Book Review | A Court of Wings and Ruin

A Court of Wings and Ruin

By Sarah J. Maas

Bloomsbury  |  2017  |  656 pages

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s manoeuvrings and the invading king threatening to bring her land to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit – and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords and hunt for allies in unexpected places. And her heart will face the ultimate test as she and her mate are forced to question whether they can truly trust each other.

Oof. This one was a good’un. I really loved this one. I loved ACOMAF as well and I would defo say, they are the strongest two in the series so far, at least for me personally. 

As always, I’ll go into the things I really liked as well as what I did not care for. 

I think I will start with the negatives this time around because honestly? There are not that many. 

So… papa Archeron… I really do not give a f*** about you. You are the worst father and you just continuously disappoint me. I know it was supposed to be sweet that he rode into battle on The Nesta ship but I honestly just did not care at all. I don’t understand him and his choices. It’s heavily implied that Nesta is his favourite daughter, given the head of the ships was that and he was at the forefront and it’s no disrespect to Nesta like at all but… come on, man. 

Feyre was 14 years old, making sure both her older sisters and her father were looked after and made sure they did not starve to death and she gets no thanks for this or recognition from her father. I know there are a few bits of speech from Nesta and Elain - still not enough in my personal opinion - but from her dad? Absolutely nothing. 

The moment also just felt super random? Like I know it was implied he was involved in things before losing their fortune but it felt so out of place? He had been absent for so long in the other books with barely any mention and then he just appears out of thin air with Vassa? Nah, I don’t care for it. 

It felt clumsy and rushed and just really lazily placed. There was literally nothing to indicate he would be involved in the war and I feel like he shouldn’t have been? I don’t know, I just really struggled to get past it because it was random af. 

The only other thing is… at the moment, I really do not care for Elain. She be saying some creepy shit and just… she is a tad boring. Nesta, I find super intriguing. There seems to be a lot of discourse over whether you are are a Nesta fan or a Nesta hater and so far, I can see myself being more of a Nesta fan. At least more Nesta fan than Elain fan. 

I feel like I am biased because I obviously love Lucien and I feel like she just doesn’t bother with him? Like I get it, fresh out the cauldron and you were engaged, you probably couldn’t care less if some fae dude walks over and is like, “You’re my mate”. Yes, you definitely have more pressing issues but it’s like she just actively dislikes Lucien and I just don’t understand why when he has done nothing to you? He stands by idly, just checking in on her but he hasn’t tried to force the mate thing on her at all and I don’t know, she just gives me pick me vibes lmao. 

I’m hoping I warm to her a little more but I honestly don’t get how Feyre is the youngest because in my opinion, Elain acts like the youngest sister… by miles. 

Anyways, I think those are my only real dislikes about the book. 

The actual plot and the story… ugh. Yes. I love a political war, love high stakes, love it all.

It’s gonna be all out of order as I will type as I remember things. One of my main jaw drop moments was Amren. AMREN.

Initially, I was like wtf? And my mouth genuinely fell open when she says about lying to Feyre. I was like oh hell fucking no, do not betray the inner circle; what are you doing?

I was stressing massively and then, she redeems herself by the end of it but that part definitely had me in a chokehold. I was so caught up in all the battlefield death and the high stakes of my beloved characters that her having that moment, I was like NO. 

It was very good and I still stan Amren and thought it was adorable that she chose to give up her true form to remain with the inner circle. I just… we love a found family. 

I loved the pace of this book. Although it took me a while to start the book, I then read it in 3 days and was so engrossed in the story. I loved the high lords meeting so much. It was so entertaining and messy. Like, the drama was unreal and I loved every bit of it. I also really enjoyed learning about the other courts more as well as the high lords. 

Tamlin lost me a little bit more through this book, I’ll be honest. I do applaud him in parts; he had redeeming moments but then they were kind of dampened by other things he did instead. He just… comes so close but then fails himself. The way he acted in the meeting with the high lords was so childish and immature and I just… Tamlin, my guy. It’s not the way. 

Ianthe… this bitch. She is awful anyway and it’s heavily implied what kind of monster she is and when the scene in the woods with Lucien happened, I was raging and was fist punching the air when Feyre stepped in because this absolute hoe is just… nope. I am glad she got that final demise. It felt earned and just. 

Lucien and Feyre becoming closer again had my whole heart. It’s an odd relationship but every single moment with them two had be captivated. I just love their friendship and I understand why she feels Lucien was at fault too back in the Spring Court but I stand by my boy and the fact that Tamlin is unhinged and would have attacked him had he even tried to voice his thoughts on how he treated Feyre so. 

I did love that Rhys slowly began to trust Lucien… maybe trust is too strong a word but I am happy that he is accepting him more and seeing Lucien for the good man and fighter that he is. I feel like Lucien is still more appreciated in the Night Court than he ever was in the Spring Court.

The war itself had me on the edge of my seat. I was having heart palpitations as I read it. I was so scared over who I was gonna lose. I was waiting for there to be some massive loss. And I will be honest, Rhys’ death was a bit weak considering he was literally brought back moments later. At least leave a couple of chapters to give the impression that he might not make it. I couldn’t even get upset about Rhys dying because I blinked and he was back so, it was a lukewarm fake death for me. 

Anyways, my brain can’t remember every single thing that happened since the reading adrenaline just soared through me but…

Overall, this book was a solid 5 stars for me and I am honestly struggling to pinpoint which is my favourite so far between ACOMAF and ACOWAR. Hopefully, I may come to a decision on that soon. 

Next up: A Court of Frost and Starlight.