Title: A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: May 3rd, 2016
Standalone/Series: Second book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy
Genre: Fantasy
Goodreads link
My rating in stars: 5 stars
My rating in words: NEW ALL-TIME FAVORITE, OH YEAH!
What it’s about:
Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be 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 cleaved in two.
With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.
My thoughts:
“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.”
I must admit, I’m a Sarah J. Maas fangirl. I adore the Throne of Glass series and I loved A Court of Thorns and Roses. So I already knew that Sarah just is an amazing writer. Her stories are rich and captivating with complex and magical plotlines, dazzling romance and the most badass characters and character development ever. But A Court of Mist and Fury? It exceeded even my wildest expectations. Words can’t express how much I loved it, but still I’ll try.
Like I said, I loved A Court of Thorns and Roses. Yet, I still had a few hesitations about it and about one character in particular. And ACOMAF could have gone in so many directions, but I secretely hoped so hard for this one particular direction that I wanted, just based on a few small hints in ACOTAR. And I should have known that I could put my faith in Sarah. Because not only did this story go exactly where I secretly wished for it to go, it went there in style, granted me all my wishes AND THEN SOME!
“To the stars who listen—and the dreams that are answered.”
Please allow me to fangirl about ALL THE THINGS I adored about this book:
Feyre is awesome. At the end of ACOTAR, Feyre is shattered and broken. She went through so much and changed so much and she starts ACOMAF in a not so good place. But her character development and strength are what drive this book. Her journey is so amazing and empowering and just plain awe-inspiring, while still taking its time in a realistic way. This is what Sarah is so good at, this is why I fall in love with all of her characters and it is again super evident here. I even felt empowered myself while reading this. If you’re ever in a bit of a life-slump, read a Sarah J. Maas book because it will pick you right back up!
More Rhys. I already kind of fell in love with the High Lord of the Night Court just based on the little bit we got of him in ACOTAR. But now, we get MORE RHYS. We get to visit the Night Court (and it is GORGEOUS). We get his backstory. We get to meet his court. We just get a whole lot more of Rhys. And right when I thought I couldn’t love him any more, I found out I damn well can. He just made it to my number one spot on my list of favorite male book characters ever (sorry Dorian and Warner!)
“You think I don’t know how stories get written—how this story will be written?” Rhys put his hands on his chest, his face more open, more anguished than I’d seen it. “I am the dark lord, who stole away the bride of spring. I am a demon, and a nightmare, and I will meet a bad end. He is the golden prince—the hero who will get to keep you as his reward for not dying of stupidity and arrogance.”
The world gets even bigger and better. The story was only getting started in ACOTAR. In ACOMAF we discover more of the world of Prythian together with Feyre, and it is just epic. We get to see something else other than the Spring Court, we meet new and intriguing characters, go on adventures throughout the land, learn more about the history and start a war with an even bigger and meaner villain than Amarantha. This world and the plot are so rich and complex that it’s a joy to be able to immerse yourself completely in it.
The romance is steamy and swoon-worthy. Admittedly, there is less romance than in ACOTAR. But it is just SO MUCH BETTER. I was reduced to a puddle on the floor from all the feels several times while reading this. For those that are worried that there will be a dreaded love triangle, don’t be. The romance in this is what I call a typical Sarah J. Maas romance: realistic, empowering, flirty, steamy and just all-out PERFECTION. Prepare to re-read certain scenes over and over again. Also, while there is of course one main romance, there are so many other new ships sailing that I can’t wait to read more about in book 3.
The new characters are squad goals. I want to be a part of the Night Court’s inner circle. Seriously! Rhys and Amren and Mor and Cassian and Azriel. They are all so amazing, each with their own distinct personality and troubled past, but somehow they work together so beautifully and they are like a family.
“The Court of Dreams. The people who knew that there was a price, and one worth paying, for that dream. The bastard- born warriors, the Illyrian half breed, the monster trapped in a beautiful body, the dreamer born into a court of nightmares…And the huntress with an artist’s soul.”
I want to live in the Night Court. I thought I liked the Spring Court. But the Night Court speaks to my soul. It is so beautifully written that you can just picture it in front of you so clearly while reading it and you can’t help but fall in love with a fictional place. It’s not what you expect it to be, but it is so lush and complex and lovely. Forget about all the other courts, the Night Court’s where it’s at!
That bang of an ending. Gah. How do you do it Sarah? The ending is both satisfying and empowering and just enough of a cliffhanger that the next year will be spent excitedly waiting for book 3. Seriously, those last few pages and that last sentence had me going “Oh fuck yeah, that just happened!”
I am now re-reading this book. Because I have a major book hangover and am not ready to move on to a new book. Because starting a new book now would be a major disservice to whatever book I may choose. I’m still on the ACOMAF high right now, no other book could possibly compare. That’s how good this was.
Favorite quotes:
“No one was my master— but I might be master of everything, if I wished. If I dared.”
“There are different kinds of darkness,” Rhys said. I kept my eyes shut. “There is the darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the darkness that is restful.” I pictured each. “There is the darkness of lovers, and the darkness of assassins. It becomes what the bearer wishes it to be, needs it to be. It is not wholly bad or good.”
“But then she snapped your neck.”
Tears rolled down his face.
“And I felt you die,” he whispered.
Tears were sliding down my own cheeks.”
“When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”
“I needed not to be dead when I agreed.”
“You needed not to be alone.”
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