Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series? A Court of Thorns and Roses (#1)
My Rating: ★★★★
Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication: 5 May 2015 (Bloomsbury USA Childrens)
CW: drugging, emotional abuse, kidnapping, manipulation, murder, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sex, sexual assault, torture, violence
A Court of Thorns and Roses marked my official entrance into the magical world of young adult fantasy.
For a very long time, I heard incredible things about Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Every book blogger and YouTuber alike have sung their praises about these books. I never had much of an interest in young adult fantasy—or fantasy in general, for that matter—until I read this book. But after taking the plunge, I’m happy to say that I’m converted!
A Court of Thorns and Roses follows Feyre, a young mortal woman who finds herself captured and taken across a centuries-old border to live eternally in the faerie kingdom, Prythian, after she murders a faerie by mistake. Feyre is introduced to a world riddled with political intrigue, magic, and plight, and as she falls for her masked captor, she uncovers the secrets of this unfamiliar kingdom.
When I picked up this book, I had no idea what to expect.
That being said, I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. I thought the vivid imagery was enchanting, completely bringing me into the magical world as I experienced it alongside Feyre. The worldbuilding in particular was fantastic, although I have little to no experience with fantasy worldbuilding prior to reading this.
I loved the in-depth history created between the mortals and faeries, especially the misconceptions and prejudices that each group held about the other. Even within Prythian, there was deep thought put into the history about the war in the kingdom. The geography was also of interest to me—the regional divisions throughout Prythian and how they interact with one another. I’m hoping this domestic conflict is explored further in the sequel, A Court of Mist and Fury.
I threw myself into that fire, threw myself into it, into him, and let myself burn.
Come for the fantasy, stay for the romance.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the romantic plot in A Court of Thorns and Roses. It is really one of the big selling features of this novel—even for me, if I’m honest. It was sexy, fun, and charming as hell. I loved watching the love story play out as Feyre began to open up and become more comfortable around Tamlin. Tamlin, in turn, was attractive, witty, and mysterious. I enjoyed the dynamic between the pair, especially with Lucien there to add to the hilarious banter.
At the end of A Court of Thorns and Roses, you know that no matter the outcome of the last hundred pages, nothing can return to the way that it was when Feyre first arrived in Prythian. Everything will—and must—change. When it comes to series, I tend to lose interest very easily and give up on them after the first book. However, Sarah J. Maas set up the story to continue in the sequel in such a climactic way that I was eager to read the next book.
While it may seem there is undue hype surrounding this series, I’m here to put in my two cents and say it was well-deserved, and A Court of Thorns and Roses is a must-read young adult fantasy.
Synopsis: 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.
Have you read A Court of Thorns and Roses yet? If you have, what did you think?
Enjoy this review? Check out my other book reviews next!
