*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Release Date: February 16, 2021 Pages: 768
Source: Hardcover
THE STORY:
Sarah J. Maas's sexy, richly imagined series continues with the journey of Feyre's fiery sister, Nesta.
Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.
The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.
Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.
Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.
BUY LINKS: The Lit. Bar | Amazon
RATING:
ONE-WORD REVIEW: MASTERFUL
TAG LINE:
Untamed power. Untamed passion.
OPENING LINE:
Cassian raised his fist to the green door on the dim hallway—and hesitated.
REVIEW:
Initial Thoughts:
But my God as I was reading this book, I just... I have no words.
I need to simmer a bit to recompose myself.
Sometime Later:
I am now thoroughly, wholly undone...
The story is going to crack you wide open and expose the nerves of all your needs and desires. Your secrets.
Well, it did to me anyway.
I LOVED this book! I’m still trying to piece myself back together!
And this is coming from someone who was indifferent to Cassian — don’t get me wrong, I liked him, he was that hot, fun, warrior brute, but there wasn’t really any substance —and, not to mention, I HATED Nesta for how she treated Feyre—I found her to be truly despicable. Before you rush to her defense and claim “well, why are male characters allowed to get away with that behavior but not female ones!” —no, just no. I don’t know what type of books y’all are reading and who likes male characters who act like Nesta but I think y’all are confused. There’s a difference between an aloof, emotionally repressed, rough around the edges warrior and someone who is just a jealous, selfish asshole who is atrociously mean to her baby sister (who, might I add, did everything possible to keep all of the actual adults alive)—talk about glaringly ungrateful.
Rant over, moving on.
Nesta was the epitome of “hurt people hurt people. But I have to say: Nesta’s character arc has to be my favorite in some time. SJM masterfully crafted Nesta’s characterization —I went from pure hatred (all you have to do is skim through scenes of Nesta and Feyre in ACOTAR to coax your memory of how awful she was) to rooting for her growth. Man. Her journey was a hard, spiky one I will not soon forget.
“So Nesta had become a wolf. Armed herself with invisible teeth and claws, and learned to strike faster, deeper, more lethally. Had relished it. But when the time came to put away the wolf, she'd found it had devoured her too.”
The plot and worldbuilding lived up to the expectations set by its predecessors. The pacing was fantastic and the story unfolded so beautifully. The plot was interesting enough, find magical objects and keep from evil guys.
Most importantly, Cassian's and Nesta's relationship . . . one word: SPICY! The absolute spiciest in the series thusfar.
I have to say, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY HATED Nesta. She was godawful to Feyre. FEYRE! The baby of the family who made ALL of the sacrifices to keep her older sisters and father alive. Even after they took advantage of her, treated her like shit *Nesta* and were totally ungrateful. So, I knew going in it was going to take a MAJOR overhauling for Nesta in her character arc. Thank goodness that worked out superbly. Now, getting to the point, throughout the series I never felt connected to Cassian. I always imagined him as the sexy, goofy brute, who was overly affectionate and had boundary issues. I liked him in passing but I didn't really know him —know his mind. A COURT OF SILVER FLAMES did not disappoint! Now, Cassian is giving Rhys a run for his money. Cassian is incredibly compassionate, thoughtful, and nonjudgmental. This was the side of him I needed to see in order to truly connect with his character.
“I'll be with you every step of the way. Just don't lock me out. You want to walk in silence for a week, I'm fine with that. So long as you talk to me at the end of it.”
Nesta and Cassian's relationship —coupled with Nesta's character growth and her making friends— was a work of art. The banter, the sexual tension, the chemistry, the angst. My God it hurt so damn good. We were literally under the impression Nesta hated Cassian despite her physical attraction to him and the matebond that made her have some inkling of connection to him. But, low and below, ya girl felt exactly the opposite of hate. She hated herself and didn't think she was good enough for him. Makes so much sense. Then throw in the SPICY— Gods, the SPICINESSSSSS. And to read that unfolding on page was a sublime experience.
All in all, I am obsessed with A COURT OF SILVER FLAMES and anxiously await the next installment in the ACOTAR series.
CHARACTERS:
NESTA: As aforementioned, Nesta was the epitome of “hurt people hurt people. But I have to say: Nesta’s character arc has to be my favorite in some time.
“I am worthless and I am nothing, Nesta nearly said. She wasn’t sure why the words bubbled up, pressing on her lips to voice them. I hate everything that I am. And I am so, so tired. I am tired of wanting to be anywhere but in my own head.”
CASSIAN: As aforementioned, I always imagined him as the sexy, goofy brute, who was overly affectionate and had boundary issues. I liked him in passing but I didn't really know him —know his mind. Cassian is incredibly compassionate, thoughtful, and nonjudgmental. This was the side of him I needed to see in order to truly connect with his character.
“I am your mate, for fuck’s sake!” Cassian shouted, loud enough for people across the river to hear. “You are my mate! Why are you still fighting it?”
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Your power is a song, and one I've waited a very, very long time to hear, Nesta.” —Cassian
“Cassian leaned to whisper in her ear, 'The first time I saw that look on your face, you were still human. Still human, and I nearly went to my knees before you.'”—Cassian
“I cannot survive without reading.”—Nesta
“Nesta had loved Cassian since she'd first laid eyes on him. Had loved him even when she did not want to, even when she had been swallowed by despair and fear and hatred. Had loved him and destroyed herself because she didn't believe she deserved him, because he was all that was good, and brave, and kind, and she loved him, she loved him, she loved him”—Nesta
FAVORITE FANART:
BONUS AZRIEL CHAPTER:
The bonus chapter really highlighted the issues I had with Azriel's character and why I never connected to him. Azriel takes no initiative, he’s not assertive when it comes to relationships/romance. Like, my guy, it’s been ***500 years*** and 1) you’ve done nothing to pursue Mor outright, 2) won’t even talk to her about how you feel —Like have they even had an actual conversation in any of the books? 3) still haven’t figured out Mor prefers women... Make it make sense.
And that bonus chapter did not endear Azriel to me—to be completely honest, he seemed skeevy and entitled to me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Throne of Glass, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series. Her books have sold more than nine million copies and are published in thirty-seven languages. A New York native, Sarah lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, son, and dog.
***Check out Sarah J. Maas' website for more information about her and A COURT OF SILVER FLAMES: HERE
Happy Reading!
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