Release Date: May 7th 2015
Published By: Bloomsbury
Pages: 432
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list
Purchase: Click here to purchase

Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis: The breathtaking start to a seductive high-fantasy from New York Times bestselling author of Throne of Glass series.

Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price.

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

 

Review: Sarah J. Maas never fails to impress, and with the addition of A Court of Thorns and Roses to her collection of titles comes yet another book to cement your love for Sarah’s ability to create a unique and wonderful world.

I will admit I was a little hesitant about another series being released before the Throne of Glass series was complete, however I will happy admit that my reservations were unfounded. A Court of Thorns and Roses is among Sarah’s best work; this is the start of another thrilling series that will captivate you from the very beginning and will hold you in its grip until the very last page.

A Court of Thorns and Roses begins when Feyre kills a wolf in the woods. Feyre is the sole provider for her fallen family, and a beast such as this wolf will allow her family to remain fed and warm for some time. However her plans become unravelled when a hideous beast comes for retribution for the wolf’s murder… as this was not a normal wolf, it was in fact a thing of legend, a dark and dangerous faery.

In place of her taking her life, the beast allows Feyre to exchange her life for that of the wolf, to go live in a place far from home, within the lands that only faeries are allowed. This means that Feyre is to live with the beast, however this is not an ordinary beast, in fact it is a lethal and powerful faery, Tamlin.

Feyre begins this journey wondering if she made the right decision, to live in Tamlin’s world. Although he has sworn she is free and will not be harmed as long as she stays within the land, Feyre cannot help but be scared of the powerful and deadly faery who has taken her from her life. After all, Faeries are monstrous, horrible creatures - or so she has been lead to believe.

As scary and dark things being to happen, Feyre starts to see another side to Tamlin. Is it possible that this beauty could fall in love with a beast?

Once again Sarah provides us with characters we love! Feyre is devoted, fierce, loyal and resourceful. She doesn’t care so much about herself, but providing for her family. She is strong, smart and determined. And sassy - oh how I love her sassiness! And Tamlin. Well, doesn’t Miss Maas know how to write some swoony men! Tamlin, well, all I can say is; be still my beating heart. As Tamlin drops his guard, you cannot help but fall for this strong, silent fae. Although Tamlin is clearly hiding things from Feyre, you cannot doubt him. He will make your heart flutter and wish that you could jump into this world and just be in his presence.

But let’s not forget all the complex secondary characters within this world. Sarah has brought us an abundance of characters to both love and hate. We have Feyre’s ungrateful family, Tamlin’s best friend Lucien and his enemy Rhysand, all of which are intricate and complicated and they all bring something very interesting to the story. And let’s not forget an awful and powerful Queen - no fae story is complete without a crazy faery Queen.

I cannot really say too much about how this story comes together, and I could tell you it is because I don’t want to give too much away, but really it is because I am just completely fangirlling over this book! It is absolutely amazing - it is intriguing, it is beautiful… it is basically phenomenal! Although there are aspects that are similar to the Throne of Glass series, this book (and series) clearly stands on its own in all aspects! Sarah definitely knows her strengths, and she has blessed us with an amazing new world to enjoy.

With this new world, Sarah J. Maas has confirmed that she is a literary mastermind! With her beautiful prose and intricate plot, Sarah has given us a brand new, beautiful, scary and intriguing world! A world that you will love, you will adore, it will make you blush, it will make you anxious, it will make you laugh it will make you fall in love, and it will break your heart.

Another testament to Sarah’s ability to write an amazing novel is her ability to end a book. A Court of Throne of Roses finishes in an ideal spot, where certain aspects of the storyline have been closed, other aspects have been opened and just enough is left hanging. And by hanging, I do not mean a cliff-hanger, it truly does end in an amazing spot, but it leaves me just dying for get my hands on the next instalment of this amazing series! Especially with that one little thing right at the end - that is going to drive me absolutely crazy until the next book ;)

In conclusion, A Court of Thorn and Roses is a fantastic and unique retelling of Beauty and the Beasty. Filled with strong characters, amazing world building, strong protagonist, swoon-worthy male lead, magic, action, defiance, deceit, tension, sacrifice, general awesomeness and all the feels!

 

Note: While I would recommend this book to all Throne of Glass fans, I feel the need to say that A Court of Thorns and Roses is a little more “mature” than the Throne of Glass series. Although I am not sure I would necessary classify it as overly explicit, be prepared for some pretty steaming scenes :)

 

Quotes:

“A life for a life”

“I threw myself into that fire, threw myself into it, into him, and let myself burn.”

“I was as unburdened as a piece of dandelion fluff, and he was the wind that stirred me about the world.”

“Do you ever stop being so serious and dull?”
“Do you ever stop being such a prick?”

“I was loosened, a top whirling around and around, and I didn’t know who I danced with or what they looked like, only that I had become the music and the fire and the night, and there was nothing that could slow me down.”

“My priority would be to protect my family — and I would have picked whatever side could keep them safest. I hadn’t thought of it as a weakness until now.”

 

Preorder exclusive: Preorder A Court of Thorns and Roses by 1st May to receive a gorgeous keepsake metal bookmark and temporary tattoo! Click the below image for further information.