Reviews with content warning for Suicide - A Court of Silver Flames

Read this more for completion sake of the series. While Nesta is a better character than Feyre (more personality, and more character growth), this was also my least enjoyed books of the entire series. Firstly the weakest element of these books is the spice and this had too much. Secondly really disliked the pregnancy subplot, and I don't know why it was even in the book to be honest. It really really really felt like a made up issue, because I could think of a few in-universe ways of fixing it that had to be solved with "oh but we can't do that for some? reason?" and the actual climax of that plot felt like a deus ex machina. I wish this was only about Nesta and the author hadn't written in Feyre changing her mind and deciding to get pregnant at all (I believe this is because the author had a kid). This would have allowed more time for the climax of Nesta's story which felt rushed to me. Finally, the scenes of sword fighting training were wrong. I did like the female friendships in this, it was more fleshed out than the other friendships in the other books.

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jimjamreads's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

4.0

I am definitely in the minority here, but I don’t like this book as much as the others ACOTAR books.

I loved watching Nesta’s character development, and the exploration of her power. But I felt like the last 100 pages were very rushed. SJM attempts to start a new sub-plot and wrap up three other plot lines all in 100 Pages. It kind of feels like everything was wrapped up too conveniently as well. I wish she had either split this into two books or cut out some stuff in the middle or something.

The way Nesta was treated by the inner circle was kind of deplorable. Never have I turned in a cast of characters so quickly.

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_why_so_serious_'s review against another edition

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I was thoroughly disgusted. I'd rather this Nesta character died in the 1st book itself. Respectfully, ofcourse. It's co cerning how much anyone co ld be appalled by some non-existent idiot. (In this book's case, more appropriate will be "idiots" but I digress).

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downsophialane's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A Court of Silver Flames is outstanding, but it is not for the faint-hearted. My girl Nesta goes through it. There are parts of her journey to healing that are hard to read, and this novel is long, but it's absolutely worth it.

This summer is my reintroduction to speculative fiction after a long time away so I'm not fantasy expert; thus, I'll leave the critique of the fantasy worldbuilding to other reviewers. My expert area is romance though, and the development of Nesta and Cassien's relationship is something special. This book is notably sexier than previous SJM books, but I would argue that the explicit scenes here are doing what they need to, to serve the emotional arc (which is what sex scenes in romance novels are supposed to do). Cassian is also a god among men in the ranks of romance heroes. He is fully devoted to Nesta despite her tendency to lash out at him, but he doesn't veer into creepy "persistent" territory where harrassment is treated as romantic.

Truly, I would go to war for Nesta. She is what may be called an "unlikeable heroine", but that label feels reductive when the reason is so clear and deliberate... She isn't unlikeable, she has debilitating trauma and self-hatred. She is surrounded by people who are not able or willing to give her the grace of being depressed, compounded by her lashing out at anyone attempting to reach her. I felt the conflict between Nesta, Feyre and Rhysand was so well-done: no one is blameless but everyone's perspectives are understandable.

SJM's unabashed appropriation of romancelandia chat, Nesta's friendly house that reads romance novels, and the Valkyries' training also affords some much need levity. This book is as much a celebration of female friendship as it is a soarching romance.

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tytoavalon's review against another edition

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3.0

Entertaining but corny as hell. I constantly felt like I was being hit over the head with "girl power!" and "the magic of love and friendship!" I don't mind these themes, but the execution was just so blunt, heavy-handed, and over-explained.

P.s. Sarah J. Maas PLEASE do not come at me with the word "suckle" in an erotic context 🤢

P.p.s. couldn't Feyre have shape-shifted during the birth considering they were both about to die anyway??? And was abortion never considered once they found out the risk to Feyre's body? (Not that they were even planning to tell her about the risk so she didn't actually have the opportunity to make that choice)

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