Book Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
“I threw myself into that fire, threw myself into it, into him, and let myself burn.”
Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series? A Court of Thorns and Roses (#1)
My Rating: ★★★★
Genre(s): Romantasy, Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication: 5 May 2015 (Bloomsbury USA Childrens)
CW: drugging, emotional abuse, kidnapping, manipulation, murder, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sex, sexual assault, torture, violence
A Court of Thorns and Roses marked my official entrance into the magical world of young adult fantasy.
For ages, I heard nothing but praise for Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series. It seemed like every book blogger and their mother was reading — and loving — this series. I never had much of an interest in YA fantasy — or fantasy in general, for that matter. But after taking the plunge, I’m happy to announce that I’m a convert!
A Court of Thorns and Roses follows Feyre, a young mortal woman who finds herself captured by a faerie and transported across a centuries-old border to live out her days with the fae as punishment for murdering one of their kind. In Prythian, Feyre is introduced to a world riddled with magic, political intrigue, and plight, and as she falls for her masked captor, she uncovers further secrets of this unfamiliar kingdom.
When I picked up this book, I had no idea what to expect.
I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. The vivid imagery was enchanting, completely immersing me in the magical world as though I experienced it alongside Feyre. The worldbuilding, in particular, was fantastic, although I have little to no experience with fantasy worldbuilding prior to this novel — so take that with a grain of salt.
I loved the in-depth history developed for the mortals and the faeries, especially their fraught interrelationships. There were misconceptions and prejudices each group held against the other which were dismantled as Feyre cemented her place in the Spring Court.
The geography was of particular interest to me — the regional divisions throughout Prythian and how they interact with one another. As someone who loves a good map, I appreciated the inclusion of a detailed map at the start of the novel. However, it only made me yearn for more exploration of the other courts and regions. I really hope the domestic conflict is further explored in the sequel.
Come for the romance, stay for the fantasy.
While I became a fantasy fan because of A Court of Thorns and Roses, there is no getting around the fact that the predominant reason I read it was for the romance. It is one of the biggest selling features of this novel, especially since it’s sort of considered a baby-fantasy, more for beginners than seasoned vets. This book was sexy, fun, and charming as hell.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the love story unravel as Feyre began to open up and become more comfortable around Tamlin. Tamlin, in turn, was attractive, witty, and mysterious. It was hard to pin him down for a lot of the novel, but I feel that his character — and his intentions — become more clear as the book progresses.
At the end of A Court of Thorns and Roses, readers know that no matter the outcome of the last hundred pages, nothing can return to the way it was when Feyre first arrived in Prythian. Everything will — and must — change in the sequel. When it comes to series, I tend to lose interest very easily and give upon them after the first book. However, Sarah J. Maas set up Feyre’s story to continue in such an interesting way that I am eager to read the continuation of this series.
While the hype may seem undue, I’m here to put my two cents in — A Court of Thorns and Roses is a must-read young adult fantasy.
Synopsis: When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world.
At least, he’s not a beast all the time.
As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.
From bestselling author Sarah J. Maas comes a seductive, breathtaking book that blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read.
Have you read A Court of Thorns and Roses? If you have, what did you think?
Enjoy this review? Check out my other book reviews.
