A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

The novel, “A Court of Silver Flames” written by Sarah J. Maas is the fifth book in the ACOTAR. This final novel has different points of views. No longer is it Feyre and Rhysand, but Cassian and Nesta. Nesta is in bad shape; she has completely isolated herself regardless of Feyre’s pleadings. She drinks and engages in risky activities with people who mean nothing to her. She is alone, but she puts that on herself. However, Feyre and her court especially are done with Nesta’s behavior so they give her an ultimatum. Either Nesta goes back to the human lands or she will have to reside in the House of Wind and will be training with Cassian every day and working in the house’s library. She can’t go to the human lands, which would be torture for her, so she reluctantly chooses the latter option. Her journey is quite interesting actually. She is awful and personally I still don’t like her.  As much as she’s been through, Feyre has probably been through more, and yet Nesta has the audacity to blame Feyre for everything. I know I love my High Lady of the Night Court, but she is amazing and she deserves everything. I’m not saying Nesta doesn’t but she should be less rude to the people who stood by her regardless of their own issues and problems that they were going through. Anyhow, Nesta forms quite a bond with the House and soon she becomes friends with two females who have gone through some traumatic things as well (though it seems everybody in this series has gone through hell and back). She starts to train with Cassian and convinces other females to join; she forms a bond with him and she helps find the last two objects of the trove so the queen from the human realm has no more power than she already has. 

I recommend this book because I like how Nesta has a huge character change for the better. I love how Cassian and Nesta were able to finally be on the same page with their mating bond. It was starting to get annoying because Nesta kept on ignoring the mating bond and Cassian didn’t know what to do but finally at the end they figured it out, thank god. This book has a lot of spicy scenes and thoughts, just to let you know. There is so much cute and funny banter between Nesta and Cassian. They are both so strong and fierce which makes me a proud mom as Nesta grew from her drunken state to a powerful Valkyrie. 9/10.

-Written by Julia, Teen Volunteer

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

“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

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

“A Court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J. Maas is the third book in the ACOTAR series. Feyre returns to the Spring Court to gather information on Tamlin’s doings and to destroy him slowly while she’s at it. For instance, she points out that not only did Tamlin sell Prythian out, but he also chose to trust Ianthe, the High Priestess instead of his own soldiers who chose to fight for him and so that seemed like betrayal to them. Then she escapes with Lucien to go back to the Night Court. Once there, she and Rhysand invite every High Lord of  Prythian to discuss Hybern and what they are going to do. The whole point is to gather allies so they can unite as one because they need all the help they can get if they want to defeat Hybern’s army. Feyre also has to deal with her sisters who were forcefully turned into High Fae after being thrown into the Cauldron by the King of Hybern himself, so they are having a hard time coming to terms with who they are. Because of this Elaine is very depressed and Nesta is angry and she takes it out on everybody else, especially Feyre. But because Nesta and Elaine were made by the Cauldron, they have special capabilities that will help them in the war, so Nesta reluctantly agrees to help and begins to train with Amren. While this is happening, the Summer Court gets attacked and the Night Court quickly comes and helps Tarquin’s people. Rhys and Feyre gather allies like no other, surprising each other on the battlefield. 

While war is occurring, too many times have I started crying because of death, Amren, Cassian, and Rhys, oh Rhys! Rhys and Feyre both learn about themselves, but while Feyre discovers her spiteful self, her powerful and determined ruler’s nature, Rhysand reveals his fragile, tender side. The part that drove him to commit himself in order to keep the people he cared about free. I loved this book because it brought out so many emotions. Because it’s set during war, each character expresses their love for each other regardless of the hate they might have had as a façade earlier and that is so beautiful to me. Recommended to fantasy romance lovers ages 13 and up. 

Written by Julia, Teen Volunteer

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

The novel, “A Court of Mist and Fury” written by Sarah J. Maas is the second book in the ACOTAR series. Previously, Feyre miraculously survived Amarantha’s tests and even completed the riddle which broke the curse, so now she is known as Feyre Cursebreaker. She soon returns with Tamlin to the Spring Court as a High Fae with a human heart, and because of it she can’t stop thinking about her actions to complete the final test, which was to kill innocents. Not only is that occupying her mind but so is her agreement with Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court. Back at the manor, Tamlin keeps her locked up with nothing to do as he is scared she will fall into danger. Feyre can’t seem to paint anymore after this traumatic event and she feels like a prisoner in a cage with no way to leave. Rhysand, however malicious he may appear, helps Feyre when she can’t continue walking down the aisle on her wedding day by calling in the bargain. He never kept her trapped the way Tamlin did and allowed freedom as he understands; Under the Mountain he was forced to be Amarantha’s plaything. He teaches her how to read and write, basically occupying her mind with educational topics to brush away her feelings of despair and numbness and helplessness. Even though he helps her, she still thinks of Rhys as the bad guy though her thoughts betray her. During her time at the Night Court she discovers what it means to have true friends that never judge, a freedom that she never truly had at the Spring Court. She also discovers a city so beautifully cultured and preserved that a master will do anything to protect it. 

I loved this book and could not put it down. I had it with me everywhere I went. The story was so good and the plot twists were so unexpected. I laughed and cried and shrieked over surprising parts of the novel. I love Rhys and Feyre together; they are so powerful and the fact that Rhys wanted Feyre to grow instead of contain her powers that she received from 7 High Lords is just amazing. He is so caring and the love, the passion, you see it. I love that I was able to dig deeper into Rhys’s past and find out who he is under that facade. I love that I was able to see Feyre as a character bloom to become this warrior. I love that Feyre saved Rhys, because girl power and I love Rhys’s inner circle, they became Feyre’s family and that is so special. 100,000/10, Sarah J. Maas knows how to write!

Written by Julia, Teen Volunteer

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

The novel, “A Court of Thorns and Roses” written by Sarah J. Maas is the first book to the series ACOTAR (an acronym for “A Court of Thorns and Roses”). Nineteen year old Feyre lives with her dad and her two sisters. They are all utterly useless, leaving Feyre all the dirty and laborious work as their family, once rich, quickly becomes poor, leaving them to fend for themselves. Well, at least one person has to. Anyway, one day, Feyre goes hunting in the woods and encounters a wolf. It is a big wolf, which clearly indicates Fae, but she takes the risk anyway and kills the wolf as she hates Fae. This action lands her in some trouble when a High Fae comes storming into their little home and takes her away for disregarding the ancient treaty between the two species. The punishment is that she is required to spend the final years of her human existence in the faerie kingdom. But her only thoughts are on the promise she made to her mother, and however treacherous her family is, she is still worried about their well-being. But weirdly Tamlin, the High Fae has taken care of them. When Feyre arrives, she expects prison or some sort of labor but instead she has her own glamorous room with exquisite gowns and other things of that nature. Still, she wants to escape. Slowly, she starts getting drawn into the faerie realm, with its enchantment and intrigue, peril and despair, wonder and grandeur. And we can’t forget Tamlin and Lucien, two men also living in this estate; Tamlin as head of the household and Lucien as ambassador. The Spring court is where Feyre has been residing, but what she soon comes to find out is that this specific court has been cursed by a masquerade mask adorning the subjects’ faces for half a century. Not to mention that the court is being besieged by a swarm of terrifying animals and the countryside is infected with a disease they call blight. This plague will soon spread to the human realm, posing a threat to Feyre’s loved ones. Maybe her cold heart to Fae has changed over these past few weeks. 

I won’t lie, the first half is a letdown, but stick with it. There’s no avoiding it. Feyre is rude and obnoxious from page one to roughly page 200. I understand her emotions but it was to a point where it kind of got annoying; however after that the book had me. I finished the remaining chapters very quickly after her attitude changed. There were so many plot twists and holes, which automatically made this book extremely interesting and now I can’t wait for the second book to be free in the library so I can check it out and read it to find out what happens. And let me tell you the romance has me so intrigued! I would recommend this book to fantasy and romance lovers ages fourteen and up. 

Written by Julia, Teen Volunteer