Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Wednesday #Review - A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas #YALit #Fantasy

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses # 3
Format: Kindle, 707 pages
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Source: Gifted 
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy 


Looming war threatens all Feyre holds dear in the third volume of the #1 New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit-and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords-and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

In this thrilling third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series from Sarah J. Maas, the earth will be painted red as mighty armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy them all.
 






A Court of Wings and Ruin is the third installment in author Sarah J Maas' A Court of Thorn and Roses series. A series that does not end with this book, but will continue with other characters in this same universe. The story kicks off with a Rhysand moment which happens two years before the Wall went up, then jumps forward to where the previous story left off. Feyre has temporarily gone back to the Spring Court in order to destroy Tamlin and his ability to help the King who he is bound to. She made a promise to kill the Human Queens, King of Hybern, Jurian, and Ianthe, the High Priestess who betrayed her sisters. 

In many ways, A Court of Wings and Ruin is a slow building monstrosity that really doesn't go anywhere until almost half the book has already been read. Oh sure, there are interesting aspects of Feyre's time with Tamlin & the Spring Court, and how she deals with different characters. Sure, there were questions about Jurian and whether or not he was actually biding his time until something important happened, or just blowing smoke to seem that he was actually willing to help Feyre and her allies. Then there is the whole Lucien issue, and whether or not he made the right choice.

The most curious & boring aspects of this story took place between acts. There is a whole lot of talking, a whole lot of research, and a whole lot of attempting to put together a coalition to save the world, which means that Feyre gets to meet all of the Lords who saved her life but are more than weary of her. I loved Feyre and The Suriel, but that scene tore my heart into pieces. We know so little about Bryaxis, the creature who Feyre makes a bargain with. What we do know is that it is a good thing IT was on Feyre's side. Feyre and The Bone Crusher. The banter between the two sets things in motion for Feyre to move beyond her emotional baggage, which is a good thing. My other favorite scene is the arrival of Miryam, Drakon, and their army. Did I scream HELL YEAH! Why, yes, yes I did. 

There's not much I can say about the romance that hasn't already been written about hundreds of times before. I love Rhys. I love how he would hurt anyone who tries to hurt his mate. Oh, did you know that Rhys is a badass? Wow. On the other hand, Feyre has sex on her mind. She wants sex while having sex. She wants sex while battling to save her people. She wants sex while her sisters are struggling with being High Fae. She wants sex in the mud and blood while warriors are dying on the battlefield. But, I loved when Rhys and Feyre were reunited after she spent time away from him in the Spring Court. Yes, I did sigh just a little bit. 

I am not a huge fan of books that go over 500 pages, but I've never not finished one after I started it. If makes me feel as though I am a failure, or that I will miss something. Seriously, if you have DNF'd this book, go back and read it again. I am not a fan of triangles of any kind. There are plenty of conflicted emotions between characters. Who should be with whom and who can't be with whomever because the author totally decided to jump the shark and change course. 

I am also not a fan of characters who are diversified for the sake of diversities sake. It happened in The Hunger Games movie version, it happens so many times that I really am ready to scream. If you start out a series with character X being a gay or straight or black or Asian or Latino and finished the series that way, then I have zero complaints. But, the way character X is portrayed in this story, made me want to drink a bottle of antacid. I have zero respect for making excuses as to whom you will sleep with and why, and then claiming you are something else entirely. 

**Feyre & Rhysand “Night Triumphant - and the Stars Eternal. If he was the sweet, terrifying darkness, I was the glittering light that only his shadows could make clear.” So, yes, I am totally a fan of this romance. I couldn't take much more of Tamlin, even though I am sure that he really did have love for Feyre. Abuse is abuse no matter how you look at things. Tying someone down against her will, is not the way to get to that persons heart. Was I moved by the ending? Eh

**Nesta & Cassian - “Nesta looked at the king with death twining around his hands, then down at Cassian. And covered Cassian’s body with her own. Cassian went still - then his hand slid over her back. Together. They’d go together.” I do hope that this romance gets off the ground in the next installments. Nesta wasn't one of my favorites in the beginning, but she makes some interesting growth spurts as a character who can more than hold her own.

**Elain & Lucien & Azriel - Elain's situation truly broke my heart. I hated how things happened to her, but I do hope that the author resolves the issue between her and Lucien being mates, or will it be Azriel when all is said and done? I do like the Elain was given an interesting ability that helps Feyre and her allies. I like that Elain finds her niche and actually comes out of her cocoon. 





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