A Court of Thorns and Roses
I have spent years watching people lose their minds over this series while I quietly sat over here wondering what all the fuss was about. Romantasy just wasn’t my thing when A Court of Thorns and Roses first came out. Since then I’ve read a handful that I really enjoyed, and lately Instagram has been absolutely flooded with Sarah J. Maas videos. At some point curiosity won. It was finally time to find out what everyone else already seemed to know.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #1
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 global bestselling author Sarah J. Maas comes a seductive, breathtaking book that blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read.
SPOILER WARNING: Everything beyond this point is spoilers. If you have not yet read this book and don’t want to know what happens. STOP READING NOW! You have been warned!
I finished this book with pages of notes, more questions than answers, and opinions about nearly every character. I could probably write half a dozen posts about this one book alone, but for now I’m going to walk through what stood out to me the most.
The Permise
I like the way things were set up for the most part. Although Freye’s family and sometimes Freye herself really got on my nerves. She loved Tamlin so much and wanted to be strong so she didn’t tell him. Talk about wanting to punch someone. That being said, the penalty for her killing the Fae and then being brought across the wall was great. I will say I wished we got others POV at times. We are limited only to what Feyre knows, sees, feels, and learns. Which limits us a bit. However since we are taking the journey with her it makes sense.
Characters
Nesta: I hated her at first although I felt like she did redeem herself a bit when I found out that she went after Freye. Let me say that I can certainly understand her anger and hurt. However I feel like she just is so lost in her own feelings that she can’t seem to do anything. She is the oldest yet Freye, the youngest, is doing everything.
Elain: Got on my last nerve if that was even possible. I mean grow some dang vegetables girl! I know Freye buys her the flower seeds but could she not speak up. She acts and is treated like she is the youngest and well. I saw on Instagram where a woman’s husband made the remark that Tamlin kidnapped the wrong sister. Elain is much more suited to the do nothing lifestyle he seems to want Freye to have. I agree to a point. I mean they all would have died if it had been up to Elain to do something. Maybe she will eventually.
Tamlin: I have mixed feelings about him. At first I liked him, but the more I read the more unpredictable he became. One minute he was thoughtful and protective, and the next he was exploding in anger. He gave me the same feeling as someone who breaks something during an argument and then tries to fix it with flowers afterward. That whole cycle made me uncomfortable.
Lucien: Okay, I liked him. I loved that he seemed to be the only peeved off one about his friend being killed. I know that Freye had to kill the Fae who was a wolf but no one seemed as peeved about it as Lucien. His reaction is the correct one. Tamlin was mad at first but then got over it quickly. Lucien suffered a lot at the hands of everyone it seemed. He is punished the most and while he is angry at Freye over killing his friend he is devastated when he realizes Under the Mountain that she wasn’t sure she could trust he would come help her. He is so heartbroken over that.
Under the Mountain
The events Under the Mountain drive me up the wall a bit. There was a lot going on and I think this is part where I started to like Feyre the most. Before she was very much a nineteen year old. Yes, she had responsibilities but she chooses to go there and face whatever may happen. It is the first time she makes a decision that will affect her own happiness and future not her family’s.
Tamlin
Tamlin really got on my nerves Under the Mountain. I get he can’t show he feels anything but good grief! The other Fae who were making fun of Feyre showed more emotion. I mean the one moment he is able to slip away he has no problem saying how much he loved her or anything. In fact, when he is in the line with the other two Fae that she has to kill he doesn’t even show much emotion. I mean come on man!
Rhysand
Rhysand during this time showed more of his hand than anyone. You immediately realize he is playing some sort of game. You just don’t know who he is playing it for. There are times when he is much nicer to Feyre than Tamlin ever is. There is a connection there and of course at the end I realized the mating bond snapped into place for him. So I am left to wonder if he somehow always felt that connection on some level or not.
The Final Trial
I for sure thought the three Fae that Feyre was going to have to kill in the final trial would end up being Aslin and her two nephews. I was ready to be heartbroken over that. I really liked her character and how much she did to protect her two nephews.
The Riddle
I also thought the answer to the riddle was Fate not Love. When she finally says “Love” I realized that made much more sense than fate ever would. Good thing it wasn’t left up to me because that would have sucked!
On to Book Two
At the time I’m writing this I’m already deep into A Court of Mist and Fury, and let’s just say…I have thoughts. Lots of them. We’ll talk about those soon. In the meantime, tell me where you agreed with me and where you think I’m completely wrong. I have a feeling this comment section could get interesting.
