A Court of Silver Flames
Ratings708
Average rating4.2
I've finally done it. I've finally read ACOSF! Since it was released I was doing my best to keep my eyes off all the buzz, though when it comes to this series, that's hard to do. I did enjoy most of this book. Maas is an author who excels that building up her characters and world, sometimes for chapters at a time, which can make plot pacing seem choppy here and there (though nothing I mind too much, as I do appreciate a strong world with a strong system - be that magic, political, or otherwise - when reading). My gripes have to do with how QUICKLY the book ended...and fell flat. We are given hundreds of pages of in-depth character interactions and Nesta grows beautifully...only to have the bloody end be concluded with a ‘sacrifice' I didn't totally love. Nesta had progressed into such a strong woman...only to give away all her powers (but plot twist! Your super powerful warrior girl changed her anatomy so she can have a baby.)
When I read that part, despite all I had really enjoyed about ACOSF, this was my face (I'm not kidding):
Not only can I just NOT see Nesta as a mother (Aunt Nesta is something I can see...but a mother? No.), but it also widdles her character down into the same, tired trope of “all women, regardless of personality, inevitably want to be mothers.” Never mind the fact that it is totally inconsistent with her character. And yes, I know she did this to save Feyre, but you're telling me Maas could think of NO other way for Nesta to ~redeem~ herself + save her sister without wholly giving up the power she'd just learned to wield? For Christ's sake!
Honestly, had the ending not been what it was, this book would have been a 3 or 4 stars - not perfect, maybe, but strong enough and enjoyable. But that ending...boy, oh boy, did it leave a bad taste in my mouth.
I get that I am in a minority of reviewers here, and hey, I love Nessian just as much as the next! But in my [sometimes not-so-humble], yet completely SUBJECTIVE opinion (isn't that what all book reviews are, the good and the bad?), the ending tarnished a character I had grown to love.
This took me a little while to get into this one, but eventually it clicked and then I couldn't put it down. The Valkyrie storyline was so fun, I learned to appreciate Nesta, and it was cool to see the world and story still be engaging with my two fave characters in the backseat. I loved it, and I love this series.
I missed a couple of the side characters through, they kind of disappeared. I hope they show up in the next!
“She laughed, a sound of pure joy, and she cried more, because that joy was a miracle.”
My absolute favorite novel.
I enjoyed the rest of the ACOTAR series, however, as someone struggling with trauma, Nesta's story was fascinating, compelling, and resonated with me more than any other fictional novel. Her story is inspiring without being flowery, and the depth of her character and struggles is without match.
One of the novels I revisit often when I need motivation.
DNF 50% I love myself too much to finish this.
I only enjoyed a book and a half of this whole series.
How do you end a series with a standalone arce?!
SJM doesn't seem to be capable of turning the heat past 5 or 6 at most. While this wasn't as boring as the previous 3.1 novella, it's still terrible. This is just a training montage that lasts for 750+pages. No one is likeable and in the most dumb way possible.
The weak feminist aspects don't even give the book more points, just boring stuff like “Did you know this race of beings treat their females like trash?” No nuance just saying things for the same of saying them.
I preface this by saying that my opinions of ACOTAR books leaned more negative. I am not of the popular opinion. I think Rhysand and Feyre are a cringey couple, and there were a lot of inconsistencies with Feyre. I felt a lot of the ACOTAR series had a good plot, but has been poorly executed.
I wasn't going to go any further after the third book, because I didn't care to read about the spoiled older sister. Nesta came off as a spoiled b** when she was first introduced. Her role in ACOWAR started to give her more of a spotlight and you realized she was more broken than evil.
I was truly interested in Nesta's journey of finding forgiveness in herself and her ability to love again. To find a purpose and to keep living. I really rooted for her to get better. Despite most common opinions, this book has been my favorite of the ACOTAR series. Yes, Feyre had her issues, but I don't think her journey back was nearly as powerfully written as Nesta's.
Negatives of the book was that it still lacked world building. We're already on the 5th book and not much has been said about the continent besides that it is.The plot of evil doers trying to dominate the world was fairly small compared to the other books. The girl talk was a little excessive.
Not saying that anyone suffering from anxiety and depression should read this, but I think I personally resonated with Nesta for some parts of her journey. Despite most common opinions, this book has been my favorite of the ACOTAR series.
It's my own fault. I knew what I was reading going in. But damn, I'm just so bored with every third chapter ending with a 20 minute sex scene. I really like epic fantasy/doorstopper with a primarily female POV and that's slim pickings if I veto romantasies. So, I really liked this but this is also my last straw for this genre. Sadly.
Contains spoilers
SPOILERS!!
I really enjoyed reading about Nesta and Cassian throughout the book, but I must admit, I found Nesta insufferable at the start. The middle part of the book was my favourite for sure once Nesta starting being a better human being. The ending was great, though felt very rushed. I feel like it should've been spread out by at least three chapters more. Other than that, a fun time and I hope SJM writes the next book ASAP!
“You let her suck your cock in the middle of the dining room. At a table I'm currently using to eat my dinner. I'd say that entitles me to an opinion.”
I absolutely loved seeing the world through Nesta's eyes, through her perspective. Nothing against Feyre's story and all, but it was nice to have a break from Feyre and Rhysand on every other page (even if part of this one was still a bit of that.) I loved seeing her work through her traumas, find her people and her strength, and show that incredible side to her. So many people hated her character before this book, and honestly, that to me is a sign that Maas wrote her perfectly. I love a good “now you hate her, now you don't” plot line for incredibly annoying characters to show that there's more to them than the surface. I also think having her matched to Cassian, and them having a little enemies to lovers backstory felt right for their characters.
I will say though, that the last chunk of the book felt way too fast.. like I spent this whole journey following her growth and training and forming bonds, and then the last part flew by faster than a hummingbird on crack. Why was it necessary to speed up? The pace of the book was good, and I would have been more than fine with a few extra chapters to round out the end a bit more smoothly. That made me deduct my rating.
Well that and.. Feyre.. please.. why did you have to name the kid the most basic fantasy name... like of all the choices, my god... I rolled my eyes almost too hard.
I'll probably never stop thinking about this book tbh.
Nesta girl I am SO sorry for the things I said about you in the first 4 books. I love you
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)
Tbh this would've been a 5 for me if Feyre and Rhys (who is like... fucking INSUFFERABLE every time he's on a page) and the inane “omg she's going to have a baby that's going to kill her but let's not TELL her that” subplot weren't in it
I'm not going to get over this book for a while for so many reasons wiggles brows Out of the entire ACOTAR series, this one is where the author found her stride I think. Incredibly well-paced comparatively, profoundly poignant and relatable. Just... sigh. Loved it. I'm that girl now - no shade and no shame. Fully ready for Valkyrie boot camp.
This book was absolutely *chef's kiss*. I loved the development of Nesta's character, and of course Maas did a wonderful job of weaving seemingly inconsequential details into the plot that made for such an incredible climax to the book. I also thought that the balance between smut and plot was perfect. I have read other books that are super smutty and have very few other scenes that contribute to the plot which tend to leave me bored. Not this book, though! Plenty of spicy scenes with lots of variety but still lots of actual plot to keep me interested. I definitely thought ACOMAF was my favorite book in the series, but now I'm having trouble deciding between the two!
I really enjoyed this book. The continuing saga of Feyre and her mate Rhysand, but I was more invested in her sisters' storylines. Nesta... and her coming into her own. Elaine, stepping out of her quietude and taking on more of a role. Clearly, Maas left openings for another book, if she chooses. I would relish another volume in the series.
Listen, when the Valkyries were doing their thing on the mountain I did not care what Az and Cassian were up to. Those POV switches almost had me throwing the book. Then I forgot what was happening to Feyre so the stress started all over again and the next book better be on the way.
I'm really not a big fan of spice but I enjoyed the themes and Nesta's personal journey.
Maas done wrote a character that hates herself so much she wants to die and I have never felt more seen. I'll spare you the 600 word spiel I wrote up in my notes app the other day and just tell you that grief looks different on everyone. I mean, think about a time where you were So Extremely Sad. Maybe you have healthier coping mechanisms, but for me, I feel so powerless in my sadness. Everyone around you is angry at your attitude when you're just fighting everything within reach to survive. For Nesta, I think the decision to lock her up in the House of Wind was a decision filled with hatred (rhys), embarrassment (feyre), selfishness (cassian), and a desire for control. Despite whatever your frustrations are with her, she's a grown woman who should be allowed to drink wine and fuck whoever she wants. And I think that was the MOST frustrating part...she was essentially stripped of her bodily autonomy. (why couldn't this woman just get a job and pay off her debts instead?). It's definitely convenient that Nesta thinks of his time as really self destructive (like she's not worthy of having friends because she had casual sex?). If I had to compare it to anything, it felt like the edge of seventeen. That one movie where everyone keeps telling this 17 year old girl that she pities herself too much and no one likes her and then she has to apologize to everyone at the end for some unknown reason. Except maybe the apologies Nesta gives out are kinda valid! ONE LAST MESSAGE ABOUT NESTA: A lot of you have darker fucking spirits and make deeper cuts than her. AND A lot of you want the complex, morally grey characters but can't even stomach a woman who drinks too much wine and says mean things to her sisters. If you never intended to extend empathy towards her, you never should've asked for more POVs. I DIGRESS NOW.
The smut in this book was SICKENNINGGG! My metaphorical dick was twitching. It started slow and got downright nasty at times. Mrs. Maas, I see your growth. I don't think we needed AS MANY as we got though. It made me wonder at times if they even liked each other.
The introduction to these troves and new antagonists is smart and helped keep the story fresh. Wasn't sure how Maas was going to continue the series after the war but she somehow created new turmoil, gave us new history lessons, and extended this world so much farther that I ever could've imagined. While I do think this works, a part of me does get the feeling that all this newness was a desperate attempt to keep things going? I LIKE the newness, but is obvious to me that the newness reworks the series into something completely different than it was before. Especially since none of these tools and creatures were ever mentioned in previous books. I guess I'm just a sucker for foreshadowing and wished we'd been introduced to some of these things earlier. Still, I think it worked out well so I can't say too much about it!
This is my favorite in the series for the SHEERRRR FACT that it made me cry the most. I felt so seen, as someone who's always filled with anger. I get payback in arguments by saying the mean stuff and regret it. I have a hard time apologizing. And it makes me hate myself! (Which like, fair!) Nesta lowkey showed me that there is a way out of that toxic behavior (literally just meditation and good dick?)
3 stars
I think my first mistake was jumping right into this book after the epic final 200 pages of book three. I needed at least a wee k or two to sit an appreciate the ending we got for the first major arc of this series.
I knew to expect new POVs with this book, but I don't think I was mentally prepared for it to read like the first book in a series (which typically rank at the bottom for me when it comes to characters). I don't necessarily dislike Nesta, and I think it was interesting to explore the trauma response of self destruction, but after dealing with one and a half books already waiting on the first FMC to get to the good part of character growth, having to then go through it again with Nesta felt a bit tedious. Although I do like the friendship arc she went through.
I do felt like I was suspending a little too much belief with them achieving slicing the ribbon and becoming proficient enough to wield blades, but mostly because Maas decided to mention multiple times how long the both the winged cultures they're emulating take to train (it's years on years btw). This was a little disappointing, because while the magic of this world is definitely on the loosey-goosey side, I usually feel like there's been at least a moderately adequate explanation for power levels of various characters.
I don't entirely mind using a pregnancy to explain keeping Feyre out of the way for Nesta's intro book, but the pregnancy complication trope to keep Rhys out of the way too? That felt lazy. Like really? Really? And then to double down with it as an excuse for taking away the bulk of Nesta's power? It's giving “I made my character too powerful, oops.” Like cool moment for Nesta, but a large reason I got invested in her was the promise of her potential future arcs being a badass but also struggling with that insane power. And yeah, I can see the seeds for certain things with because all is not what it seems, but it's just annoying to have the full scope dangled in front of your for a full book to then say “just kidding”. ALSO, hiding it from Feyre? Why do we insist on infantilizing this poor woman yet again?
The main reason I did not find myself itching to pick up and finish this book like the other three before it is the villain, the Queen, is boring. I get she's supposed to be a single book villain to then set up the death god guy Koschie (I know this is not the right spelling, but until I have a reason to care about the conflict of this next main arc, I will not be bothering to learn the correct spelling.) for this next main arc, but at least with Amarantha, fearing her was believable and fun because there emotional connections to the atrocities she committed. There's stories far and wide of her cruelty. Her presence is felt even before you know her name. The Queen feels so absent from this book, the seen with the harp just felt like “oh, there you are, I've been waiting on you”, and not in the fun vein of our (until recently favorite) bat boy. I fear the Trove, not her. The final (and really first) run in with her feels unearned. Which makes it unrewarding. Which makes it unfun to read. Also what's with using the ladies as a appetizer villain for the BBG? The first time it didn't really bother me because honestly, Amarantha was a bigger villain than the king, but doing it again is very meh to me.
The reason I gave this a three is because I see Maas making more of an effort to plant seeds for a later pay off which is an element the first three books largely lack when I compare them to other major fantasy series. Outside of the details regarding the trove covered in this book, I feel like she's gotten more subtle rather than openly telegraphing her plot hints like she does in the first three books. While contianing a lot of things I didn't care for, this books like she's trying to shift into a more ambitious attempt of completing this story than how it feels starting out. Also, I simply enjoy the world despite how little we get to see of it.
I am on the fence on whether I'd like to the next book occur in tandem with this one. On the one hand, I'd actually get to see all the characters I'm actually interested in, and likely a new continent with new cultures. On the other hand, I am desperate to leave this book arc behind. The things I want to see most are:
- find out finally whether one of the sisters is the Mother reincarnated
- literally anything with Mor. I am on my knees begging.
- characters that are not high fae or ancient beings
- for the disparity of treatment between the citizens of Velaris and the Hewn City to be addressed and even better if there's some repercussions
- it's been two whole books now and it's seeming more like there will not be an repercussions for the magic pulse connecting from connecting the two halves of the Book. I was told it would awake unfathomable beings from the depths of Cauldron knows where, GIVE THEM TO ME
I'll still be excited for the next book once it's announced and released, but it needs to be a 180 from this book. I can read through a slog (Wheel of Time fans get me), but book 4 is WAY too early for a slog to be starting. Anyway, this review probably sounds more heated than I feel about this book. I just had so much fun with the first three and a half books, it really sucked to then be let down like this.
