Introduction
A Court of Mist and Fury is the sequel to Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses. This book was published by Bloomsbury Publishing company on May 3rd, 2016, almost exactly a year after its predecessor. Though Maas has apparently been contracted to write another book or two in this series, this one is currently my favorite of the five that have been released. I am obsessed with the characters and the world that Maas has built, and I recommend this series to any fan of the fantasy romance genre. For those who haven’t read this one yet, the Plot and Spoiler-Free Thoughts sections will remain spoiler-free for this and future installments. Those looking for a deeper insight into my opinions can continue on into the Thoughts section.
If you want to stay updated with Sarah J. Maas and her work, you can visit her website at https://sarahjmaas.com/ and follow her on social media @therealsjmaas.
Plot
Feyre may have lived through her trials Under the Mountain, but it came at a price. Now the savior of Prythian must face the consequences of her own survival.
Spoiler-Free Thoughts
This book picks up three months after the end of the first installment, and while some things were exactly as I expected them to be, others were surprising to me. Seeing how Feyre’s time Under the Mountain - and her being made Fae - has changed not only her but the relationships with everyone she encountered in Prythian was interesting, and it’s immediately apparent that other changes need to be made to accommodate who she is now. The girl who returned to the Spring Court was not the same one who went Under the Mountain, and I think that’s an important aspect to remember. It’s difficult not to draw comparisons between the two courts Feyre spends the majority of her time in, as well as the people in them. There are a lot of new faces in this book, some I loved, some I hated, and all of them were very well-written and established characters.
There are multiple tropes put into use in this book, the biggest one being the enemies to friends to lovers plotline - my favorite - and it was done incredibly well here. The slow burn was very satisfying, and it had a great payoff in the end. The other trope was actually my least favorite, the miscommunication cliche. This one was actually done well, which was impressive to me as I am very easily annoyed by it.
The world building is finally out of the way by the time this book rolls around, and Maas took the life she established in the last book and ran with it. The pace can feel a bit slow and scattered at times, but it is always an enjoyable read. The ending is one of my absolute favorite parts of the book, and I remember how absolutely shattered I was when I read it for the first time. I was immediately scrambling to start the next book.
So far, this is my favorite book of the series - though I believe there are more on the way. Between the plot, character development, trope use, and themes of support, inner strength, and found family, this book is a 9.5/10 for me.
Thoughts
Feyre’s trauma from her time Under the Mountain is to be expected, and it was not at all surprising to me that she was still struggling with it three months later. What was both surprising and wildly disappointing to me was Tamlin’s response, or lack thereof. He was not always bad, and I do think that Feyre was right in that they were a better fit before Under the Mountain, but they can no longer give one another what they need. Tamlin’s need to protect at all costs drives Feyre away, and then he has the nerve to not only blame Rhysand, but sell out the entirety of Prythian to get her back. He never listened to her, and he couldn’t come to terms with the fact that she was more independent in her Fae body.
On the other hand, Rhysand is exactly what she needs. He does seem to be her perfect opposite, and while I didn’t see it coming, I wasn’t surprised that they were mates. They have a playful banter with one another - they always have - and their shared trauma and internal shades of gray make it easy to see why they love and understand each other so well. Seeing how he helps her process her trauma and how much he genuinely cares about her well-being and autonomy makes it difficult not to see him as Tamlin’s opposite. He gave Feyre everything Tamlin couldn’t because it was her right to have those things. It all came together when I heard Rhys’ story. He isn’t the cruel, dark High Lord everyone thinks he is, but he is a dreamer who would sacrifice all of himself for his family and his court. I understand why Rhys kept their bond from Feyre; he didn’t want her to feel forced into it while she was still processing what happened Under the Mountain and mourning her relationship with Tamlin. On the other hand, Feyre had every right to know, and I get why she was so angry about it and needed time and space to process everything.
I love Rhysand’s inner circle, and once again, it’s hard not to draw comparisons to the Spring Court. Lucien and Ianthe were scared of Tamlin’s unpredictable fury, which is why they - Lucien especially - allowed Feyre to waste away there despite her pleas for help. The inner circle is a true found family, all of them respected and loved beyond their power. Like Rhysand, every single one of them would lay down their lives for one another and for the Night Court, and they would never allow one another to be subjected to the pain and disrespect Feyre faced in the Spring Court.
댓글