals. Ianthe gets hers though and it is poetic!

Rhys breaks my heart in this book. He sacrifices so much for those he loves and he is willing to continue sacrificing, pushing everyone away so that he can. Feyre doesn’t let him though and I’m so glad for that. Rhys is an uncomplicated character, once you get under his layers. I love him!!

The plot revolves around the coming invasion from Prythian and how after years under Amarantha’s reign the kingdoms aren’t ready. Rhys and Feyre set out to unite the kingdoms and I loved this part of the book. In fact for once, the last book may be my favorite. I loved the extra details we get about the world Feyre lives in. Plus her sisters play a larger role in this book and I happen to love them.

Overall this conclusion to Feyre’s story was fantastic. It was even more fantastic for me when I turned the page after the end and found the announcement about the next book in the series coming out next year *squee* How did I miss that announcement before?! I’m so excited that Sarah J Maas is returning to this world, even if it will be in the form of standalones. Of all the characters, I want Azriel’s story, maybe one for Lucien too, but definitely Azriel. He is my favorite character from the series aside from the obvious Rhys. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, this book will not disappoint!

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