A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Possible spoilers ahead
Feyre's survival depended on hunting; she was the sole provider for her family. Cold and desperate to keep them alive, she killed a predator before it could take her next meal. But nothing comes without a price. The fear of starvation and the haunting tales of faeries drive her out of the woods before something more dangerous arrives.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is utterly captivating—I had a hard time putting it down. Sarah Maas draws you in with Feyre’s tragic story of her family’s lost fortune, her broken father, and the old tales of faeries. Feyre’s killing of the predator forces her to fulfill a debt under an ancient treaty between humans and faeries. She is taken to Prythian by a faerie named Tamlin. While the pace is a bit slow, Feyre’s character development is incredible, allowing her personality to truly shine.
Feyre and Tamlin’s relationship gradually evolves into a romance. Tamlin keeps Feyre sheltered from other magical creatures, who pose more of a threat to her than the faeries. It’s frustrating, though, that she remains so naive about what’s happening around her—especially for a skilled hunter. When Tamlin tells Feyre he loves her, my initial reaction was, “WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY IT BACK?” The second time, I was thinking, “You stupid, stupid girl.” And, of course, beneath all the romance, there’s a curse—a curse that only Feyre can break.
Feyre tries to prove her love for Tamlin and encounters another faerie named Rhysand. After enduring numerous trials, she sustains an injury that causes a fever. Desperate, she bargains with Rhys to heal her, agreeing to spend one week each month with him for the rest of her life. Rhys is definitely not one of the good guys, so who knows what kind of torment he’ll inflict on her. I was so angry at this point! One of the faeries who had cared for her warned her about making deals with other faeries. She even hinted that Rhys could have had her all year if he wanted, and she would have agreed—though I know she was close to death from her injury. I understand she was trying to save the one she loved, but at what cost? I guess I’ll have to finish the series to find out.
Rating: 4.8/5
Would recommend!