Review: A Court Of Mist And Fury by Sarah J. Maas

To the stars who listen—and the dreams that are answered.

Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.
With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

I think that I’ve procrastinated on this review enough now so please, just bare with me as I try to sort through the mess that are my emotions right now.

The feels, ah the feels! The agony! The beauty! This book… No words can properly do justice to what this book is. It’s sweeping, it’s epic… it is basically complete and utter perfection. A masterpiece.

As soon as I’d turned that final page, a few days ago, I’d wanted to turn back to the beginning and venture forth on the stunning, slow building journey that is A Court of Mist and Fury again. And again… And again. Damn this book was good – in a league all it’s own and a cut above the rest. Miss Maas has no doubt set a new standard for YA/NA fantasy. A Court of Mist and Fury is both sorrowful yet joyful, it’s a story about life, love and rebirth. This is a soul shattering journey that will have you weeping, laughing and just feeling. It’s pages have you crying out why? no! what? how?!?! and then noooo!!! again, right up until it’s knockout finale. How, oh how am I supposed to wait a year before the final book in this truly epic fantasy trilogy is realsed? I need more! Sarah – you’ve ripped out my heart and left it bleeding, I need to be put out of my misery!

A Court of Mist and Fury opens with a much changed Feyre, and how could it not? Feyre and her immortal lover Tamlin may have escaped Amarantha’s wicked clutches and her lair Under The Mountain but the scars left behind haven’t fared so well. Emotionally, both Feyre and Tamlin are still trapped beneath that mountain in the rotting depths of hell. Feyre has changed, both physically and mentally. She now wields the power of the High Lords of Prythian yet that power came at a cost, her own shattered soul. Yes, her body may now be immortal but beneath that powerful exterior lies a heart that is pure mortal. A heart that cannot forget the unspeakable deeds she performed in order to save both her lover and the whole of Prythian. Then there is Rhysand – how could Feyre or, for that matter we forget the bargain she made with the feared High Lord of the dreaded Night Court? Or their bond? As Feyre delves deeper into Rhysand’s world she discovers that there is more to the dark High Lord than first believed as her world slowly begins to rebuild among his own passion. But none are safe and a war, one darker than any could fathom is building across the sea. An evil, one greater than Amarntha is waiting, one which threatens to consume all. Feyre must embrace her newfound gifts and sacrifice her heart to become a weapon for a world torn in two.

I was not a pet, not a doll, not an animal. I was a survivor, and I was strong. I would not be weak, or helpless again I would not, could not be broken. Tamed.

Where, oh where do I even begin? Days after finishing this seamless story I’m still utterly speechless. That doesn’t mean I don’t have a plethora of things to say about A Court of Mist and Fury because I do but how do I sort through my emotions in order to explain in away that you can understand? I guess I’ll start with how this book fared as a sequel and, let me tell you – it totally blew me away. I will admit, I had been completely intimidated by the book from the moment I laid my hands on it. Not just by the sheer size of A Court of Mist and Fury (Let me tell you – this book is a beast!) but I worried I wouldn’t lose myself in the story world. After being a little disappointed with the first installment A Court of Thorns and Roses which was a beautifully flawed start to the trilogy I was left procrastinating over starting this one. I planned to read it the day I bought it but I had a million ‘what ifs?’ buzzing around in my head. What if it was boring? What if, Like A Court of Thorns and Roses I couldn’t get completely lost in it’s pages? Even though all my friends and fellow book lovers assured me that the sequel was much better I was still weary going in.  But, finally I decided to put away all my previous perceptions and just open it’s pages and let me tell you; I was totally and utterly hooked by page one. It was good. Very good in fact and I wanted to cry with relief that I could finally find myself in Feyre’s mind and world. This was a perfect sequel – probably one of the best I’ve ever encountered. It didn’t lag or sag in parts even though it was quiet long. I was full of action and betrayal and I just adored the new world we were given a glimpse into. Seriously, this book should get the award for best sequel!

What made A Court of Mist and Fury so epic can be chalked down to a great number of elements; being it’s character development and conflict. But, for me what really makes this book is it’s sprawling and vivid portrayal and expansion of the immerse world we were given a glimpse of in A Court of Thorns and Roses. Miss Maas takes us, not only back into the beloved Spring Court but through her lush descriptions and captivating prose draws us into the seductive world of the Night and Summer Courts. The Realm of Sarah’s universe has been expanded so immensely in this installment through both history and landscape and not to mention scope. From a single dwelling and estate presented in A Court of Thorns and Roses we are now swept across glorious kingdoms and courts sprawling over vast distances and Eco systems, new worlds and rules to discover and marvel upon. If you want to know how to world build correctly than A Court of Mist and Fury is a must read. The world building throughout this broad adventure is phenomenal. And, speaking of world building, can we all just take a moment to appreciate how truly spectacular the Night Court was? Man, let me tell you – if I lived over the border in Prythian I would no doubt call the glittering metropolis of Valaris my home (even if apparently I belong to the Day Court. Quizzes can be wrong right? Right?!?). The Night Court was a new world I loved exploring. Every page in it’s vivid landscape, every description had me lost, enticed. The hours just flew by as I wondered and it felt so real. I could actually see the Rainbow of Velaris, could taste the salt on the air, feel the sea breeze, I could hear my heels clacking on the pavement as I wondered through the art district. It was just pure magic.

No one was my master— but I might be master of everything, if I wished. If I dared.

Now Feyre; man I was so proud of her! She, like every one of the beautifully flawed characters presented to us through the pages of both A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury evolved so completely. Never have I read a book with such spectacular and realistic character growth and development. There is such a strong contrast between the Feyre that we are initially presented with on page one and the Feyre we conclude with. She underwent such an inspiring transformation leaving us with a determined and fierce heroine with a serious taste for revenge. Now as mush as I’d like to spend the entirety of this review discussing the brilliance that are the cast of characters in A Court of Mist and Fury I won’t. I feel that this is a book whose characters you must feel and discover for yourself. That being said I won’t leave you completely in the lurch. Each character has undergone some type of distinct change in this one. Hero’s have meandered into the dark, toiling with their already questionable identities as hero and dissolving into antagonists. And, villains, if they even were to begin with have wondered back and forth over the line, strengthening our understanding of both their pasts and motives and revealing much anticipated backstory. Then, scattered and weaved perfectly among our much beloved character is a new cast, as bewitching and perplexing as the original. These new characters weave new myths and legends into the initial premise of Persephone and Hades, bringing comedy, love and family. Each of these characters is memorable in their own way, complete with their own lush history and diverse traits. I mean #squadgoals – sign me up for Rhysand’s inner circle or, more commonly referred to as the Court of Dreams. Each member brings their own unique dynamic that, weaved together create just a powerful sense of family and belonging that gives the book yet another layer.

Now can we please just take yet another moment to fully appreciate the goddess that is Sarah J. Mass? This, this beautiful, near perfect book is a prime example of master storytelling. A Masterpiece in it’s own right, this novel should be preserved for all time and placed in the greatest museums of the world. When a novel is as anticipated and beloved as A Court of Thorns and Roses the pressure for then planning and writing it’s sequel must be uncanny. I just want to say thank you so much for pushing through the sheer stress and anxiety that must have come with writing this epic novel because man was it good. Possibly my new favorite book ever I’m still suffering from PTSD after completing this. Suddenly no other book can measure up or quench my new found thirst for epic fantasy (I’ve still yet to complete another novel since A Court of Mist and Fury, still trying to work through all my questions and feelings).

If you haven’t yet ventured forth of this incredible journey I have one thing to tell you; STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND PICK IT UP NOW. You will not be disappointed you did, only once you’ve turned that final page and realize there is no more (I’m still healing, guys!). And can I just close on this thought; How freaking amazing is the final installment going to be? Man I am pumped! Feyre will totally kick some ass! So, in case you’ve come to the end of this review and still haven’t gotten the memo – 5 of Velaris’s shooting stars!

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