A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES BY SARAH J. MAAS
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Retelling
“I was as unburdened as a piece of dandelion fluff, and he was the wind that stirred me about the world.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Synopsis:
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.
As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it… or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

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Review of ACOTAR

I first have to start this by saying I cannot believe I waited so long to read something by Sarah J. Maas. The synopsis of this book intrigued me along with the fact that everyone praised Maas’s work, but I am always hesitant with retellings and especially books about fae. This book proved all my hesitation to be pointless.

While there were parallels to the original story of Beauty and the Beast, Maas wove together some fantastical twists and beautiful world building and elements that made this story brilliant. I loved what she was able to do with the incorporation of fae and the groundwork she laid for the world and the story were unique and wonderful! I thought her fusion of the old and new story were so seemingly done. There was the perfect amount of elements taken to still allow for her to make a story that could be completely her own. The way she took some of the most known parts of the original story and put such a twist on them was fantastic. Beauty loves to read and yet Feyre is illiterate. The play on the old story and the fact that without knowing it shares parallels with another story it can be completely its own and still be unique, beautiful and an engrossing story.

Shout out for strong kickass females! Feyre is a feisty, independent and wonderful female lead. She is determined to do anything she can for her family and because of this she must give up her life. I do have to say I was quite surprised with the romance in this book. I absolutely loved it don’t get me wrong, but it was borderline new adult. I just found that shocking since it is a young adult novel, but it did not bother me. I loved the males in this book and felt like they were nicely developed. And although at times there seems to be a hint at a future love triangle, it was not heavy. Tamlin is a complex and interesting character. I enjoyed that you learn about him a little at the time along with Feyre. He was strong and everything you want from a love interest. Not only were the characters and the world amazing, but the creatures that were created were so well developed and explained to a point were I began to sympathize with them. I am always a little weird about fae in books, but Maas did such an excellent job!

Overall I thought this was an amazing story. I absolutely love Maas’s writing and think she has such a fantastic and unique take on stories and world building. A Court of Thorns and Roses had just the right amount of fantastical and beautiful aspects as well as a slight dark atmosphere. Maas brought this world to life and used such beautiful imagery. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, badass females, beautiful worlds and Maas’s writing.

Don’t forget to check out Samantha’s review on A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas!