A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1)

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J. Maas
Publication Date:  May 5, 2015

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Put simply, this is the best Beauty and the Beast re-telling I have ever read. I can't even put into words how perfect this new novel is by Sarah J. Maas, but just trust me when I say, it is literally perfect. There is no flaw I can find (come on people, it's Sarah J. Maas who is the epitome of perfection with her writing). Every single word draws you in and every single second of reading compels you to read more and more, making you never want to stop. My mind was blown after reading the first couple of pages, and by the end...well I basically felt like I was on top of the world.



The writing is phenomenal, just as you would expect, but I think Ms. Maas shows how much she has grown as an author in this novel because it takes a strong author to be able to pull off an amazing re-telling of a beloved, classic story. I am especially picky when it comes to re-tellings of Beauty and the Beast, as it is one of my favorite stories, but Ms. Maas did such an excellent job. She weaved elements of Beauty and the Beast into the story, but still departed from the classic enough to make it her own. The sheer creativity and uniqueness of this story makes the novel shine bright like a star in the sky, and will surely be one of your favorites for a long, long time.

Feyre was a fantastic lead character. Strong, witty, and a total badass. In other words, the girl is AWESOME! However, there is a vulnerability to her character, which made her extremely relatable. Feyre had such a love for her family, even though they didn't treat her in a way that really deserved the love she felt. Every part of Feyre's character is fleshed out, and I couldn't get enough of her. With everything she went through, she came out with her head held high every single time. And if that's not admirable, I don't know what is. Tamlin...oh that man is going to set you on fire ladies!



He is the ultimate protector, but so sweet. While his character is shrouded in mystery, you still feel as if you know him so well by the end of the novel. You know what makes him tick and how to get on his good side. He is the perfect balance to Feyre, and their love will leave you blushing quite a few times. It's steamy and just adorable. They are perfect for each other, and I loved every second of their relationship. Rhys is another man that will leave you guessing, but you will love, even if you don't want to. He is definitely a mystery, even as soon as you meet him, but he's also a bit frightening. I'm hoping there isn't going to be a love triangle, but there is potential for one. And honestly, even though I hate love triangles (the only exception being Will, Tessa, and Jem from Cassie Clare's TID), I don't know if I would mind this one.

The world building is also something of wonder and pure enjoyment. I loved being in this world so much. Sarah J. Maas set up everything so wonderfully and you aren't confused at all while reading. Things are explained, but never in an info dump where you feel overwhelmed. I am so excited to return to the world of Fae in the second book in this series.

The sexy scenes were written so well and are extremely tasteful, so there should be no worries there. However, I do feel like I need to mention how well Tamlin and Feyre's relationship was written. It is absolutely beautiful. There is this slow burn and buildup, and then BAM! Even though you know they will fall in love, you will be just as surprised as Feyre when she finally realizes just how much she loves Tamlin. It takes a very skilled author to do this, and I applaud Ms. Maas for accomplishing something that few authors can manage. There is no insta-love here, and quite simply, their relationship is extraordinary.

I highly recommend reading this novel if you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast, faeries, fantasy, or romance. This novel will not disappoint. Every second is packed with action, adventure, and excitement, and you will never want to put it down. It can be summed up with one word...



I can't wait to see where the story goes next, and I look forward to another wonderful series from Sarah J. Maas!

Happy reading :)  

~Cassie