A Court of Thorns and Roses is a wildly popular young adult novel that has hordes of intense fans rallying for their favorite male interest (kind of like a Team Edward vs Team Jacob all over again). When the second book in this series came out several months ago, there was even more raving about this series. Whenever a book gets as much hype as this one did, I have to read it. I am so glad I finally did.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #1
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on May 5th 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 416
Format: Hardback
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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 Tamlināone 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 Tamlināand his worldāforever.
5Ā Reasons I Devoured This Book
1. It’s 100% a guiltyĀ pleasure read.
You’re not reading this book to stimulate your brain or to evoke some deep thoughts about a complex idea. You’re reading this book because it’s easy, it’s fun, and you can easily get lost in the fantastical world Maas has created.
2. It’s a Beauty and the Beast retelling.
When reading the book you can definitely see the influences of Beauty and the Beast, but Maas blurs the lines a bit more through the novel. It’s hard to decide who “the beast” is and who “beauty” is.Ā View Spoiler »
3. It’s a perfect love story.
Gosh, it’s just my favorite when I get to read a relatively straight-forward and uncomplicated love storyĀ (though it sounds like that may not be the case in the second novel in this series, A Court of Mist and Fury). This one is perfect and it makes my simpleton little heart just glow with happiness!
4. An evil game played by an evil seductress.Ā
There is a super villain in the book who remains mysterious for the first half of the novel. Who is thisĀ she everyone keeps talking about? You ultimately find out, and when you do, you discover just how evil she can be (It’s perfection!).
5. Plot twists and reveals, yay!
There’s a ton of unanswered questions in the beginning of the book, leaving the readerĀ with a lot of furious page-turning to do. The first half of the book moves a little slower, since there’s world building and question planting to do, but as the reveals begin to come in the second half of the book, it’s difficult to stop reading. The twists thrown in at the end are extra juicy and fun!
The bottom line?
There’s a reason this book is a best-seller. It checks all the boxes a lot of us love to read about. If you enjoy a fun love story, you’ll certainly enjoy this book.
Have you read it? What were your thoughts? Is it on your to-read list yet?!
A.S. Thornton has evolved from book blogger to author with a particular fondness for writing forbidden love in ancient deserts. When not writing, she’s caring for dogs and cats as a veterinarian. You’ll never find animals at the center of her writing, though, because those fictional worlds don’t have veterinarians and her literal brain can’t accept that the poor critters would be without parasite prevention. Thornton’s debut, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING is available wherever books are sold.
Brittany's Book Rambles
I can’t believe I still haven’t read this book >< I really want to! It sounds amazing! Awesome post ^_^
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
Ali
Lol, it’s okay. It took me forever to finally read it, too! I’m just glad I wasn’t the last person on the planet to read it (;
Zoƫ (@readabilitea)
I definitely enjoyed ACOTAR a lot – no surprise there considering I’d already fallen in love with Sarah J. Maas through reading her Throne of Glass series – but I did have a few problems with it. Some of them because of the love story and the Beauty and the Beast retelling, some of them because I was so in love with the female lead in Throne of Glass that Feyre didn’t live up to my standards. THEN I read ACOMAF and whoa. It’s the best sequel to a book I’ve ever read (I think – I recognise that that is a pretty big claim). I’m guessing you haven’t read ACOMAF, in which case I envy you because I would love to read that book again for the first time!
Ali
I haven’t read it yet! I’m SO EXCITED to, because I’ve heard nothing but amazing things!!
sophiethestark
Great review! š Like you, I’ve waited too long to read this book… I think I need to get to it ASAP!
Ali
You’ll love it š And if you don’t, I’ve heard everyone say the second one is even better!
Puput @ Sparkling Letters
I’ve read ACOTAR and absolutely loved it! <3 I mean, it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling (which is my favorite of all Disney movies) so I'm bound to love it š and I love how Maas kept the original element of the story such as the curse, the secret, and the lights just like you said. I also really enjoyed Tamlin and Feyre's relationship though yes, my preference changed in book 2 š great list!
Geraldine @ Corralling Books
I haven’t read it yet – I might push it off until all the books come out, just so I can binge read the series! It sounds so good, and I don’t want to wait for the next book, and be in agony the whole time, haha!
Ali
Haha, I think that is probably a smart decision!!
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence
I absolutely LOVED ACOTAR and it gave me so many feels! I just loved the fae world that was created, even though Feyre kind of grated at times. I’m keen to hear what you think of ACOMAF, I didn’t like it because of reasons š great review Ali!
Ali
Hahah. Well I’m eager to read it and find out about these so-called “reasons” š
Kelly
I have a hardcover copy of this book, a Kindle copy, and an audiobook copy, and for whatever reason I STILL haven’t read it. I am fascinated with fairy tale retellings, and this sounds amazing (and since everyone loves it I’ve heard nothing but awesome things about it since it came out). I’m really going to have to get on top of things and pick it up! So glad to hear that you enjoyed it!
Ali
I put this book off for the longest time, too (obviously)! I think I was a little nervous to read it because the hype was so great. It’s such a light a fun read! And if you’re into the whole “alpha male” story lines, you’ll definitely enjoy it (I shamelessly am, though in real life I’d slap that a**hole). š
zoeyriver
Does everyone in the entire world love this book?
I believe the answer may be yes.
The hype is so intense that I’m practically terrified of picking up any Sarah J. Maas book.
And yet with every review I find it harder to resist ‘^^
Ali
Hahaha there are people who don’t like it š some people hate the alpha male type story!
momknu
Congratulations on your one year anniversary. I’m very proud of you and look forward to another year of vicarious reading through my favorite blogger!
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