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 am not a fan of Fae. I’m not. Elves, fae, whatever… the point is, they annoy me. Maybe it’s because of the D&D campaigns I’ve been in with Elvish characters being pompous assholes. Maybe it’s LOTR and their pompous asshole fae. Maybe it’s the fact that these creatures are, in lore, supposed to be creatures that humans fear (not love). Whatever the case may be, I don’t like fae.
So, why did I read this book? Peer Pressure. Or, really, friends urged me to read this book after the first one (which I had difficult time with). Am I glad they did? Meh, to an extent. Would I continue the series? Probably not. Maybe. I don’t know.
What I did like about this book is how the depression and anxiety is dealt. Feyre is a woman who has gone through some serious shit and the mental and emotional backfire of that is seen in this book. It’s done well. It’s believable. It’s heartbreaking, but also uplifting.
Uplifting because despite all of her pain, she continues to march on. Does the pain ever end? No, but it changes her and changes according to what she needs in life. This is a real representation of the day to day struggle with mental health. I have days where I’m doing great, days when I’m not. There are days of struggle and days of peace. And sometimes it’s anger or a stronger emotion that keeps me going.
It’s the same for Feyre and for that, Maas, I applaud you. You didn’t sugar coat Feyre and you definitely made me like a character that I didn’t quite care for in the first book. All because of the real issues she deals with emotionally in this book. Thank you.
Now, the rest of the book was so/so for me. There are a new group of characters: broken, flawed, and amazing. I love the Court of Dreams peeps. I do. They are a good and hard bunch. They are the type of friends I would want on my side at the battlefield. You won’t find a single pansy in the bunch.
But, where the characters are good, the story leaves me wanting. The romance is apparent and though there is more action and non-romance in this book, I didn’t quite feel the story. Maybe it’s because I wanted more of the other characters. The supporting cast seemed to interact with the main, but we don’t see their own interaction as much. That might have changed in the third book, I don’t know.
Whatever the case, I was left with a meh feeling to the overall story. Characters are good, the world is vibrant, I was just meh.
Probably was the fae.
So, yes, I have read the book and now my friends can stop pestering me. No, I’m not a fan of the series. Sure, I’d read Maas again (I actually have another of her books planned out to read). Do I see the value of the series? Definitely. I can see what people are saying about the series and what they love about it.
Again, Maas is a good writer. The style is great and the characters are awesome. I’m just not a resident of Prythian.
Casia's Corner 