Happy birthday to my mom! I'm so glad I can finally write this review! Because A Court of Silver Flames will be published this month, I am rereading and reviewing the entire ACOTAR series! A Court of Mist and Fury is my favourite Sarah J. Maas novel I've read so far. When I read it for the first time I was blown away by how good it was. I immediately fell in love. As I have said before, it took me a year after the first book to start the second. I was so convinced that Tamlin was the perfect guy and I didn't like that Maas suddenly 'dumped' him. Even though it took me a year, I was so in love after I read the sequel. ACOMAF is very character-driven and I love that so much. Let's get into the review so that I can fangirl for some time.
Be aware of spoilers from ACOTAR and a few of ACOMAF!
When ACOTAR ends, Tamlin and Feyre return to the Spring Court. Feyre is resurrected from the dead by being 'Made'. The seven High Lords made her fae after her neck was broken, that was the only way she could resurrect. These last chapters give some major hints on what will happen in the sequel. Hints, that I missed during my first read of the book. When Feyre is dead, she looks through the eyes of Rhysand. When they have a conversation together, a little later, Rhysand actually stumbles before he winnows to the Night Court.
ACOMAF picks up a few weeks later in the Spring Court. Even though Feyre and Rhysand made a bargain during their time Under the Mountain, he hasn't come to claim her for a week. In these first chapters, we see how destroyed Feyre is because of what she went through. She is traumatised because of the faeries she killed. Over time, she gets thinner and weaker, throwing up each night and not getting enough sleep. Even though her fae body is stronger than her human body, she did not lose her human heart. On the day of her wedding, she panics. She isn't ready to bind herself to Tamlin and this is when Rhysand comes to the rescue. He takes her away for the week and helps her learn and control her new powers and teaches her how to read and write. It takes a while for Feyre to learn that Rhysand is not the bad guy in the story, even though she thought he was.
Because of what happened to Feyre when they were Under the Mountain and in Amarantha's control, Tamlin became quite obsessive and wanted to make sure nothing happened to her again. However, his choices were not good for Feyre. Unable to learn how to defend herself or to get control of her new faerie powers. She weakens when they are together. She even begs Tamlin to be allowed to do more and to move freely, he refuses. Yet, all goes wrong (or maybe right eventually) when Tamlin locks Feyre up. She is saved by Mor and Rhys who take her back to the Night Court. Of course, Tamlin is pissed. But slowly, Feyre is able to heal and get stronger.
Even though this is an impactful event, it happens quite early in the book. Even sooner than I expected it to be. ACOMAF is focussed on the characters, Feyre gets to know Rhys and his friends, but also herself. She learns how to fight, use her powers and what she wants to do with her immortal life. She even starts to see paintings again, something she lost after Under the Mountain. Rhys helps her grow and get to know herself and her strength.
Rereading the book for the second time, I can say that Feyre quickly gets over Tamlin, even though he was the one she destroyed herself for. However, the flirtation with Rhys makes up for it. His story is so well thought of, and I am just in love with him. Even though he made bad choices when Amarantha had control over him, he did it to protect the ones he cared for and his entire court. Even his actions towards Feyre are always with good intentions, he has so much respect for her that he is willing to give himself up for it.
I love the dynamic between Rhys and Feyre. It is so casual yet there's always this slightly sexual hint to it. It is so well done how they grow towards each other, who Feyre struggles to accept her feelings for him. Even though Feyre is young, she is able to show Rhys other sides of himself. He grows too when with her.
I've reread chapter 54 and 55 so many times already, but it keeps blowing my mind. Rhys' perspective and backstory, it finally all falls into place. I also love the simplicity of their romance at that moment, as well as the hints of how deep their love for each other is. I just love this book.
I think I will leave it here, thank you for reading this post! I am so ready to read A Court of Silver Flames and the wait is almost over! Have a lovely day all!
Julia
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