Rating: 4.7/5
This is the first book from Sarah J. Maas I've read and I was...bewitched by it.
First of all, the plot:
A Court of Thorns and Roses was inspired by the beauty and the beast story, but apart from a vague resemblance I probably wouldn't have easily thought of it hadn't I knew beforehand. First of all, the main character, Feyre, isn't a girl who loves reading beyond anything else. She isn't even able to read. She's the one who keeps the family going after the downfall of her father's buisness and the death of her mother, to whom she promised to look out for her family. Since then, that has been her primary issue, the only thing she thought of at day and night, and also, her curse, since her father and sisters behave like the most ungrateful beings on the earth. That's what Feyre's life was like before she, hunting in the forest, killed a Faerie, one of those wicked beings she, for her whole life, learned to hate. That's what her life was before she was taken away from her family, and the oath she always did everything she could to keep, by a monstrous and powerful being called Tamlin for taking another Faerie's life. That's the beginning of another life, one she would never had expected.
Characters: Feyre...I was so annoyed by her at first. She didn't listen to ONE of the advices people gave her, not one. If Tamlin or Lucien or anyone else told her not to do something, that's exactly what she would do. And it's not like they ever ordered her not to do things for unreasonable motives...But okay, let's get past it. Feyre is illiterate, but she loves to paint. She cares so much for the people she loves that she would do anything for them. Despite being repeatedly insulted because of her human nature throughout the book, that's what made her an amazing character, worthy of being the protagonist of the book.
Tamlin: I heard he becomes very different in the next book but...right now he seemed amazing to me, such a merciful character, wrecked by the weight of the world on his shoulders but still able to see the good in it, still able to love. I liked his character a lot.
I loved Lucien, okay? He is the best of friends, and he kind of couldn't stand Feyre at the beginning, but he ends up caring about her, which is so sweet.
And about Rhysand, I was very against him at the start but by the end of the book my love for him grew and grew and grew... I can't wait to see more of him in the next book! I definitely don't think he is a good character but that's what makes him interesting, even though as of now I don't think he is a good match for Feyre.
All the other characters too were well outlined and characterized.
Writing: I just love the flowing of the story, the author's style is so fluid, it invites you to read more and more until...the book is finished! And you crave for the next one. Luckily for me, I'm always late to the party with new books so I won't have to wait to read A Court of Mist and Fury. Moreover, the world built by Sarah J. Maas in this fantasy managed to be believable and coherent. It isn't always an easy task for writers to achieve, often fantasy stories end up feeling misty and kind of obscure to the reader. Well, this definitely isn't the case, and I am so glad about it.
What I liked the most: since I am a first class masochist the final part just sold my soul to this series, if you haven't read it just wait for it, if the start is good the last 10 chapters or so will leave you in awe.
What I didn't like: aside from Feyre's tendency to unreasonably put herself in danger- which however can be overlooked- I'd say the love triangle. I'll wait to see how things go in the next book, but my rejection for love triangles is so big that not even my liking for Rhysand stopped me from giving the book 4.7 instead of 5 stars.. But honestly this book is so good, I'll have to look up all the other Sarah J. Maas works!
