Ok, let me start this post off by stating that this book is steamy, meaning it’s definitely not for children because it’s considered adult fantasy. There are some spicy parts in it and I don’t want anyone to be surprised by them if you choose to read this book based on this post. If spicy books are not your forte – don’t say I didn’t warn you. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way let’s jump into this book review.
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I picked this book up on a whim one day when I was browsing through Books-A-Million. Yes, I’d seen it all over BookTok and Bookstagram and I knew Sarah J. Maas was an amazing author because I’d read her Throne of Glass series right after I graduated high school. But for some reason, I kept overlooking ACOTAR. Sarah’s known for writing high fantasy books that are full of adventure, twists, and turns and while I absolutely adored her Throne of Glass series I sort of put her books to the side and discovered other authors. But now – almost 14 years later – I decided to dive into Sarah’s world again – and boy, am I glad I did.
What It’s About
A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR for short) is about a nineteen year old girl named Feyre who lives in a little village that borders the fairy land of Prythian. Due to some bad investments her father has lost their fortune and she and her family are plunged into poverty. Feyre hunts in the forest that surrounds her family’s cottage for survival, but one day she kills a wolf and her world is turned upside down. As it turns out the wolf was actually a fairy in disguise and now Feyre’s forced to live the rest of her life in Prythian with a scary (yet intriguing) High Fae named Tamlin who can shapeshift into a beast.
At first, Feyre’s not exactly pleased with the arrangement, but as the days turn into weeks and the weeks into months, Feyre and Tamlin grow closer. They both begin to realize that maybe they have more in common than they thought – maybe, just maybe, they could love each other. But nothing comes easily – especially when Feyre learns that she’s the key piece in a much bigger story that not only affects Prythian but the human world too.
Why You Should Read It
Remember when you read Harry Potter or Twilight or the Hunger Games for the first time and you couldn’t stop thinking about it? Like, even though you’d closed the book you found yourself daydreaming about it – about the characters and what would happen next and if everything would turn out OK. Well, this book gave me that exact same feeling and it’s been a long time since a book was able to do that.
Each character is unique in their own way and brings something special to the story. You can tell Sarah J. Maas put a lot of thought and care in all of them – even the more base characters that can easily be overlooked. Even though the first book in this series is technically a Beauty and the Beast retelling it has an originality to it that will capture your imagination. The plotline never got boring or dragged – Sarah did a very good job at pacing the story and pushing the plot forward in a realistic way. As for Feyre, the book is told from her point of her view, so you learn everything from her perspective.
For even more ACOTAR check out A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight, and A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas.
Verse of the Day: Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. – Psalms 46:10
