twists and turns galore

I don't even know where to begin with my thoughts on this book... going back and reading my review for A Court of Thorns and Roses, realizing how differently I view Tamlin as a character and lover now, is perhaps one of the most mind blowing things. I think this one aspect is just one of many shows of excellent writing on Maas' part -- writing every chapter from Feyre's perspective allows her readers to grow close to and empathize with her as a character as well as remain blind to the mistreatment she suffered until someone came along to free her and allow her to see how she had been wasting away. The progression of Feyre's slow decay and, inversely, slow recovery of life and newfound power is so realistically written. In other words, she grapples with very real trauma in a very real way. And Rhysand... oh, Rhysand. One of my new favorite literary characters to be sure. So well-developed to be made out as the bad guy when all along, he was the perfect prince clothed in night itself. His selflessness, patience with Feyre, restrained love bursting forth into untameable passion, is all executed over the 600 or so pages that I sincerely think the Rhysand in ACOTAR is not the same Rhysand in ACOMAF. This has so far proven to be one of my many favorite things about this series (though it gets lost among the many other things I love about it): the characters grow into and out of themselves, evolving as the world throws its worst at them and they emerge on the other side battered but alive. I think of Cassian and Azriel as I write this, Rhysands' brothers who fought as hard as Rhys to become the fearless beings of dark and strength they are when Feyre finds them. The other female characters we're introduced to are impeccably fleshed out, human in all the ways they are High Fae, as feminine as they are lethal and loyal. I love Mor almost as much as I love Rhysand. And pertaining to the many smaller but noteworthy details of this novel, Rhysand teaching Feyre how to read and subsequently allowing her a means of escapism from the darkness and despair of her own head is one of my favorites. The plot of this book progresses as it follows the development of Rhysand and Feyre's inevitable attraction and slow descent into love -- a progression that I think would've been much less intriguing if it was only about war and defending the human realm from the King of Hybern's power. The slow-burn of their relationship, characterized by shameless flirting and banter, was perfectly executed that I really did squeal when they finally got together. I really like books that are character-driven since I think characters are what stick with you as a reader long after the large and small details of the plot have faded. And just like in the series' first book, the last 100 or so pages went absolutely off the rails and I loved every second of it. My jaw was certainly on the floor for the majority of its plot twists. I also have to mention that the spicy scenes in this book where some of the best I've ever read. That's not saying a whole lot since I don't really read spicy books, but wow... I felt the heat. And the "one bed in a small room" trope is thrown in the middle of the novel effortlessly -- I offer up a chef's kiss to Maas for that. Ok, anyways... I'm trying to get my hands on the next book ASAP.



Some of my favorite quotes from A Court of Mist and Fury:

"He thinks he'll be remembered as the villain in the story. But I forgot to tell him that the villain is usually the person who locks up the maiden and throws away the key. He was the one who let me out."

"To the stars who listen—and the dreams that are answered."

"I am broken and healing, but every piece of my heart belongs to you."

"And I wondered if love was too weak a word for what he felt, what he’d done for me. For what I felt for him."

"There you are. I've been looking for you.

His first words to me— not a lie at all, not a threat to keep those faeries away.

Thank you for finding her for me."

"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."

"You are my salvation, Feyre."

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