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“To the stars who listen—and the dreams that are answered.”
Summary
Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman should have been able to survive. Though now she’s been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she remains haunted by her time Under The Mountain and the terrible acts she performed in order to not only save Tamlin but survive.
As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre’s emptiness and nightmares begin to consume her. She finds herself split between the one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and the 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 darkness looms. Feyre might be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness the gifts of the High Fae she has been given, heal her soul, and decide how she wants her future to look.
A future in a world of turmoil.
Let me just get this off my chest;
THIS IS THE SEQUEL WE DESERVE! 🥳
Thoughts on the Plot
Something I really enjoyed about this book and the next (A Court of Wings and Ruin) is the world-building. We finally get out of the Spring Court and get to experience the Night Court and the Summer Court.
Within the Night Court is Velaris, perhaps the city of my freaking DREAMS. Like can one of the bat boys just come pick me up and fly me to Rita’s for dinner?
There is also an impending war which creates a lot of fun tension.
This book does pick up not long after the events of Under The Mountain. With a lot of trauma and PTSD and a plot that revolves around two heavily broken people.
Thinking back on this book, I also realize there is a lot of untold history. Especially between Tamlin and Rhysand.
I would definitely consider this book to be more character-driven because I have SO many more thoughts on the characters than the plot.
Thoughts on the Characters
One thing that I really did not like, was how SJM felt the need to villainize Tamlin just to make Rhysand the “hero/savior”.
Those two aside, I really did enjoy Feyre’s evolution in this book. She begins to really come into herself and her powers and it was nice to see her transform from fragile to strong.
Feyre, Tamlin, and Rhysand are all incredibly traumatized characters, and it’s not entirely fair to give Rhysand a pass because of trauma but not Tamlin.
🚨SPOILER🚨
This book gave me all the feels, I was absolutely sobbing when Feyre had the panic attack after Tamlin locked her in the castle.
While also simultaneously climbing my boyfriend like the tree he is after Feyre serves Rhysand some…soup.
🚨SPOILER OVER🚨
This book truly made me feel things. ✨
I also want to point out that Rhysand is not a feminist. While he gives Feyre a choice when Tamlin could not, that doesn’t make him pro-women.
cough Silver Flames cough
Anyway, I absolutely LOVE the inner circle.
Mor and her “it girl” attitude hide the deeper aspects of her character.
Amren and her cranky grandpa energy.
Cassian and his puppy dog self. I am absolutely envious of his developing friendship with Feyre in this book.
And Azriel. The broody, emotional, sensitive love of my life. sigh
We also get more of Feyre’s sisters, Elain and Nesta. They begin to play larger roles from this book forward.
Hybern is your pretty standard bad guy which added more cliches to this book, but I had so much fun I can look past them.
🚨SPOILER🚨
Something I also really dislike is how SJM keeps pointing out how “rare” mates are and yet Elain is fresh out of the cauldron and poor Lucien is standing there like “mate???? Is that you???”
🚨SPOILER OVER🚨
If mates are rare, then let them actually be rare.
Overall Thoughts
A Court of Mist and Fury and A Court of Wings and Ruin are by far my favorite books in this series.
I 110% took these characters and molded them into perfection so they could live rent-free in my head.
You can keep Rhysand, I want Azriel. We both need therapy.
As I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of cliches in this book. And plenty of little details that don’t make sense within the bigger picture of the story but just get glazed over. However, this seems to be a theme in this series but I can’t speak to whether it’s an SJM thing or an ACOTAR thing.)
I still also really dislike the villainization of Tamlin. He didn’t have to go full-on evil to make Rhysand look better.
However, this book was a vibe and I had a grand old time.
Chapters 54 and 55 live in my head rent-free as well. And soup
No shocker here, but this one gets 5 out of 5 stars from me.
You Might Also Like: A Court of Thorns and Roses // A Court This Cruel and Lovely
