So like Sarah J Maas is one of the greatest writers ever and I absolutely hate her. Just kidding. Im tempted to because of all she makes us go through and her characters, but I lover her and her characters too much so. Now I didn't write a review on the first book, and I honestly can't be bothered to do it now (perhaps the next time I read it) but I definitely wanted to go ahead and write one on this second book, A Court of Mist and Fury because OH MY GODS... let me explain.
I have already read the five books out of her Throne of Glass series, okay? In fact, I think I read ACoTaR when I finished reading the fourth book because the fifth book wasn't out yet. So I more or less had already gotten a feel of her writing, just as I have from Rainbow Rowell and Cassandra Clare. It did feel like she had written these before ToG but I don't know, either way she has her own style - this way of really torturing her characters and making them go through the worst scenerio possible, not unlike Mrs. Cassie Clare herself mind you, but still in her own way as well as her writing itself of course. So this book was really fitting but - I just can't. Clearly.
Now lets take this by parts. In the first book, if you aren't aware or don't remember (I didn't remember a lot actually but I wasn't gonna go read it again), Feyre kills a Fae so she has to pay for it and does so by going to the Spring Court's mansion-house-thingy where for some reason (of which you do find out) everyone wards masks 24/7
and she basically has to fall in love with Tamlin who is the High Lord of the Spring Court in order to save the world or something because of a butt-hurt evil bi... person named Amarantha who doesn't believe humans are capable of loving a Fae (to be fair humans despise Fae and try to hunt them down, apart from her own rocky history with "Jurian"). In the end, Feyre is the only one that can make her bring a halt to the curse that sorta clogs their power (including Tamlin's) by accepting Amarantha's three challenges (or answering a riddle who's answer was so painfully obvious btw), and so by in fact trying to save them all she ends up in a sort of alliance with Ryhsand, High Lord of the Night Court also known as The Love of My Life and Most Seductive Fictional Character Ever (including the Herondales, apologies) with the small condition that she has to spend a week with him, once a month. She agrees and brilliantly beats all three challenges and does in fact save the world so now she can go back to Tamlin and live happily ever after.
Ha.
Did you actually believe that? This is Sarah J Mass bruh. Too intense schist is going down.
As, she actually dies at the ending and to be brought back is returned as a Fae. So introducing, ladies and gentlemen, Feyre the Fae. Yes. She went there.
So now that she's back she is supposed to get married to Tamlin and all that jazz except that he keeps her locked up in the house full-time, with nothing to do but act the role of a pretty soon-to-be bride who is not in the slightest hint of danger nor in depression, which of course she isn't and is. If you know what I mean. Her time with Rhysand, is what she clings to as he teaches her how to read and how to protect her mind from powers like his own, and laso invites her to be a part of a bigger plan for the war he foresees (accurately may I add because logic). Then, well you know.
Now as for the characters, just as with Aelin, Feyre is a character I do not have a lot in common with, but I still like her. She makes them quite more feminine than I personally am which is great, of course, but as is obvious not relatable to me. Still, their strong hearts and wills and personalities overall, are in fact something I can relate and if not, definitely admire so that's that. The biggest difference though I believe is that they tend to be very impulsive and I am all but. I am quite analytical and I definitely think things before doing anything and I never take action based on single feelings. Therefore I would probably act very differently from Feyre, for example.
Relationships, and more obviously healthy relationships are a theme that I have noticed within her stories as well, whether they were put there subconsciously I don't know but hardly matters. The whole situation with Tamlin of course, was a great realty check on what could've easily been the happily ever after, as though a story ends its telling, it doesn't end. It is of course very plausible that though you may be in love, madly so, it doesn't mean it's with who you're supposed to be. Also, relationships consits of compromise. It is never simultaneously a one-sided thing and good.
I really really loved her relationship with Ryhsand, as I am a firm believer that a healthy, good relationship makes you a better peraon and helps you grow. He is of course a beautiful character and I love him. The utter selflessness is so heartbreaking and brave, absolutely fantastic job Mrs. Maas. Absolutely fantastic.
Now to end this I would just like to call to your attention that part, where they're talking about how Ryhsand knows how the story will be told, how the dark prince stole the bride of the Mr. Prince McCharming and... I was so refreshed when Feyre brings up her own story. What about her? What about the princess who was always destined to be queen? What about her journey and her fights and her trials? What about her wishes and her failures? What about her story and her life?
Because we're past fairy tales and "the prince saved the princess". Because now the princess, the girl, the young woman, the female lead of the story, of all stories... Now she's the one we're reading about and the one we're cheering on, she's the one whose story we're being a part of and that answers you Feyre dear. Your story? It's the one, along with so many wonderful others, that we're taking to heart and engraving in stone because it's the one that finally is being told.
- V
