Thursday, January 14, 2016

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

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Book One in the A Court of Thorns and Roses Series
Published By: Bloomsbury Children's (May 5, 2015)
Source: Borrowed
Genre: NA Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!


Book Description:
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.






Even though I absolutely adore Maas's writing, I couldn't help but step into this read being a little leery and cautious. After reading so many conflicting ratings and reviews for this, I wasn't quite sure what to expect but with the love of Maas in my heart and not being able to resist a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I went into this wholeheartedly expecting to fall in love with it. 

And I did, I so did. Can I say that retellings with a twist are fast becoming my very favorite kinds?

There were so many aspects of this that I just adored and the myth and lore were a big part of it. I admit, I have never been big on fairies of any kind with all their trickery, nastiness, and fighting but this was done in the style that only Maas can create and became truly captivating. 

I stayed up way too late reading this and I loved every single minute of it. Tamlin was the very best part of this. He had a quiet subtly to his swoon worthiness that I just adored and it was hard not to like him, even in his grumpiness. The same can actually be said about many characters in this series and as the story delve deeper into the fairy lore, I couldn't help but be even more curious about a ton of the side characters, their secrets, flaws, and maybe even goodness lurking under all the deception and lies.

I am so excited about this new series and glad that I jumped in when I did with book twos release just right around the corner.




49 comments:

  1. Great fantasy read and liking the excerpt, warm greetings.

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  2. I have the 2 first books of her first series and I know I need to read them mainly as everyone loved them!!!

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    1. Yes they are fabulous and this one really was as well. I hope you love them all too. :D

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  3. I still have to read this one!! After reading the ToG series and becoming a Maas fan I know I have to pick this up. Glad you enjoyed it!!

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  4. I'm so glad you loved this one!!! I can't wait for the next book in the series. I need more Tamlin. ;)

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  5. I really really enjoyed this one as well when I read it. I loved almost everything about it. But when I heard that the love triangle would pop up for sure in the next book, I gave up on the series. I'm just going to pretend Feyre and Tamlin had a HEA in this one and Rhys never made an appearance.
    I'm beginning to think this author isn't for me with her love for switching love interests. :(
    I'm glad you enjoyed this one though, Ali! :)

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    1. Nooooo! That makes me not want to pick up the second book now Nick. :(

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  6. I'm really happy you liked this. I'm not a huge fantasy fan but Maas does a great job of this. LOVED Rhysand! Can't wait for the next one.

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  7. I love how the story unfolded and just the world in general. I hated Feyre so much that it influenced my rating of 3 stars. Why I'm looking forward to book 2? TAMLIN!!!! I freaking love him. I love Lucian's sarcastic axx too. I just hope there is no love triangle going down between Rhy/Feyre/Tamlin, like everyone believes. I truly think there is something else to that connection between them. However, if there is a love triangle, I'm done after that. Glad you enjoyed this!

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    1. I'm really hoping there won't be as well, it would make me so sad!

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  8. I have such respect when bloggers take a chance on a book with mixed reviews. I'm glad it worked for you and the next two books are out soon.

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  9. I have this on my shelf.. I'm so glad to know that even though you're not big on fairies, you still enjoyed it. That really reassures me :)

    czai @ the Blacksheep Project

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  10. Sounds Great, Love the Beauty and the Beast theme!

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  11. I love fairies, fae not so much. I started this book last year but stopped.

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  12. I'm a massive fan of Beauty and the Beast retellings although, like you, the negative reviews put me off this one. I'm going to have to pick it up now!

    Simply Angela

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    1. I really hope that you do and that you like it as much as I did.

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  13. I have this but was thinking I need to catch up on her other series first. I'm glad to hear that you loved it though!

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    1. I still need to read her last book in the other series I don't know why I have been putting it off.

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  14. I liked the world buildling and the twists with the retelling, but I struggled with the romance, I am hoping a love triangle isn't in the works.

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  15. Retellings with a twist are amazing! I've still not tried Maas but they're on my list. :D Woohoo for this one being such a great read after being so nervous about starting it :D

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    1. Thanks Anna and this has some steamier moments I think you would like. ;)

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  16. This was my bridge book, read it during the holidays and welcomed 2016 for me. It was awesome! I love it! I can't wait to meet this evil King!!

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    1. Glad you liked it so much too! I want to meet him as well. ;)

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  17. I'm so glad to see you liked this one! I just picked it up tonight from the library. I'm super excited to start it.

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  18. I'm glad you finally got to read this one, Ali! I'm not so surprised you enjoyed this immensely!

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  19. I didn't realize that the second book is coming so soon - I feel like I'm one of the only person who hasn't read Maas yet, and I definitely want to rectify that. I think I'll start with this series. Glad you loved it!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. She is such a great writer, either series would be a good place to start.

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  20. I confess my heart skipped a beat when I saw you read and reviewed this <3!! I'm so glad you gave a good star rating too, I have this on my TBR for 2016; I can't wait to read it :)

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    1. I'm do glad! I really hope you love it as much as I did.

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  21. The characters sound great. I am dying to read this one.

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  22. I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed ACOTAR, Ali! I loved this story. Can’t wait for the next installment. It’s my first book by Maas, but I plan to go through her backlist.

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    1. Definitely do, they are all really fabulous. :D

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  23. So happy you enjoyed this one. It was one of my top reads of 2014! I really hope the sequel is just as good, and doesn't ruin my ship.

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  24. I really like her world building and a nice twist to the fairy tale, but I wasn't on board with the romance. I'm curious to see where she goes for book 2. Me thinks a love triangle is in the works. O.o

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    1. Everyone is saying that and I really hope that isn't where it leads.

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  25. I have never read this author but I know she's on a lot of peoples favorite authors list. I need to try her, I know :)

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    1. Definitely try her and this one is more adult than YA so I think you would like it.

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