A Court of Thorns and Roses 4⭐️/5

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1)

4⭐️/5

** spoiler alert ** This book has it all: an enticing premise, vivid and intense action sequences, a romance worth rooting for, and well-defined, complicated secondary characters (so much depth!)

I haven’t read a ton of contemporary fantasy, my fantasy-picks are normally books that are infused with a little magic (The Night Circus, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue), but aren’t considered high fantasy. However, this book is the perfect choice for readers who are curious about the genre! It’s incredibly approachable (and has elements of storytelling you may recognize), while still being wholly original and delightfully enchanting.

I found the world Maas created to be much more interesting than the dynamic between Feyre and Tamlin, though I did love their moments together. However, her writing was strongest when Feyre was out of her own head and observing others. I loved the scene at the Great Rite where we meet Rhys (but don’t know it’s him) for the first time. I thought her action sequences when Feyre faces Amarantha’s challenges to be high stakes, visually stimulating, and so suspenseful I kept skipping ahead to make sure she was okay!

The reason it’s a VERY solid 4 stars and not 5 is that the writing falls a little flat at times. The beginning drags a bit, and the writing is stilted between characters during what were supposed to be emotional moments. I felt myself wanting more from our narrator in many ways, and felt the author borrowed elements from other literary worlds that felt foundational to those stories (Twilight when Bella transforms, The Hunger Games and how hunting is an essential part of Katniss’ personality and drives the relationship between herself and her family).

However! I still really loved it and the last 100 pages FLEW. 4⭐️ for engaging plot and characters I adored! Totally recommend if you are looking for a whirlwind fantasy with a little spice 🌶