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.
I was happy to find that A Court of Mist and Fury is, indeed, a much stronger read than its predecessor. With the world and central conflict already established, Maas is free to dive straight into the action, raising the stakes and giving Feyre some much-needed emotional depth. Many of my frustrations with the romance in the first book aren’t just acknowledged but become a driving force for character development in this one. There’s more action, intrigue, and a better connection to the characters. I also appreciated how Maas expanded the world and deepened the backstory, making the stakes feel even higher.
That said, A Court of Mist and Fury isn’t without its flaws. The pacing still struggles at times, bogged down by exposition-heavy stretches that stall momentum between the more significant action scenes. And while I know the steamy romance is a major draw for many readers, I found myself skimming through most of it—those scenes added little of consequence to the actual story.
Still, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t invested. The central conflict kept me hooked, and while the book ends on a cliffhanger, it does so only after delivering a satisfying resolution to this stage of Feyre’s journey—one that leaves her more assertive and self-assured than ever. At over 600 pages, A Court of Mist and Fury is no small commitment. I’m still not convinced the payoff fully justifies the investment, but don’t be surprised if a review for the next installment pops up in the coming months.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2025, 13)
