A Court of Thorns and Roses book review | A reread

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #1
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on May 5, 2015
Pages: 432
Goodreads

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.

I don’t think there is another book series that I have loved more than A Court of Thorns and Roses. I have reread this series so many times over the years and with A Court of Silver Flames now out I thought it was time for a reread. It was a different experience, being the first time listening to it on an audiobook. I’m kinda glad I did. It gave me a new outlook to a book that I could have fallen flat otherwise. I love this book. It’s a five-star read, I fell in love with this book and the world within it.

Characters in A Court of Thorns and Roses

I am a huge Sarah J Maas fan, however sometimes her characters can fall flat for me. I struggle with some of the tropes she uses and shapes their lives. A Court of Thorns of Roses doesn’t have that issue, especially in the first book. It really does set the series up for success with the characters and the politics. I adore Feyre and the way the Fae introduce to their world. The relationships are very loosely based on Beauty and the Beast. But it doesn’t feel like a rehashing, it feels like something new and fresh. I think I have the audiobook to thank for that. The narrator really breathes new life into the character and new perspective.

I really adore the way the world is shaped by the characters. I love the explanations and how each person has a completely different perspective about everything that goes on. Introductions are something I really adore about this book. I think it had the potential to become a little like an info dump but it didn’t feel like that at any point. There are so many characters all the way through this, and I feel as though I know each and every one of them.

Good and the Bad

For me I love the whimsical moments all the way through this book. I love the politics and how they shape the story in A Court of Thorns of Roses. I really adore the romance and the way the different characters come together and see each other. It is a really beautiful book at certain points. Plus there are some really raw moments especially at the end, when everything seems to get real and the politics really come into play. I just love how this book makes me feel and I love the way everything plays out.

The only bad points I have to say is this is probably the last reread of this book that will get a 5-star rating. I wish this was a perfect read. But there are glaring issues that I noticed more as I was rereading. Such as just how unrealistic the entire thing becomes and also I feel as though because I knew what was going to happen it ruined the book for me a little. I knew where things were going to end up and I couldn’t ignore it as much as I had done in the past. Which is a shame.

Recommendation

I think I will always recommend this series. A Court of Thorns and Roses is definitely a really great first book of a series that really grows into itself. I don’t think there is anyone on the planet who hasn’t either read this one or hasn’t heard of it. But if you’re on the fence I would definitely recommend this one, it’s a great fantasy!

Are you a fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses? What’s your favourite book in the series? Let me know!