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The sexy, action-packed first book in the 1 bestselling Court of Thorns and Roses series from global phenomenon Sarah J. Maas. 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 bestselling author Sarah J. Maas comes a seductive, breathtaking book that blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read. Read more
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date : June 2, 2020
Language : English
Print length : 448 pages
ISBN-10 : 1635575567
ISBN-13 : 69
Item Weight : 15.2 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 1.25 x 8.25 inches
Book 1 of 7 : A Court of Thorns and Roses
Best Sellers Rank: #330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #4 in Romantic Fantasy (Books) #17 in Romantasy (Books) #19 in Epic Fantasy (Books)
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Top Amazon Reviews
Let me preface by saying that I sat down to read this book and could not put it down until I completed it within a 24 hours period. This is an occurrence I find so rare these days as I get older. My basis for a good book have become more and more demanding the more I read and the less time I have to read. I'm someone who will not hesitate to drop a book a hundred pages in if it's not gripping me by any means. With that said, my requirements are quite simple although they seem hard to achieve these days. Good enough writing, engaging plots, believable characters, and “HEA”. ACOTAR certainly exceeded my expectations because I dove into it purely based on my immense interest in its premise being based on a Beauty and the Beast retelling, which is one of my most loved stories. And the intrigue of faery court politics, which I am always fascinated by. The rest I was willing to chance since this is in the YA fantasy category and I find most of these make my eyes roll while reading a majority of the time. But ACOTAR delivered on all that I asked for: world building, character developments, romance, and action. WORLD BUILDING: Wow do I desperately wish to see this Fae world brought to life on screens. I appreciated the illustrated map of their world before the book began. It made envisioning the world of Prythian a breeze. I would probably read every single book if Maas ever decided to write about each of the seven Courts and their ruling High Lords. ACOTAR took place majority of the time in the Spring court and it was as if I was there walking along with Feyre during all her outings. ROMANCE: There was no “instalove” happening here and for that I am always grateful. The draw in any forms of fiction for me is a slow burn, gradual build of love. It makes for deeper investments from the audience and the payoff scenes so much more satisfying. I will admit I was generally indifferent to Tamlin for the first quarter of the book. He was pretty stiff and bland but after the incident that occurred the nite of the Spring ritual(fans self) I started to fall in love with him just as much as the heroine was. It also helped that their relationship building after that was sweet and believable. My only nitpick is that although his face was concealed, it was already implied that he was extremely good looking. Which contradicts the theme of loving someone despite their outer appearance that BatB conveyed. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENTS: Feyre was brave but ultimately very human and therefore imperfect. She made bad choices and actions but I always understood where her motivations came from. At the beginning it seemed as if characters behaved in certain ways "just because" to push a point, which seemed forced. But once they were revisited and layers were peeled at a later point, their actions suddenly made sense. ACTION: For anyone who is expecting a full on action-packed book from beginning to end then you might be a little bit disappointed. There were one or two scenes thrown into the first 3/4, but most of the action came at the last quarter of the book. And when it came it was exciting and riveting to see played out. Although this is a first in a planned trilogy, ACOTAR should have no problem standing on its own should I decide not to continue the rest of the series. The main plot was tied up leaving me feeling satisfied and fulfilled while just enough bait was dangled to make me anticipate the next book. I hate it when series writers end their books in a cliffhanger in order to hook readers to anticipate the next book. Guess what, it doesn’t work like that. All that does is generates unnecessary aggravation and ruins any good feeling the reader had upon finishing that book. Especially when the reader usually has to wait up to a year for the next. *RATINGS CATEGORY AND SLIGHT SPOILERS* As most others have pointed out about the included sex scenes, they are a bit more detailed than the typical YA fade to black. This is a heads up for anyone who is wary of reading sex scenes described in books or intends this for younger readers.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2015 by Beyondthefont
Format: Kindle
I bought the trilogy. All together they were the best books I've read in a while. Separately, they were not perfect but I'm okay with that. I read a lot and tend to dislike books that show no character growth, or have wishy-washy villains, or have insta-love, or have love result from H saving h from sexual violation, or suffer from deus ex machina. I don't particularly care if something is obvious because sometimes I want to read something that is easy and obvious. My brain doesn't want to be challenged 24/7. Also, I love good dialogue- dialogue makes a romantic connection feel real rather than insta-lovey. Is dialogue action-packed? No. Does it slow down pacing? You bet. At this point, you're probably wondering where this review is going? Well, I think that knowing more about me as a reader might make it easier to see/ relate to my views for this book. Now the fun stuff! ***SPOILERS*** Feyre (the h): This character is complex and goes through several changes throughout the series. In this book, she has her ups and downs. Initially, she is hardened, street-smart and capable with a cynical eye toward romance and happiness and outright hatred and prejudice towards the fae. She also has love for a family who seems to dislike and neglect her. She is not very likeable. But does that make a book bad? No. (Hello, Wuthering Heights.) It is, however, more rare to write an h this way because readers in general tend to want to relate to an h, particularly when it's written in 1st person perspective. So many readers might not be able to get into the story because of their dislike for Feyre. When the far remove her burdens that largely drove who she was, Feyre changes. She doesn't have a purpose to keep her going, to shape her. The pacing of the book suffers a bit here while she tries to sort herself out. She tries to make love and painting her new purposes, and while she has the determination to do so, the fit just isn't right. Does this make the book bad? No. While many people won't like to read about an h that seems somehow "less" this downward arc was necessary to fuel the inevitable reversal toward a more fitting purpose. It drags a bit for sure, but makes the reversal feel more right, more true later on. Did she rush into something with Tamlin. Her feelings do feel a bit rushed but ultimately fit her as a character- going all-in has always been her style from the start. In that sense, the character is consistent. Also, her reluctance to voice her love made me think that deep-down she might have confused love with gratitude. Tamlin was her savior in many ways. For all of these reasons I liked Feyre. Tamlin (the H): Tamlin was the 1st high fae Feyre had any meaningful interactions with in the 1st book. I never really liked him as an H. He was pretty but basically hollow. He struggles with uncontrolled rage. He had just as much hatred for humans as Feyre did for fae, and his elitist attitude was hinted at throughout this book (though not substantiated until book 2). He also adheres to fae tradition in weird ways- his willing participation in the Fire Night ritual is distasteful because it borders on infidelity (especially since we later learn in book 2 that he can designate a replacement). Tamlin has from the beginning been primarily focused on Tamlin. When things get tough, he sends Feyre away; he doesn't consult or listen to her, but just decides, hinting at his desire to treat her like a possession rather than a person. When he gets a moment of freedom under the mountain he attempts to have sex with Feyre (his wants) instead of trying to escape with or save her (her needs). When Feyre is dying, he can only bring himself to beg for her life, he isn't moved into action. All of these things hint that Tamlin is not a good fit for Feyre. Many readers will not like to read about an H that is so lacking/ ill-fitted. The beautiful part is that these things are only ever hinted at in the writing, not outright stated so you will want to root for Tamlin while also feeling something inexplicably lacking in him. I thought about it lots before I picked up book 2, where my thoughts regarding Tamlin were cemented. Tamlin could not have been written more likeable though. If he was the perfect H then Feyre falling for Rhys in book 2 would have felt like a betrayal, instead of fated, and then Feyre would've been worse than unlikable but detestable as an h. Lucian: A secondary character who is both interesting and flawed. He hates Feyre at first, but ultimately warms up to her. He is loyal to a fault, siding with Tamlin over and again, even when he thinks it is wrong to do so. A trait that becomes more obvious as the series progresses. Lucian has potential. Rhysand (villain/other H): Rhysand was the most interesting character in the book (although Nesta was a close second). Rhys was the evil queen's right-hand man. He has done terrible things. Yet, when we meet him (not my favorite bit of the book because of the gross circumstances I do not favor, as mentioned above) there is evidence that he is not all that he seems. He appeared to be interested in Feyre romantically, but the "why" part is not there. Also, it is not 100% certain WHAT drives his actions. He is a mystery. Why did he decide to help her time and again? Why, if he likes her did he decide to put her through nightly humiliation? Why use her to torment Tamlin? He is clearly not 100% a good guy. He is complex. Other things people often talk about: The sex. There is a lot more sex in this book than in other "YA" books. It seems like that has somehow lead to some amount of controversy. I find that notion very strange as many eons ago when I was a teen, sex was a big part of being a teen- whether or not to have it, who had it, when they had it where and how, what type of birth control to use, etc. Suggestions that a book would have any type of influence on those things are just silly. Teens have sex. It's a fact. Wishing it otherwise does nothing productive. Also, the sex in this series is not "explicit." Every time I see this adjective used, it makes me laugh. I have read many romances and even some erotica. If you truly want something "explicit" check out erotica- phrases like "the apex of my thighs" or the "the length of him" are not "explicit." The copious dialogue. Lots of readers don't like the extended dialogue and also wish to have seen more of the fae world. I am just guessing here, but I am thinking that they are meaning that they wanted less talk and more fairy magic. But, fae are known for more than just their magic. Another key attribute of fae has to do with their words- being able to only speak in rhyme, only speak the truth, answer any question posed, etc. This attribute can be very interesting (see Mortal Instruments series or Dresden Files). And indeed it was put to use throughout the series, sometimes well done other times much too dues ex machina for my liking. Dialogue can be a type of action when done well enough. In this book, it probably could've been better but was good enough for me. The Fire Night and rape culture. Honestly, I am bothered by this one. I am never fond of rape or sexual violence as a plot device which is why I tend to avoid historical romances almost entirely. In this book, I think the Fire Nite ritual was used in part explain a bit about fae magic and in part to push forward the Feyre-Tamlin relationship while introducing Rhys. I think it both went too far and not far enough. Tamlin's participation cheapens his feelings toward Feyre, just imagine someone saying, "I love you, truly, but I need to go have sex with someone else." And then he came back to Feyre AFTER HAVING SEX WITH SOMEONE ELSE, and bit her to clearly show his possession of her. It doesn't sit well, does it? Additionally, the three fae with bad intentions suggest to Feyre that fae tradition gives them the right to violate her just because she is present. That makes all fae seem brutal and detestable. Thus, it goes too far. But, what about the converse? The Fire Night ritual is supposed to be necessary to ensure the bounty of the land for the next year. But, the spring court is the only court that has/ observes this ritual en mass? That does not really make sense to me. The need for this ritual, especially considering mated bonds are a rare and extremely valued thing, is not properly explained. It really could've been omitted from the book and is one of the few things about the book that I truly did not like. The masks. Some people like them, some don't. The reason given for them was that they were yet another obstacle to a human girl falling in love with Tamlin. I really didn't mind them but I did not like Feyre's reaction to the removal of the masks. While it was consistent with her character (she always had an eye for pretty guys), I thought that it cheapened her character to have her feel relieved that Tamlin was so pretty without his mask. It was very superficial, and further proof that there wasn't much of substance to their "love." While book 1 is my least favorite of the series, I still really liked it and will definitely re-read it again. Books 2 and 3 get even better and I am looking forward to further writings as well. Hopefully we will get to see what happens to Nesta, Elaine, the 6th queen, and Bryaxis.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2017 by Elisa
I was kind of nervous to pick up this book for several reasons. One reason being that I have kind of been turned off of books about faeries and such in the past. But I think that Sarah J. Maas has fixed that problem for me. Another reason being that my two loyal blog readers didn't love it as much as everyone else. Ahh, but I shouldn't have worried because it doesn't take much to impress me. I loved it! If you read my last review, you will know that I am a big fan of Beauty and the Beast. Therefore, one of my favorite things about this book is the fact that it's a retelling of that story! And a really good one at that! I loved that I could easily pick out all the different characters and events and such from Beauty and the Beast that were adapted to this book. Another thing that I really liked about this book was the fact that it was more new adult than young adult. This book was like an answer to my bookish prayers! Because I have been really wanting to read books about characters moreso my own age. But I haven't really cared for all that many of the new adult books that I have picked up so far. And this one just kinda fell right into my lap. I just read Sarah J. Maas's other series and loved it so I had to read this as well! So yeah, like I said, an answer to my bookish prayers! Now I don't have to feel like such a cradle robber thinking that Tamlin can bite my neck anyday! ;) I really liked that there were STEAMY parts in this book! And they got actual detail and not just kinda blown over! That made me happy! I hope there's lots more steamy moments in the future of this series! I really liked Feyre. I love how dedicated she was to her family despite how completely useless and ungrateful they were for everything that she did for them. It made me so angry how they all just sat around looking pretty while she was out making sure they had food to eat. And how her sister would beg her for money. Go make your own money, you vultures. I felt bad for her family, but I didn't care for them at all. And I completely hated Nesta in the beginning. I still don't like her, but she grew on me just a little bit. I also found her to be really brave. She killed a faerie disguised as a wolf while out hunting and a faerie beast comes to claim her life in exchange for the one she took. So she has to choose between going to live with him in Prythian for the rest of her life or being shredded to ribbons right there on the spot. She leaves everything she knows behind to go live with this creature that she hates. And she chooses this option, holding onto the hop that she might one day escape and be able to go back to her ungrateful family who would probably only miss her when they ran out of meat from the deer she just killed. And I found her to be really selfless. First of all, everything she did for her family was completely selfless. While she is out and about in Prythian she goes off to catch a Suriel who has answers to the questions she has (and has to answer them) and while she's asking the questions they are surrounded by some other unholy form of faerie that are out for blood and the first shot she takes with her bow and arrow is to save the Suriel and not herself. And then at the end, everything she does is for the sake of all the faeries in Prythian and she knows that it will probably be her doom. But she's just SO GOOD! And I kinda love her. Also, she's a painter and that speaks to the artist in me. Then there's Tamlin. I really liked him! I thought that Feyre and him were a great match (A STEAMY MATCH). He has a lot on his shoulders during this book as he has to keep going out and ridding his court of awful beasts that keep wandering in. And there's something evil plaguing the lands. And to top it all off, he's cursed. But he does his very best to make Feyre feel at home rather than feel like a prisoner. And he's good to her and I just really liked him. Rhysand... now he's another story. He pretty much came off as a complete and total creep to me. Feyre truly would have probably been doomed without him, but he did not help her out of the goodness of his heart. I don't even know what to say without giving lengthy, spoilery descriptions of every creepy thing he did... I don't care if underneath it all he had good intentions. His intentions perhaps were good for the faerie people, but they were not good for Feyre. They were just creepy and I want him and his creepiness to go away. If there ends up being some kind of love triangle here with him, I will scream. I liked Lucien! He's not Feyre's biggest fan in the beginning and he's kinda rude, but he warms up to her. And he's really loyal to Tamlin and I liked their friendship. Seemed like Lucien pretty much got the short end of the stick in EVERYTHING in this book though. Poor guy. I liked the setting and descriptions in this book. To be perfectly honest, I don't even actually remember any of the descriptions, but I liked them because I could clearly picture in my head what the spring court and everything looked like. So I figure even if I don't remember it, it must have been good. I am really excited to see how Prythian deals with the aftermath of this book! And also to meet more of the faerie courts. And hopefully see Rhysand get his butt kicked. I gave this book 4 stars because I found it to be a little bit slow in the beginning. Also because Rhysand is creepy and I could completely do without that.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2015 by Cyra Rae Schaefer
Feyre is a huntress, and she had to do anything in order to feed her family and herself. One day she encountered a wolf, so she killed it. What she didn't know was that it wasn't a wolf but a Fae. She had to live the rest of her days in Prythian with a hot High Fae, Tamlin. “We need hope as much as we need bread and meat,” he interrupted, his eyes clear for a rare moment. “We need hope, or else we cannot endure.” I felt proud of Feyre since I started reading the first chapter because for me she was a strong and mature woman. She sacrifice her life every single day in order to feed her family, and she didn't enjoyed her life because of that. I think the best thing that could've happened to her was killing that Fae. Because of that, Tamlin came into the "rescue", and she started to have and live her own life. That was just what she needed, "freedom", being away from her family, having a good place to live... even though Tamlin did that in order to get free of his curse. I really enjoyed how well their friendship/relationship grew and developed throughout the story, because it wasn't rushed like it happens in some books. As I said, Feyre was a strong and mature woman, but so was Tamlin. His character was so well written. He wasn't the only male character who was well written, because Lucien and Rhysand were phenomenal. Even though I liked and loved Tamlin and Rhysand, I think Lucien was my favorite. He cared too much, but showed so little. His past was heartbreaking, but that didn't affected his sense of humor. He was so funny and sarcastic when he talked with Feyre and those were my favorite scenes, I swear. "I love you," he whispered, and kissed my brow. "Thorns and all." One of the most amazing parts of this story was when they were at Amarantha's and Feyre was on her final task and she had to kill three faes including Tamlin. When she figured out what she had to do and was going to happened, I had goosebumps. I think that part gave anxiety and I couldn't breath. I was like "OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD WHAT ARE YOU DOING". There was another part that I liked but I'm not going to tell you. “Be glad of your human heart, Feyre. Pity those who don’t feel anything at all.” The world building was marvelous. Sarah J. Maas is the queen when it comes to write phenomenal worlds. I really liked how she describes every single place, the clothes, the way people looks, even the sex scenes. Tamlin and Feyre had their hormones all over the place and they couldn't keep their hands to themselves, hahaha... (I loved those scenes, I was blushed all the time). I love curses, and having it as a plot was fantastic. I can sense some love triangle coming very, very soon and I'm screaming cuz I like that so muchhhh. Also, I know that we will read more about Rhysand in ACOMAF and I'm fangirling already. Every time there was going to be a problem, I was shocked like the character because everything took my by surprise. Sarah never disappoint me, she has done and amazing job with the Throne of Glass series and this book as an introductions was beautiful, everything I wanted. “More—I wanted the hardness of his body crushing against mine; I wanted his mouth and teeth and tongue on my bare skin, on my breasts, between my legs. Everywhere—I wanted him everywhere. I was drowning in that need.” I highly recommend this book if you like her writing style, faeries and hot guys. I swear you won't regret reading this book (you can ask me because this is the second time I read it). I'm not ready to read ACOMAF, so we'll see when I'm going to have enough courage to pick it up.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2016 by Ninoshka Martinez
This book, with its magic, fairytale roots, and steamy hot romance, deserves ALL of the stars. I loved it! Here are the five reasons why I gave A Court of Thorns and Roses 5 out of 5 stars (and then some): ★ FAIRYTALE RETELLING I was a little wary of this story when I discovered that it was a fairytale retelling. I love the story of Beauty and the Beast. Growing up, I watched the Disney version all of the time (but not as much as I watched Pocahontas). However, in the past I have struggled to find enjoyment in Beauty and the Beast retellings. Particularly Beastly by Alex Flinn -- I did not enjoy the book or the movie. I think I was worried that A Court of Thorns and Roses wouldn't feel original, but it was the complete opposite. Maas has written an incredibly unique story that is grounded in the fairytale we all know and love, but is also independent and utter creative genius (Maas is definitely honing and owning her writing skills!). Yes, there is a curse, and magic, and a love story. But there is also dark magic, and steamy romance (and I do mean steamy!), and blood and gore, and court drama -- basically, all of my favorite things wrapped up in one neat, rose-colored bow. There were some twists on the original story of Beauty and the Beast that I really enjoyed. For example, in the original story, the residents/servants of the Beast's home are cursed and transformed into household items. However in ACOTAR, rather than being transformed into household items, Maas' cursed characters must wear masquerade masks, and have done so for 50 years since the curse was placed on the night of a masquerade party. I also appreciated that, though Tamlin was a beast, that quality did not factor into the curse that was placed on him. Rather, as a Fae, he has the power of shape-shifting, and takes the form of a beast (usually when fighting). So, throughout most of the book, Tamlin is portrayed as a glorious, chiseled, man of steel. Some readers believe that the fact that Tamlin is gorgeous retracts from the Beauty and the "Beast" story line. However, no one writes hot male love interests like Sarah J. Maas, so I am not complaining about Tamlin at all. Overall, I found that I loved the fairytale background of this story more than anything. I enjoyed drawing comparisons between Maas' story and characters, and the story I grew up with. Maas' world is so intriguing, engrossing you from the very beginning and never letting you go. ★ GENRE While we know that ACOTAR is a fairytale retelling, that is not to say that it is a children's book. I went into this book thinking that it was Young Adult. However, there is a particular scene that takes place after the Great Rite on Fire Night (such a good scene, by the way -- just wait for it) that made me take a step back and think "Whoa! This is way too sexy and erotic for Young Adult literature." Looking back at Goodreads, I found that the book was listed as Young Adult and New Adult. But, I would personally classify this book as New Adult. Having read many New Adult novels, I found that the sex rating for ACOTAR resonates with that of a New Adult novel. I think that there is a lot of confusion about the genre of this book because we all know Sarah J. Maas as a Young Adult author. I personally have no problem with this genre. However, for parents who are giving this book to their young children, or for those readers who don't enjoy sex scenes in their books -- you have been warned. I love the New Adult genre, and discovering that ACOTAR fell into that genre made me love it even more. I appreciate the more mature content, and that the characters are closer to my age (Feyre is 19). And, hey, I appreciate the sexy times, too. (There is no shame in my game... Because, who am I kidding? I have no game.) I had also never read a New Adult Fantasy before, so I was glad to be exploring new territory. I'm absolutely impressed with Maas as a writer. She is not afraid to be different, to venture out to new places. I love that she is entering this new genre, and look forward to seeing what else she has up her sleeve for the future. ★ FEYRE, THE PROTAGONIST When I started reading ACOTAR, I was sure Maas was going to give us another Celaena Sardothien: a badass girl who is nearly invincible, yet lovable and cool. However, Feye (pronounced Fay-ruh) is so different from other fantasy protagonists I have read, because she is so unapologetically human. She is normal, and she is flawed, and I found that I could easily relate to her character. Feyre is unlike the female protagonists we are accustomed to. She is no fighter, not outstandingly gorgeous, and she is also illiterate (a shortcoming that embarrasses her to not end). In the beginning, Feyre is not very likable. She is cold, harsh, stubborn, and hard-headed. But, readers begin to see how her situation of poverty has shaped her to be that way. Once at the Spring Court, where she is no longer burdened with the responsibility of taking care of her father and two sisters (all of whom are ungrateful of her efforts to keep them alive), the ice in her heart begins to melt as she lives in comfort and takes up her passion for painting. Readers witness her character develop as she begins to rediscover happiness and life's simple pleasures. Feyre easily becomes a character you can't help but root for and love. ★ TAMLIN & AN IMPENDING LOVE TRIANGLE Since we have discussed Feyre, I believe that it is only appropriate to take a glance at her love interest: Tamlin. Tamlin is a bae Fae warrior, with magical abilities. He is also gorgeous, kind-hearted, and strong. And, he places Feyre's happiness and well-being above all else. But, he is not perfect. He is flawed, haunted by his family's past, by his own mistakes, and the lives he has taken. But, through all of that, he still strives to do and be good. However, I admit that while I love Tamlin, I am worried that Maas has a love triangle in the works for Book 2 of ACOTAR. Because Rhysand. Rhys, a sexy, dangerous Fae, is a force of nature who seeks to dig his claws (or rather, talons) into Feyre. And, I can't say that I hate him. I actually like his character, although we witness him do some terrible things (even to Feyre). He seems edgy, fun, and is incredibly witty. (Maas does this thing where she makes you fall in love with all of her characters, even the morally ambiguous ones.) While Tamlin is all gorgeous and good, Rhys has that hot-but-tragic thing going for him. I am already struggling with the love square Maas has going on in the Throne of Glass series (between Celaena and her three love interests -- Chaol, Dorian, and Rowan). I don't think that I will be able to handle the emotional roller coaster of another of her love triangles. But, I think that as long as no one else is introduced, as long as this does not move into the quadrilateral stage, everything will be fine. ★ SUPPORTING CHARACTERS While Maas' main characters are at the center of attention, her supporting characters keep this book afloat. With less focus and fewer appearances, Maas' supporting characters still manage to steal our hearts and the show. First, there is Lucien, the red-haired, one-eyed Fae who is Tamlin's best friend. He is initially rude to Feyre, but eventually warms up to her. They easily develop a sort of big-brother-little-sister relationship. I would consider Lucien to be the story's comic relief. He is humorous and sarcastic and I adore his character. There is also Amarantha, the story's evil villainess. She is a Fae ruler who has a particular hatred for humans, which is not good for Feyre. She is cold, calculating, and cruel. But she has a backstory (all the best villains have backstories). And, I don't want to spoil you all, so I will just say that, when you learn her backstory, you realize why Amarantha is so harsh and unforgiving. Although, while I can sympathize with her on some level, I find her evil ways to be too much at times. However, I still find her to be an interesting, well-written character. And of course, there is Rhysand, whom I mentioned earlier. He is incredibly important to the story of Book 1, and will have an even larger presence in Book 2. I cannot wait to learn more about his character, because he is so enigmatic and intriguing and I just know that I am going to love him. HONORABLE MENTIONS Maas' Writing I believe that ACOTAR is Maas' at her best. As I stated earlier, we are definitely seeing Maas hone and perfect her skill -- each book she releases is always better than the last. What I liked most about Maas' writing in ACOTAR was her use of first person. Throne of Glass is written in third person, and with changing character perspectives. I find that I can tend to get bored with certain characters. But, with ACOTAR, told from Feyre's perspective, I felt engaged throughout the entire book. Faerie World I literally want to live in Prythian, in the world of the Fae that exists beyond The Wall (just without all of the drama). Maas depicts the Spring Court so beautifully and vividly. It seems like a literal heaven on earth. Other than the beauty of the Fae world, there are the parties and festivities. I mentioned Fire Night and the Great Rite earlier, two very interesting festivities held in the Fae world. And then there are parties and gatherings celebrating the seasons, such as Summer Solstice and Midsummer. It is all so fantastical and fun, readers are just dying to step into the pages. *** There is not much else I can say about A Court of Thorns and Roses. I LOVED this book! I have no idea how I am going to wait an entire year for the sequel. It's going to be excruciating, but I am sure that it is going to worth it. Because Sarah J. Maas is a fabulous queen of writing, and every word she writes turns to gold.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2015 by Teisha
This book y'all. THIS. BOOK. This is the first time I've ever been speechless about a book I loved. I'm normally overflowing with words and gushing about everything I liked about it and no one can make me shut up. But y'all, THIS BOOK. I'm not even sure what I liked most. I just know I liked it ALL. "Your skills with females have definitely become rusty in the recent decades.'" pg. 59 (ARC) Feyre is the sole provider in her house and one day as she's hunting she meets a wolf in the wood. But its not any old wolf as she soon learns. Another beast like creature comes to demand that she pays in some way for the wolf's life. She then meets Tamlin a faerie creature who took over their land in the past. Things get bad before they get better, but then things just turn down right worse. This book is full of twists, turns, gut puncheons, and everything else that can ruin your emotions. "You don't hold on to power by being everyone's friend.'" pg. 101 (ARC) One of the things I liked most about this book was the way it was written. I've only read one other book by Sarah J. Maas and it was ok. This one blew that one right out of the water. From the fight scenes, to the love scenes, everything was explained in fine detail. It was as if I were watching a movie instead of a book. "Magic- everything was magic and it broke my heart.'" pg. 210 (ARC) Because her writing was so amazing, it made the world building the same way. Maas created a world I was 100% surprised that I loved. As someone who isn't a fan of fae, I went in to this one trying to block out that fact, In the end, I found myself super interested in them and their highly dangerous world. Tamlin's house has definitely joined my list of fictional places to visit! There were other places in this story I wasn't too fond of, but still I'd like to visit there if I could! "Who wants someone around who's so covered in thorns?'" pg. 245 (ARC) When I heard it was about fae, I was a little put off by it, but what grabbed my attention was the synopsis. It mentions that its a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I am a SUCKER for all things Beauty and the Beast so I will give anything that even might be a re-etelling a shot. I feared this one would only have similarities, but everything was there and it made it even more enjoyable. Now I'm stuck hoping book two has another fairy tale element, but whether it does or doesn't after that super stressing ending, I'm going to read it. "I'd never be able to capture that [...] no matter how many times I tried no matter how many colors I used.'" pg. 247 (ARC) As for the romance, Sarah J Maas certainly can write it! I loved Tamlin from the start! And there is one scene where I had to put the book down afterwards and go get some ice water because my face started burning up after reading it. hahaha I'm so glad I read that part at home. There was a time when I feared there would be a budding love triangle and that got me a little worried, but then I saw why this happened and it made so much more sense! "Magic's a specific kind of thing- it like rules...'" pg. 288 (ARC) Everything about this book was so good! The beginning start with a bang, the middle is filled with adventure and romance, and the ending will STRESS YOU OUT. But putting all that together made this book a definite winner for me. Sarah J. Maas is a wonderful story teller and I can't wait to read EVERYTHING she's ever written!
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Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2015 by Nikki (Take Me Away...)
Having heard much raving about this series, I was poking around on Amazon when I saw this collector's edition. It is indeed gorgeous, although I do wish it had a ribbon attached to the book to use for a bookmark. The gold image that flows from the front cover to the back and the texture of the cover are far more appealing than the plain, paper, black covers that are on most hardbacks today, and that alone justifies its presence on the shelf. It wasn't the first time I had bought a book for the cover. Aside from hearing reviews from fans, I also saw a reference to the book when reading about Patricia A McKillip's _Winter Rose_, which I had recently read, and its connection to the ballad of Tam Lin. This same fairy tale apparently had influence on Holly Black's _Tithe_, also. Although the High Lord in Maas's tale is named Tamlin, the story is obviously a retelling of "Beauty and the Beast." The story also has borrowed pages from the fairy tale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," wherein the main character is taken away from her family by the bear, and the bear prince makes her impoverished family rich. Whereas neither "Beauty and the Beast" nor "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" have fairy characters, aside from a witch or enchantress here and there, in the story Tam Lin, he is identified as an elf. In Maas's retelling, which court is cursed to wear masks, Tamlin's friend's mask is clearly stated as a fox, whereas Tamlin's mask is only vaguely described, and he is often referred to as a "beast." The lack of description was a tad infuriating. While set in a fairy tale period of time past, the main character clearly has "modern" ideas. She has no mother and a weak father figure and, furthermore, was tasked by her dying mother to take care of her sisters, despite the fact that she is the youngest. The family has only recently fallen into poverty, and the main character's upbringing has been neglected. She learns to hunt to feed the family, and, unlike the book-loving Belle of the Disney fairy tale, no one bothers to teach her how to read, although she is presented with a library, at which point, if you were ever in doubt as to which fairy tale was being emulated, you now know for sure. According to the Internet, the character's name "Feyre" means "Fair, Beautiful," like the name "Belle." DYSWSDT? I myself am not a fan of retellings, and even less of "modern" retellings, although I do appreciate influences and notes here and there. As a novel, the story has a single plot line. I have always felt that a story can be a single plot line told in a linear fashion, but a novel requires a bit more substance. Although it was interesting enough for me to finish, I am not sure that I feel compelled to read the rest of the series, particularly if there is no matching collector's edition. For me, the most interesting parts were the three tasks at the end, and I had already guessed the answer to the riddle. I found Feyre's modernity and rebellion to be tiresome and in direct contrast to what readers who like fairy tales would desire, and I found her difficult to like, which is basically how I feel about most "strong female characters." I do not understand how a person who is stubborn and illogical is strong. Stubborn, I can get. Stubborn and dumb at the same time? No. ACOTAR has a Lexile score of 880, which puts it at the lower end of a 4th grade reading level (700-1160). You won't learn any new big words, and the prose is clearly more commercial than literary and follows the "hero's journey" template little to no deviation (i.e., no big surprises). It is known near the beginning of the book that the main character is no virgin, and there are racy scenes past the middle of the book, as well as being intoxicated and hints of something like a lap dance while being scantily clad in later chapters. The descriptions of the fairy land (not merely a realm) were not as detailed as those in Julie Kagawa's _The Iron Fey_ series and were mundane and too similar to the lands of the mortals. The writing was a bit awkward at several points where one character's actions were in the same paragraph with another character's dialogue, so there was a bit of a whiplash effect for the reader, and the book could have used a good editor to clean up those areas. So, was it bad? Obviously not that bad, since I finished it. Will I read more of her stories? I can't say for sure, but probably not unless they issue an attractive collector's edition worthy of the bookshelf. It satisfied my curiosity, but for Fey-related books, I recommend Jim Butcher's Dresden Series and Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey Series. Both have mind-blowing descriptions and intricacies. I'm always interested to read other authors and series that would do a better job on this topic just to see if it's possible. So, I gave it three stars for being "okay" plus one for a really nice cover.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2023 by Ohlookabunny
Format: Kindle
A good story. Tamlin, Lucien, Rhysand were great male characters. I love how Feyre was a hunter. How strong, brave, and smart she was. I am curious about her sister Nesta. How the glamor didn’t work. I wonder what we will learn in the next book about her.
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2026 by Michelle Nelson