Still amazing. Still brilliant. Still one of my favourite books of all time. I still love Feyre. I still want to marry Rhysand. Sarah J. Ma03.06.2021:
Still amazing. Still brilliant. Still one of my favourite books of all time. I still love Feyre. I still want to marry Rhysand. Sarah J. Maas doesn't get enough credit for her beautiful foreshadowing and fantastic characterisation because everyone's too distracted by -gasp- sex scenes and her not-so-great prose. 5/5 forever. The end.
---------------------- Original review 15.09.2017:
** spoiler alert ** This is going to be the most 'unprofessional' review I've ever written. Sorry, I'm not sorry.
I... I don't know where to begin. Other than to say I think this book was absolutely 100% worth slogging through A Court Of Thorns and Roses for, I guess? I mean... I don't know. I just don't know. I'm broken. I think this book broke me. Because I went into reading this book with my eyes wide open, knowing exactly what would happen, exactly how things were going to go down, exactly what I was going to get, and yet still coming out the other side with an enormous book hangover and a new Book Boyfriend to boot.
"I have a feeling," I told my boyfriend before I started, "that this book might not actually be as fantastic as other people say it is, and that they're just wetting themselves over one particular character."
I was absolutely right.
Little did I know, despite my prior knowledge and cynicism, that I would become one of these people.
This is the best porn I've ever read.
Yes, dear reader, it's true. I am unashamed to admit it. I fell in love with Rhysand in this book. I actually feel somewhat violated by Sarah J. Maas because of it, because I was not given a choice in the matter. She manipulated me into loathing Tamlin (whom I personally didn't really give a shit about in the first book), and then manipulated me into loving everything about Rhys. Despite everything he did in Book One, despite what happened with Claire Beddor, despite the heads he sent to the Spring Court, despite forcing Tamlin and Lucien to beg for him, and despite every awful sick, sordid, awful thing he did to Feyre through Under The Mountain... I ended up falling in love with him. Why? Because he's perfect, dear reader. He. Is. Perfect. He:
- respects women - encourages independent thought - is not a controlling or abusive partner (no, really, he isn't) - does not withhold information (bar one thing which I don't blame him for at all) - really cares about his people - campaigns for equality - lives by what he preaches - takes responsibility for his mistakes - doesn't stick his head in the sand about matters of life-threatening importance - utterly self-sacrificing in every respect - super intelligent - really quite sarcastic and funny - good looking - sexy as hell - filthy in bed*
*Once again, I must stress, no matter what section of the book shop you find this in, this book is not YA. It just isn't. It is erotica disguised as fantasy. 100% adult. You are greeted by a 5 page graphic sex scene on page 25, and it only gets worse from there. Or better, depending on how you look at it. I mean, that scene in The Court of Nightmares... oh boy. It's one of the hottest things I've ever read. Seriously. Oh man.
On top of that he has a pretty tragic backstory (I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff), and this whole mega attractive super-evil High Lord of the Night Court mask that shows itself upon occasion and I just... ahhhh, I love it. I just love it when Rhysand does his all-powerful-I-will-liquefy-your-brain-for-fun thing that has other faeries literally wetting themselves with fear. Again, going back to that scene in the Court of Nightmares... Oh my God, it was so good to have 'Evil Rhys' back again. So, so good.
And Feyre! Oh my God, again, I didn't give a shit about Feyre in A Court Of Thorns and Roses but in this book... in this book, I've never seen character development like it; it is off the scales, and almost makes me want to stop writing because I don't think I'll ever get people to care about my characters as much as I cared about the characters here. We got hints of Feyre being a bad ass in Book 1, but it was more Sarah J Maas ramming it down our throats, telling us: Ooh, look at Feyre, she can hunt and shoot an arrow and kill for food and fight for the life of the one she loves... But in this book-- in this book we actually see it. Feyre has agency in this book. She makes choices. She thinks for herself. She fights back against those who would seek to oppress her or force her hand. She's broken, but she's healing. She changes her mind, and learns to accept it. With Rhys's gentle encouragement she is able to take control of her life -- something she has never had. And in Rhys, she more than meets her match. They bring out the very best in each other, and that is what relationships should be. That's what they should do.
There was definitely plot in this book, more so than in the previous one. And I appreciated that. I'm really excited for the next book after that deliciously surprising ending. But ultimately A Court Of Mist and Fury reads more like a character study of Rhys and Feyre, and I'm fine with that because it works. Despite the silliness of a faerie with batwings being the romantic lead, despite their seemingly infinite powers and dubious magic rules, despite the bizarre sexual undercurrent that permeates the narrative, and despite the occasional LOL moment during some very explicit sex scenes (orgasms great enough to fell mountains, anyone?)... it's beautiful. The characters are beautiful. Their relationship is beautiful and I absolutely loved it every single second of it. I would read this book again. I would happily read this book again and return to this world and this romance and these characters.
Fair play, Sarah J. Maas. Fair play.
Now give me A Court Of Wings And Ruin. Right now....more
This review has been such a struggle to write, not least because it’s difficult to write a spoiler-free review of the 5th book in a series (I’ve triedThis review has been such a struggle to write, not least because it’s difficult to write a spoiler-free review of the 5th book in a series (I’ve tried my best, but please bear this in mind when reading the below!), but also because I absolutely loved this book. I loved it so, so much that it’s difficult to articulate just how much I loved it with adequate words. The result is this absolute ramble—I apologise in advance.
Nesta has always been a character of great fascination to me in Sarah J. Maas’s ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ series. She's prickly, cold, vain and mean, resenting absolutely everyone around her for stepping up to the plate when she knows only how to let people down. She also harbours a great and terrible power. Surely such a deliberately spiteful person is the very worst kind of person to wield such power? And yet Nesta refuses to even touch it. Doesn't that say something in and of itself?
It was clear to me in ‘A Court of Frost and Starlight’ that Nesta was suffering from some serious PTSD following the events of ‘A Court of Wings and Ruin’. It frustrated me no end that no one seemed to want to help her, especially given the kid gloves with which the likes of Feyre and Elain were approached with theirs. It’s easy to understand why though: unlike her sisters, Nesta’s trauma manifests as rage and spite. She lashes out when she is in pain, and isolates herself from people to avoid the inevitable backlash. It’s difficult to help someone who continually bites the hand that feeds them, but that’s what this book is all about:
"Keep reaching out your hand."
I know I’m not the only one who feels this way, but Nesta is the most relatable female character I’ve ever come across in fiction. She’s not perfect. She's not even nice. And she's certainly the opposite of submissive and meek (and she's no blushing virgin either). In fact she’s often cruel and insensitive, lazy and self-indulgent and could give a flying fuck what other people think—especially men. This anger, this rage, this pain, was very relatable to me as an adult woman with depression caused by chronic pain, and I know there are lots of women out there also reading this book who feel the same way.
"She had been born wrong. Had been born with claws and fangs and had never been able to keep from using them, never been able to quell the part of her that raged at betrayal, that could hate and love more violently than anyone ever understood."
Women, both in fiction and in real life, are not often given permission to be flawed. What makes this book so fantastic is that its overriding message is that these “flaws” do not Nesta evil. Her mistakes do not make her unworthy of forgiveness. And the fact she’s dislikable does not mean she should be given up on, or make her unworthy of love. I'm not necessarily talking about romantic love, but any kind of love really; family, friendship, and self. Sarah J. Maas empowers Nesta as a woman, flaws and all, and by proxy, she empowers her pre-dominantly female readership. I honestly believe some aspects of this book could be used in a self-help capacity, and it certainly inspired me to take action in more ways than one.
Now, with regards to the story: there's definitely a plot in 'A Court of Silver Flames', and it's a good one too! In fact it was a lot more involved than I was expecting, because there's no denying its primary focus is, of course, the long-awaited romance between Nesta and Cassian. If you enjoyed 'A Court of Mist and Fury' then you will also love this book, because the two are tonally and thematically very similar. So often in romances, sex is portrayed to be the end goal; the reward for taking the time to develop the relationship. Not so in ‘A Court of Silver Flames’. I much prefer romances like this; they feel more true to live, more visceral, more real. Both Nesta and Cassian enjoy recreational sex and use it as a means to distract and relax from the weight of life. So it makes perfect sense to me that they’d find comfort in each other’s arms and use sex as a communication tool. The sex scenes in ‘A Court of Silver Flames’ are sexy and steamy and frequent, but for me they never felt excessive or unnecessary for this exact reason—it was absolutely imperative to the character development, and an absolute joy to read.
Cassian is absolutely brilliant; a relentlessly cheerful ray of sunshine who deserves the world... I love him.
Some other things I loved: the new characters—both those we're already semi-familiar with (e.g. Eris), and those we've never met before at all. I can't say too much without spoiling, but Nesta forms some truly amazing friendships in this book (see aforementioned note on female empowerment), and I absolutely cannot wait to read about them in future books.
I also very much enjoyed Rhysand having his arse handed to him on multiple occasions by Nesta, Cassian, and others. I'd argue against the case that Rhysand behaved like a different person in this book, and remind those who think this that they're used to reading Rhysand from Feyre's POV. Whilst I absolutely adore the man (and he's still no. 1 book boyfriend in my eyes), it still gave me enormous pleasure to see him taken down a peg or two for his possessive, high-handed and sometimes deplorable behaviour. Reader, I cackled.
Lastly, I'd like to comment on Sarah J. Maas's writing. I'll be the first to admit that Sarah's prose is the weakest aspect of her work, but everything here felt tight, relevant and streamlined. The sheer amount of Stuff she packed into this book was impressive. Others may disagree, but I personally felt the editing issues that plagued some of the later books in the 'Throne of Glass' series and 'A Court of Wings and Ruin' were decidedly absent here; I raced through all 757 pages of this monster and it never felt too long. I loved every second and never wanted it to end.
I also never thought I'd cry over a House, but here we are, I guess.
Overall this book was absolutely wonderful. I laughed, I cried, it's easily my favourite Sarah J. Maas book of all time, and it gave me Nesta—my new favourite ever female character. All the black hearts, all the stars, all the praise... Love love loved this book and I need the next one like, yesterday.
CWs: fantasy violence; adult themes; explicit sexual content; very strong language; and content some readers may find upsetting. Feel free to DM me for details!...more
Really enjoyed this issue—even more so, perhaps, than the first. The ‘Wild Hunt’ and ‘Voodoo Drums in Cornwall’ articles were particularly good, and IReally enjoyed this issue—even more so, perhaps, than the first. The ‘Wild Hunt’ and ‘Voodoo Drums in Cornwall’ articles were particularly good, and I loved the interview with Alan Moore. A couple of features left me baffled, and I really wish ‘The Pagan in my Blood’—an examination of feminists claiming the god Pan for their own—had been longer because it was so interesting, but overall, I really love this weird little magazine. Looking forward to reading the ‘Malefice’ issue!...more
Very much enjoyed this first issue of Hellebore; a small-press magazine dedicated to British folk horror. Some of the articles in here were more interVery much enjoyed this first issue of Hellebore; a small-press magazine dedicated to British folk horror. Some of the articles in here were more interesting than others (‘From His Blood the Crops Would Spring’, ‘The Bodies In The Bog’ and ‘The King of Terrors’ were my favourites), but overall it was really well put together. Looking forward to reading future issues....more
Full disclosure: I was first introduced to The Witcher series by way of the excellent Netflix adaption. Because we both loved it so much, my boyfriendFull disclosure: I was first introduced to The Witcher series by way of the excellent Netflix adaption. Because we both loved it so much, my boyfriend bought me a copy of The Witcher III: Wild Hunt to play for my birthday, which I loved even more. I was around halfway through the main quest of game when I stopped resisting the urge to pick up this book, and I definitely think my previous experiences enhanced my enjoyment of it. The book also retroactively enhanced my enjoyment of both the series and the game, because I now appreciate what faithful and playful adaptations they both are.
This is the first instalment in The Witcher series (chronologically speaking; it's the second book that was published) and consists of seven short stories, one of which frames the other six. Although the framing narrative is the least interesting story of the seven, it really helped me get through the entire collection in one go and made it feel more like a novel than short story collection.* All of the tales centre on the Witcher himself, Geralt: a monster hunter for hire who has undergone life-changing mutations. His mutations and unenviable profession set him apart from other humans—many of whom don't think of him as human at all—and he earns their ire as much as their respect. Consequently, many of these short stories centre on what it is to be truly monstrous, and the ramifications of Geralt's choices regarding this particular issue.
Aside from the playful nature in which Sapkowski deals with Polish folklore, many of these stories are also loose retellings of well-known fairytales, such as Snow White and Aladdin. This was a really wonderful surprise, for it was something I'd not picked up on in either the show or the game. I was also really pleasantly surprised by how funny this book is. Amidst tales of incestuous Kings, unwanted daughters, murderous vampires and coded racism, there are also moments of real humour. A retelling of Beauty and the Beast where the Beast wishes to remain a monster 'cause girls dig that and he gets laid more often? The very concept of the Law of Surprise? Geralt's accidental first wish that the genie 'go fuck itself' being why it was so incredibly pissed off at everything? Genuinely hilarious.
I also really love the character of Geralt himself. Gruff and stern, but also warm and clever. He hunts monsters, true, but he never kills for sport or takes pleasure in what he must do to earn a living. If there's a loophole in which a monster may be cured rather than killed, he'll take it, and if given the chance will always opt to talk first and swing his sword later. I was also pleased to be introduced to the likes of Dandilion (Jaskier in the Polish version and Netflix show) and Yennefer of Vergerberg, the latter of whom I would very much love to step on me. I can't wait to spend more time with them in future instalments.
Overall this is a perfect introduction to The Witcher book series. Whilst the very nature of a short story does not exactly lend itself to depth, there is a surprising amount of it here. The worldbuilding is solid and sound, the scene set for the epic saga yet to come, and for every crass joke and gratuitous flash of female flesh, there's a larger rumination on the ethics with which Geralt resolves each of his contracts. I loved this book.
*As I mentioned in my review of The Assassin's Blade, I sometimes struggle to stay engaged as each story ends then starts up again....more
The final battle for Erilea has arrived. As Erawan marches on Terresen, the scattered court of Aelin Galathynius works hard to battle against the ValgThe final battle for Erilea has arrived. As Erawan marches on Terresen, the scattered court of Aelin Galathynius works hard to battle against the Valg hordes, even as their queen remains captive at the mercy of the Fae Queen Maeve...
Wow. What a finale! When I first read ‘Throne of Glass’ way back in 2012, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d come to care so much for these characters; that I’d experience so many emotions—so much love and fear and pain and joy. I lost count of the amount of times I got goosebumps reading this book, not to mention how many my heart surged, or my eyes pricked with tears (I outright bawled on one occasion). In terms of storytelling, characterisation, content, themes and narrative depth, ‘Kingdom of Ash’ is as far from the first book as you can possibly imagine.
Sarah J Maas is not the most skilled writer in the world—nor is her prose the most beautiful—but she remains one of my favourite authors. Why? Because she has this uncanny (and incredibly rare) ability to draw readers so completely into her worlds, and make them care so fiercely for the unlikeliest of characters. I have absolutely adored watching Aelin grow from swaggering arrogant assassin to commanding confident queen. She was hands down my favourite character of this series, and I’m going to miss her so much.
All the characters’ stories tie up so well, with not a single plot thread dropped. I’m utterly bereft this series is now over; the book hangover is real.
This book is undoubtedly gorgeous; I loved seeing large prints of the beautiful macabre artwork from the card game of the same name.
However, the fairyThis book is undoubtedly gorgeous; I loved seeing large prints of the beautiful macabre artwork from the card game of the same name.
However, the fairytales themselves are not “lovingly re-told” by American McGee and R.J. Berg as promised. Instead, these are the original tales told by the likes of Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen etc. merely reprinted, but with added typos. The collection itself is lovely, and the tales chosen are great/make a lot of sense, but I would have really loved to read a dark, twisted American McGee take on these — which is what I thought I was getting.
I still really enjoyed reading this though and I love the accompanying game. It was a lovely Kickstarter reward and I’m thrilled to have this in my collection. I’m looking forward to scaring kids with it in the future....more
