Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Publication Date: May 5th 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s
Point of View: 1st Person & Feminine
Recommended Age: 14+
Genres & Themes: New Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Fairies, Fairy Tale Retelling, Beauty and the Beast, Curse, Danger

BLURB:

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

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.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

REVIEW:

A richly imagined fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast!

If you’re a lover of retellings mingling romance, danger, faerie mystical creatures and a heroine that shows a significant deal of courage throughout, then this is one title you will not want to miss out and will very likely considerably enjoy.

The world-building is inventive and detailed. The different Courts of faeries are an element that adds great originality to this story. At first, A Court of Thorns and Roses might appear similar to plenty of fantasy books already written out there but, the further you read, the more you come to descry its ingenious lines shaping the well-known classic sprinkled with beautiful themes and… sensuality.

What was missing for me was action. I wanted more of it, as well as some adventure and deadly dangerous situations, which we do get, in the first chapters, but otherwise not until a good part of the novel. The pacing is quite slow, for the author chose to take her time building the relationship between Feyre, Tamlin, Lucien and even Alis, a servant. Surprisingly, there weren’t as many characters as I expected. The world-building being focused on distinct Courts principally ruled by High Lords and dwelt by lesser faeries, I thought, deceptively so, that we were going to be introduced to so many of them!

I have to say that Sarah J. Maas’ writing is compelling. While she could have moderated her descriptions of paintings, for there were many of them and relatively long ones, even those didn’t bore me. Feyre, the heroine, is both a huntress and painter. Never have I seen this mix of skills before in one person. Her strength won’t go unnoticed and neither will her dauntlessness. There were moments in the story when I felt the need to growl at her, for her difficulty to obey orders – even if for her own protection – was bewildering!

It’s true what they say, Tamlin will make you swoon… *wink*

Recommended to fans of Cruel Beauty, East and Beauty.

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Pre-review:

Well, well, what do we have here?

Original, amazingly looking cover? Check!

‘‘Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.’’

Fairies? Check!

‘‘treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends’’

Magic + alternative world + some mystery perhaps? Check!

‘‘her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion’’

Love/hate relationship that, because it’s Sarah J. Maas, will blow our mind? Check!

‘‘But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it … or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.’’

DANGER. Brave heroine? CHECK CHECK CHECK!

Basically, it has everything to look for in a fantasy.

Please, do not disappoint.