A Court of Wings and Ruin

Aah! I have been anticipating this book for over a year. This was everything I needed, and more and yet it left me wanting. I understand that there are mixed reviews for this book, but I thought it was phenomenal considering it isn't really the end. It's just a gateway to another series.

This book was a roller coaster when it came to messing with my feelings because one minute, I wanted to jump up and down in joy and the next, I wanted to tear my hair out. I loved that we met more people from across Prythian in this book. I enjoyed meeting the different High Lords and learning about them. Helion actually reminded me of Rhys when he joins the inner circle in their chambers in the Dawn Court. And I have a lot of hope in Kallias. I really really hope he takes a page out of Rhy's book and makes Viviane his High Lady. I really thought that most of the High Lords were great.

I'm a little confused about the mating thing because, in the last book, Rhys described the whole Frenzy thing was due to an inherent need that tbh, can't explain the fact that Thesan's mate was probably a guy, which doesn't explain the frenzy. I was kind of bothered by the whole thing in the last book, but I was so happy to have so much diversity in ships in this book. We had a High Lord who had a male lover, and I loved the fact that they are probably mates.

And then there is Mor, who is bisexual and even though it breaks my Moriel heart, I'm a supporter of Mor following her heart! I kind of feel sorry for Az, who will probably get heartbroken by this, even though he'll totally support her. Do you guys think that something is going on with Mor and Viviane's sister? That would be amazing. But Moriel!

The worst scene in this book was the death of Suriel! I was so excited to see a Feyriel reunion! I loved the Suriel from the very beginning. He is so... was so amazing. He always offered Feyre what she needed. He told her to stay with the High Lord... to stay with Rhys. He told her Rhys was her mate. He told her how to win the war. He told her to stay with the High Lord. It was his words that went through her mind as she clung on to the mating bond. He told her to make the world a better place. He was fantastic. He was probably my favorite character from ACOTAR, well except for the inner circle. RIP Suriel. You will be missed. And Ianthe deserved what she got!

It's like all the ancient creatures were amazing and oh so willing to help Feyre. The Suriel has always been her number one fan and has always been on her team. The Bone Carver embodied her future son. His deal with Feyre was completely in her favor. All he wanted in return for his help was to know if she was worth risking his life for and I have to say, that is a reasonable request. He offered her more information than he needed to in ACOMAF because he, like everyone else, saw how amazing she was. Then there was Bryaxis. In return for saving her life, all he asked for was someone to tell him of life. He didn't ask her to send tributes as sacrifices, he didn't ask for a prisoner, it felt like he just asked for a friend and I think even if he hadn't made the bargain, Feyre, with her human heart, would have been his friend. And the second deal, all he wanted in return for risking his life was a window!

On top of that, there was Amren. Sweet, vicious, Amren. She was Feyre's friend. She cared for Feyre and the rest of the night court. Amren was fantastic and finding out more about her was amazing. And her relationship with Varian, phenomenal. That is something I'm looking forward to in the next book.

When I started reading this book, I couldn't wait to see Cassian and Azriel again and seeing those two amazing Illiryan warriors again, healed and safe, was like a dream come true. Seeing Cas's wings literally gave my heart a kick start. I do wish we get more of Nessian in the spin-off because that was dragged on and not resolved at all. And then, it felt like Elain and Azriel could be something great but then Lucien exists! And since Mor is no longer a factor, I really thought that Elain and Az would be amazing. Az is like one of the only people that can get through to her. But, we know that mates are important, and I may be okay with Lucien and Elain, but if for some reason Az ends up with her, I'd be happy!

The absolute worst scene in the book was when Rhys dies in the end. It broke me. It made me cry for the first time. Up until now, I'd thought there was something wrong with me because I couldn't truly mourn the deaths of my beloved fictional characters, but I cried! And the scene where all the high lords give their magic to bring him back, sigh... I think solely because of that, Tamlin is now redeemable. Not redeemed, redeemable.

Anyways, I'm super excited about the future of this series because although the series was wrapped up like a perfect gift, there are a few frayed ribbons that will tie into the future of this series!

Anyways, to see the full extent of my feelings for this book and this series, check out my BookTube channel, WriterGAsh, and enjoy, #TwoWeeksOfACOTAR

Reviews for rest of the series:
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Wings and Ruins

A Court of Mist and Fury

I know the review is a bit late but I've been busy!

PS. This is an edited review and is far more detailed and completely spoiler-filled!

So, when I read this book last year, I have to admit I wanted more. Sarah J. Maas's writing is impeccable and she makes me fall in love and kills me at the same time. The progression of the novel was so gradual and realistic.

It made me love one character less, a character I loved once, Tamlin.

My initial thoughts about the book were clear:

I used to like Tamlin but now I can't even think of him without gagging. I believe women and men are equal and seeing how he treated Feyre pissed me off. And it made reading this book so hard. I was a little hesitant about Rhys. I mean in the last book he basically drugged her but now that I know the reason I'm totally over it. The ending, though. It ripped me apart but made me so excited about the next book! But a year? Really? I need it now. The Rhys and Feyre scenes, especially their banter and the scenes where they... Amazing.

Now, let's go into a spoiler filled discussion, I have to warn you, my memories are a little blurry but I'll try my best to recall my favorite scenes to the best of my ability.

Let's start with my building hate for Tamlin. From the beginning, I started to dislike him and with every scene, the dislike grew into full on hating. He treated Feyre like a trophy wife. She is no one's trophy. She is a kickass wonderful and strong and independent woman who demands respect. It hurt to see Tamlin turn into who he did, cause I liked him in book one. I didn't love him but there was hope. Now I want to gut him and feed him to the wolves. How could he just lie there as Feyre had nightmares? How could he claim he loved her and yet let her suffer. I misjudged him in the last book. I was horrified that I could even consider her with someone as despicable as Tamlin. When we read what happened under the mountain from Rhy's point of view, I was seething with hate for Tamlin. He just sat there! He just sat there as Feyre went through hell and back to save him! What good did it do for him to just sit on his ass? Rhys risked everything, his life, his court, even his mate, and Tamlin just waltz in and claimed her as if he owned her! The one chance he got to save her, he wasted because he was so damn selfish!

In this book we get an insight into Rhysand, we see why did the things he did, we understand him from a different perspective and honestly, I hate myself for judging him in the last book. He is a sweetheart. The way he acts around his people is so different from the way Tamlin did. Lucian, Tamlin's best friend couldn't speak freely in front of him but you could totally see the way that Rhys interacted with others in his court made me think that he was an honorable person. He treated people like people, not property.

When Rhysand showed up and took Feyre away, I was relieved. I was ecstatic. I think I have never been happier. Their story makes me so happy. You could clearly see how she wanted to fight the way she was feeling about him but you could also see how it was impossible to deny that they had the bond.

Every scene between them was like magic and it was so powerfully written. Unlike Tamlin, Rhys made her stronger, supported her and most importantly, didn't belittle her. That was what I loved about him. There is this part in the story where Feyre says that she knew that Cassian and Azriel would pull her out of a situation if they say that she was withering away, unlike Lucian. Despite the fact that Cassian constantly pushed her limits, he would back off if Feyre said no. Something neither Lucian nor Tamlin does. And when she says Rhys would never not see what was happening to her, that he would never be that misguided and arrogant and self-absorbed. That was when I knew, absolutely knew that I could never forgive Tamlin. He let her wither away and couldn't look past his own needs to care about what the woman he loved was going through, what he was putting her through.

The Starfall scene between Rhys and Feyre was beautiful. I loved that the splattered star spirit covered them both. It was such a playful and lighthearted scene and it literally gave me all the feels. Another one of my favorite thing about their relationship as the one thought in exchange for another. I loved that they felt comfortable enough to share their feelings with one another.

My absolute favorite scene were the ones after they found out they were mated. The thing that made Rhysand a hero in my eyes was when Feyre says that she knew that one word from her would send him flying off into the crisp night. Despite the fact he had just flown so far to see her, despite the fact that she was his mate, he would respect her wishes and walk away. When they go to Hybern, Rhys clearly says that Feyre is her own person. She decides what she does and no one else. When he says "if you want to go, then you go, Feyre." you can see how much he respects her! Like she says, she hadn't realized how badly she had been treated before and how low her expectations had become. I love that Rhys made it clear that she is her own master. He said "You might be my mate, but you remain your own person. You decide your fate- your choices. Not me. You chose yesterday. You chose every day. Forever." That literally melted my heart. Can Rhys be any more perfect? Tamlin wasn't even her mate and he decided he was the one that should decide her fate! He went to the King of Hybern to get her back. He put the world at risk! Like Feyre said in the end "Love was a balm as much as it was a poison." I hope that Tamlin realizes what he's become.

Learning about Rhys's childhood, about his mother made my heart go out to him. Every page I turned made me love him more. His strength, his humanity and importantly, his goodness makes me so happy.

Getting to know Rhys's friends was wonderful as each of them had something remarkable that made the book remarkable. And the scene when they all go out makes them seem like normal friends. Ah, that brings me to another point, never once does Rhys make Feyre feel like a prisoner, unlike Tamlin. I love Cassian's playful nature, I love Azriel's reservedness, I love Mor's cheerfulness despite what she has endured and I love Amren's fierceness. I love the scene in the House of Wind where Mor, Azriel, Amren, and Cassian all bow to her and they all have this moment, a moment of friendship. 

I keep going back to how much I hate Tamlin!

The scene where Lucian finds Feyre in the forest and tries to take her back against her will really piss me off. No. Means. No.

NO in itself is a sentence. No world has more magnitude that NO. When a girl, or anyone, says NO, it means NO. It does not matter if you have their best interest in your heart.

I actually like Lucian and I really hope he becomes his own person instead of Tamlin's puppet. He is a good person and I know he can come through for Feyre, for Elain. I wasn't really surprised when we found out that Elain is Lucian's mate, probably, I saw a way for him to get out of Tamlin's control. I saw a reason for him to fight, to help Feyre.

Oh and Nesta, I love you. I love her fire, I love her fierceness to protect her sister. Yes, she could have been a better sister to Feyre but I couldn't hate her after this. I hope in the book we see more of her, I hope in the next book Lucian fights for Elain by dumping Tamlin. I hope Tamlin either does something phenomenal to redeem himself or dies.

On to Nesta and Cassian. I just read the excerpt and reading about their little interaction and knowing how Cassian was affected by it gave me immense joy. I kept looking at signs of their mating bond. I love that Nesta unnerves a witty fast-talking Fae male like him. I love that he needed to compile a list of possible insults. I have really high hopes for them! I love their on-going banter and their thought processes are on the same plane. It's like they say, mates are equal in every aspect and Nesta is his equal. They are both fierce when it comes to protecting those they love and I'm hoping that this builds into something phenomenal soon. Even though Nesta barely knew Rhys, she could tell that he was in love with Feyre and Feyre wasn't far behind and I don't know why it thrilled me to know Cassian had that very same thought! It just made them even more perfect in my eyes. We all are aware how touchy Cassian is about his origin and hearing Nesta constantly bring it up wasn't pleasant and anyone else would have reacted quite differently and despite all this, he was protective of her. His reaction when he found out about Thomas. I want him to pummel him in the next book. I want a scene where their mating bond clicks and I want it from their point of view.

I also wanted to know what the possibility of a mating bond between Azriel and Mor. They don't mention it throughout the book but we know that they like each other. Not being mates puts them at risk of finding their mates and hurting each other. I want that storyline to develop in the next book.

In the very end when Feyre goes back to Tamlin in the spring court, I was devastated, until I realized that it was fake. When I found out she became the High Lady of the Night Court, my heart literally melted. In that world, for her to be Rhys's equal to that level means a lot. In their world, most mates to the High Lords are trophy wives. I love that he didn't expect her to bear him anything. He didn't want her to do anything out of obligation! This showed me that Rhys respected her. He saw her as an equal, not just a mate. And that is what I something that means a lot to me. What made me hate the King of Hybern the most wasn't the fact that he was a prick, it was because he called Tamlin Feyre's master. It pissed me off and made me want to rip him and those mortal queens to shreds.

I love that Sarah can get people to not only care about the lead characters but also the others. In both her series, I'm as invested in the leads as I am in the other characters. I'm dying to get my hand on the last book in this series.

Sarah J Maas, you are amazing, You make us love characters as intensely as you make us hate them. You make them real.

Reviews for rest of the series:
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Wings and Ruins