A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas

A ​Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 757

Publisher - Bloomsbury Publisher

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

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.


My Review

This book is hugely Nesta's story - don't get me wrong the others do feature especially Cassian but mainly they two. If you haven't read the previous four please do, you get much more out of them and clarity of the situation and characters. Nesta has been on a path of self destruction, time for intervention is here and man is she raging! Forced by Feyre she now lives in the house that is 10,000 steps back to the village and she can't winnow in and out so is completely at the mercy of the others. Cassian is to train her, no alcohol is allowed and Nesta is furious. Furious and self loathing from what previously transpired and ptsd, clearly there is a spark with Cassian but Nesta refuses to acknowledge anything, remaining on her path of self destruction.

If you aren't familiar with the books well there is a lot of spice AND body fluids, man do they love their fluids so you have been warned lol! Nesta really ripped my knittin and I know some will relate to the self destructive behaviour but she really is her own worst enemy at times and has a spiteful mouth on her! That being said I did warm a wee bit to her, she has been through a lot and loathes herself so has more than a few chips on her shoulder.

The whole will they won't they, reluctance to do anything and slowly dealing with her own issues, making acquaintances and dare I say, friends, Nesta thinks she isn't entitled to anything good so it is quite the journey. Can we please talk about the house, I LOVE that house, I have always had a thing about magical houses, furniture/objects with any kind of brain power, personality AND magic, I blame Beauty and the beast, Bedknobs and broomsticks etc and fling in a love of books, I was hooked.

There is a lot of sexism, predatory behaviour from some of the males in the book, referred to traumas females have suffered/survived from males. I loved how brave the library ladies are and as much as Nesta royally annoyed me for probably three quarters of the book she also made me laugh with some of her sass, exasperated by her self sabotage and spiteful tongue but she also has some metal. 4.5/5 for me, this was my first series by this author - I am sure I have at least one other book by her, not sure which series or number but will absolutely be reading her again!

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A Court Of Wings And Ruin by Sarah J Maas

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 5 days

Pages - 703

Publisher - Bloomsbury

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

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.


My Review

I wouldn't leave it so long to read the books, I read book two in October and it took me a bit to settle back into this one. There are so many characters/courts/beings (species)/famiies it took me a while to remember who was who and get back into it. I LOVE the books all (so far that I have read) come with a map but I think it would be beneficial to have like a character tree or list, I know these have been out a bit but even a website link we could go to for those of us who are a bit "who was that" "what court are they" and who is freiendly/enemies/frenemies etc.

Anyway back to the story, so Feyre is back at Tamlin's to gather info and do what she can to undermine the effort of the war that is coming. Humans are at risk, Fae and those deemed lesser or even just on the "wrong side" are in danger of slaughter and all the horrors that come with war let alone those with magic and don't mind fighting dirty.

Once I settled back into the stories and characters I really liked it and started remembering stuff from the previous book(s). I had hated Nesta and for a portion of this book wasn't overly switching but I am warming as bit to her.

The book is brutal in parts, there is a war coming with some real bad shady people and Tamlin :O at one point I could have punched him in the face. The things he was saying and in a crowded room, absolutely furious. Like I get he is all kinds of hurt but dude, ooft, brutal!

Prepare for a bit of a rollercoaster espesh if you have certain faves because it is a bumpy road, emotive/shocking at times, 4/5 for me this time. I have the next in the series (it is a lot thinner than this chunky monkey) and won't be leaving it as long. If you are unaware this is a series I would go back and read the previous books, you get a better feel for the characters and fyi there are some spicy scenes!

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A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 5 days

Pages - 624

Publisher - Bloomsbury Publishing

Source - Gift

Blurb from Goodreads

The seductive and stunning #1 New York Times bestselling sequel to Sarah J. Maas's spellbinding A Court of Thorns and Roses .

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 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.



My Review

I read book one in the series and I know this is well loved by so many, I thought it was ok so went into book two with an open mind. I really really like this and think you do need to read book one to really have a feel for the characters and what their history is. Feyre is still recovering from her death experience and going from human to superior being. Her wedding to Tamlin is set and everything is going well, if only he would stop imprisoning her in their home for fear for her safety. Pesky Rhysand is still holding their bargain over her and Tamlin's head. Feyre hates him after everything she has heard and seen. As Feyre spends her time with Rhysand she finds out more than she bargained for and trying to use her time to hon the unexpected changes she experiences.

I don't know but for me this book had much more meat, moments of funny, shocking, jaw dropping, switch ups. Along with Feyre we are hating on Rhysand because of everything we learned in book one. I felt so bad for Tamlin and Feyre but with this book we get a fresh perspective as we navigate the Night Court that Feyre finds herself in. As more animosity builds between Tamlin and Rhysand, Feyre herself is conflicted with how things are turning out in the Spring Court and what her role seems to be there.

We find ourselves getting more of a picture of Rhysand, his people and both his and Tamlin's history. Feyre herself comes a bit more into herself, we knew from book one she wasn't ok with just being caged and pampered to, that wasn't her role when she was human and she finds it isn't a role she can fit into regardless of her status now. Feyre is independent, fierce, protective and likes to be active. She doesn't even have the bliss of painting to loose herself in now with all her trauma from everything she endured and survived in book one.

I thought book one was ok, book two is really good, I felt it had a lot more going, like book one we have threat to life, ultimatums, death etc but this book we get a lot more of who the characters are and I felt more about them. Threat of war is imminent, Tamlin won't believe it, Rhysand knows it is coming and we along with Feyre find out what we believe to be true and what side we stand on, 4.5/5 for me. I have book three waiting to be read, it won't be long before I pick that up!

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A Court of Thorn and Roses by Sarah J Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 4 days

Pages - 419

Publisher - Bloomsbury

Source - Friend gave me her copy

Blurb from Goodreads

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.


My Review

So I have never read this author but heard/seen the books/series all over book clubs, book tok etc but I got my copy off a friend who struggled to get into it. First heads up and warning, the opening chapter has animal death, Feyre is a bit Katniss Everdeen style character. Poor, struggling, she has her bow and arrow and is hunting to keep her siblings and father from starving. It is the event there that changes her life and sees her forced to live with immortal faeries that she and her fellow humans hate.

The book covers so much, family, character, strength, romance, survival, treachery, different beings, humans and faeries. I got Beauty and the Beast vibes from it too, instead of books/library it is paintings and a love of art. Some of the characters really annoyed me, like the whole family let the youngest, Feyre, go out hunting, risking herself whilst they stayed safe at home, only coming out with the lure of money from a sale from Feyre's hard graft. This is a tiny part but it really enraged me, some of the stuff that happens over in Faerie Lands. Like I love a riddle (I suck at them though) and any type of quest especially so much at stake however the shady underhanded behaviours of X was like really, why? How is that an actual show of power but that is just a wee thing that irked me too. There is a lot to like to be fair, it has magic, romance, hierarchy, evil, murder, lots of elements and the series is hugely loved by many, for me 3/5.

For me it is a good foundation and book one of a series, I will be reading book two to see what is next in store

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