A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J Maas

A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J Maas
Release Date - May 5, 2015
Publisher Website - Bloomsbury/Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 416 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received for an honest review from publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

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!

A girl. A beast. A terrible curse. You may think you know this story, but this is a twist on Beauty and the Beast that is as surprising as it is sexy. It's a story filled with emotion, and heart. It's intricately crafted and spun in such a manner that readers will immediately become obsessed with not just these characters, but the series itself.

The world building in this novel is as breathtaking as it's romance. Fantasy fans will delight in this well crafted world, and casual fans will be gripped by it's fairy tale elements and enthralling characters. It's a story that is an addictive blend of magic, romance, danger, and allure. We've only just begun to glimpse this vast world that's been created and the surprises still to come only increase my desire for the rest of the series.

Sexy and sensual are the perfect words I would use to describe A Court Of Thorns and Roses. There is an undertone that hums throughout that is a blend of seductive mixed with danger. A sort of 'touch but pay a price' feel to the entire story. This series has more of a new adult feel, but the sexiness never takes over the story. The focus is on plot and character development with the sensual element folded into the mythology and interactions of the characters. There are plenty of scorching scenes and there is a palpable chemistry between the characters that ignites the pages but the story offers so much more than that to keep you hooked.

Sarah J Maas is known for her incredible characters. Celaena, the protagonist from Sarah's Throne of Glass series is complex, flawed, and incredible nuanced character. Feyre, the protagonist of this story, easily shines in this compelling tale. She has a quiet strength and conviction that makes her every bit as powerful as Celaena, even though they could not be more different. Feyre's survival instinct, combined with her ability to grow and change endeared her to me immediately. She's the type of character you want to thank the author for creating because they've stunned you so completely.

Prepare to fall in love with the men Sarah has created. Mysterious, cold, but alluring Tamlin. Imposing, sarcastic and loyal Lucien. Dangerous, and seductive Rhysand. It's a known truth that swoon worthy boys are Sarah's speciality and none of the men in this story disappoint. As much as I enjoy swooning over them, I love how nuanced, and real her characters feel. She's able to use her words to craft how you feel about them with what seems like gentle ease. There was a character I detested beyond anything the entire time I was reading. I was enraged at this character. However, by the end of the novel my thoughts towards him had completely changed. Through the incredible writing, and using her words as a powerful means of persuasion, and easily twisted how I felt.

Those who abhor cliffhanger endings will delight in hearing that this novel feels like a complete story. There is more than enough plot points left unexplored to expand the story and the world the characters inhabit but it doesn't feel like an abrupt or cut off ending. There is a talent in setting up the next novels in a series while fully telling a complete story in each instalment of that series and that is evident in this particular example in spades.

A sensual, darkly decadent twist on the Beauty and the Beast lore that shows Sarah J Maas has plenty of novels in her future. This new series will only expand, and solidify her fan base. The wait for the next instalment of Feyre and Tamlin's story will be an exquisite torture, but one that will be undoubtedly worth the wait.