In this day and age, it is difficult to write a fantasy adventure novel about picturesque lands and rampant romance between otherworldly beings and still manage to stand out amongst the throng. Sarah J. Maas has done so exquisitely, with a story that makes the reader cling to its pages with an elevated heart rate and a never-ending sense of anticipation.
A Court of Thorns and Roses is the first installment in the popular saga which spans five books total. It introduces our protagonist, Feyre, with a rush of flowery yet informative language as she hunts for food for her starving family. When the wolf she kills for meat is revealed to be a Fae, Feyre’s mortal life is changed forever. Her hatred of faeries is challenged when she is forced by Tamlin, the striking High Lord of the Spring Court, to remain on his lands in return for the murder of his friend. As Feyre learns more about the faeries she was so convinced were her enemies, she discovers an unexpected, newfound connection between her stubborn self and those she was taught to hate. And this connection might spur her to defend the faerie lands—and those who reside there—from looming catastrophe.
Full of stunning visuals, thrilling adventure, heart-wrenching tragedy, courageous sacrifice, and passionate entanglements, this book is a more original and better-written version of most fantasy adventure books written in the last few decades—and yes, that definitely includes Twilight. A Court of Thorns and Roses reigns superior in every right. I could not put it down, and I had to race to the nearest bookstore to buy its sequel when I realized only ten pages remained.
Maas masterfully composes a female protagonist who possesses complexity, intelligence, spirit, and agency. Feyre’s challenges come in the form of obstacles which shake her steadfast sense of self. She is defined by relatable yet compound facets of humanity, as all great male protagonists are; but this time, it is through a woman’s lens that the reader experiences turmoil, love, triumph, and trauma. And it is a fascinating experience to feel everything Feyre feels in an incredibly heightened way, whether she is standing strong or at her most vulnerable. Her three-dimensional existence ensures that the reader roots for her and understands her, even when she is struggling to stay true to herself or to do the right thing.
Like many memorable literary heroines, Feyre grapples primarily with moral quandaries and external challenges to her autonomy. Maas presents essential questions concerning good versus evil, right versus wrong, and self versus man. And the way in which Feyre tackles each internal and external dilemma serves as a testament to her character, provoking introspection amongst readers. She forges her own path in an inspiring narrative about acting through love whilst simultaneously upholding moral standards, two notions which often battle against one another. After all, there is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect the ones I love. Maas knows this is universal, and Feyre is no exception: She somehow manages to make the best choice even when she is dealt a bad hand, and it is because of this unwavering love and determination that I am attached to her character and story.
The wealth of imagination which informs the fantastical landscapes, creatures, powers, and structures throughout this novel is astonishing. Each page in A Court of Thorns and Roses unveils yet another element of fantasy which entices the reader to no end. If the characters and their relationships weren’t interesting enough, the magical aspects of the faeries’ worlds, wars, and everyday lives are enough to make you wish you could crawl into the pages and join them. But alas, you get the best of both worlds with this book; the characters are each as intriguing and layered as Feyre, and the whimsical yet dangerous worldbuilding will infiltrate your dreams and make you wish you could escape reality.
These characters, messages, and fantastical elements are all chronicled through Maas’s unmatched ability for storytelling. She crafts each sentence with beautiful language and impeccable syntax, allowing the reader to be drawn in and understand even the most obscure mosaics of thought and feeling. This allows certain concepts to be presented on the page before you—concepts which have not been defined or explained in such a clear and intricate way before. Maas’s book is overwhelmingly human at its core, and it is the way her writing showcases the human condition through magic and conflict that ultimately draws me in. I can guarantee you that A Court of Thorns and Roses will captivate you in the same way it captivated me.
And there’s four more equally as detailed books which follow this thrilling first edition. Recognized as a #1 New York Times Best Selling Author, Sarah J. Maas is known for her quick turnarounds and abundance of content. Her Throne of Glass series won Maas many accolades for young adult fiction and fantasy, and she is currently working on Crescent City, a series which is rumored to expand beyond the three books it is currently contracted for.
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.
Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart. Though she’s now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people.
As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre’s hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different people: one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin. While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future―and the future of a world in turmoil.
Bestselling author Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her dazzling, sexy, action-packed series to new heights.
Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's actions and learn what she can about the invading king threatening to bring her land to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit. One slip could bring doom not only for Feyre, but for everything-and everyone-she holds dear.
As war bears down upon them all, Feyre endeavors to take her place amongst the High Fae of the land, balancing her struggle to master her powers-both magical and political-and her love for her court and family. Amidst these struggles, Feyre and Rhysand must decide whom to trust amongst the cunning and lethal High Lords, and hunt for allies in unexpected places.
In this thrilling third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series from Sarah J. Maas, the fate of Feyre's world is at stake as armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy it.
Feyre, Rhysand, and their friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly altered world beyond, recovering from the war that changed everything. But Winter Solstice is finally approaching, and with it, the joy of a hard-earned reprieve.
Yet even the festive atmosphere can’t keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, her concern for those dearest to her deepens. They have more wounds than she anticipated―scars that will have a far-reaching impact on the future of their court.
Bridging the events of A Court of Wings and Ruin with the later books in the series, A Court of Frost and Starlight explores the far-reaching effects of a devastating war and the fierce love between friends.
Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.
The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.
Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.
Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.
A Court of Thorns and Roses is utterly deserving of all the raving reviews it has collected. I rate this novel 5/5 stars, and I encourage you to go pick up a copy from your nearest bookstore today. (Or save future you some time and pick up the whole series— that way you can avoid frantically returning to that same store when you realize you are mere minutes from finishing this story without the sequel in hand!)
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