Please know that I will be elaborating on why I feel the way I do about each book so if you haven’t read all of them yet, please stop reading this and go read the books! I’d hate to be the one to spoil any part of the series for you.
I heard about the series on BookTok, so naturally I was cautious knowing that the internet can be biased. Luckily, my reservations quickly dissolved – I fell in love with Sarah J. Maas’ world of Prythian and devoured all five books in only a matter of weeks (it would have been days, but you know… life).
Feyre is probably my favorite heroine I’ve ever got to know. She’s headstrong, loving, determined, and confident in herself even when the world falls apart around her. She withstood physical and emotional trauma all on the path towards true happiness (needless to say I was an absolute disaster at the end of A Court of Silver Flames) and I try to channel even an ounce of her character in my everyday life.
Regarding the debate on which of the batboys is the best – I have to admit I’m an Azriel girl, with Cassian as a close second. I love the quiet, protective type (with a wingspan) but also can’t resist a big goofball.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
This is a beautiful introduction to the world of Prythian – Sarah J. Maas (SJM) starts off strong! You’re immediately thrown into the drama of Feyre’s life so I was hooked by the end of chapter 1. I did struggle with the pronunciation of all the names (I had to google over half of them) and understanding the structure of Prythian, but I loved how you learned more about the world alongside Feyre. Made me feel more connected to her.
I did enjoy the company of Lucien more than Tamlin – I could never get a read on Tamiln and it always felt like he was hiding something, which is accurate given the hold Amarantha had over him. But the relationship between him and Feyre just didn’t sit right with me… It left me wanting more from them both.
My favorite part of the book (although heartbreaking) was when Feyre comforted the fae after Amarantha tore their wings off. It broke my heart to hear them repeat over and over the sadness of losing their wings but it helped solidify the difference between the cruelty of the Faeries and the compassion that lives within Feyre’s heart. This was a brilliant setup for a recurring theme in the rest of the book and series.
Booktok wasn’t kidding when they said the last 150 pages of a SJM book is a rollercoaster… Felt like whiplash with everything happening all at once! But I was able to guess the riddle within seconds so it did make the last two challenges a little frustrating to read through when I felt like Feyre should have known the answer and ended the challenges much sooner.
However, after Feyre survives and starts to come to terms with her new immortal body, I loved the special moment she shared with Ryshand on the mountainside. He even circles back to one of my favorite characteristics of Feyre by saying:
“Be glad of your human heart, Feyre. Pity those who don’t feel anything at all.”
It just builds on my assumptions of how special Feyre is to Prythian, especially now that she has the fae immortality to have the chance to live the life she was deprived of as a human.
A Court of Mist and Fury
I feel like I go against the grain a bit when it comes to this book. I struggled to get through the first half due to the amount of time it took for Feyre to get ahold of herself and warm up to the Night Court group. Granted, I completely understand her reservations: going to a new Court and meeting all the so-called ‘Enemies’ while going through PTSD is more than I could ever handle – but it felt a little repetitive going back and forth between Spring and Night, so I got bored. That is until Tampon (I mean Tamlin…) finally pushed her over the edge.
I eventually did fall in love with the Night Court, but like Feyre, it wasn’t until the tour of Velaris. That city is exactly the kind of place I dream of living: Art, music, the ocean, rivers, and stars! Plus, it broke my heart when Hybern attacked after the Queens betrayed them… Although, it was amazing to finally see some of Feyre’s magic be unleashed.
Cassian and Azriel are by far my favorites in the ‘family’. Rhysand is a complex male character, but I don’t feel the same attachments to him as I do with Cassian, Azriel, and Feyre. I’m curious how Feyre’s and Rhysand’s mating and relationship bond will develop as the series continues. I just know I’ll never look at reheated soup the same way again.
On another note… What the heck happened in the last 100 pages?! I’m still not over how Nesta and Elain got forced into the Cauldren or how it was because of stupid Tamlin. Plus, what the heck Lucien – Elain was still covered in cauldron water and you’re trying to lay claim? Dude, bad timing… Then the mating bond breaking??… It took a day to recover and absorb it all for sure.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
My overall favorite book of the series! This is where all the war preparations come to fruition (in the last 150 pages of course) and the first book that made me laugh and cry like a baby.
First, I’m so glad Ianthe got what was coming to her. I laughed out loud when Feyre moved the stone during the Summer Solstice. Pinnacle moment right there! And I felt no remorse when her hand became a pile of rubble – She deserved that and more. Especially after trying to force her way onto Lucien. He may be on Tamlin’s side right now but he’s still my favorite male from the first book. He too is going through a lot so I have pity for him.
Second, it was nice to get to know Lucien as more than just Tamlin’s emissary – even if it meant meeting his half-brothers. But Lucien has always been one of my favorites so I was relieved that he did go with Feyre to the Night Court. He needed to get away from Tamlin and discover his own path. He can be a powerful ally and even a member of the Night Court family, I’m just waiting for him to see it himself.
Third, I didn’t expect to cry so much. The deaths of the Suriel, the Bone Carver, and Father Archeron hit me hard and I was a total mess when we were led to believe that Rhysand was gone… I felt Feyre’s pain down to my core and even threatened to stop reading the series immediately if Tamlin refused to help get him back to her. She has gone through too much not to have her happy ending. And how Nesta and Cassian nearly died?! I balled my eyes out when Cassian said:
“I have no regrets in my life, but this. That we did not have time. That I did not have time with you, Nesta. I will find you in the next world.”
I even attempted to read that section to Adrien and ended up blubbering all over again. I also didn’t expect Elain to cut off Hybern’s head, but I felt relieved she finally stood up and started fighting for herself and her family.
Finally, Feyre’s journey in this book takes significant leaps and bounds. I was so proud of her for looking into the Ouroboros mirror, taking the time to understand and make a deal with Bryaxis, and stepping into her own potential to save her family, her mate, and all of Prythian (again). She has become one of my all-time favorite heroines and I feel lucky to have found her at this point in my life. She’s a wonderful reminder of how special we can be if we just embrace ourselves for how we are in that moment.
Now I’m curious how Nesta and Elain will fit into the family after such a traumatic ending to the book. I feel like they have finally taken steps towards being independent but I know Nesta and Cassian as well as Lucien and Elain have a lot to sort out.
A Court of Frost and Starlight
This book was cute – a nice filler between the traumatic ending to Wings and Ruin and the emotional damage waiting for you in A Court of Silver Flames.
I like to think of this as Winter Break for Feyre’s family. Much love was shared, but it was a bit of a downer whenever Nesta was mentioned. I loved her in Wings and Ruin so I was feeling the same frustration as the rest of the group when she continued to be so cold and closed off. Plus, I’m protective of Cassian so Nesta lost some of my compassion once she started to turn her aggression on him. I get why, but still…
Also… What’s going on with Elain and Azriel? There is definitely subtle flirting going on. Lucien better watch out.
A Court of Silver Flames
I go back and forth on this book. There are several things I love about this book, but just as many I don’t like…
The first thing I struggled with was changing the perspective to Nesta’s. Although Nesta is a very intriguing character, I was so in love and attached to Feyre’s perspective on things that it was disappointing (and sudden) to switch over to someone else’s. I also don’t do well with characters that are so focused on their own pity and self-loathing. I understand the feeling of being depressed and scared to open up to others when you’re self-esteem is so low, but I wanted to continue exploring the world of Prythain and the beginning of this book halted that progress.
The second ‘dislike’ was Feyre’s pregnancy… I felt like SJM didn’t know what to do with her anymore so she just gave her a baby. Plus, isn’t having a baby really difficult for Faes? Yet she gets pregnant within months of trying? Just felt like a throwaway storyline to fill Feyre’s story while we focused on Nesta’s. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s beautiful for her and Rhysand, I just would have preferred it if this was told in a short story like Forst and Starlight rather than in tangent with Nesta’s story. However, the birth did destroy me… I was crying and freaking out the whole time and even Adrien became concerned after coming home from work to find me curled up on the couch in a puddle of my own tears and anxiety. I’m so weak when it comes to traumatic storylines involving mothers and their babies so it took me a while to recover from that. Thank goodness SJM gave us a happy ending after putting us through that ordeal…
Ultimately, what saved this book for me were the side characters: Emerie, Gwyn, Azriel, and the House of Wind kept me coming back! I fell in love with the sisterhood that developed between Emerie, Gwyn, and Nesta and became extremely protective of all three. It was truly beautiful to watch them connect and heal with one another and overcome so much pain. I audibly gasped when they were all kidnapped and balled when they shared their deepest pain during the Great Rite. The Valkyries became such a lovely staple in Nesta’s life and I’m so glad she, Emerie, and Gwyn were able to find the friendships they all desperately need and deserve.
Nesta’s friendship with the House of Wind also made me incredibly happy. I loved how it too was seen as an outcast or inconvenient to the rest of the group before Nesta befriended it. The house played a major role in Nesta’s growth in this book and I do feel like the house was there for her from the very beginning: keeping her fed, keeping her warm without the fires, connecting with her in the library, encouraging her during every attempt down the 10,000 steps, plus the sharing of book recommendations. No surprise that they bonded over the books – there is no stronger connection than friends that bond over smutty books.
Then there is Azriel. He is still my favorite of the batboys and although we didn’t get to know much about him in this book, I feel like we have a good foundation for his story to be explored in the next book. Fingers crossed!
I was thoroughly surprised with how wonderful the series was and I can’t wait for Sarah J. Maas to finish book six!
Which book(s) should I read next?
Much love,
The Anna Today 