A Court of Thorns and Roses Review: Feyre

Book: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Standing: Book 1
POV: 1st person by Feyre, past tense
Setting: Prythian
Genre: YA fantasy

Source: Physical Copy
Pages: 416
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release: May 5th, 2015

Favourite Line: "Because I wouldn't want to die alone... Because I'd want someone to hold my hand until the end, and awhile after that. That's something everyone deserves, human or faerie."

Rating: 5 Stars

(Goodreads) A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Timesbestselling 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!

                       ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

I honestly don't know where to begin with this book. The world was beautifully, the characters very individual and easy to connect to, and that romance.

Feyre. To begin, the name Feyre is pretty awesome. It's pronounced Fay-ruh, and am I the only one who notices the slight similarity between the word Feyre and faerie? Feyre was a fantastic protagonist, dealing with various issues and emotions being the sole source of survival for her family. It was so easy to feel what she felt, to feel the resentment and unfairness of her human situation, but also the love she has for them. When Tamlin comes to take her away, not once does she back down nor hesitates to do what needs to be done to protect her family. Feyre was resourceful and brilliant, one who is undyingly loyal, and above all, human. She proves that though humans may be physically inferior to the fae, we still have hearts and wits of steel.

Tamlin. As this is a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, it was easy to see guess where he was coming from. He wasn't trying to make an enemy out of Feyre, even though she was trying to make an enemy out of him. He always kept his temper in check whenever he was around her. His protectiveness of Feyre had me grinning like an idiot, and the pains he went to do minimal damage in terms of helping her near the end made my heart cry. Again, that romance... I was blushing quite a lot throughout this novel! And at the end...that display of rage and power? *Swoons*

I've heard quite a lot about Rhysand from many of you, so I had high expectations for him. I was not disappointed! Rhysand was dark, mysterious, cocky and arrogant, and though he was a bit of jerk (part of his appeal), he was ultimately a good guy. He had a hidden agenda, one I kept guessing at, and I would love to see more of his inner thoughts. I get the feeling that he's more of a tortured soul than we're let on, which only makes him all the more intriguing. I seriously can see an epic bromance between Rhysand and Tamlin, and maybe even Lucien. 

But now the big question: do I ship Feyre with Tamlin or Feyre with Rhysand? The answer: I don't know! I honestly love them both, and I'm not leaning more towards any particular one. This has never before happened to me. I always knew exactly who I shipped people with, but here? I can't do it. At all. And it's driving me crazy!

Yes, this is loosely based on Beauty and the Beast, but it is nothing like it. This book expands on the original plot line, introducing new elements and reasons for things to happen. It was unpredictable, as nothing was ever as it seemed (human senses, I know). Is there a curse? Yes. But not the one everyone's familiar with. Far from it. And the ending diverged from the whole Gaston-goes-to-kill-the-Beast, and thank god for that. It was so much better, the themes so much deeper, the stakes even higher. Just...wow.

I also really liked the theme of humanity in this book. Yes, Feyre is human, and yes, humans are considerably weaker than fae. But Feyre proves that she, as a human, is able to do things that the fae can't do, and is able to triumph through all the obstacles thrown at her. Yes, her mental state alters with the horrific things she's forced to do, but she remains headstrong the entire time. Humanity for the win!

All in all, a fantastic book. The world was so was so easy to fall into, and Feyre a character easy to identify with. The ending had a sense of finality to it, but also left open enough for readers to guess at what other troubles will stir next (my money is on the King of Hybern). It was fast-paced, gripping, filled with action and the notion of testing one's boundaries, and an iron will to do what's right. I seriously would recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read it yet, and now I'm going to sit in quiet agony as I wait for the next book, which is supposed to be a Persephone and Hades retelling (cough, Rhysand).