A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Review!

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

I started this book knowing that Maas was going to blow me away with this series just as she had with the Throne of Glass series. I had so much fun reading ACOTAR. It took me to another world full of shape shifting high faes, big bad creatures, and characters that put the bad in badass. I always have fun reading Maas' books and ACOTAR is no exception. This book is definitely one that is going on my favorites list.

The first chapter in this book was just so poetic and beautiful that it just captivated me and it lulled me into the story. It also helped that I loved how Feyre was introduced to us. She is such a strong character that it's hard NOT to love her. I can see aspects of myself in her, which I love, and it helps put myself in the story. She is dedicated to helping her family survive no matter the cost, without a second thought of herself and it's really admirable. I love characters like that. Also, as I read through ACOTAR my heart continued to break for Feyre. The things she missed out on, the things she was forced to do to survive, and the loneliness she had to endure was just heartbreaking. It really made me connect with her on a personal level because we get deeper than just the surface of her feelings.

Speaking of captivating moments in this book, that first scene when Feyre leaves her home was intense and so cool. I immediately knew I would be interested in Tamlin right off the bat especially the way he barged into Feyre’s house like that. Tamlin and Lucien are just a pair of fictional characters that I immediately added to my boyfriend list. Tamlin is quiet, reserved, allusive, and dangerous. However, he is protective and determined to get to know Feyre. As the story progresses, we get to see Tamlin loosen up and actually start going out of his way to make her comfortable. Whereas, Lucien is the funny one. He is always looking for a laugh and flirting. However, as the story goes on we delve into his brutal past which makes us see him in a totally different light. Both are types that I adore greatly. It also doesn't hurt that they are gorgeous. Maas is the queen of gorgeous and ethereal men. She also knows how to create all of her characters so that they are full of complexities and it shows in her work. Feyre, Tamlin, Lucien, Rhys, and Amarantha are characters that are complicated and full of history. They all contribute so much to the story and never for a moment do they seem out of place. All of these characters seem so well written that it's hard to remember that they are fictional.

On another note, the world building and sheer genius that went into this book is what also helps make this book great. Once I started reading I practically fell into Feyre and Tamlin's world, and I had trouble coming back to reality when I finished. Even when I put the book down I still thought about it.  Even after finishing this book, I felt inspired to write my books and conquer the world. Books like ACOTAR leave readers inspired to do the impossible just like Feyre did.

For those wondering if this book is similar to Maas’ other works, I am here to tell you that ACOTAR is so different from the Throne of Glass series. Feyre and Celaena are different but they both struggle with being saddled with troubling pasts and uncertain futures. I love how different these books are, but they still contain the features that makes it a Maas work of art like strong and fierce heroines, gorgeous heroes that will have you melting, and action filled journeys full of mystery and adventure. I mean, that scene of the summer solstice was just *fangirls* amazing. God, I love this book.

Then, just when I thought the action of this book was over, I was hit with even more and better adventures and action. This book takes the reader through such a captivating and all-encompassing journey that it is hard to imagine that in the end, the book you started out with was the same book you ended with. So much happens in this book, and so many feelings are summoned that you cannot help be feel entranced by it.  I can't put into words how much I loved this book and how much it means to me. It had my emotions in its grasp and my intention all the same. There was never a moment that I was bored, and it’s obvious that Maas knows how to keep readers on the edge.

This book is filled with lessons, mystery, the promise of an exciting future, intrigue, and so much more, and I couldn't have been happier with how this book turned out. There were a few times a teared up just because some scenes tore at my heart strings. It's rare that books affect me so much, but Maas has a way of working her way to my heart through amazing characters and even better story lines. This is a book that everyone has to read. If you haven't thought about picking this book up then do it now because you couldn't possibly be prepared for the journey you will experience in ACOTAR. It is very safe to say that this book easily gained five out of five stars.