Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #4
Published by Bloomsbury on 2021-02-16
Length: 757 pages
Reviewing Hardcover, Kindle from Amazon
Reading Challenges: 2021 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge, 2021 New Release Challenge
Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.
The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.
Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.
Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.
I enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas is the newest installment of A Court of Thorns and Roses, following Nesta as she navigates her new life as a Fae with a little help from Cassian. This book picks up a year after A Court of Frost and Starlight. During that year, Feyre and Elain have given Nesta her space, hoping that in doing so Nesta would come to terms with everything that has happened to her. Instead, Nesta has only gotten worse. Now she is offered a last chance to set things right, and the person she is ordered to work with is the one person she can’t stand the sight of. Both heartbreaking and uplifting A Court of Silver Flames delves deep into how trauma can affect our everyday lives and the steps to overcome it.
Nesta was never my favorite character…that is until I read this book. I thought her unnecessarily cruel and brash, caring only for herself and how the situation of others reflected upon her. Oh how I was wrong! Nesta is more like Feyre. In fact, I’d go as far to say they are identical which is probably why they don’t get along so well. While Nesta puts up a fierce face, her insides are cracked, broken, and festering. Watching helpless as the king of Hybern turned Elain into a Fae then facing the same fate was just the tip of the iceberg Nesta has to overcome. Unable to stop her father’s death and witnessing it haunts her every waking moment. All of this combined with the fact that those who she should be able to rely on do not trust her and fear the power that resides in her.
All of this culminates into the person we see at the beginning of the book: a callous drunk who sleeps with random strangers to keep the nightmares at bay. After one particular night where she spent an ungodly amount of the Night Lord’s money, Cassian arrives and forces her to go to Feyre. It is this scene that is a pivot point for her. Feyre offers Nesta some tough love: go live at the House of Wind, work in the library below, no drinking and train with Cassian or go back to the mortal world to live alone as she has shut everyone out. Resentful and just a bit bitter, Nesta begrudgingly accepts and thus the story begins.
Cassian is one of my favorites of the series. I could read stories about Azriel and him all day. As the commander of Rhys’s armies, Cassian has big shoes to fill. He’s always been a jokester, downplaying his responsibilities because he doesn’t believe in himself. He believes he is nothing more than an Illyrian bastard despite the power running through his veins. After losing a large force during the war, Cassian must regain the trust of his troops and also find peace for himself. Yet another battle looms, and he isn’t sure how to face it. Add to that he now has to train Nesta, and he feels like he is barely treading water. Despite all of this, Cassian sees to the heart of Nesta and realizes they aren’t that different.
So much happens in this story! Nesta dealing with her severe PTSD, Cassian taking on more responsibility, and the hunt for three mythical artifacts that may turn the tide and settle the unrest in Prythian. I personally enjoyed every word, even the hard stuff. I laughed a lot, I cried a little, and I swooned majorly. I also love two characters that are brought in later who become friends and confidantes of Nesta. They are wonderful, and I hope to see more of them.
Overall, I loved A Court of Silver Flames. I couldn’t read it fast enough. I’ll be honest, I was hesitant to continue reading the series because I thought it had a good ending, but I’m SO glad I continued because Nesta and Cassian are perfect! The story is one that needed to be told. I loved how Maas handled Nesta’s depression and self-loathing. It brought her to life off the pages and resonated so deeply with me. If you are a fan of the series, I highly recommend it.
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