Review: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas

★★★★☆

Hello friends and welcome back to another chaotic review (non-spoiler)! Although, as always, this will have spoilers for the previous books in the series! 

Okay, so, I came into this book after rereading the rest of the series with medium expectations. I really like SJM’s writing style and the world she’s built but I was really unsure about Nesta. So far we have been mostly in the mind of Feyre, with a couple of jumps to Rhys and then we got a few different POVs in the novella (which I loved and want more of ASAP), so I think my trepidation for a book focussed on Nesta is because so far, her motivations were a mystery. She acted like a self-entitled brat, she was cold, rude and didn’t lift a finger to help Feyre when she was younger and kept the family alive, and didn’t get that much better even after she and Elain were turned into Fae. Although it seemed in ACOMAF that she was improving, it was obvious that the war and the death of her father caused a drastic decrease in her mental health. 

This book really made me understand Nesta. It made me understand the choices she made when she was human, and her outlook on life. It was obvious in ACOFAS that she was struggling, but this book really showed how bad she got. This book was massive, both in physical size and what it covered with Nesta. She went through SO much in this book, and although she really bugged me in the beginning, she has become a character that I actually really like (which is a huge surprise).

“I cannot survive without reading.” 

Sarah J Maas

This redemption arc is EVERYTHING that I hoped for, and that definitely has something to do with having Cassian as a main focus and a POV, and Nesta creating her own found family as Feyre did. I really enjoyed Cassian’s POV, it gave his character so much more depth, and he is such a sweet and honourable male and I think that this book was so wonderful in that it allowed us to get so much more of an insight on who he is, and his motivations and history. It was wonderful. 

The new characters in this book, the priestesses, Emerie and Gwyn was so great. I loved having these three women, all who had gone through such hardships, find each other and allow themselves to grow and heal together. Like, YES. And the House! I have to say, the friendship between Nesta and the House was one of my favourite aspects of this book. 

“The cold of the gaps between stars, the cold of a world before light.”

Sarah J Maas

One point I want to make, is the incorporation of ancient history elements and even legendary history. The Myrmidon mountains were one, and also it seemed like Maas used the rough legend of Arthur, Gwyn, and Lancelot at one point which I liked! There was definitely more, but I can’t remember!!! 

The book was so long though, I docked a star off my rating for a few reasons, one, is how LONG it is. I feel like there could have been 100/150 words less and have been just as powerful. I feel like there was a bit of filler in there, but it probably could have been a bit shorter. There was also an issue with repetition, up until about the 120-page mark, I really felt like there was a lot of unnecessary repetition in the thoughts of Nesta + Cassian and it was super frustrating and made the beginning tedious. I also didn’t really vibe that much with the sex scenes, but the angst and tension it caused for the overall story was pretty brilliant. This aspect definitely got better though, as the book went on and the characters grew and healed and developed!

Anyway, I enjoyed this more than I thought! I thought the writing was as good as always, the world-building is always spot on, the characters were all well fleshed out and the events of this book were all new and unique and made me want to keep reading it! All in all, a wonderful read and I would recommend it to anyone who may be having doubts about a book from Nesta’s POV!! 

Review: A Court of Frost and Starlight (Re-read) by Sarah J Maas

★★★★☆

As always, this review is spoiler free (although, nothing much really happens so there isn’t much to spoil), but this review WILL discuss happenings from the previous books. So, if you haven’t read them all yet and you don’t want to be spoiled for any part, please don’t read this review until you’re all caught up!

I think this novella was the perfect way to end the Feyre/Rhysand main plot in this series. I understand why people would not vibe with this, they’re right, nothing really happens. It’s more of a bridge. The ending of one focus, and the beginning of a new one and I thought they ended Feyre and Rhysand’s story really beautifully (although I am sure they will make plenty of appearances in the next one!) I am eager for the next book (hopefully) to delve into the internal processes of characters like Elain, Mor and Az are going through, of course in addition to Cas and Nesta which I can only assume are the two POVs in the book? Not sure, but these characters went through war. They went through such horrific events, Elain and Nesta were ripped from their lives and turned into something completely new, and Mor has been struggling with herself, her identity for 500 years. I want to see development! I want to see these characters learning and growing and healing dammit.   

Reading about how Veralis and it’s people were recuperating and rebuilding after war is something that goes beyond this fantasy world, to the world we’re living in. Each of these characters is dealing with their demons in their own way, so I have a feeling that this novella was a way to prepare readers for the next one which may (by the sounds of it) be less major event-based, and more character-driven?? (I would definitely vibe with that). 

“To the blessed darkness from which we are born, and to which we return.” 

Sarah J Maas

What I want out of the next book that this novella made me realise: I want to know what the vulgar expression is thanks!!! I also want Azriel to speak more and just be given more page time!! I love his unique type of humour, and I am SO curious about him and his shadows. I think that if we get to see from his POV, it’s really going to make his character shine in a way it wasn’t given a chance in the previous books. This book also showed how tender and gentle the budding friendship between Elain and Azriel is, and I want MORE thank you very much xo  

Obviously, I am excited to continue to follow Rhys and Feyre and their journey together, but the rest of the characters are all so unique and interesting, I am keen to see what happens next. Okay, so this review was sort of both my thoughts for this novella (I thought it was a lovely way to conclude the arc of Feyre and Rhysand), and introduce the focus for the next books, and also a review for how I think this might work with the next book and my hopes for it. SO basically, this has been just as chaotic as my other reviews, but you should all be used to that by now, right? 

“Stars flickered around us, sweet darkness sweeping in. As if we were the only souls in a galaxy.” 

Sarah J Maas

Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas (Re-read)

★★★★☆.5

This was another re-read in lead up to A Court of Silver Flames, which has very recently come out! The difference between this one and the previous two books is that I have only ever read this one once, and honestly, I could barely remember anything that happened… I realised as I was reading it that it was probably because not a lot actually happened. (There will be spoilers for the previous two books in this review, but will be spoiler-free for A Court of Wings and Ruin!) 

This book felt much more character and politically driven than the previous two books. There were less major events, and more small choices and character interactions which fuelled the majority of it. For me, I really didn’t mind it. I love a book that is heavily character-driven, but I understand other people’s issues that not enough happened until like, the last 100 pages. With that being said, I really enjoyed the beginning of this novel, with Feyre working as a double agent in the Spring Court. It was such a thrill, and the changing relationships and dynamics between the characters was so interesting, compared to the beginning of ACOMAF. 

I loved seeing more of the world, and finally being introduced properly to all of the High Lords. All of their different and unique characteristics, and how they work within their courts was one of my favourite aspects, and the politics between them was tense but also humorous. The most character development and focus though, was definitely on Elain and Nesta. After being forced to turn into Fae at the ending of ACOMAF, seeing how the two dealt with this massive change in their lives in such different ways was really well done. 

Kindness can thrive even amongst cruelty.

Sarah J Maas

One of my biggest peeves in this book is the use of the word ‘Hybern’. We have heard the King of Hybern in previous books, and it has been shortened to ‘Hybern’ when characters are talking about the king, but in THIS book!!! It meant SO MANY things. It was the king, a place, his armies?? and his people in general?? It made absolutely no sense?? I feel like Maas just lost the plot with that particular aspect of the book, it was so confusing!! Is it a place??? Is it the name of this man?? The name of his army?? Please, someone, let me know what is going on 😂

I find it wild, that Lucien left on his mission (keeping the specifics quiet cause spoilers), and then everyone just forgot about him and didn’t communicate with him at all until he showed up later. Not to mention, the ending! Honestly, many aspects of the ending were out of character and hard to believe (yes, it’s a high fantasy novel, but you know what I mean!) It was anticlimactic in a way I forgot about during my first reading of it, and that definitely impacted my final rating which I downgraded to a 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

Night Triumphant- and the Stars Eternal.

Sarah J Maas

I still really enjoyed this book, and this entire series, but ACOMAF is 100% my favourite book of this series. I will be reading A Court of Frost and Starlight before finally moving on to A Court of Silver Flames. I love books with multiple POV’s which is what I would have LOVED from this series, even just this last book! Each character had their place in this finale to the initial trilogy, and it would have been so wonderful to see some of it from a different point of view (although to be fair, Feyre steadily got more interesting and less annoying as the books went on). This is probably the aspect I am most excited about A Court of Frost and Starlight (which will be a re-read) and A Court of Silver Flames. Let me know what you think of this book!! Of course, if you have spoilers you want to rant about, find me on Insta @kell_read!

Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas (Re-read)

★★★★★

This is a non-spoiler review, but it will have spoilers for ACOTAR (fair warning). Just like ACOTAR, this was my 3rd reading of A Court of Mist and Fury, with the last one being about 3 years ago. This one is without a doubt, my favourite book in the series. It turns out that my taste in books hasn’t changed at all and this was still very much a 5 star read for me. This book had so much more going for it than ACOTAR, it had more depth in every aspect from character development, relationships, world-building, and just general tension, angst, and events. It absolutely hooks you in from the very first chapter, and doesn’t even release its grip after you finish it. 

Let’s start with the addition of the new characters; Cassian, Azriel, Mor, and Amren. I absolutely adore them all. They are all so unique, but all work so well together. Learning about each of their backstories, as well as Rhysands, and how they became the family that they are is truly one of my absolute favourite aspects of this book. The banter between the inner circle, and how they’re so comfortable with each other gives much of this book such a homely feel to it. 

“He thinks he’ll be remembered as the villain in the story. But I forgot to tell him that the villain is usually the person who locks up the maiden and throws away the key. He was the one who let me out.” 

Sarah J Maas

The main focus of this book is Feyre, how she is dealing with the events from Under the Mountain, and her personal development as a Fae. The treatment of PTSD, and highlighting the importance of having people around you who understand and are there for your well-being is so prevalent in most of this book. Feyre learns so much about how she has changed, physically and mentally from before the events under the mountain, and she realises what she deserves and DAMN I’m here for it. Because Tamlin, Ianthe and even Lucien (poor Lucien), acted like such trash. Their treatment of Feyre, their continuous exclusion of her and their inability to see that she was obviously struggling really bothers me. Every time I read this book, their actions make me queasy. And don’t for ONE second tell me that Tamlin never, not once, woke up to Feyre vomiting, like excuse me. No. 

I have always loved Rhysand as a character, but never more than in this book. Not only do we get to understand who he is, but we learn about his history and the lasting effects of what he had to do Under the Mountain. He is exactly what Feyre needed, and it frustrated me how long it took her to realise that he was a good guy, and was doing what he could to help her because he FULLY understands how she feels. He didn’t need to be connected with her to understand the darkness inside her from what she had done. It’s just, so much more complex than ACOTAR in every way and I really loved it. 

“To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys.” Rhys clinked his glass against mine. “To the stars who listen— and the dreams that are answered.”

Sarah J Maas

Getting to see more of Prythian and this world is another wonderful part of this book. Here we get to learn about the Night Court, we get to understand how courts differ more than just whether they’re Spring, Summer, Dawn, etc and the choices that the High Lords can make. We get Velaris, we get the Court of Nightmares and we get an introduction into the Illyrians. Just, so good. Plus, the writing definitely felt improved from the first one. 

This book had a lot of brilliant development in it, for the characters, relationships, the main plotline (which I won’t get into because spoilers), political tensions, and the world as a whole. If you loved this book, if you hated this book, I’d love to hear your thoughts/rants and opinions! Got spoilery stuff ya want to rant about? Feel free to send me a message on Insta, you can find me at @kell_read!!

Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses By Sarah J Maas (Re-read)

★★★☆☆

This was my third reading of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and my feelings and opinions on it haven’t changed much at all from the second reading, but my initial thoughts were quite different. So let’s get into this (spoiler-free) review! 

First and foremost, I always enjoy the whole Beauty and the Beast retelling-vibe. I also thought that the world-building was pretty great. You get enough in this first book of the series to get a feel for the world, but to leave some things to be found out in the later books which I really like. And honestly, the last 100 pages are so good, they’re darker and they’re raw and I really enjoy them. Every time, I forget how much better this series gets the longer you get into it. 

The character development, and development of the relationships and relationship dynamics throughout the book I also think is excellent. In the beginning, Feyre was pretty damn annoying. It was frustrating being in her head, but honestly, by the end of the book she was much more interesting and maybe it was the fact that she went through SO much at the end that she was a way better POV. As she loosened up at the Spring Court, and formed connections with Tamlin, Lucien, Alis and even Rhysand, she became more interesting. 

Lucien and Rhysand are still my two favourite characters from this book. They are funny, witty and just way more dynamic than the predictable and a bit boring Tamlin. Tamlin is painted as ‘swoon-worthy but I really do find him boring and predictable. The dialogue between Feyre and Lucien is probably the most interesting part of the first 60% of the book to be quite honest. Lucien backstory never gets easier to read, it always makes me so sad. Maybe it’s because we get more information about Lucien than Tamlin, which is why I like him so much more? I don’t know. Tamlin seems like he’s just a bit self-serving? It’s interesting. Also, let’s just say, don’t take Rhysand at face value. This book only hints at the depth and layers of these characters and the world which you really only get into in book two. 

Don’t feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy 

Sarah J Maas

But, compared to the other books in the series, this one is seriously lacking. It definitely sets up the world and the characters for so much potential, but on it’s own, it falls short. Elain and Nesta are interesting characters, Elain is sweet but oh so very useless, and Nesta is icy and brutal. I will be very very interested to read a book from her POV to hopefully get a bit deeper into why she is how she is, because honestly, at the beginning of this book her words and actions are inexcusable. She is definitely better when we encounter her later in the book, but still. Doesn’t make up for her initial behaviour.

Let’s finish this mess of a review by saying it’s hard to review a book impartially when you have read the next ones… Honestly though, if you read this and don’t vibe with it that much, PLEASE try to read the next one. This is my least favourite book in the series and it honestly gets SO much better! If you’ve read this book, or the series, let me know what you think of it!