So you’re considering picking up the fantasy series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, but you aren’t sure what to expect. I’m sharing my totally honest thoughts.
I’ll admit, I feel a little ballsy as I post this article. The fandom for this particular series is incredibly strong and I received a lot of poking and prodding from the bookstagram community when I first joined because I made it clear that I hadn’t read all the books. I will state right now that I have read the first novel three times. And I hate it. But please, don’t click off this page quite yet (even if you’re a massive Maas fan). I have a lot more to say about these books and I’d like for everyone – Feysand lovers and ACOTAR newbies alike – to read this.
With the release of A Court of Silver Flames in 2021, I felt it was appropriate to share this particular article. It was a new direction and yet my opinions of the series remain the same. Let me tell you why…
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Let’s start at the beginning (a proper place to start, eh?)
Before getting into my personal opinions, I think you should know that the trigger/content warning is as follows for the entire series: domestic, sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, PTSD, anxiety, depression, graphic sexual sequences, little-to-no diversity, graphic violence, and death. In addition, there will be *SOME SPOILERS AHEAD*.
I picked up A Court of Thorns and Roses for the first time not long after its release in 2015. After reading Wicked Lovely and The Iron Fey, along with plenty of other faerie stories, I was really looking forward to something new and different. The author had already grown increasingly popular because of Throne of Glass and I wanted to see what all the hype was about. I started the book with an open mind and it took extreme effort to even complete it.
We’re introduced to our protagonist, Feyre (pronounced “fay-ruh”), a less-than-exciting teenager with a horrible home life who gets pulled into a fantastical world she didn’t ask to join. It is absolutely a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but without a creative spin at all (unless you consider sex “creative”). Her captor (and savior?), Tamlin, is a beast in every sense of the word, but you get the feeling that there’s more to him than meets the eye – just not in a good way. Their relationship is as toxic as it gets. It’s the ultimate definition of “bully love” and it makes me cringe just thinking about it.
By the end of the book, we’ve met Rhysand, a total jackass and playboy who sexualizes and abuses Feyre – while somehow still saving her from ultimate demise. The story ends with you thinking you might like Tamlin and hate Rhysand. Meanwhile, our “leading lady,” Feyre, is a limp noodle who mostly lets everyone else do the work for her. Oh, and in case you didn’t know, there’s plenty of really graphic sexual content throughout the book. This series should never have been categorized as young adult. Though it is now considered an adult novel, I will continue to yell from the rooftops that this series is not acceptable if you are under 18 years old. The primary reason for that is the fact that it portrays romance that is not healthy in any way and as someone who personally walked through more than one abusive relationship, I can see all the tells in this book that make it seem “romantic” even though it is full of toxicity.
A couple of years later, I attempted to read the book again, thinking maybe with time and maturity, I would enjoy it more. I didn’t even finish it. After that, I pretty much just resigned myself to not liking the series and not having any desire to continue. What’s the point of reading more books if the first one was that awful? However, when I joined bookstagram and realized it was the number one fandom, I knew I had to at least attempt to read it again in order to see what the hype was all about. It was like nails on a chalkboard trying to get through that first book again. I didn’t think it was possible to hate it more, but I did.
Then I reached A Court of Mist and Fury. At this point, I pretty much expected to loathe ACOMAF. I heard it was even more smutty than the first book (like, how was that even possible?) and assumed that was the primary reason others enjoyed it. Well, I was wrong. Not about the smut, there was plenty of it towards the end of the book, but about the content being pointless. This was where my opinions waver.
Rather than finding myself angry with Feyre and even more frustrated with Tamlin and Rhysand, we got some serious character development in this book. It’s confirmed that Tamlin really is horrible in every way, shape, and form. However, Rhysand was apparently faking his jackass/playboy lifestyle and he’s actually a “decent person.” (There’s a reason for those quotations). He rescues Feyre from her abusive relationship and helps her work through PTSD and severe anxiety due to what she encountered in the first book. What completely baffled me was how we were just supposed to move on from the fact that he sexually and emotionally abused her for an extended period of time! Yes, I get that he “isn’t really a bad guy” but it still didn’t give him a single right to treat Feyre in that way – no matter how important his cover was. It gives the impression that it’s alright for someone to be abusive if they’re doing it for a “good reason.” This is hands down the number one reason I will never recommend this series – even if I did enjoy one book out of five.
Ultimately, Feyre grows to be a stronger woman and by the end of the book, she became a character I didn’t hate. She maintains her newfound strength through the following book, A Court of Wings and Ruin. If we’re looking past my previous marks against the story, there is one thing to note about Rhysand and Feyre’s relationship that most people dislike and I actually appreciated. Some may find it frustrating that a lot of her character progression is due to Rhys holding her up. However, from the standpoint of someone who has severe anxiety and PTSD (along with several other mental health challenges and a past in sexual abuse), having someone by your side, boosting you up, but also not coddling you, is super important. I felt as though that’s exactly how their relationship functioned in ACOMAF and I appreciated it.
As we moved on to A Court of Wings and Ruin, we get more time with the secondary characters. Up until this point, they really were just that: secondary. In this novel, they became necessary. I will say that while this book moved at a bit of a slower pace, it did a good job working its way up to an emotional climax with a too-perfect ending.
Now I need to be brutally honest: I hate Nesta. She’s Feyre’s sister who was turned Fae against her will. She’s bitter and resentful and absolutely horrible to Feyre and literally everyone else. She always has been, even prior to being changed without permission (which is often why she’s given a free pass on being a completely abusive b*tch). She treats everyone terribly, and honestly, she has zero excuses (Feyre could have been just as cruel, after everything she went through). Nesta carries this attitude on into the novella, A Court of Frost and Starlight, and I truly cannot stand her.
In fact, for those who have experienced familial or emotional abuse, I want to extend a warning: She is the main character in this new extension of the series and while I hoped she would have a great character arc at some point, after reading A Court of Silver Flames I can confirm that I still hate Nesta and that, if anything, I became entirely more frustrated with this series after finishing the newest novel. She’s truly wicked and the writing makes it appear as though we should be sorry for her, rather than finding her behavior abhorrent.
I clearly think this series comes with a lot of promise, and it is very entertaining as a whole, but there are also some seriously problematic themes without a single content warning. So, before you dive head-first into A Court of Thorns and Roses, please be aware of this.
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bookish coconut wax candles (ESPRESSO10 for a discount) | A Court of Thorns and Roses Box Set | A Court of Silver Flames | wooden cake tray | single-serve French press | cappuccino mug & saucer | blue light blocking glasses | pom blanket | similar basket | similar sweater
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Genesis @ Whispering Chapters says
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a fan of the first book of this series the first time around, which is why I never continued with the series when I read it in 2016. Then in 2019, I decided to give it a shot once again. I ended up liking ACOTAR a bit more, which was the push I needed to keep reading. ACOMAF was ultimately fave at the time. Like you said, yes, it’s smutty (I love smut), but it was way more than that. I loved just Rhys was there to help, but never being overbearing or thinking he knew best for her, something I appreciated.
I know you hate Nesta. Personally, in ACOFAS, I learned to like her because I saw a lot of myself in her. It wasn’t until ACOSF that I truly loved her because I realized that I’m Nesta. All of Nesta’s fears, struggles, weaknesses, traumas (way more traumas than you know from the OG series), they are all my own. It was the first time I could relate to a character 100%. The mental health representation with this one is strong and deep–it’s not brushed aside, but keeps getting deeper and deeper.
I hope one day you give ACOSF and read it with an open mind. I think you’d learn to like Nesta. I wouldn’t go so far as to say “love her” seeing how you feel about her now, but I know you’ll see things differently when it comes to her character (and it’s not because what happens at the end).
Emma says
Thank you so much for your honest reply on this book! I have yet to read it but after reading this my eyes are opened! I was really interested in reading this book but I was hesitant as I didn’t know its intentions. It said it was teen to young adult book so I trusted it would be all right but I decided to do some research and I’m so glad I found this website. I wanted a enemies to lovers trope with that sexual tension that didn’t involve (or at least a lot, I’m alright with one idea in the series) of sex or all this lust and body/physical craving. It’s NOT love. That’s lust. There is a huge difference!!
I love books that are worth the wait and they have those sweet and fluffy moments not one that’s like another rip off version just like Fifty Shades of Grey. That book (and movie) was horrible. Anyway! I’m so grateful for your honesty and thank you so much! if you have any recommendations for clean romance books I’d love to hear about them!
Sincerely,
Emma W. <3
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
I LOVED ACOTAR from the get-go and really enjoyed the initial trilogy. It is very smutty, which I’m not the biggest fan of, but the story is SO good. I just finished ACOSF over the weekend. I also can’t stand Nesta and I don’t like her that much more after reading the book, but I do see her struggle and understand her more. There is a lot of backstory and trauma to unpack with her and the book does that. It is a tad slow in places, it is incredibly smutty (I skipped over some of those scenes) and I HATED the ending. BUT it was an interesting look into Nesta and why she is the way that she is. I’m also curious to see how this series progresses.
Lee says
I hadnt heard about this series before – love that you gave a brutally honest review!
Lizzie says
Sounds like an interesting series! But I do appreciate the warning because I have had that type of experience throughout my life so I think I’ll skip out on this one lol!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Lucy says
This is a really in depth review of this book series and I appreciate you being so honest about it! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Taylor says
I read ACOTAR and ACOMAF in the same week, one right after the other back in 2016. I was sort of on Booksta and I had seen the books floating around. It had been a LONG time since I read fantasy, and these books made me fall in love with the genre again. ACOTAR reminded me of a book I loved growing up (East) and then ACOMAF was one of the first books I’d read that had mental health representation of what I was experiencing, which made me love the book.
I read ACOWAR when it was released, but overall felt kind of meh about that book, I haven’t read the novel or the newest one. They’re fun books, I think the story telling and writing is great, but they aren’t my favorite fantasy’s. I also agree that they should NOT be classified as YA, because the content is so mature.
Mykki says
I’ve been aware of this series and its polarizing nature for a while, but I don’t really read a lot of YA anymore and I don’t think I’m missing anything by not reading it.
I’m glad the second and third novels made this series more enjoyable for you, but it’s a bummer the MC doesn’t grow much in the first book,
Stephani says
I haven’t heard of these books but I love your honest review. Just reading your start about what the book includes I can already tell I wouldn’t like this book either 😬😬
Xo, Steph
Cristina Rosano says
I had kind of the same approach to the first book. Sat on my shelves for a good year and wasn’t truly driven by reading it, but after I picked up the second where there’s more character development and you get to unveil more of Feyre, I truly enjoyed it!
As you said there are loads of things that Feyre has to go through and Rhysand is right there to her side. I didn’t love Nesta at first, but to be honest I see where she comes from. There’s so much left unsaid between them that created some sort of gap between them. Thank you for sharing and hope you give a chance to the last book x
Caitlin says
I haven’t heard of this series either but I don’t know if I could read it with all the heavy topics involved. My mental health can’t handle topics like that right now!
Laura Leigh says
I haven’t heard of this series before – I love that you gave such a brutally honest review! that is always so helpful and appreciated! thank you for sharing this lady! as always – love your photos!
xo Laura Leigh
https://louellareese.com
I'm All Booked Up says
I’m actually not a Sarah J. Maas fan. I just could never get into her writing style. It’s such an unpopular YA opinion. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Melina Elisa says
What a great breakdown of the series! I haven’t read it before, and honestly I know very little except the fact that it’s very smutty. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. I might give it a try to have my own opinion. My sister loves the series! Great review xx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Jodie says
I see a lot of love for Sarah J. Maas’ books on instagram, but have never read any of her books (not my preferred genre) but you’ve really provided a balanced review here. Thanks for sharing.
Raji says
Wonderful post! I’ll admit, I’m a huge fan of this series, it was ACOMAF that really helped me appreciate it, but I’m definitely not blind to its faults either. Regarding Nesta, my opinion about her started off much the same as yours, but ACOSF, while it didn’t change my viewpoint on her, did help with understanding her perspective a little better which in turn, made her a more readable character for me. Thanks for sharing this honest review!
Mind Beauty Simplicity says
i’m glad you decided to share this unpopular opinionated review because i find a lot of books recommended through booktok or book communities online kind of disappoint me. when you mentioned this book has a lot of trigger warnings, it made me think of it ends with us, by colleen hoover. although so many people love that book and story line, it left me feeling angry. i personally don’t enjoy books that leave me in that type of mood.
Nicci says
I have been told numerous times to read this series and I was close to going and buying it but I definitely won’t now. Much like yourself I’ve been in an abusive relationship and honestly I don’t think I can stand to read it. I hate books that portray unhealthy relationships in a good way! I’m glad I read this review as I think it’s saved me from what would be a very uncomfortable read!
Her Digital Coffee says
This is a super popular book and I’m interested in hearing your take. I haven’t read this book for myself yet and don’t want spoilers, but I’ll revisit your review for sure! Thanks for the honesty!
Stephanie Whitman says
Understandable that you don’t want spoilers. However, if you have any aversion to the trigger warnings that I shared, I believe it’s very necessary to read my post in full to prepare yourself for what is to come.
Jaya Avendel says
*evil grin*
I so enjoyed this review! I am the type who is turned off to anything that is hyped or raved about, but I do try to read books before I decide if they are for me or not. I agree with so much of what you say about the toxic relationships and abuse present throughout this series! It is sad that so many other people like it because they can relate . . .
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!!
Simona says
Honesty is the only way to go – even if it will ruffle a few feathers on the way! I think Cristina owns these books, but I never felt like picking them up to be fair to you. Now I know it might most definitely not be my kind of read!
Karalee Shotola says
Thank you for sharing your honest review! I haven’t read this series, but I’ve heard about it since it is so popular. Based on your review, I definitely don’t think the series would be more me.
Lauren says
I haven’t heard of this before. It is not usually me go to read, but it sounds interesting. You have shared a detailed review and thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Lauren – bournemouthgirl
Aubrey says
I’m so happy to finally see someone on the internet who shares my opinion on this series. Honestly once I finished reading it, it felt like the relief you feel after you realize a situation is toxic and build enough courage to leave it. I am also someone who has experience emotional, sexual, and physical abuse from a past partner and most of the relationships in this series made me feel literally ill. I kept reading becuase I kept being told it would get better and I would love it. Anyways I cannot bring myself to read Silver Flames or any of her other books now. Thanks for the review!
Minzly says
Great review! I felt ACOTAR was a lackluster in the beginning and learning what happened after to the whole series I felt the same about certain points. However I still feel motivated to read through the rest of the series ATM. Whether it improves upon further reading remains to be seen. But like you said it’s definitely got it’s issues. (・∀・)
Jodie says
As a reviewer and blogger, I think it’s important to share your honest thoughts whether they be positive or negative. Great review Stephanie.
I'm All Booked Up says
We haven’t read this series, but we’re not the biggest Sarah J. Mass fans. It was really interesting reading your thoughts because we didn’t plan on reading this series.