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Book Review of A Court of Thorns and Roses (Court of Thorns and Roses, Bk 1)

A Court of Thorns and Roses (Court of Thorns and Roses, Bk 1)
mspoet569 avatar reviewed on + 42 more book reviews


All across the reading blogosphere, this book is being talked about. Not only this book, but also the sequel, A Court of Mist and Fury. I'm usually not one to blindly follow the masses, but between all the hype, the daily recommendation to read this book, and of course that stunning cover, I meandered to my local Barnes and Noble and bought the book. My TBR list is about 10 miles long already, so I absentmindedly put A Court of Thorns and Roses on a shelf until I could get to it. I'm currently in the middle of a LONG series, and decided to read a book in between each series book, so that I could remember all the details without getting too bored. And without needing and FURTHER recommendation, I decided to pick up the start of something amazing.
I am absolutely unfamiliar with Sarah J Maas. Although, looking into some of her info I did come to realize she's a fellow Pennsylvanian. I typically do not read the synopsis on the back of books, just so that I won't be let down. This also goes for author information. Only when am I hooked and dragged into a story to I really research the author, in hopes that there are other books for me to discover.
A Court of Thorns and Roses starts out like any typical book; laying the foundation so that you may know the main character (Feyre) and sympathize with her. Feyre is the main provider for her family. Not by choice, but for survival alone. Feyre lives with her two older sisters, and her father, all of which seem to take for granted that Feyre is the only one who allows them to survive. Her father is a melancholy man, apathetic towards the new standard of living his family has grown accustomed to. In previous years, Feyre's family was wealthier. Her father was a tradesman who would ship goods to and from. When his boats never made it to the far shores, his investors came looking for him, and disabled his leg, along with his ego. Feyre is left to manage the house and sees that everyone eats, and is well clothed for the long and hard winter.
Feyre starts every morning by going deep into the woods to hunt. She brings with her a bow and arrows, containing an arrow made of ash wood; you know, just in case she runs into a faerie. Apparently there are faeries in this book . . .shooting a faerie with an ash arrow will render it's magic useless so that you may kill it before the magic returns. Prepared for anything now, Feyre continues deeper into the woods, hoping to find a meal for her family. But what she finds in the wood, would help her family even more. While hunting a lone doe, Feyre comes across a giant wolf, one that may be a faerie. She shoots and kills the wolf, skinning it in hopes to sell it.
With her family fed, and new clothes bought from the wolf pelt, Feyre feels satisfied that her family will not need to eat for at least a week. Her satisfaction is cut short when a huge beast bursts through the door demanding payment must be made for the life that was taken. Feyre is given two options: to be killed on the spot, or to come to Prythnia, the land of Faeries. Having only lived nineteen years, Feyre decides to go to the dreaded land of the Faeries with her captor. She is put under a magic spell while traveling so that she may not find her way home.
Not being content with being a captive, Feyre puts up a fight as much as she can. She sets traps, she's mouthy, she's sarcastic. . . .she's amazing. What starts out with kidnapper and kidnapped turns into a more Beauty and the Beast type book. From despising all the faeries, and hating to live in a gorgeous manor, to having a vague understanding to what's going on in Prythnia. There's a "blight" that's slowly leeching magic away from the faerie folk. To a plain human, you couldn't tell the difference, except for the mask that permanently sits on their faces.
From hate to like, to understanding, and finally to love, Feyre finally accepts that she is to stay in Prythnia forever. That is until her host falls in love with her and decides to send her away for her safety. To find out what happens, I HIGHLY recommend this book, especially if you love being swept up in a story, with engaging characters that are stubborn and sarcastic, and has a heroine to die for. I look forward to not only finishing THIS series, but to buy Maas' other series too.
- 5 out of 5 stars! Really though, I'd give it 10!