Book Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3 stars

Synopsis:

“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.”

I enjoyed this book so much more than the first one. The plot, the characters, the writing was so much better and refreshing. I really enjoyed Feyre’s development as a character though her healing and her learning to love herself and her powers. Feyre learned to heal her broken heart and soul, realizing how she is her own person with the power to make the choices she wants in her life. I cannot separate her character development without mentioning her relationship with Rhysand, because it is one of the reasons that she was able to heal and find self-love in the first place.

The entire book was just Feysand slow-burn and I loved it. I loved reading about their interactions and their banter and how Feyre gradually opened up to Rhysand and realized that she didn’t love Tamlin anymore. Rhysand treated her with care and valued her thoughts, her choices, her freedom. He treated her in a manner that Feyre desperately needed in order to heal and love herself. I loved Feyre’s realization that compared to Rhysand, Tamlin was abusive as fuck: he ignored her PTSD, never gave her the freedom to voice her thoughts, didn’t let her engage in politics, and trapped her in his house (which became a source of trauma for her). Feyre finally learned to say “fuck Tamlin and his fucking court” and I was absolutely here for that!! Feyre and Rhysand’s relationship development and pining throughout the book was also lovely to read. I love slow-burn and angst and SJM was able to deliver them well enough.

On another note, I also liked the found family aspects of this novel (despite the fact that Feyre found a new family that already existed for like 500 years or so). I am an absolute sucker for this trope and I am honestly down to read any novel as long as it has this trope. Cassian, Azriel, Mor, and Amren became her support system, her mentors, her friends, her family. I loved reading their interactions and their connections with one another.

Despite my love for the characters, there were also some parts of the book that I did not enjoy. The pacing of this book mirrored that of the first: slow in the beginning and action-packed and rushed at the end. The plot itself was a little better this time so the effect of the pacing wasn’t as bad, but it still bothered me. However, some parts of the plot felt like a filler and could’ve been shortened to make reading more enjoyable. I am curious to see how the series will conclude and hope it isn’t as bad as many have rated it to be.

- lian