A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
“It’s a rare person who can face who they are and not run from it—not be broken by it.”
A Court of Wings and Ruins is the third installment in the Court of Thorns and Roses series. The first two books are essential reads before diving into this one.
Spoilers ahead.
Feyre returns to the Spring Court after Tamlin’s betrayal. With war on the horizon, she steps into her role as High Fae, struggling to balance her power, her love for family and friends, and her responsibilities to her court. Feyre and Rhysand must carefully decide who they can trust among the High Lords.
I finished this book a week ago, and I’ve honestly struggled to gather my thoughts and articulate how I feel about it. It was good, and I loved it, but it was also incredibly frustrating. Maas is a brilliant writer, but I found more pacing issues in this book compared to the previous two. At times, Maas relied more on telling than showing, which made some parts harder to get through.
We know from ACOTAR and ACOMAF that Feyre and her sisters didn’t see eye to eye, especially after the events of ACOMAF. I’m glad their relationship developed as it did. Feyre and Rhysand’s love remains unmatched; their mutual understanding and respect are remarkable, even though they sometimes make choices for the greater good that end up hurting each other. But isn’t that a reflection of real-world relationships?
As for Tamlin—he’s jealous and downright despicable at times, staying true to his character. The rift between Tamlin and Lucien was probably for the best. Tamlin did slightly redeem himself toward the end of the book, but I still can’t fully forgive him for how he treated Feyre and everything else he did.
I’m eager to see what happens next between Nesta and Cassian. There’s clearly something there, and I can’t help but wonder if they’re mates. I’m also curious about how Elain and Lucien’s relationship will develop. At this point in the series, Maas raises an intriguing question: How many Fae have mates who are on the human side of the wall?
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book.
Rating: 4/5