A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is a captivating fantasy novel that merges elements of romance and adventure. The intricate world-building and lush descriptions transport readers to a realm filled with magic and danger. The main protagonist, Feyre, undergoes a compelling character development throughout the story, evolving from a strong-willed survivor to a formidable heroine. The dynamic relationships between the characters add depth to the narrative, particularly the blossoming romance between Feyre and Tamlin. However, the pacing of the plot can be uneven at times, with certain sections feeling dragged out or rushed. Additionally, some readers may find the romantic elements to be overly melodramatic. Despite these minor drawbacks, A Court of Thorns and Roses remains an engaging read for fans of fantasy and romance, earning it a solid rating of 4 stars out of 5. ( )

Nineteen-year-old Feyre is her family's primary provider, hunting what few animals she can find in the woods near their home. Her father used to be wealthy, but some bad business decisions have since pushed them into poverty. Out of necessity and a vow to her dying mother, Feyre taught herself how to hunt to keep the family going, but a part of her can't help but resent that her father and sisters don't do much to help.

Feyre kills a wolf during her latest hunt, only to learn that he was a faerie - his enraged friend, Tamlin, bursts into her home and demands that she come live in his home in Prythian, one of the Faerie realms, or die. When she gets to his home, she learns that he and the rest of his court have been cursed - the animal masks they wore at a past masquerade have become their faces. As Feyre adjusts to her new home, she finds herself softening towards Tamlin. However, someone or something that Tamlin refuses to talk about is threatening him and his court, shaking the foundations of Feyre's growing sense of peace and happiness.

Although this isn't YA, I can understand why some folks might mistakenly tag it as such. Especially at the start, I was reminded of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, although Feyre's relationship with her sisters seemed to be the exact opposite of Katniss' relationship with her sister. The two main characters felt very similar to me, however.

I had some issues with the setup, although various revelations cleared that up later on. My issues and questions may have been part of why I had some trouble getting emotionally invested in Tamlin and Feyre's developing romance, though. Something about it was a bit off-putting, although the only moment that really bugged me was closer to the end, when Feyre plastered herself to Tamlin during an objectively terrible time (seriously, it was such a bad idea that I 100% expected it to be a trap).

Overall, this was a so-so read for me, but I'm curious enough to continue on. Plus, I've heard that the second book is better.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.) ( )

I enjoyed this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. ( )

Truly unlike anything else I've ever read. A captivating and non Mary Sue female protagonist? Yes please. The world building and the plot was so intriguing and interesting! It's been a very long time since I gobbled a book up so quickly like this. Am very excited to see where the rest of the series is going and I'll be starting the next book asap! ( )

Review will follow ( )