A review by lakeofwords
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I spent years thinking this book series was on a "smutty Wattpad fanfic" level of writing, and laughing at how people seemed to go wild for it. I watched YouTube videos of people shitting on it, took it for fact and ran with it, writing it all off as one of those erotic romance novels with ripped male abs on the cover.
Then, one day, I stumbled across Cari Can Read's videos of her explaining the whole plot of all the books. I decided to watch it because "well, I'm never gonna read that stuff anyways, might as well get some laughs..."
She says, right from the start, she actually liked reading the books, even if they were an easy target for criticism and hate. Even if it has some problematic bits. Fair enough, I began watching.
I watched the whole thing, for all of the books in the series. I ate it up.
Then I watched them again and again and again, telling myself I enjoyed listening to the story but didn't have any interest in actually reading it.
I listened to the videos like one might listen to a podcast, rewatching them for what feels like fifty times.
Then I bought a kindle and said fuck it, I'm gonna read them.
I know EVERYTHING that happens in this series, I know all the plot points and plot twists. I should find it absolutely boring, then, right? WRONG!
I ENJOYED IT EVEN MORE THAN LISTENING TO IT!
I got lost in the lore, the charm of this book.
The writing is so much more than I thought it would be. It's interesting, gripping. The plot is so much more than "faeries having sex" like I'd been led to believe. There is such heart, such emotion and honesty. Even in a fantasy story (which I always thought I didn't like, but it turns out I just hate MEN writing fantasy), SJ Maas was able to convey such powerful imagery and feeling that it all feels relatable and I felt like I was there.
Anyway, all this to say, I have been forever ruined and am now one of the people I would once scoff at when they said they like ACOTAR.
Oh, and I am in love with a male faerie called Rhysand, fuck me.
Thanks, Sarah. I look forward to reading the shit out of all the "faerie" classics and am fully in my fantasy written by women era. I am once more an avid reader and I've missed just enjoying books for what they are and escaping to a whole different world for hours.
I'M BACK BABYYYYYYY!!!
Then, one day, I stumbled across Cari Can Read's videos of her explaining the whole plot of all the books. I decided to watch it because "well, I'm never gonna read that stuff anyways, might as well get some laughs..."
She says, right from the start, she actually liked reading the books, even if they were an easy target for criticism and hate. Even if it has some problematic bits. Fair enough, I began watching.
I watched the whole thing, for all of the books in the series. I ate it up.
Then I watched them again and again and again, telling myself I enjoyed listening to the story but didn't have any interest in actually reading it.
I listened to the videos like one might listen to a podcast, rewatching them for what feels like fifty times.
Then I bought a kindle and said fuck it, I'm gonna read them.
I know EVERYTHING that happens in this series, I know all the plot points and plot twists. I should find it absolutely boring, then, right? WRONG!
I ENJOYED IT EVEN MORE THAN LISTENING TO IT!
I got lost in the lore, the charm of this book.
The writing is so much more than I thought it would be. It's interesting, gripping. The plot is so much more than "faeries having sex" like I'd been led to believe. There is such heart, such emotion and honesty. Even in a fantasy story (which I always thought I didn't like, but it turns out I just hate MEN writing fantasy), SJ Maas was able to convey such powerful imagery and feeling that it all feels relatable and I felt like I was there.
Anyway, all this to say, I have been forever ruined and am now one of the people I would once scoff at when they said they like ACOTAR.
Oh, and I am in love with a male faerie called Rhysand, fuck me.
Thanks, Sarah. I look forward to reading the shit out of all the "faerie" classics and am fully in my fantasy written by women era. I am once more an avid reader and I've missed just enjoying books for what they are and escaping to a whole different world for hours.
I'M BACK BABYYYYYYY!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Torture, War, and Sexual assault