A Court of Wings & Ruin (ACOTAR #3)

                Hello happy readers!  So as many of you are probably aware this week was the release of A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3) and the original end of the story though we are getting two more books from different POV's and following different characters for our lead from what I hear.  Side note on the excitement that is this release, challenge wise does this count as a series ender or not? I'm conflicted.  Anywho yes I got ACOWAR the day it came out twice.  I had planned to runt o Books-A-Million when I left work early Tuesday (yes I took my bi-weekly flex time the day of the release) to get the special edition with the pretty art inside, which I did.  I also had a credit saved on audible to get it as I LOVED the previous audio book.  Well the audiobook didn’t have a page or pre-order or anything until day of release and I found it at 3am when I woke up needing some water.  Decided to check my phone quickly before going back to sleep and I saw it, downloaded it, and decided I didn’t need two more hours of sleep.   I was addicted. 

Rating:  10 Stars!!!!!

                This may seem overly dramatic but this book…this whole series just got me.  I really enjoyed the first book but then book two just hit me in such a way that exploded my mind.  You can read my full reviews ACOTAR and ACOMAF to grasp what I mean.  I mean I switched ships and I don't do that very often and generally never with someone I despised so much in previous books.  For that person to be one of my favorite characters is HUGE.

                 So anyways we left off with a massive bomb shell dropping.  Tamlin had turned to work with Hybern, to get her back away from Rhys.  Feyre's sisters even got dragged into it and tossed into the cauldron and turned Fey one even turning out to be Lucians mate.  They were betrayed, trapped, and hurt and Feyre made a choice.  She played the victim and made her mate, Rhys, the villain everyone thought him to be.  She gave those she loved a chance to escape and regroup while she went into the enemies home base, back to the Spring Court with Tamlin her ex.  She is ready to destroy him and his Court for what he did to hers.  Oh and then that Feyre isn't just Rhy's mate but she is none other than High Lady of the Night Court his equal in every way.  See this is why I love him.

                I spent so long trying to think of how things would play out.  How she would handle being in the Spring Court again and more importantly away from Rhys.  I grew so attached to this ship that I was terrified of something happening to them.  I also had other ships I was rooting on and some of them seem to be making some progress and other ships have sunk.  I had all these theories I had played out over and over in my head things I expected to happen and from what I had seen on the internet I wasn't the only one.  I was right in some small ways and others I was way off the mark. 

                 We have been building to this battle since the beginning.  There have been pieces put in place since book one and we have been eagerly inching closer to this war from the start.  We finally have the war, I think the title (ACOWAR) is fitting in that it spells war but also that it there is a lot of ruin.  This book had me running the spectrum of emotions.  I was all over the place.  I was angry, sad, happy, laughing, nervous, excited, and more over and over again in varying levels and order.  I laughed out loud, I cried a very unattractive snotty cry, I turned red in anger and shock and so much more.  My poor heart was racing for one reason or another the whole damn time.  The twists and turns throughout really keep you guessing and while I had thought of some things I thought were creative and could help I was not nearly as creative as the wonderful Maas.  She really took us on a ride.  The story we started has come to a close but despite the war and ruin that has taken place I was satisfied.  I felt the story was wrapped in a way that paid homage to the build-up but there are still things that need told and I can see where the next books could go. 

               

                There is tons of magic and fighting scenes for sure because when Fey fight they fight both with their awesome magic powers but also with impressive battle skills.  You have so many people that you grew to care about through these books that when the battles start and people start dying it's painful to see so many fall.  I cried so often.  Even some deaths I wouldn’t think would make me as sad as they did just hit me, because no one is safe and that is scary for those characters you love.  All the things revealed and coming to light, this book really is packed full of moments of hope and redemption and lots of tears and pain but they balance out.

                 I'm curious who will be the focus of her next books.  I have some theories of course and I'd love to see if I'm thinking the same as any of you.  Now the next part of this review is going to have some seriously spoilers ahead.  Like it will ruin things for you so don't read ahead if you haven't finished ACOWAR. 

******SPOILERS******BELOW******SPOILERS******BELOW****** 

                So first I have to talk about my ship that sunk. Mor and Azriel.  I don't really even unship it so much because I still really want it but after what she told Feyre I don't think they would be as happy as I want them to be so sigh.  I want them both to be happy and I hope that we will see more of them in the next books, I especially hope she will be honest with him at least poor Azriel.  Here I am a little conflicted because I totally get her reasons for keeping it on the down low and don't think her horrible for putting on a show for most but then I think about Azriel and I kind of am a little mad because I adore him too and this could have been solved with a simple talk.  This talk needs to happen in future books.

                Next can we talk about the elephant in the room; Tamlin.  So last book I hated him.  I despised him and wouldn’t have been upset if he died but I was hoping he would redeem himself.  Wow what a way to play this.  He wasn't completely as bad as we thought.  He wasn't the best person by any means but he had real reasons for doing the most egregious crimes.  He also came through in the end and I really enjoyed the twists and depth to it; that he got his bit of redemption.  I am curious to see how that works for him in the future.  I'm still not okay with his trust in Ianthe or that he pimped out Lucien.  I hope that him and Lucien can repair their friendship.  I think they both cold use a friend in this world, but I think now that he has someplace else to go, he won't  be as sucked into doing everything Tamlin wants/needs and it will be more balanced.  Plus can we talk about the parentage news….that will be interesting coming up.

                 Which is why I think one of the books will be from Elain / Lucien story.  They are kind of okay with each other at the moment but nothing more as she is still dealing with the man she loved turning away so painfully.  The other story I think will involve Nesta / Cassian because who doesn’t need more of them after this book!   Or even Amren and her new self, this I think would be interesting. 

                Side note I did get one thing answered for me, something that kind of bugged me since book one, the tattoo that happened when Rhys made the bargain with Feyre.  I didn't think it was cool since hello no one said it would mark her.  That should be mentioned prior to it happening I think.  But it being the typical way bargains are sealed in the Nigh Court, a common thing, something he probably didn’t think much of then made me smile.  Anywho there is so much more I could share and discuss because OMG this book.  But I don’t want this to be ten pages so share your thoughts in the comments below and lets discuss.  Just please mark any spoilers. 

                Until next time…

A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2)

                Hello happy readers! Okay so last week I had typed up my first review of the new year just as I finished today's book and being in such need to discuss I almost pushed ahead.  But I needed time to process my thoughts into a coherent review.  The book in question is A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2) by the wonderful Sarah J. Maas.  I love her books and I am behind.  This is a sad truth. Still it is a fact.  But as I am caught back up one of her series let's discuss.  Also side note this book/series leans more into NA than YA and has much more adult content in some parts, sexy steamy parts.  Enough of this because it's a long one…lots to say!

Rating:  5  Sets of Painted Eyes

                So if you look at my review for A Court of Thorns and Roses you will see that I was firmly Team Tamlin.  I went into this book a bit nervous with so many people shipping Rhysand.  I couldn't understand that given my temper towards him at book ones end.  I mean seriously he made that crappy bargain with her that tattooed her out of nowhere, like first crap deal then surprise a tattoo comes with it and I can feel you through it, not cool man.  Second my biggest issue was that he drugged her.  Yes I get it that he wasn't that evil he had been playing a part and all, I get that, but no way did I ever think drugging a girl and parading her around and touching her, albeit restrained, is something I think of as ship-worthy.  Plus afterwards no apology or anything just did what I had to do would do it again.  Huge pet peeve of mine and I went in worried if anything happened I'd find myself disappointed or angered. 

                Then I started reading.

                I was still mad at Rhysand for book one items.  Even as he started to grow on me as a character and I wanted so badly to like him I was conflicted because of my issues with book one events that had not been addressed to my satisfaction.  And his cocky attitude made it worse at times.  But even as I got to know more about Rhys and he started to thaw me I wasn't completely convinced of any ship factors even after I was well off the Tamlin ship. 

                Book one changed everyone.  Feyre is no longer mortal.  She flipping died and was bought back high fae.  That is unheard of.  She also killed innocent people.  She was pushed to her breaking point, tortured and held captive.  She is broken in ways she wasn't before and trying to understand and live with that.  Tamlin and the rest of the courts have their power back and the spring court got to lose the masks.  He also watched the woman he loved die before his eyes.  Rhys hated by all before and especially after is finally free and no longer Amarantha's whore, free to see his family and friends and to fly once more but also to live with the things he has done.  Everyone is changed.

                Things are better with Amarantha gone but things are not yet safe.  Greater evil still looms and they must work to find a way to defeat it while still stuck in her bargain with Rhys.  That can put a damper on things with your husband to be.  Feyre is caught between being a spy for Tamlin in Rhys court and Rhys trying to ready her for what is to come.  Rhys, attitude and all, is treating her more like she needs than a porcelain doll Tamlin is treating her as which confuses her head.  Her heart though is broken and shattered from beneath the mountain.  As Feyre spends more time with Rhys in the Night Court she begins to see there are two sides to every story and that everyone may have misjudged the High Lord of the Night Court for having the ability to do what they could not to protect his people.

                 The whole world is developed more as we get to see more.  We know about the Spring Court, where we start but we get to see the Night Court in both the Hewn City and Velaris as well as Summer Court.  Getting to know both Courts and see the contrasts was pretty cool plus some other areas I won't mention.  Some things you expect others just floor you.  Prythia is expansive.  There are also new powers to see and understand.  Everyone's powers were pretty limited in book one so now with the release; we are opened up see more of what they can do.  Add to that Feyre was mortal but now is Fae and gifted with a part of all High Lords this has given her some unique abilities, harnessing bits of all of them.  Seeing what Feyre could do as she learned new things and understanding other areas we have yet to visit just wowed me.  I'd really like to know about the one that glows….

                I loved getting to know more characters, like Rhysand's inner circle.  Cassian, Azriel, Morrigan, and Amren are my favorite new editions for sure.  They were just on point.  Each was unique and different personalities and traits and a vast history between them all with many stories that shaped them but one thing they all know is that they are loyal as they are fierce.  The inner mingling of them, the conversations and such made so much of the book for me.  Also plus from the audiobook I know how to say the names!  You want to know more about them but also want them to find happiness to sooth the darkness all have faced.  We also got to see more of Feyres sisters living in the human world, Nesta and Elain along with some human queens.  They have come a long way and Nesta is constantly fierce, back and forth on if I like or hate her sometimes but no matter what she is fierce and that I appreciate.  In seeing the Summer Court we got to meet their young ruler Tarquin and brother and sister Cresseida and Varian.

                The story did a great job of moving forward developing the world and so many wonderful and rich characters but also calling back to the previous book.  Smaller things you thought would be important later on, they were!  I love when books do that. 

                Okay that's all I can really say without spoilers.  From here on out I'm going to be discussing the spoilery bits because OMG I need to!  So if you haven't read or finished it yet then you have been warned to stop here. 

*****SPOILERS*****

                So my ship.  I did jump to team Rhysand eventually.  I was so relieved with how Maas played it out.  It wasn't jump from one to the other.  There was so much happening between the characters that really made things seem real and deep rather than flakey.  Everyone changed after book one like I said. Tamlin became an overbearing ass.  He no longer treated her like an equal but like a pet or some pretty face with nothing more to her.  He also wasn't as attentive to her in anything my sex.  I understood his beastly need to keep her safe after watching her die and that held me to him longer but when he locked her up and made her a prisoner again I was gone.  You can't treat someone you love that way.  No excuse. 

                So Rhys.  He had won me over character wise from the first bit but the romantic part came later.  As he opened up to her and saw more of him.  Book one we didn't see much but the evil mask he put forth.  So seeing him in the Velaris with his people he loved and his friends just hit you hard.  Especially in contrast to his mask he wears at the Court of Nightmares and his not wanting her to see him like that.  However, more than that, he did apologize.  My pet peeve was pushed aside and I let the feels come in.  He knew no one would see him as anything but evil and no amount of apologies would fix that so why bother he would simply take their hate he felt he deserved but he still was sorry.  He hated himself far more than I could have for the things I hated him for in book one.   I'm still a bit miffed about the tattoo and drug thing even if one of the two is explained but in the grand scheme of things I understand it and his intentions better.  The way he handled her, handled the one part and explaining it all hopeful yet worried just broke me.  That moment was when he had me.  I was officially Team Rhysand. 

                I was sad we didn't see much of Lucien in this book because he was one of my favorite characters in book one.  Though I didn't care for him as much.  At the start he was not helping her even though he knew how she was hurting, more than Tamlin seemed to but instead did as he was told.  Then in the clearing, that scene was on point as well.  I loved it!  I was totally digging it.  Her words to him.  And then later the little bit of guilt I had for him vanished as we find out what happened.  So many feels there.  ALL THE FEELS.  The game they are now playing is going to be hard but it made me love Rhys so much more.  When Amren made her demand, which coming from her made the impact that much more, and Rhys with his answer was just personification of why I love him.  An equal.

                I'm interested to see what happens next.  My small issue would be how Tamlin changed so drastically.  Some of it I can understand but I feel there has to be something more to it and I bet it has something to do with that evil vindictive priestess which I hope to find out more about.  Okay more like I want to watch her fall.  I also want to know more about mate bonds, they are supposed to be sacred and regarded above all else and rare.  Something has to be up with Tamlin for him to believe she was cool with him when they parted on bad terms and what he did caused so much pain to people she love.

                Anywho I have so many ideas and theories for the next book but I'm anxious because my ship is apart and well it's called A Court of Wings and Ruin, hello RUIN does not sound good.  I'd love to hear your thoughts about this book and any theories for the next book!

                Until next time…