5 Reasons Why I Didn’t Enjoy A Court of Mist and Fury

May 23, 2016 by Jeann @ Happy Indulgence | 3 stars, Books, Reviews

5 Reasons Why I Didn’t Enjoy A Court of Mist and FuryA Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #2
Published by Bloomsbury Childrens Books on May 3rd 2016
Source: Publisher
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Amazon | Book Depository | Publisher
Add to Goodreads

Feyre is immortal.
After rescuing her lover Tamlin from a wicked Faerie Queen, she returns to the Spring Court possessing the powers of the High Fae. But Feyre cannot forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people - nor the bargain she made with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court.
As Feyre is drawn ever deeper into Rhysand's dark web of politics and passion, war is looming and an evil far greater than any queen threatens to destroy everything Feyre has fought for. She must confront her past, embrace her gifts and decide her fate.
She must surrender her heart to heal a world torn in two.

This rant contains spoilers for the first book. 

I never thought I’d say this about a Sarah J. Maas book – but A Court of Mist and Fury really pissed me off. I knew it was going to be a Feyre/Rhysand book going in, but unfortunately, the book ended up pissing me off in a multitude of ways, which I highlight below. And don’t worry – I’m a black sheep on this one (at this point, I’m considering making a black sheep feature for Happy Indulgence, because it happens so often).

1. Abusive Relationships

I’m not sure what happened between the transition from A Court of Thorns and Roses and this book, but somewhere in my mind, seeing Tamlin and Rhysand order Feyre around and thinking they know what’s best for her felt really wrong. The book opens up with both of these male love interests dictating what she should do, telling her what she can and can’t do, and it just felt off. Going into the book, I knew I was going to have a problem with the Feyre/Rhysand ship, especially with the way he treated Feyre in the first book – forcing her to do his bidding in front of Tamlin. He plays with her, forces a tattoo onto her, and makes a deal that she has no choice but to accept.

2. Tamlin is Villianised

Tamlin becomes the perpetrator and Rhys becomes the saviour.  Their roles are blatantly reversed – Tamlin is villianised for trapping Feyre at his home, and all of a sudden he can’t do anything right or good. He starts making stupid, irresponsible decisions, and he’s to be blamed for everything that’s happened to Rhys.

Yes, people can change, especially after going through the trauma that Tamlin did and losing Feyre in the first book – but where’s the development? All we’re given is that he’s suddenly dictating what she can and when she can leave the house. The poor woman is of course recovering from PTSD, which majestically disappears when she runs away and meets Rhysand.

Tamlin, Lucien, Ianthe and the rest of the Spring Court are made into a mockery. Each and every one of them are completely ruined and there’s no way to come back from that now.

ACOMAF blog

3. In Reverse, Rhysand is Perfect

Rhys on the other hand, becomes a kind, brave, handsome saviour who treats Feyre with respect – something that Tamlin apparently has no capacity to do. His arrogant, manipulative character suddenly disappears, conveniently explained away by being a ‘mask’ for the Court. All of his misgivings in the past are also explained away with a convenient back story – that makes all of the pieces fall into place.

I wasn’t a Rhys shipper to begin with due to his abusive behaviour in the first book – which Tamlin also exhibited – but it’s virtually impossible not to like him in this book. He can do no wrong to Feyre – he saves her from her stupid decisions, he treats her with respect and he gives her freedom and strength. He trusts her decisions, he gives her a place in his Court and he believes in her. Not to mention the sex scenes which are completely off the charts. Of course I’m going to start liking Rhys over Tamlin – he’s absolutely perfect! Especially in comparison to the evil incarnate that Tamlin has become.

I for one, don’t like my feelings manipulated in such a manner and every time the romance came up, I just got angrier and angrier.

4. Feyre is the Biggest Special Snowflake

Beautiful, powerful, and absolutely perfect Feyre. I liked her vulnerabilities in the first book, her hunting prowess and her bravery. But in this one, she’s the biggest special snowflake I’ve ever read about, and I was pissed off at how she ran away from her problems instead of facing them head on. She doesn’t like Tamlin’s treatment of her – how he forbids her to leave the house and how he leaves her to be supervised by Lucien. She starts off blaming him about being treated as a pet and how he doesn’t check in with her. But as someone who’s supposedly in love with him – did you see her checking in with him and seeing how he was doing? Did you see her communicating with him and telling him her issues? Did you see her attempting to solve her situation instead of constantly blaming others?

No. Because Feyre is conveniently given a way out here – she runs away to Rhysand who is apparently the knight in shining armour, the shining beacon in the night. And everything becomes okay – even though she doesn’t really attempt to communicate with Tamlin. Throughout the book, she constantly beats herself up and calls herself a traitor and a whore for betraying Tamlin. But then magically – give him bad decisions, make Rhys completely honourable and perfect, and poof, that issue is gone.

I can definitely see the potential in the story – empowering women in abusive relationships who want an out. Who have tried all they have done to get out of their situation, and who can run away and find a happily every after, some place else. Take away the fae powers, take away the Courts, and what we essentially have here, is a story about a girl in an abusive relationship who’s found her way out. It’s a beautifully empowering story, but one that could have been handled more subtly. Why should that woman, instantly fall in love with another just because he’s there? Why does she need to be saved by males? Why can’t she work it out on her own – without all the superpowers and snowflake nonsense?

5. All Secondary Characters are Paired Off

Morrigan, Amren, Cassian and Azriel – the secondary characters of the Night Court were all fascinating, powerful and sensual in their own way, although I wish they were given more development other than simply around pairing them off with each other. There’s so much more to their back stories than simply who they slept with and who they like, so why is it such a big focus of the book?

It’s Not All Bad However…

As much as the story pissed me off, there were a few things I did enjoy about it – the back story about all the fae and their courts, the side story about finding the Cauldron and protecting the human world from an oncoming war, and hunting for artefacts with the Night Court. I also liked the Night Court and the beautiful events and settings that they had – the setting was absolutely magical and luscious. The writing was also really solid and easily read, with a lot of hot sex scenes that you don’t typically find in a YA novel.

Unfortunately, given the treatment of all the characters here and turning things around in such a blatant, crude manner, I can’t say I enjoyed A Court of Mist and Fury. I’ll probably still read the last book but with much, much lower expectations.

Rating: 3 out of 5

50px-powerstarsmg50px-powerstarsmg50px-powerstarsmg

Jeann-Sig

Thanks Bloomsbury Australia for sending me a review copy of the book.

The following two tabs change content below.
Jeann is an Aussie YA blogger and mum who loves to read and recommend books! You can usually find me fangirling about books on my various social media channels including Twitter @happyindulgence, Instagram and Youtube.

Tags: , , , , ,


63 responses to “5 Reasons Why I Didn’t Enjoy A Court of Mist and Fury

    • You do realise I can see that you're the same person leaving all these comments on the blog under a different name lol

  1. Samantha1987

    Reviews like this one drive me crazy because not only do they miss the point, they make others who haven't read the books think that the books are something they are not. So I'm just going to go through and point out why this logic doesn't make sense, addressing all five points… My passion comes from a love of the books and its characters, but also personal experience. There might not be any high fae and faeries in our world, but this is my story too.

    SPOILERS AHEAD FOR SECOND BOOK:

    The First Reason: Tamlin was ordering Feyre around, yes. But Rhysand didn't. Here is how that works: let's say you see someone you love in an abusive situation. They are wasting away, being emotionally neglected, and their spirit is breaking. The person they are in a relationship with can stop this at anytime, but they don't for selfish, sexist reasons. You see an opportunity to help, by providing a safe place for the person to be. They want to go back to the abusive relationship at first, because they are so broken they don't know anything else. But you know that not only their wellbeing, but their very life, is dependant on being FREE from that situation. So you quietly insist they stay. And during that time, you watch them slowly heal. You tell them that they are no ones subject, that they are worth so much. I tell you this, I wish I had someone do that for me when I was in abusive situations in the past. That's love. The proof? Later on, when Feyre had begun to heal, Rhysand told her that if she wanted to go back he would of respected that, no questions asked. Hell, he didn't even call in on that bargain until months later when Feyre's survival depended on it. It was all made for show.

    Speaking of that bargain, and his actions in the first book. I am not sure we even read the same book! When Feyre asked why he did it, he said it was because he needed to "keep her alive in a way that didn't seem merciful" to Amarantha. If he had just healed her and asked for nothing in return, he wouldn't of been able to help her again. As for getting her out and about, it was something he did to keep Amarantha or one of her cronies from toying with Feyre herself. Pissing Tamlin off was definitely a side benefit, but can we blame him for wanting to do that? And as for the tattoo… It was stated in the book that they are Illyrian war markings to wish someone glory and luck on the battlefield. It was a compliment, and a way to check in with Feyre to see if she needed help, a way to communicate mind to mind if necessary. To help her, as with the second task. (Goodness, what a monster).

    • Samantha1987

      Your Second Point: Tamlin was always a controlling jerk who made irrational decisions. Case and point, he insisted on locking her away from the beginning. Where Rhysand ultimately gave Feyre a choice, Tamlin held Feyre to a different kind of bargain from the very first few chapters. He always treated her like a damsel in distress and never like a free, independent woman with her own power. Oh, and he didn't tell her that if she left the house on Calanmai SHE WOULD GET RAPED. He then bit her and said that she deserved it because she didn't act like a good girl and do as she was told. He then sat on his ass and did nothing while she was torn apart. What did he possibly have to lose at that point? And the one chance he had to free her, he wanted to have sex with her. With this in mind, his actions don't strike me as out of character. He isn't a monster, but he isn't a hero. And he definitely isn't a victim. And he could have been honest about the part he played in the death of Rhysands sister and mother. But he omitted that little fact so Feyre would see him as the victim. That isn't someone who has changed, that is someone who knows exactly what he is doing.

      • Samantha1987

        Your Third Point: See my comments on your first point. Rhysand isn't perfect. In fact, he does do some d*ckish things in the second book. But he admits his wrong doings, and attempts to grow from them. He is a victim of 50 years worth of rape and abuse, and is as broken as Feyre. Her PTSD doesn't "magically" go away either. In fact, it's there for the first five hundred and something pages of the book. The only reason she stops being so broken over time, is because he gives her the space she needs to heal. He painstakingly builds her back up. He gives her freedom and agency because she had no idea how to find those things herself. And at the end of all that, he expected nothing. In fact, he explicitly states numerous times that if she wanted to go back to Tamlin, he would respect that and never see her again. Doing all that for someone and expecting nothing in return is love, and even more proof that the act under the mountain was just that, an act. In case Rhysand's (and the author's) word for it wasn't enough! And that sex scene? The reason it was particularly "perfect", is because these characters were using the act as one of healing. Rhysand had his rape and abuse to overcome, Feyre had her abuse to overcome too. It was sex between two people who absolutely love each other, and in my opinion that is the best type of intimacy of all. Plus it sealed their mating bond. Speaking of that bond by the way, if Rhys was truly the manipulative person you thought he was, he could of dropped that bombshell way earlier. But he purposely didn't tell her because, and these are his words, he didn't "want it to effect" how Feyre "felt about Tamlin", or him. He wanted her to reach the decision on her own. If that doesn't prove his good intentions, nothing will.

        • Samantha1987

          Your Fourth Point: Ugh. So all these complaints about how she is letting herself being ordered around, yet her finding her own fire and independence means that she is a "special snowflake"? Do you know what Tamlin had to go through under the mountain? Watching her go through something even worse. His suffering was first and foremost, hers. Yes, it must of been hard and awful, but not hard and awful enough for him to put his neck on the line and even try to do something about it. So I'm sorry, Feyre does get to feel the way she feels. She does get to put her feelings first, for once. She died for him for goodness sake. And Tamlin refuses to talk about what he went through. He just says the only thing he needs is for her to be safe. So she tries… and tries… and tries. But like anyone, she breaks. And if Tamlin was indeed selfless, he would have seen that his "needs" came at the cost of her wellbeing. And Feyre didn't stop feeling guilty for no reason. She stopped feeling guilty because she found out Rhysand was HER MATE. That's a pretty solid reason to not feel bad. As for her powers, she is still mastering them in this book. But they have logical origins. And as far as I am concerned her PTSD and depression are pretty vulnerable characteristics. The only thing that is different at the end of this book is that she is truly free and her own person. What you call a special snowflake, I call the main heroine coming into her own and kicking ass.

          Your Fifth Point: This one I am actually inclined to agree with. I am hoping that in the final book we see more of these characters outside of their interactions with one another. That being said, the thought of Nesta now being a ruthless high fae? Yes please. 🙂

          Side note: I don't hate Tamlin. I have just known too many men like him to see him as compassionately as others do. That whole "male being protective at the expense of the woman he loves" thing hits close to home. What I hope for him is that he realises that he must respect Feyre's choices and needs, and that he wakes up to himself. Even if it means she won't choose him. That is the only thing that can redeem him in my eyes. As Rhysand told Feyre: "The question isn't whether Tamlin loved you. It's how much. Love can be a poison."

  2. Priyanka

    I think ACOMAF was trying to pull so many strands together that weren't just there. It tried to rip evil off an inherently dark character who is literally the lord of darkness. That's the problem with YA genre I suppose, they can't do without love triangles at all. And poof goes your feminism. I think hunger games went through a similar problem but thankfully was able to end things on more endurable note.

    Rhysand was deliberately paced against Tamlin which is bad not because the characters are any bad but because then you are able to see the web of writing which is struggling to turn Rhysand into the cool oriental dude…perhaps just to buy time for the beauty of Night court, something which the author was too late to imagine? And felt that the Spring Court was bland in comparison?

    Tamlin and Feyruh went through a lot and if Tamlin was any crazy as he was in ACOMAF, no sound character can hide that even before the insanity kicks in. It's like Edward Cullen vs Beast from the Beauty and the Beast for God's sake!
    But tbh I don't think Beast was ever so playful as Tamlin in ACOTAR. Such an out of the blue thing.I guess we can say that Feyruh moved over her father complex just to be dazzled by the 'other' but then that's the problem with the 'other', it always remain a comparison.
    So disappointed.

    • Heather

      wait team u on ? No wait there is no teams….. There is only rhysand . Tamlin locked her up and was forcing her to be a house wife . Hell we already went through this in the real world. Everything was perfect in this book and u obviously didn't comprehend it if u still like tamlin the tool!

  3. Katie

    I am SO GLAD I found your review. I agree 100%. Why why why spend an entire book (I loooVed ACOTR) building up a romance where the two people are willing to literally die for each other as well as the cursed people of the Spring Court, and then NOPE NVM Tam is a pig lolololol. I hated this book, I hated the bait and switch feel. Rhys manipulated his way into Fayre's life the by the magical plot fairy turned out to be her true love all along. I say get rid of the boys and make this a love story between Fayre and how her and her sisters misunderstood each other all along and then they can rule the courts together kthxbai.

    • Becca

      Litterally tamlin used feyre for the greater good and never did anything that was just in the interest of her. that's like being called someone's friend but u never hang out with them plus, there relationship was forced apon her by him .she was dragged into the spring court candy shop and took the first thing she saw like why wild u like that relationship over a true mating call like hell no.

  4. Thank you so much for repressing all the people who saw flaws in the book. I completely agree with everything you said in this review. I hate how Tamlin and Rhysand just switch roles like a permanent Freaky Friday. There was no warning or build up to it just… bam! I feel like if there had been a novella in between, it could have been a little more acceptable.. just a little more. I did find it very possible to hate Rhys is this book because of everything he did in ACOTAR. Feyre was the most annoying, weak, insufferable special snowflake I have every read about. Just… *sigh* The worst part is, she claimed to be some female warrior who could not be broken or tamed.

  5. Hi Jeann!
    The more on more I read your review I am seeing how alike we think! Let me tell you I am the biggest SJM fan but I had to literally force myself through ACOTAR. Essentially it has everything I love Fae, court betrayals, handsome men (meh). It just didn't work for me. I didn't like the guys but what I couldn't get past at all was Feyre! She was so whiny then would talk about how afraid of the Fae she was then she would traipsing around a freakin party where they all congregate. I just Couldn't with her! I have tried 3 time now to start acomaf and I can't even get past the first few pages. I am just not into it at all. I see from the above that there are a good number of us that feel this way.
    Ps I don't know what happened but seriously I read your review the day it published and thought you did a perfect job of explaining your qualms without being mean or come lately neg out. People need to lighten the hell up.
    ❤️Britt @ please feed the bookworm
    @kalebsmome
    My recent post Stacking The Shelves – BEA: Post Scriptum

  6. You know how I feel about this book, Jeann. And I seriously love your review. It's so well thought out, and every thing you mention you give a great discussion and explanation for why you feel that way.

    There were just too many things about this book that I couldn't get on board with. I have talked about it and read a lot about it, and I feel like the more I think about it the more I dislike it, actually.

    I have to say that the pairing off of everyone really annoyed me, as well. But that really seems to be a thing that Maas likes doing, because the exact same thing happened in Queen of Shadows. As well as the character turn around, as well, actually.

    I really don't expect much from the last book, but with only one to go before it's all over, I think I will still read it. But go in knowing that I won't love it, and that there will be a lot of annoying and problematic things in it, as well. *sigh*
    My recent post Simply Sunday (#35)

  7. I'm with you on that #BlackSheepLife. It's a shame you've gotten flack for expressing your opinion. That's what book blogging is supposed to be about! I mean, yeah it'd be nice if everyone liked every book, but also incredibly boring.

    And based on your review, this book would drive me nuts and leave me saying the exact same things, because I don't like any of the stuff you pointed out. I was okay on the first book, but didn't quite see the love so many others have for Maas.
    My recent post Waiting on Wednesday: Out On Good Behavior by Dahlia Adler

    • I know, it\’s pretty frustrating because I felt my review was thoughtful and considered and I thought I was pretty clear it was my own opinion. But I\’m glad it\’s not just me Leeanna! Thanks for the support.

  8. LOL oh man that was absolutely hilarious! And that was the first thing Jenna and I were talking about ranting about it in the hallway lol poor Aentee! Man, I mean Ianthe, Tamlin and even Lucien were just like tainted? WHYYY?! Don't you love your characters? Boo to the haters!

    • Thanks Lucia, I did feel like there was that emotional manipulation going on but at least it helped you in some way!

  9. I'm so sorry you didn't love this one! I understand what you mean about Tamlin. It seems like his personality change came out of nowhere and maybe Sarah J. Maas did it to make the author fall in love with Ryhsand. But yeah, I still fell in love with Rhysand. I know it was only because of the drastic change the author did to Tamlin's character, but I loved it. I can see why some wouldn't though.
    My recent post DISCUSSION: New YA Version of The DaVinci Code

  10. Jeann, I'm about a third of the way through this right now and I can completely see where you're coming from. The change in Tamlin's personality kind of reminds me of Adam's character change in the Shatter Me series, and it's frustrating me as well. 🙁 Sorry you didn't especially love this one, but I'm glad you still liked it nonetheless. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! <3

    • Oh man, that\’s a shame about the Shatter Me series, I\’ll have to watch out for me. It\’s just frustrating cos it\’s emotionally manipulating you know. Thanks Zoe! <3

  11. Ugh – I have also been unhappy when an author completely changes the personality of a character in order to break up a relationship. It's very confusing as a reader when we're shown this amazing character and then one book later, they've done a Jekyll and Hyde. When it's happened in other books with characters I was fond of I felt really upset.
    My recent post Hot Off the Presses: New YA Releases May 24-30

    • I know, it\’s more frustrating because why did they bother building up a relationship with someone else then if they\’re just going to change the ship? At least make it appear naturally you know.

  12. I knew she was going to pull this "Tamlin is a villain. Rhys is a savior" business from the ending of ACOTAR. I'm glad I decided not to pick this one up, because everything about it would bother me. I could have gotten behind the Feyre-Rhysand ship had it occurred more subtly and more naturally, which it definitely doesn't seem to happen hear. Turning Tamlin into a villain definitely sounds like emotional manipulation. And ugh, her ruining Lucien really upsets me. Also, the super special snowflake business. How convenient! *eye roll*
    Honestly, it feels like SJM starts off with these great ideas but she lets her feelings about her ships detract her. It seems like the whole basis of the plot and climax of the plot in the first book was useless when you consider this book. I doubt I'll be picking up her books in the future again. Her books just stress me out way too much. I have better books to spend my time with anyways.
    I'm sorry this wasn't for you, Jeann, but I appreciate your honesty in the sea of "OMGGG RHYSSSS" reviews.

    • Exactly, and just to have everything reconfirmed in this book and wiped away. It seems like a really blatant way to force the characters to be with one another and not subtly done at all. Lucien was really upsetting too especially seeing as he was such a fantastic character in the first book! I gave the first book 5 stars but this one was just a disappointing follow up, especially since some characters completely changed from the first book. Thank you Nick! At least I know I\’m not the only one now.

  13. Lauren

    I started to read this post but soon realised I should maybe not :p having not read the first book I was just a little confused as to who was who and whats going on. Sorry to hear this wasn't for you though
    My recent post Review: Right Click by Lisa Becker

    • Lol fair enough Lauren, I did say this one had some spoilers from the first book XD it does happen sometimes!

    • I know, it\’s just a shame because I absolutely LOVED the first instalment but the emotional manipulation here was strong.

    • Thank you Yani, I\’m glad you enjoyed the review! I know not everyone thought this about the book so it was good to present a different perspective.

  14. nereyda1003

    Nothing about this book/series/author makes me want to read any more of her books. I've read Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight and wont read any more. A big reason for that is how aggressive her fans are. I won't lie and say sorry you didn't like this cause I'm a little glad you didn't like it 🙂
    My recent post Series Review: Fire & Thorns by Rae Carson

    • That\’s such a shame Nereyda – I absolutely love the Throne of Glass series but it\’s a bit like John Green isn\’t it, the author gets pretty aggressive fans that are scary on social media. If what happened to me is any indication to go by. I\’m glad to stand by my honest opinion nonetheless – that\’s what book blogging is all about!

    • I\’m too scared to give it 1 stars Em XD but I got smashed by fangirls, I kid you not. I might downgrade it to 2 stars, who knows. I don\’t think I\’ll post this review on Goodreads.

  15. That stinks! I've been waiting to start this series because I want to read them when they're all close to being out. I kind of want to go ahead and start though, because maybe they aren't worth waiting for. Idk, I'm still looking forward to seeing what Maas did here.
    My recent post The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin

    • To each there own though! So many people loved this series but I guess I was in a place where I could see the problems with it. I'll look forward to your review!

    • Thanks Joey! It's not like it was a bad book in any shape or form, it's more personal taste with most of my points.

    • Fair enough Lekeisha, I was pretty annoyed with what happened in QoS too even though I ended up loving that book! But in this one, not so much.

  16. Kudos to you Jeann for sticking with your opinion! I'm seriously going to read ACOMAF with an open mind and heart, but let's see where the writing takes me…
    I think I'll have similar problems with your own, though. It's like the author starts off writing with a goal in mind and uses the characters to achieve that end, even if it means making them do dumb decisions *cough* Feyre or creating a personality change *cough* Tamlin. I guess I'll stick with the series (I mean, I DO have the first two books already), and I'm just glad it's three books lol.

    • Thanks Aila, I'll never back down from my honest opinion and you know that! Yeah, it's like they had a goal in mind but the goal posts changed and decided to go with something else in the mean time – how annoying is that for readers! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it as well. Maybe you'll surprise us 😀

  17. Nara

    Ah man! So sad you didn't like it, although I can definitely see where you're coming from.
    Well at least you liked some things about it I guess. Sarah J Maas' writing is so lovely, she's one of the few authors that can actually get me to picture stuff in my head (I'm basically the worst visual reader in existence…)

    • Yeah, the imagery was really vivid and I loved the night court! It's not a bad read, just personal taste here.

    • Fair enough Bee, it seems like 90% of readers love this book and a select few feel the same way as I do. So I'd never encourage someone not to read a book just because I didn't like it!

  18. AHhh, I don't regret my "not reading this" decision at all. XD I actually DID like Rhys in the first book…I mean, not a lot??? But I thought he had more personality than Tamlin (seriously Tamlin was about as complex as a brick in bk 1) but I was NOT ONBOARD with any of the romances then, so I didn't see how that'd improve for this book. Ew. I hate personality flips. It makes me feel like I'm reading a different book. 🙁 Unfortunately that seems to be SJM's "thing" so I'm not reading her stuff anymore. *sighs*

    • I know, Rhys was definitely an interesting character but I just didn't like how he treated Feyre then, then it was all conveniently explained away in this book. The romance was definitely disturbing, and I felt it was amplified in this book but apparently made okay? The personality flips are what gets me – it's frustrating.

  19. Angel @Angel Reads

    Let me start off with saying that I loved ACOTAR.
    One of the reasons why I am not reading this one is because of what she does to Tamlin. As someone in a writing course we are always getting told that out character has to have an essense and I believe that Tamlin found his in the first book and now to completely change who he is as a person – no thank you. She didn't just change him slightly, she changed him into something that people will hate.

    I also don't like how people have forgotten what Rhys did in the first book – like how.

    Another issue that in the first book Feyre would have died for Tamlin and now she can't really love him and just wants to get away.

    I think me and Sarah J Maas just don't click well – I can't deal with what she does with her characters.

    Thanks for the review – it was really great to see someone that didn't like it as much and saw what was happening in the book

    My recent post #LoveOZYA Interview: Ellie Marney

    • I loved ACOTAR as well! I felt like Tamlin was completely changed as well – not only in his personality and how he treats Feyre but every decision he makes is apparently terrible now. Everyone HAS completely forgotten about what Rhys did, which is pretty frustrating. It gets even more frustrating what Feyre does and resigns herself to in this book particularly about Tamlin. Thanks Angel, I'm glad to hear it wasn't just me.

  20. Ooh, I'm so sorry to hear that! I'm currently reading ACOTAR and I still don't know what to feel about it so far. I've been reading a lot of negative reviews about the series lately – especially with Tamlin and his, well, dominance issues. That being said, I hope I'll enjoy all the fey and court stuff in this book. I guess that's the thing I'm looking forward to the most in this series instead of the characters. xD Great review, Jeann!
    My recent post Conversations: Please Have These On Your Blog Or I Will Cry

    • I actually loved expanding the world here and the NIght court and everything, it's really fascinating! I hope you end up liking the first book so you can see how you feel about the series.

  21. I am in complete agreement here, as you know 😀 I just had so many issues with the characterisation and the plot being super flimsy. There are so many holes in the story and it just wasn't well-developed at all. And Feyre is the specialest of all special snowflakes. She's literally all-powerful. There's nothing she can't defeat because she can manipulate all elements and every other thing that you could possibly think of. Put some obstacle in front of her – no problem, I'm sure some High Lord of some court will have passed on some power to her that can defeat it. BLEH

    • #happyindulgencerants lol. I know, I'm like everything is conveniently explained away, it just felt so awkward! Feyre was just the biggest special snowflake I've ever encountered. Nothing will stand in her way. Ugggh

  22. Yiiiikes. I was keeping an open mind about ACOMAF because I saw people who didn't like ACOTAR liked this, but it seems like it has all the same issues. I really don't know if I even want to read it now, haha. I mean I will because I bought the book, but it definitely doesn't sound like I'll enjoy it. I honestly can not stand how abusive the "romances" are in this series. Brilliant, honest and constructive post Jeann!
    My recent post A Court of I’m Torn and Confused // Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J. Maas

    • Fair enough Lauren, there were quite a lot of elements here I found were completely different or overemphasised in this book! Or maybe it's been a while since I read ACOTAR. Thank you so much Lauren, it'd be interesting to hear what you think about it if you give it a go!

      • Haha, maybe it's because I'd just finished ACOTAR when I read this review. There does seem to be some differences, but the abusive relationships in ACOTAR was one of my biggest problems with it, so it's a shame to see it doesn't get better in ACOMAF.