A Court of Thorns and Roses

So this was my third time rereading this book, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed it even more than I did the first time! Namely because you can pick up on so many of the things that Maas foreshadowed throughout the book – that was the best part, to me. You can see she had everything truly planned as she wrote the books, and picking up on those little things as you read just made it all the more enjoyable.

I really didn't like Feyre when I first read ACOTAR, but this time I didn't mind her as much. She's nineteen, seemingly in charge of keeping her entire ungrateful family alive, and thrust into a world full of danger she doesn't understand. There was a time or two I wanted to shake her, but really, the way she acts makes sense within the context of everything going on. And for all that she is, and what she is, Feyre really did want to help the Fae Under the Mountain, she wanted to free Tamlin, and she wanted to live that quiet life.

Tamlin, on the other hand, I wanted to slap silly. He makes some really stupid decisions throughout this book, and I wish he had a reliable friend that could just flat out tell him when he was being a goddamn idiot. Lucien clearly does not fit the bill. Knowing what you know about Tamlin from the rest of the series really sort of sours how you feel about him in this book, but maybe it makes it easier to get through the last quarter of the book? Maybe? Either way, Boo Tamlin.

Rhys is my favorite character from the ACOTAR world, and well, you kinda hate him in this book. He plays the part he is forced to play very well, and unfortunately it makes him come across as a dick. But despite that, despite everything he does to Feyre Under the Mountain – he literally helps her any chance he can get. And yes, that includes the dressing up, painting, drugs and dancing. If he hadn't done that – who knows what might have been done to Feyre? At least this way Rhys knew where she was, and who she was with. Plus, it had the added bonus of enraging Tamlin enough to ensure that he'd kill Amarantha.

ACOTAR is my least favorite of the trilogy, but without it you wouldn't have the set up you absolutely need to get to the best parts of this series.