Some books you know you love from page one. Some books you know you love only when you reach THE END. A Court of Mist and Fury was somewhere in between (actually more like page 400 out of 600), but the fact remains the same: I love it. I'd go as far to say it's the best book Sarah J Maas has published.
This book is unique for a fantasy novel. While there is the prevalent banter, hot characters, and action that composes a Maas novel, there's more in this. There's Feyre healing. There's Rhys healing. And there's the former love interest being an asshole.
ACOMAF SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
you have been warned...
Let the record show that I was skeptical of Feyre and Tamlin's falling out prior to reading ACOMAF. I didn't doubt for a second that Feyre/Tamlin wasn't going to be endgame after this book. Have you seen Sarah J Maas's Pinterest board for ACOTAR. It's all Feyre/Rhysand as far as main couples are shown. In Queen of Shadows, I personally felt as though Chaol, the protagonist's former love interest, was entirely ruined as a character for the sake of the new love interest, Rowan Whitehorn, a character I do not adore. I like him enough, but he's an ember compared to the characters, both male and female, of ACOMAF.
So I went into ACOMAF terrified that Maas would sacrifice a character she spent a whole book building up just to pair her protagonist with a new love interest. Such is not that case!
After skimming through ACOMAF's predecessor, A Court of Thorns and Roses, I found that hints to Tamlin's true nature, as revealed by ACOMAF, were woven into Feyre's narrative. Especially in the case of Under the Mountain. It seems like everyone did something to help Feyre through her trials--everyone except for Tamlin. Well, okay, maybe Amarantha and her cohorts, too.
But it's one thing to not help the proclaimed love of your life when she is being chased by a giant, toothed worm, or when she gets an infection from the bone impaled in her arm, or when Amarantha goes to snap her damn neck because in helping her, you risk her life, your life, and your people's lives. It's another thing entirely to trap said love of your life (who has some PTSD/depression issues following her traumatic experiences TO SAVE YOUR ASS) inside your home when all she wanted was to keep helping you.
Tamlin was doing nothing to help Feyre heal. If anything, he and Ianthe made everything worse. This noted, I'm not one of the fans who aggressively wants Tamlin dead. Yeah, he sucks, he was stupid for going to the King of Hybern for help, but this guy has his problems, too. I am NOT condoning his actions, but I feel like there can be room for redemption in the next and final book in the trilogy, so long as Feyre allows it.
Onto better things than the Spring Court, the Night Court. Each member is unique and witty. All of them have their tragic pasts which they've overcome to stand at their High Lord's side. And their High Lord endured a hell of a lot to return to his court and people in Velaris. Out of the bunch of them, I think I have an odd appeal for Amren. Quiet, lethal and short hair. I dig it.
But, as typical for me, my favorite new character from this book doesn't originate in the Night Court...but the Summer Court.
Tarquin, High Lord of the Summer Court. The unsung character of this novel who was around for 50 pages --if that. I'm upset that no one ever talks about him. Guess it's my fault for always liking the secondary male characters best (@ Lucien in ACOTAR).From the Summer Court to the Night Court, the new lands explored in ACOMAF were all well-developed and creative. Velaris's beauty was told magically, and the edgy horror of the Hewn City helped establish why everyone thinks the Night Court is awful. Any court in Prythian would be deemed terrible if they had a Court of Nightmares.
While the book was long, the prose and story was captivating throughout. The slow development of Rhys and Feyre's relationship was nice to read across the majority of the novel. Some chapters between them made me very emotional, especially Rhys's story concerning his long-term bond to Feyre, a bond that existed well before ACOTAR began. This story is about Feyre, but it's also about her and her mate recovering from Amarantha's reign of terror with each other's help and love. I think that's part of the reason why their relationship is so lovely to read and experience. Or it can be that they both are snarky, strong characters.
This book dealt with healing after traumatic experiences. Not just for a female lead but her male counterpart, too. But for Feyre, I think she finally understood what she is capable of in this book. She is a powerful Fae Made by the seven High Lords, and now she gets to be a badass High Lady disguised as Tamlin's little doll in the Spring Court.
The end of ACOMAF saw several questions unanswered, but I'm really excited for the third book in this trilogy to come out next spring. As of now, it's my most anticipated book for 2017.
You guys should check out jp-designs.tumblr.com for the beautiful artwork shown in this review. She does an amazing job of portraying Feyre and Rhys in two scenes from the book.
Also check out Sarah J Maas's playlist for ACOMAF. I personally love it.
