How can the book I have loved the most also be the one with which I have the most issue? I wouldn’t have thought it was possible, but somehow this book tops A Court of Mist and Fury, but for completely different reasons. Sarah J. Maas has delivered yet again.
Synopsis
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 as one of 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 the struggles, Feyre and Rhysand must decide whom to trust among the cunning and lethal High Lords, and hunt for allies in unexpected places.
In this thrilling third book in The Court of Thorns and Roses series, the fate of Feyre’s world is at stake as armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy it.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
What I Loved
The Planning
At the end of Mist and Fury, I was so angry at Tamlin’s betrayal. The fact that he bartered with the King of Hybern to get Feyre back, despite her leaving and her letter stating to not come for her… totally disregarding her and her wishes. I could’ve killed him. Certainly wanted to, and I think Feyre did as well.
That rage gets transformed into strategy. It honestly put me in mind of Alexandre Dumas’ novel The Count of Monte Cristo, where the main character uses the vices and greed of their enemies against them. Utter brilliance in my opinion. And extremely satisfying to read as Feyre plays her game of deceit.
If you’re a Feyre fan, you will not be disappointed by her cunning and strategic maneuvering.
Love Takes a Back Seat
Book two was a beautiful ode to Rhys and Velaris. To Feyre healing and growing, and falling in love to arguably one of the best male characters I’ve ever read.
Yeah, I went there
Since that relationship was explored and fleshed out, it meant we were allowed to put it on the back burner in book three. It’s still there, it doesn’t disappear, but it is left to simmer and stay warm.
Being on the back burner allows for the story to really take off and develop with all these details we’ve accumulated so far. We get to explore some new areas and Courts in Prythian, while a big battle is brewing just beyond the horizon.
I really appreciated that Maas still threw in those intimate moments between our main characters, but that it wasn’t the primary focus of the book.
Monsters as Allies
I won’t go into much detail here. Trying to be spoiler free remember. But this book, and book two, have all been about this inevitable battle with Hybern and it’s evil king.
What do you need when going into battle? A lot. You need weapons, supplies and most importantly bodies. Allies.
I really like the idea in books of enlisting the help of the undesirables, the misfits, the monsters. Why do allies need to be human?
Kind of like how in The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien we see Aragorn enlist the Army of the Dead. Game-changer!
In Feyre’s journey to get to this point, we have seen her meet some super interesting and compelling characters and creatures. All of which would be super amazing to fight beside in my opinion. But they’re Fae. Will they fight? And if so, at what cost? They are Fae after all. Nothing is ever free.
Hybern might have the numbers,” I said, “but what if we had the monsters?”
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
Fucking chills. I think that may be my favorite line so far in the whole series. Chef’s kiss!
What I Didn’t Love
Overuse of “Mate”
I get it…he’s your boo, your husband, your love. The amount of times the word “mate” is used in this book is ridiculous and to the point of distraction for me personally.
Being newly married myself, I do enjoy childishly calling my partner “husband” when teasing him about something or “hubz” on an affectionate occasion. However, I hardly do these things, and more often than not just use his name. How annoying would it be if instead, every time I referred to him, I said husband? Would sound incredibly pretentious I think, and very annoying I’m sure to everyone else.
Just me?
I don’t think so.
Lack of Consequences
Again, can’t go into much detail, but I hate in movies and books where there is a lack of consequence for actions. I feel like it devalues the story trying to be told. A lot of times some great character development could have transpired, but without that consequence, it’s like that scene or event really didn’t matter as much as you’re wanting me to feel/think.
The lack of consequence scene I’m referring to in this book, in particular, really ticked me off. It could have been an incredible catalyst. It would have been devastating, and moving and so much more. I feel like there were several of these wasted opportunities in this book.
Build Up for No Reason
Kind of tying into the previous paragraph, is that there are some things that had such potential, but we’re just glossed over.
Barely touched.
Maybe this was on purpose, so that we as the audience have to imagine our own idea. However, I was disappointed to not have a particular scene with Feyre fleshed out with more detail. Any detail.
It had been hyped up throughout a good part of the book. Feyre had avoided it for so long for reasons I cannot say. When it happened, when it finally happened, I was left asking myself, “That’s it?”
If Maas was going to gloss over it like she did, she shouldn’t have built it up so much. It was like a sales pitch that you’re really excited for but at the end the salesman just packs up and walks off.
It was a true moment of disappointment due to the potential it had promised.
In Closing
Even though I think this book is the one I could complain about most, it is still my favorite so far. I love that, with the main relationship established, this book focused on the conflict between Hybern and Prythian and the drama around that. We get some more fleshing out of the main party’s characters, and get to see a bit more of Nesta and Elain.
In short, if you enjoyed the first two books in this series, do not stop now! It keeps getting better.
I gave A Court of Wings and Ruin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S.
I apologize if there are more errors than normal with this post. My PC decided to crap out on me a couple weeks ago (or else this post would’ve been published long ago) and working on my phone and tablet have been a major adjustment.
Thank you for your support and understanding!
Until Next Time,
As usual for Relyks & Wolfcraft, this review was delightful to read. If you want a boring, straight-forward review without sass, then look elsewhere. 😜