A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas – 448 pages 

Book Blurb:

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: 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.

My Review: 4 stars

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A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is a book that has been extremely popular since 2015 with its arresting combo of fantasy and romance, specifically marketed to a YA (Young Adult) audience. My adult daughter however, got caught up in the series due to it being all over Tik Tok. At her urging I dug into the first the book and now understand its appeal. 

This is loosely considered a Beauty and the Beast retelling, a fairytale in the most real sense with curses, spells, monsters, trickery and romance. I see the appeal and the author brilliantly ended book one with a sense of closure for those not into reading the series all at once. I will definitely dive back into Feyre’s world at a later date as I’ve heard it gets better and better as you move forward with the story. 

Maas has an insanely expansive imagination that includes the darker side of fantasy as well as ribbons of lightness. Additionally, she has a gift for writing imagery that comes completely alive. See the last quote to see an example of her descriptions. I’m glad I read this and look forward to reading the next book when time allows.

Quotes I liked:

We need hope, or else we cannot endure.”

“I was as unburdened as a piece of dandelion fluff, and he was the wind that stirred me about the world.”

“Because your human joy fascinates me—the way you experience things, in your life span, so wildly and deeply and all at once, is … entrancing. I’m drawn to it, even when I know I shouldn’t be, even when I try not to be.”

“Don’t feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.”