“A Court of Frost and Starlight” written by Sarah J. Maas is the first novella/ fourth book in the ACOTAR series. This novella occurs months after the war, during a healing time where most are helping rebuild the Night Court. Feyre finally starts painting again and finds a friend other than the inner circle who is also an artist with the ambition to help others express their emotions from the war by art. Rhys and Cassian are dealing with the backwards ways of Illyrian men with regards to female Illyrians practicing in the war camps (We love feminists!!). Not only that, but the Illyrians think because they lost the most people in the war, that it was on purpose because they didn’t treat Rhys, Cassian, and Azriel well when they were children. That isn’t true but now there are people talking and unsettling others. Feyre also really wants Nesta to make an appearance for Winter Solstice but Nesta doesn’t want to. She is always drunk, lives in a dreary apartment complex, and is sleeping with random people. It hurts Cassian and angers Rhys because of his mate, Feyre, and Elain. But there are some fun scenes that had me laughing randomly. For instance, the snowball fight tradition between Az, Rhys, and Cas is hilarious, especially after when the three brothers go to the sauna.
I think this novella was a perfect transition to “A Court of Silver Flames.” I love the cute scenes with Feyre and Rhys; I think we all needed them. I also think that the point of views from Mor and Cas were essential because we truly get to understand what they went through a little more. I enjoyed the amount of time we spent with Cass and Az, learning more about their backgrounds and how they’ve recovered from the conflict. From Cassian’s point of view in particular, it felt like this was designed to be a true “bridge” between the ACOTAR series and whatever comes next, which I enjoyed. I would recommend this novella to fantasy lovers who don’t mind adorable romance and real trauma that might not relate to you in the way the characters are going through it, but because they are going through something like loss which might be related to something you’ve been through yourself. 10/10.
Written by Julia, Teen Volunteer
CBPL Reviews 