Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Recalling the first instalment to the series (A Court of Thorns and Roses), Feyre defeated Amarantha in Under The Mountains and rescued Tamlin, the High Lord of Spring Court, with the help of the High Lord of Night Court, Rhysand, by having a bargain with Rhysand; She promised that she will have to spend one week in the Night Court every month.
In this long awaited sequel, it started off with the Feyre’s life after returning to the Spring Court safely. After all the things she had gone through in Under The Mountains, she realised that she is more powerful than ever, or possibly, than any existing High Lords. Almost everyone with/around her knows that, but not all of them is appreciating her current state, including Tamlin. Tamlin loved her, but he was too protective towards Feyre.
Here comes Feyre’s worst fear: being caged like an animal.
He confined Feyre in the house, stopping Feyre from leaving the area of the Spring Court no matter how many times Feyre fought him. During her ‘imprisonment’, the walls of the Spring Court triggered her nightmares of being Under The Mountain but no one in the house dares to go against Tamlin’s will to help Feyre.
When Tamlin decided to get rid of Feyre’s bargain with the High Lord of Night Court by having Feyre as his wife (even though the mate bond isn’t present between them), Rhysand came to Feyre’s rescue by fulfilling their bargain; he brought her back to the Night Court.
During this period, Feyre began to learn about her new powers and she shaped her wish to build her future with Rhysand and the Night Court Squad to stop the King of Hybern, an evil that shows Amarantha as nothing in comparison.
Here begins the story about love and life, about sacrifice and hard-fought happiness, about a girl wandering in the meadow of nothingness just to fathom the night sky directing her towards her renewal.
Feyre
All along, Feyre was brave in the first instalment but she remained to have some passiveness in her character. However, in ACOMAF, she is not who she was. In the first instalment, she desired a protector. In contrary, now, she wants to be the controller of her life. She is lively, fierce and ambitious. Initially, she may not know what she wants, but she does not simply take orders; she took time to shape her thinking.
"I was not a pet, not a doll, not an animal. I was a survivor and I was strong. I would not be weak, or helpless again. I would not, could not be broken. Tamed."
--- Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury
Tamlin
Tamlin, Tamlin, Tamlin. I understand everything he does for Feyre was out of love and fear of losing her. He was no longer himself because he was blinded by love. But this does not excuse his mistakes and rash decisions. I never really liked him even when I was reading the first book. As a High Lord, of course, he is strong but he’s so useless and cowardice sometimes. I dislike him even more when Sarah J. Mass made him a control freak. I was so glad the moment when Feyre left him for the Night Court because he will be temporarily out of the picture!
Rhysand
Contrariwise, Rhysand is so much better. I am being totally honest here not because of the hype about Rhysand, but because he is being so nice and caring towards Feyre, his friends and his people. His character is more interesting and full of banter in appropriate situation. He might appeared to be the badass in the first instalment but actually, he is very compassionate and selfless. His arrogance, cunningness, elegance and intelligence…it will take ten days for me to finish describing him. Basically, he has the highest standards for fictional males. But the thing is, he also has his own dark past which shaped how he is now and caused him repeatedly doubting himself.
“You think I don’t know how stories get written - how this story will be written?” Rhys put his hands on his chest, his face more open, more anguished than I’d seen it. “I am the dark lord, who stole away the bride of spring. I am a demon, and a nightmare, and I will meet a bad end. He is the golden prince - the hero who will get to keep you as his reward for not dying of stupidity and arrogance.”
--- Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury
Plus, he appreciates Feyre’s gifted power, he sees values in her and encourages her to improve. Can we just be thankful that Rhysand is a feminist
Rhysand gives the best entrances.
The Love Triangle
I refuse to think there’s a love triangle. Feyre and Rhysand loves each other, Tamlin is superfluous because Feyre has no more feelings towards him, end of story, there ain’t no love triangle here y’all. Feyre knows that she deserves a better one, one who encourages her to grow and improve. I’m foreseeing some comments coming my way saying that “BUT FEYRE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO CHANGE HER HEART!”. Well, excuse me, who wouldn’t rebel if one is living with a control-freak.
“He locked you up because he knew - the bastard knew what a treasure you are. That you are worth more than land or gold or jewels. He knew, and wanted to keep you all to himself.”
--- Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury
The New Characters
Not forgetting about new characters. ACOMAF has a lot more characters than the first instalment. Maas is really very good in character-building because there isn’t a character that I can forget because each character is significant in the story in their own way. The most interesting ones are the Bone Carver and the Weaver.
Romance???
Surprisingly, compared to the first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses, ACOMAF has lesser romance. I read passed half of the book and a quarter, I still don’t find romance?!?! I mean, there are some occasions where Rhys and Feyre flirted with each other but the book really focuses on the ultimate goal, which is to defeat the King of Hybern. That’s the thing, nowadays, most of the fantasy books focused so much on romantic elements instead of fantasy. ACOMAF is different; it’s the other way round in ACOMAF. So yeah, it really deserves to be placed at the shelf of fantasy.
Further, perhaps, Feyre’s and Rhys’ love story is considered to be the subplot and thus, not mentioned frequently, I was eager to find out more about them. Thank God for Sarah J. Maas, I enjoyed reading the last 10 chapters very much as it focuses on the development of their relationship. The conversations they shared are sexy af. Can Rhysand stop being so seductive?!?!
“I’m thinking,” he said, following the flip of my tongue over my bottom lip, “that I look at you and feel like I’m dying. Like I can’t breathe.”
--- Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury
The *ehem* sex scenes
I’ve seen mixed reviews about the sex scenes. Personally, I think it’s alright. Not that I am a fan of erotic scenes, but Maas kept it simple and straightforward. She even used the words “branding” and “prayers” to replace “kissing” and sex moans. Wow. I wouldn’t say it’s beautifully written, but I think Maas tried her best to not make the scenes appeared to be ‘too cheap’. Somehow, the flirtations and banter between Rhys and Feyre are more interesting.
Things I Don't Like about ACOMAF
Other than Tamlin, I can’t really point out what I don’t like about this book. The story is stunning, sorrowful and cheerful at the same time.
Ending
One last point I have to make is, Maas is a merciful author. Thank God for Maas once again. Although the third book is coming out next year, the ending of this story is not a cliffhanger. BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN A YEAR OF WAITING IS BEARABLE.
Rating: ★★★★★
