Grace
The 5th book in the series, which leaves me so much to think about in terms of how to review this. I felt it a bit disconnected from the main trilogy because it switches FMC altogether, even if they are related and happens chronologically after the events in ACOWAR and ACOFAS, they change entirely the main characters, shifting focus to Nesta and Cassian. This by itself would have been better as a standalone with ACOFAS included, or even as bonus material, or dividing both making one longer and the other shorter from what they ended up being, to make a Nesta Duology. That to me makes more sense, but it was marketed and published as part of the ACOTAR series instead... if I were to rate it solely as the ending of the series (so far) to me it would've been a ⭐️⭐️⭐️ due to the disconnection and change of focus. But I believe there are series with better books than others so I choose to rate as standalone and taking some context of the past books. So here I go:
My complaint in past books, especially the so popular ACOMAF, is that they are unnecessarily long, full of info dump and very unrealistic scenes with the excuse of adding smut, prioritizing it over a good story or character development (which Feyre lacked, she still feels very plain, the same Feyre that went hunting in ACOTAR tbh), but I think in this book SJM got a great editor because I feel the history, context and explanations are well blended into the dialogues and inner monologues, without becoming something boring or overwhelming.
In terms of depth and story, I actually liked it, very much, because we know a very mean and nasty Nesta and get to see her growth and development throughout the 750 pages. SJM I think mirrored what she wanted to show in Feyre's training with Cass and Az in ACOMAF but in ACOSF she delivered it well for Nesta. It shows a self-awareness evolution, development of friendships through a common goal to overcome their pain, and their journey to change the rules in a male-dominant world. Nesta realizes what she does is wrong and she always has, but the thing in this book is that she allows herself to open up and change that, to allow herself to love and feel loved, to feel worthy of that love regardless of what happened in the past, and to forgive and be forgiven.
That to me is a very important message, no matter who you are, you can relate to some of that healing journey, which wasn't something I caught on the past books.
I still don't like Nesta, her story as to why she was mean and hated Feyre so bad when she should have been grateful doesn't add up, nor why is she so excessively OVERprotective of Elain (Feyre too, like I was confused as to which sister was the youngest right from the start of ACOTAR bc Elain seemed to be an 8yo in need of that protection), and it is just so unrealistic to me, Nesta making decisions on her own, or having attitudes like "wanting to stand up so Cassian doesn't humiliate himself in front of other males when having her training, but her body wouldn't respond" (complete BS tbh), how Feyre's problem resolves so quickly or how Briallyn is suddenly not a threat anymore... and those are also the elements I decided it wasn't a 5star for me, it doesn't feel as organic even though there are some emotional scenes that had me in big fat tears it doesn't outweight some nonsenses.
The fact that Cassian and Nesta are mates also ruined it for me, it was a bit forced and even when it explains why Cassian is overly understanding with Nesta's bs (similar as Lucien's pleading to Elain) it takes away Cassian's free will, like he tells Nesta about her BS but keeps coming back to her when it is a clearly toxic environment. At some parts he wants to let go of her but at others it's like he's obliged to stay so maybe the mate part was an afterthought, but I would have liked it to be natural, maybe the mating bond forming throughout the time and not as immediate as they said as a retcon (i.e. she was so cold not even a mating bond could go through her but after her development that ice started melting, allowing a bond to create)
To wrap up: it isn't a bad book, I would have enjoyed it more as a standalone, and with some depth in the resolutions of the threats, but I still enjoyed it more for the message it gives and the development it shows. Easily my favorite in the series tied with ACOWAR or ACOSAF (depending on the mood)
The 5th book in the series, which leaves me so much to think about in terms of how to review this. I felt it a bit disconnected from the main trilogy because it switches FMC altogether, even if they are related and happens chronologically after the events in ACOWAR and ACOFAS, they change entirely the main characters, shifting focus to Nesta and Cassian. This by itself would have been better as a standalone with ACOFAS included, or even as bonus material, or dividing both making one longer and the other shorter from what they ended up being, to make a Nesta Duology. That to me makes more sense, but it was marketed and published as part of the ACOTAR series instead... if I were to rate it solely as the ending of the series (so far) to me it would've been a ⭐️⭐️⭐️ due to the disconnection and change of focus. But I believe there are series with better books than others so I choose to rate as standalone and taking some context of the past books. So here I go:
My complaint in past books, especially the so popular ACOMAF, is that they are unnecessarily long, full of info dump and very unrealistic scenes with the excuse of adding smut, prioritizing it over a good story or character development (which Feyre lacked, she still feels very plain, the same Feyre that went hunting in ACOTAR tbh), but I think in this book SJM got a great editor because I feel the history, context and explanations are well blended into the dialogues and inner monologues, without becoming something boring or overwhelming.
In terms of depth and story, I actually liked it, very much, because we know a very mean and nasty Nesta and get to see her growth and development throughout the 750 pages. SJM I think mirrored what she wanted to show in Feyre's training with Cass and Az in ACOMAF but in ACOSF she delivered it well for Nesta. It shows a self-awareness evolution, development of friendships through a common goal to overcome their pain, and their journey to change the rules in a male-dominant world. Nesta realizes what she does is wrong and she always has, but the thing in this book is that she allows herself to open up and change that, to allow herself to love and feel loved, to feel worthy of that love regardless of what happened in the past, and to forgive and be forgiven.
That to me is a very important message, no matter who you are, you can relate to some of that healing journey, which wasn't something I caught on the past books.
I still don't like Nesta, her story as to why she was mean and hated Feyre so bad when she should have been grateful doesn't add up, nor why is she so excessively OVERprotective of Elain (Feyre too, like I was confused as to which sister was the youngest right from the start of ACOTAR bc Elain seemed to be an 8yo in need of that protection), and it is just so unrealistic to me, Nesta making decisions on her own, or having attitudes like "wanting to stand up so Cassian doesn't humiliate himself in front of other males when having her training, but her body wouldn't respond" (complete BS tbh), how Feyre's problem resolves so quickly or how Briallyn is suddenly not a threat anymore... and those are also the elements I decided it wasn't a 5star for me, it doesn't feel as organic even though there are some emotional scenes that had me in big fat tears it doesn't outweight some nonsenses.
The fact that Cassian and Nesta are mates also ruined it for me, it was a bit forced and even when it explains why Cassian is overly understanding with Nesta's bs (similar as Lucien's pleading to Elain) it takes away Cassian's free will, like he tells Nesta about her BS but keeps coming back to her when it is a clearly toxic environment. At some parts he wants to let go of her but at others it's like he's obliged to stay so maybe the mate part was an afterthought, but I would have liked it to be natural, maybe the mating bond forming throughout the time and not as immediate as they said as a retcon (i.e. she was so cold not even a mating bond could go through her but after her development that ice started melting, allowing a bond to create)
To wrap up: it isn't a bad book, I would have enjoyed it more as a standalone, and with some depth in the resolutions of the threats, but I still enjoyed it more for the message it gives and the development it shows. Easily my favorite in the series tied with ACOWAR or ACOSAF (depending on the mood)