A Book A Week

It’s always good to read outside your usual genres. How else would we discover new authors and stories? And while I like to think of myself as an adventurous reader, fantasy has often been a stumbling block for me. Sure, I was swept up in the Harry Potter phenomenon, but beyond that, the genre has rarely managed to hold my attention. So when my sister-in-law recommended Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses, I was understandably hesitant. If fantasy was already a stretch, romantasy felt entirely out of my wheelhouse.

Still, against my better judgment, I picked up the first book. Before I knew it, I had read—and, dare I say, enjoyed—the second as well. And so, as the year draws to a close, I found myself ready to take the plunge once more with A Court of Wings and Ruin.

This third book finds Feyre in her most fully realized incarnation yet. She’s found her soulmate in Rhysand and completed her transformation into High Fae of the Night Court. With a firmer grasp on her powers, she’s no longer simply surviving—she’s striking back, taking delicious revenge on those who betrayed her trust and threatened the people she loves. But as much as Feyre wants to revel in the happiness of this new life, peace is not in the cards. War looms on the horizon, and she must learn to balance her magic, political influence, and divided loyalties to both court and family.

To protect everything she holds dear, Feyre returns to the Spring Court with vengeance in mind. Cloaked in a façade of obedience, she works to dismantle Tamlin’s alliance from within, carefully navigating treacherous court politics that threaten to expose her at every turn. The tension builds slowly, tightening with each revelation, as Feyre edges ever closer to the war she won't be able to avoid. 

A Court of Wings and Ruin marks the strongest opening of the series thus far. Sarah J. Maas has already done the heavy lifting of establishing the world and its characters, allowing this novel to dive straight into the action—and what a welcome start it is. Feyre exudes the strength she always seemed destined to claim, and it’s genuinely thrilling to watch her harness her powers at their fullest potential.

But as strong as the opening is, it’s everything that follows—nearly 700 pages’ worth—that began to lose me. The pacing is wildly uneven. Bursts of page-turning action repeatedly give way to long stretches of exposition: characters traveling great distances only to sit and discuss politics at length. While these conversations technically move the story forward, they stall the narrative momentum and linger far longer than necessary. Add to that the sex scenes popping up every fifty pages or so, and the novel starts to feel frustratingly bloated. What began as the strongest entry in the series ultimately became the most disappointing. In the end, it left me questioning whether the series could sustain the high stakes introduced here, or if it had already stretched itself too thin.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 98)

After much encouragement from friends, family, and coworkers late last year, I finally gave in to peer pressure. I stepped outside my literary comfort zone to read A Court of Thorns and Roses, the first book in Sarah J. Maas's bestselling series. While I found the fantasy world easy to slip into and appreciated the setup of its central conflict, the romance—intended to be the story’s emotional core—fell flat for me.

"Don't worry," readers assured me. "The second book is so much better!"

Despite my reservations, I borrowed a friend's copy of A Court of Mist and Fury and gave the series another chance.

Feyre has survived the darkest trials of her life, but the scars remain. Her time Under the Mountain—enduring unimaginable horrors to save Tamlin and his people—still haunts her. Though she now walks among the immortal High Fae, the weight of her past lingers, refusing to let her rest.

At least there’s a wedding to look forward to. Tamlin is the love of her life, and Feyre is ready to become his bride and settle into the safety of the Spring Court. But adjusting to this new existence isn't easy—especially when her bargain with Rhysand, the enigmatic and dangerous High Lord of the Night Court, continues to pull her toward a world she doesn’t fully understand.

As Feyre finds herself entangled in a treacherous web of politics, passion, and power, an even greater threat looms on the horizon. She may hold the key to stopping it—but only if she can master her newfound abilities, mend the fractures within herself, and decide the role she’s willing to play in a world on the brink of war.

One of the great pleasures of reading is stepping outside your comfort zone. While I usually gravitate toward my favorite authors and genres, there's something exhilarating about discovering something entirely new. High fantasy isn't typically my go-to, but I can't resist the allure of a book everyone around me seems to be raving about. Sarah J. Maas has long been prominent in the YA fantasy scene. Lately, her novel A Court of Thorns and Roses has taken my circle by storm. Everyone I know is devouring this series and wondering why I haven't started it yet. So, I've finally decided to succumb to peer pressure and dive into this popular series.

After her father's fall from wealth plunged them into poverty, 19-year-old Feyre became her family's unexpected provider. Now, living in a small, dilapidated cottage on the edge of the forest, she's the one who hunts to keep her father and sisters fed. One day, while stalking a doe, Feyre encounters a wolf seemingly pursuing the same prey. Acting on instinct, she kills both the wolf and the doe, bringing them back to her family for food and warmth. Unbeknownst to her, this single act will irrevocably change her fate.

The wolf was no ordinary creature but a shapeshifting faerie—a being whose life was protected by ancient laws. Soon, a powerful High Fae arrives to exact punishment for the death, capturing Feyre and taking her to a distant, enchanted land. As she adjusts to her new surroundings, Feyre's initial hatred for her captor, Tamlin, slowly shifts into a passionate connection, challenging everything she thought she knew about the Fae and their dangerous world. She soon discovers that the faerie world is plagued by a dark and ancient curse. Feyre must find a way to fight the evil threatening Tamlin's land or risk losing him and everything she's come to care for.

It's easy to understand why A Court of Thorns and Roses has enchanted so many readers. Sarah J. Maas creates a fantasy world that's accessible yet rich with drama, making it easy even for someone like me, who doesn't usually gravitate toward this genre, to dive into the story. Her fast-paced storytelling doesn't dwell too long on intricate details but lets the action propel the plot, trusting readers to piece things together through dialogue and implied context. 

That said, I found myself puzzled by the overwhelming hype. The central romance between Feyre and her captor, reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, felt unconvincing. It was hard for me to believe that she would develop feelings for the person who tore her away from her life. While the story's climax does tie back to the initial conflict in a satisfying way, the lack of authentic chemistry between the two lessened its emotional impact on me. I've heard from others that this is considered the weakest in the series, so I'll likely try the next book. Still, I'm a bit bewildered by the intense emotional reactions others have had to this novel, as it didn't resonate with me on that same level.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 70)