A Court of Thorns and Roses: Sarah J. Maas

Product Information

It's perfect for anyone who wants about as much romance as The Hunger Games, and the powers of The Young Elites! There is some violence, but overall it's great for any 11 year old. Is a court of thorns and roses a reverse harem? When Feyre made the decision to stay at the Night Court with Rhys and the squad (who I adore so much by the way), I was so happy. Not just because that meant Rhys and Feyre time (whoo!), but because it showed how strong she's become and that she finally escaped the captivity of the Spring Court into the freedom of the Night Court. And she is a total bad ass. Okay, im teenage girl, i want to read books like this one. Fantasy books with magic and fae. I want a good story line, like this one, WITHOUT sex.

There’s not much drinking. Feyre drinks faerie wine on multiple occasions. The two main points in the story that I remember is where she drinks wine and is happy; the other occasion where she doesn’t remember anything. To be completely honest with you guys, I have absolutely no idea where to start, so I'm warning you, this is gonna be far from an actual review. I almost tossed this down in disgust five times while reading this book. I knew, going in, that it was going to be a massive act of revisionism with regard to Rhysand, the villain of the first book. And as someone who loves villains and the Persephone myth that could have been something I could have gotten behind under the right circumstances. But I wasn't truly prepared for the narrative gymnastics that this book would perform to try to redeem him without really making him do any legwork. By the end of the book, he's still a sleaze lord, only now he's a sad sleaze lord in leather pants who was actually the heroine's soulmate all along and an all around Nice Guy. Pop a fedora on his head and he'd probably "milady" his way through the Night Court.I appreciate how the characters are all of a younger adult age range (18-late 20s), which makes the characters relatable to both older teens and adults alike.

Though the heated descriptions are usually more titillating than graphic, sex is a big part of the story, and it's not just the attraction between Feyre and Tamlin. As the story begins, Feyre's friends-with-benefits relationship with a village boy is ending; Tamlin, being immortal, has had many lovers. A character must play the starring role in a fertility rite, having ritual sex to ensure the year's crops. The Night Court squad is so awesome. We've got Mor, Amren, Cassian, and Azriel who I love all equally. They all have character depth, flaws, and pasts that we learn about. Mor's past was devastating and made me want to just give her the biggest hug. I also enjoyed amren a lot because she looks like she could kill you and will actually kill you. And Azriel and Cassian are also really fun to read about as well. They are all cinnamon rolls. Feyre and a boy from her village, Isaac, have been meeting in a barn to have sex for two years. Neither has romantic feelings for each other, but they have sex as a reprieve from the sadness and emptiness of their lives. Isaac drinks a contraceptive brew so Feyre won’t get pregnant.

Did we miss something on diversity?

For more on how the main romance is perpetuated by gaslighting, a trauma bond, dissociation, sexual assault, sexual harassment, lies, sexual stalking, control, isolation, manipulation, and more, please read this in depth analysis, which also sheds light on the racism and homophobia rampant in SJM's work in general.

There is a lot of violence in this book, to be frank. Now, as a kid who needs a fare amount of action (or romance) in a novel to stay hooked I was VERY pleased with the violence in this story. The violence is descriptive and was extremely well written and I’ve never read anything quite like it. This part goes out to the kids: if you do not like violence then you will probably not like this novel considering there is a LOT of action. If you DO like violence then you’ll probably love this book. 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.” Feyre is a strong female protagonist. I, personally, quite liked they way Sarah J. Maas wrote her character. Feyre is smart despite not knowing how to read or write but she’s still able to provide for her family, which I thought was a great message saying that everyone is smart in their own way. Tamlin and Lucien are both very loyal and all three of them make sacrifices for one another.On a chirpier note though, I'll go drown myself into a hell of a long book-slump because nothing, absolutely nothing can come close to this glorious book while its remnants shine so brightly in my mind. And you wanna know what? HE'S A GODDAMN FEMINIST. If that doesn't make you fall in love with him head over heels, I don't know what will. Plus Rhys is basically the hottest fictional guy ever created (Darkling + Warner + Dorian = omg). WHY ISN'T HE REAL??? *sobs* Family is a part of Feyre’s (the main character. Pronounced ‘Fey-ruh’ in case you were wondering) character. Love is also a message. Dedication to others and to do the right thing.