Sarah J. Maas Does It Again

       By Samantha C.

  A Court of Thorns and Roses is the first book in a new trilogy by the same name from Sarah J. Maas, the New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series (The Assassin's Blade: The Throne of Glass Novellas, Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, and the upcoming Queen of Shadows). A Court of Thorns and Roses (or ACOTAR, as it is sometimes referred to as) shows that not only can Sarah J. Maas write two book series' at once, she excels at it. A retelling of the classic story Beauty and the Beast, ACOTAR follows nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre (pronounced Fay-ruh) as she struggles to fulfill a promise she made to her mother, despite the consequences her actions may have. Filled with magic, Faery High Lords, and one stubborn human girl, this book will keep you guessing until the very last page. A Court of Thorns and Roses not only lived up to all of the pre-release hype, it surpassed it. This book has everything a person can expect from a Sarah J. Maas novel: magic, faeries, a strong-willed female protagonist, and a lot of heartache.

        There was very little about this book that I disliked. The plot was fast-paced and kept me wondering what would happen next; the world-building was as thorough as I've come to expect from Sarah J. Maas; and most, if not all, of the characters were well-rounded and intriguing. One of my few issues with ACOTAR is how little is revealed about the war between the humans and the Fae. One thing that I loved, however, is how Sarah J. Maas managed to write a character that is only looking out for himself and will stab others in the back to get ahead (the kind of character I usually adore), and get me to dislike him. Although there were points in the book I was cursing Sarah J. Maas for the emotional pain she was causing (as usual), I was unable to put the book down (also as usual).

        I strongly recommend that everyone read ACOTAR. If you like books with faeires and magic, read it. If you're a fan of Throne of Glass, read it. If you're a fan of a book that will keep you guessing until the end, read it. Even if you're skeptical, read it. I promise you won't regret it. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is available from all major booksellers as both a physical book an an ebook.