ACOTAR Book Series Review
I’m a bit late to the fandom of A Court of Thorns and Roses, but I’m here for it now. I was captivated from the first book and am truly sad that I’ve finished them. I have a feeling this will be a series I will revisit from time to time to experience it’s magic again. It’s a series filled with magic, politics, adventure, and drama. You’re pulled into this fantastical world where characters resonate with you and you empathize with them, get angry with them, love them and hate them. The series is complete with themes of empowerment, sacrifice, self love, and perseverance through obstacles. In addition to the characters Maas has created, the imagery she builds around their lands makes it feel like you’re there with them in their world.
And while I loved the whole series, I have thoughts on each book. Some I liked more than others, which is true of any series out there and they will never all hit them out of the park. Read on to see what I thought of each book. Note: Spoiler alert! If you haven’t read them all, note that I do discuss what happens in each book, read at your discretion.
Ranked #3 I knew I was going to like this series from the minute I started this book. I finished it in 2 days, it was that good. The book opens with Feyre hunting to keep her family alive and she ends up killing a wolf, who really isn’t a wolf, but a Faerie in wolf form. This breaks the treaty the humans have with the Faerie world and a Faerie comes to offer her death or a lifetime on the other side of the wall with the Faeries. Feyre choses a lifetime on the other side of the wall and she quickly learns that everything she thought she knew was wrong. But something is destroying the Fae world and she might be the only one who can save them, but she doesn’t know it. While the book was fast paced and suspenseful, it is a bit reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast for the first half of the book. The book really picks up speed when she goes “Under the Mountain” and battles it out against Amarantha. The adventure that awaits her is suspenseful and I couldn’t put the book down until I knew what the outcome would be!
Ranked #2 I find that usually the second book in a series doesn’t always live up to the first. Expectations have been set and you’re invested now. That was not the case with A Court of Mist and Fury. In fact, I liked the second book more than the first. Feyre has survived “Under the Mountain” and she has now become High Fae. She’s struggling to reconcile her time Under the Mountain and is having terrifying nightmares and PTSD. In addition to the nightmares, she’s slowing uncovering the powers she was gifted by each of the High Lords (unbeknownst to them) when she was brought back to life. She’s trying to move on with her life. Plan her marriage to Tamlin. Fulfill her bargain with Rhysand. Navigate the politics and power she is uncovering. This book was really a coming of age for Feyre. She’s uncovering who she is, what she wants, and slowly realizing she may be the key to stopping the evil that is coming. This is where we see what Feyre is really made of. She was all about survival in the first book because it was to save the Fae world and so many innocents from evil. In this book, Feyre must save herself and that isn’t proving to be as easy.
Ranked #4 War is looming and Feyre is bound to stop it. The wall is at risk of coming down between the Fae world and humans. An unthinkable power is alive and threatening to take over the world. Feyre has taken her place as a High Fae and is on a mission to unite the High Lords to battle. This book felt much longer than it needed to be. I still enjoyed it, but it could have been much shorter. The first half is slow. It has a lot of character development (which is also necessary), Nesta and Elain are reintroduced, there is a lot of “who are our allies”, “who can we trust”. I thought too much time was spent trying to align the lands and get everyone banded together to fight. The last half of the book is intense and makes up for the slow start. The war wasn’t as big of a battle as I thought it would be. Maybe because the beginning has so much detail and moved slower, all the sudden war is upon them and then it’s over. It wrapped up pretty quickly.
A Court of Frost and Starlight
Ranked #5 I like to think of this book as the holiday special. You know when you’re watching a series and they put out a special Christmas Episode or Movie? It’s like that with a bit of foreshadowing of what’s to come. Feyre and her court are rebuilding Velaris after the war and preparing for the Winter Solstice. It’s a light hearted book and was the perfect palate cleanser after war in the previous book. It’s the shortest book of the five and a quick, easy read.
Ranked #1 I think I would rank this as my favorite of the series. Mostly because I was invested in Nesta’s story, and that’s what this final book reveals. At the beginning of the book I really didn’t like Nesta, which I think is the point. We grow to like her as more is revealed about why she acts as she does. Along with developing Nesta’s story, we also learn more about Cassian and realize how similar they are, but have channeled their energy differently. Nesta is struggling with what happened with the cauldron, the murder of her father, and her lack of stepping up when the family was in need. She feels at fault for everything that has happened is pushing everyone away. She’s given an ultimatum - live at the House of Wind and train with Cassian or move back to the human world. Obviously she chooses the House of Wind and she begins her healing journey. Nesta has an untapped strength that she never reached for before. She slowly opens up to those around her and throws herself into the physical training - she finds it helps calm her mind and stop all the punishing thoughts. Ultimately this book is a story of overcoming your own obstacles, digging deep to find your strength, and recognizing that you are worthy. Throw in a lot of spicy scenes and an Illyrian Trial and you’ve got my favorite book of the series.
And there you have it, my thoughts on the series and ranking. I’ve read that there may be a sixth book coming - Elain’s story - hopefully with Azriel too. I hope the rumor is true and I’d love to see a book about Mor too :) Her story over the centuries could be incredible! What did you think of the series? And who would you love to see a book about next?
