A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

 

"Night Triumphant - and the Stars Eternal. If he was the sweet, terrifying darkness, I was the glittering light that only his shadows could make clear."

TW: Abusive relationship, blood, death, war, murder, rape (past, referenced)

Release Date: May 2, 2017

Genre: High fantasy, romance, fiction

Rating:

Summary:

A world on the brink of war

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 these struggles, Feyre and Rhysand must decide whom to trust among the cunning and lethal High Lords, and hunt for allies in unexpected places. 

Review:

Are you ready to feel your heart pounding out of your chest?

Are you ready to be on the edge of your seat?

Are you ready to laugh?

Are you ready to cry?

Are you ready to fight?

Are you ready to love?

A Court of Wings and Ruin had me experiencing the entire spectrum of emotions; there was laughter, there was rage, there was tears, there was pure joy. It was gut-wrenching, heart-wrenching, and had me at the edge of my seat the entire time. I thought I knew how the entirety of this book would play out; what a fool to think I could never guess what was to happen next. I was on a magical rollercoaster that I never wanted to end.

It is becoming increasingly more difficult, no, utterly impossible for me to pick a favorite book out of the series so far. I was unbelievably convinced the second book, A Court of Mist and Fury, would be my favorite. Now after finishing A Court of Wings and Ruin, I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH IS MY MOST BELOVED. I have only read three books out of five but I am wholly consumed by this book series. I cannot wait to finish them all. I will begrudgingly admit, it took me the longest time to finish this book, nearly a month! The world stupidly kept getting in the way of my reading time. Doesn't the world know that I need to disappear into my romantasy novel?

Sarah J. Maas is truly a master wordsmith. The way she wields words on the pages is a complete masterpiece. She truly has perfected the delicate balance between eternal romance, friendship, betrayal, found family, epic battle scenes, heartbreak, and more. It never gets boring, and it is never too much, the perfect harmony.

I really struggled in the beginning of the book with Feyre having to return to the Spring Court. It made me anxious: walking on eggshells, chewing on my fingernails, rocking back and forth. I was so worried, and it was a bit triggering, to see what would happen while she was in the "deceptively perfect" Spring Court. How I once was charmed and swooned by Tamlin absolutely eludes me. It was so difficult reading as Feyre pretended to be that woman again. She did it masterfully though. She played her role beautifully and for a good cause. I can only imagine how difficult that was for her but she is the embodiment of strength. Lucien had me completely outraged the time she was at the Spring Court; what happened to him and does he ever get redemption? Answer: he absolutely does. Thank goodness. I really liked Lucien in the first book but that damned Spring Court was tainting him!  

THE FOUND FAMILY IN THIS BOOK. My heart absolutely melts and swoons for the undying love between Rhysand and Feyre. However, the relationships between Rhys and his chosen family…then Feyre being adopted by said chosen family…THEN to see the budding relationship form between Feyre and her sisters, and the fleeting moment with their father…UGH. MY HEART. I cannot take it.

I absolutely adored getting to visit the different courts and meet all the different High Lords. I would love a book on all the different courts and High Lords, Sarah. Thank you so much.

Also, I know these characters are classified as "evil" but my heart absolutely WEEPS for the Suriel and the Bone Carver...even the Weaver. Every character in these books has so much DEPTH. The profundity in all of these characters she has conjured is magnificent and I am constantly in awe. 

Once again, I am was such a fool for taking this long to start this series. I never believed it could be as amazing as everyone said it was. How unbelievably wrong I was. I will never be able to make up for all that lost time that I could have been entranced by this magical world and its characters. But I will never make that grave error again. Onto the next book in the series! 

 

Quotes: 

"Remember that you are a wolf. And you cannot be caged."

"It's a rare person to face who they are and not run from it - not be broken by it."

"You do not fear. You do not falter. You do not yield."

"When you erupt, girl, make sure it is felt across worlds."

"But for my home, for Prythian and the human territory and so many others...I would clean my blades, and wash the blood from my skin. And I would do it again and again and again."

"Leave this world...a better place than how you found it."

"It is the family you make, not the one you are born into, that matters."

"The great joy and honor of my life has been to know you. To call you my family. And I am grateful - more than I can possibly say - that I was given this time with you all."

"I have no regrets in my life, but this. That we did not have time. That I did not have time with you, Nesta. I will find you in the next world - the next life. And we will have that time. I promise."

"I see all of you, Rhys. And there is not one part that I do not love with everything I am."

"Night Triumphant - and the Stars Eternal. If he was the sweet, terrifying darkness, I was the glittering light that only his shadows could make clear."

"I would have waited five hundred more years for you. A thousand years. And if this was all the time we were allowed to have...the wait was worth it."

"I didn't know how long my sisters and I lay there together, just like we had once shared that carved bed in that dilapidated cottage. Then - back then, we had kicked and twisted and fought for any bit of space, any breathing room. But that morning, as the sun rose over the world, we held tight. And did not let go."

" Be happy, Feyre."

"And will you come with me; on this adventure - and all the rest?" "Always."

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

 

"To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys."

"To the stars who listen - and the dreams that are answered."

TW: Forced sex work, sexual assault, PTSD, physical & emotional abuse, child abuse, murder, torture 

Release Date: April 22, 2016

Genre: High fantasy, romance, fiction 

Rating:

Summary:

A love born of darkness.

Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart. Though she's now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people. 

As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre's hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different people: one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin. 

While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future - and the future of a world in turmoil. 

Review:

Is it socially acceptable to finish a book then immediately start reading it all over again from the beginning? That is my immediate urge after finishing A Court of Mist and Fury. I feel this insatiable desire to immerse myself in the masterpiece that was this book all over again. However, I must advance on in this stunning series, so I will have to save that for another time.

Once again, I am absolutely kicking myself and cursing my name because I started this magnificent series so late. I really thought there was no possible way this series could be as amazing as everyone says it is but IT ABSOLUTELY IS. I knew that the second book in the series was beloved by so many readers so I had been most looking forward to reading this one and IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. 

After finishing this book, I feel transformed in the best way possible. I feel as if I have been enveloped in a warm embrace from the starry-night sky. I feel safe in the dark shadows. I feel whole. I almost refused to finish the book because I did not want it to end. I didn't want to get to the last page and realize that this was not reality, not my reality. That I would have to leave this magical land of Prythian. 

My love for this book, these characters, the city of stars, this story, is wholly encompassing. This love knows no bounds. There are no words in any language to truly describe my feelings for this book.

The characters are uniquely complex, and the character development is immense (and this is only the second book). I really enjoyed Feyre in the first book, and I loved her even more in the second. I am truly adoring read as Feyre discovers her sense of self, her new powers, her independence. I have not been turned into an immortal fae and locked away by a High Lord in the Spring Court, but I do sadly know the pain of being controlled, being tamed. This hit very close to home. The strength Feyre has been able to muster, not because she has new powers from being fae, but because she is Feyre. She is ever enduring. Then to read as Feyre finds the love of her life, her mate. She is EMPOWERED by this unconditional, unyielding love, not confined by it. It is truly awe-inspiring.

The Inner Circle is utterly exceptional. Mor, Azriel, Cassian, Amren...they are so unique and so special. They are family. I felt like I was a part of this beautiful friendship while reading this book. Without even knowing, these characters made me feel like I was part of this beautiful friendship, of this family.  The Inner Circle made me feel so valued, protected, and seen. This story is emboldened by the sense of found family. 

Rhysand, sweet Rhysand. I did not know that such a beautiful being and soul existed, even on paper. Even in the imagination. I fell in love with Rhysand very early on in the book but chapter 54 completely melted my heart. I am just a puddle of indescribable feelings and emotions after reading chapter 54. 

*Smoking hot chapters: 48 and 55*

Sarah J. Maas truly transforms words on a page into a beautiful masterpiece but does it in such an effortless manner. There is such a delicate balance between all the elements: character development, battles, romance, etc. It feels like a symphony, marrying the music between the lively, upbeat tempos to the slower, more melodic and romantic tones, to the final crescendo with speed and excitement that has the audience rising to their feet for a standing ovation.

I did not want to see this book end at all, but I cannot wait to continue my adventure with Feyre. 

Quotes:

"To the huntress who remembered to reach back for those less fortunate."

"And I realized - I realized how badly I'd been treated before, if my standards had become so low. If the freedom I'd been granted felt like a privilege and not an inherent right."

"I was not a pet, not a doll, not an animal. I was a survivor, and I was strong. I would not be weak, or helpless again. I would not, could not be broken. Tamed." 

"No one was my master - but I might be master of everything, if I wished. If I dared." 

"I was not prey any longer, I decided as I eased up to that door. And I was not a mouse. I was a wolf."

"I'll say this once - and only once. You can be a pawn, be someone's reward, and spend the rest of your immortal life bowing and scraping and pretending you're less than him, than Ianthe, than any of us. If you want to pick that road, then fine. A shame, but it's your choice. But I know you - more than you realize, I think - and I don't believe for one damn minute that you're remotely fine with being a pretty trophy for someone who sat on his ass for nearly fifty years then sat on his ass while you were shredded apart."  

"I once lived in a place where the opinion of others mattered. It suffocated me, nearly broke me. So you'll understand me, Feyre, when I say that I know what you feel, and I know what they tried to do to you, and that with enough courage, you can say hell with a reputation. You do what you love, what you need."

"A queen who owned her body, her life, her destiny, and never apologized for it."

"There are good days and hard days for me - even now. Don't let the hard days win."

"He thinks he'll be remembered as the villain in the story. But I forgot to tell him that the villain is usually the person who locks up the maiden and throws away the key. He was the one who let me out."

"I wonder if some part of me knew what was waiting for me. That I would never be a gentle grower of things, or someone who burned like fire - but that I would be quiet and enduring and as faceted as the night. That I would have beauty, for those who knew where to look, and if people didn't bother to look, but to only fear it...then I didn't particularly care for them, anyway. I wonder if, even in my despair and hopelessness, I was never truly alone. I wonder if I was looking for this place - looking for you all."

"To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys." "To the stars who listen - and the dreams that answered." 

"I was his and he was mine, and we were the beginning and middle and end. We were a song that had been sung from the very first ember of light in the world."