This review is a part of a series of book reviews where, instead of providing a star rating review for each book, I provide the top three things I like about each book, and the top three things I dislike about each book. This means that even if I absolutely adore a book, I’m still going to find three dislikes to list and even when I despise a book, I’ll still find the three things that I enjoyed. Then you get to decide if the book sounds right for you.
Because of the nature of this review, there will occasionally be some spoilers, though I do my best to minimize them as to not completely ruin the story for those who haven’t read it.
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Before I started reading the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, my friend made me swear and promise ten times over that no matter what happened, I’d make it through the first two books. She swore that the second book is the real reason everyone loves this series, so I was excited to dive into A Court of Mist and Fury. Turns out, she was right. I enjoyed the second book much more than the first. If you’ve already read this series, I’m sure you can guess why.
Here are my thoughts:
Top Three Likes:
1. There was more Rhysand. A lot more. I also learned, not through reading the book but by discussing it with my friend who listened to the audiobooks, that I’ve been pronouncing his name wrong this entire time. I’m sorry, but “Reece” is not the name of a fae heart throb in my world. It’s too normal and reminds me of that dorky boy I knew in high school.
So, I’ve determined that I like the way my version sounds better, and I’m still going to read it that way in my head. Call it reader’s prerogative. Do you ever do this? Continue saying the name the way you’ve been reading it even after you’ve learned the proper way?
2. Basically every time Rhysand showed up to steel Feyre away via the terms of their bargain. The man knows how to make an entrance and piss everyone else off. I appreciate that. I would’ve loved to see even more of this happening.
3. *That* scene. *Those* scenes leading up to it. Her running off. Him chasing after. The back story. Loved it. Backstory wins me over every time. And it’s about this time when I had to go back through everything I’ve previously read to see what I’d missed before.
Top Three Dislikes:
1. Felt like Rhysand was too good all of the sudden. I loved that he was a kind of darker, grey character initially, but once we got to know him we learn that his dark side is almost completely an act. There was an excuse or reason to justify every bad thing he’d done. I wanted a little more real bad boy left in. Faux bad boys are so last season.
2. Tamlin’s flip. In an almost reverse of Rhysand, I felt like Tamlin went too crazy all of the sudden without a ton of reasoning for why he’d changed so drastically. I mean, there were some reasons given, and I never loved Tamlin, but still feel like he got handed a bad deal.
3. Wanted more buildup magic. I could’ve read about a million more pages of Feyre fulfilling her bargain, and the trust really building up. Since it happened so fast, it felt less like she truly trusted him and more like she was just had literally no other choice. Because she didn’t. But I wanted to believing in the trust and healing process more before she made such a serious decision that could’ve easily gone just as bad as her first choice when continuing to make decisions so recklessly.
Plus, buildup and tension is my favorite part of any book. For me, books lose a little bit of the magic when the buildup is over.
Overall Thoughts:
It was good. Definitely a step up from the first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses. I think the strength of the characters is where SJM really shines. As soon as I finished this book, I had to go back and reread all the important Rhysand bits, even though I pretty much called it the entire time. I still needed to read them with the confirmed right perspective. So props to SJM on that.
What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts about A Court of Mist and Fury.
Check out the full series here.
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