This one is for my romantasy readers; I’m finally diving into Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR). I prefer reading stand-alone books to series just because I’ve been burned one too many times either by series that just won’t die or from series that got the Netflix treatment by their publishers. So I fought like an Illyrian warrior not to get into this series, especially since it’s not completed, but hey, BookTok jumped off this bridge, and eventually I followed. 

If you spend any time on BookTok or in fantasy book communities, then you’ve probably heard whispers—or enthusiastic shouts—about this one. So, grab a cozy blanket, maybe a cup of tea, and don’t worry, I’ll get to the good stuff faster than Maas does.

The Premise: What A Court of Thorns and Roses Is Really About

ACOTAR is at its core a retelling of Beauty and the Beast without the kind, lovable father. Don’t get me wrong, the father is still there, but he’s not THE reason the story kicks off, and Maas wants us to hate him. Instead, Feyre Archeron, our protagonist and our beauty, is a young huntress struggling to keep her family fed in a world ravaged by war and poverty. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she kills a wolf in the woods, only to discover it was a faerie in disguise. As punishment, she’s whisked away to the magical land of Prythian, a realm ruled by the enigmatic masked fae, Tamlin, High Lord of the Spring Court.

At first glance, the story seems simple enough, but Maas has a talent for creating a richly detailed world and intriguing characters, and it soon becomes clear that this story has layers of political intrigue and world building need to be peeled back before we get to the enthralling romance and adventure.

The Slow Burn: First Impressions

Alright, so let’s address the elephant in the room: the pacing. The conversations with the sloth from Zootopia move faster than this book. The first half of ACOTAR is the definition of slow burn. If you’re someone who thrives on immediate action and fast-paced plots, there are going to be multiple occasions where you want to DNF this book.

For the first half of the book, the narrative focuses heavily on setting up the world and introducing characters. Feyre’s life in the human world, her relationship with her family, and her initial experiences in the faerie realm all get a lot of attention. While Maas’s world-building and character establishment, especially with Feyre, are undeniably rich and immersive, they do come at the cost of pacing. 

Feyre’s initial adjustment to the faerie world, her interactions with Tamlin and his court, and the tension of their relationship unfold at a deliberate pace. If you’re reading this book for the first time, patience is key. The first half is heavy on atmosphere and character development with the intention of setting you up for the bigger picture of the series rather than the immediate story. 

If you’re an audiobook reader, I highly recommend the Graphic Audio version over Audible. The Graphic Audio production uses multiple narrators rather than the single female narrator from the Audible production, and I find this helps with that pacing drag by keeping you more engaged.

The Turning Point: When Things Get Real

Now, here’s where things get juicy. Once you’re past the halfway mark, ACOTAR starts to really pick up speed. The story shifts into higher gear, and Maas’s trademark blend of action, drama, and emotional intensity comes to the forefront.

Without giving too much away, the plot takes some thrilling turns as Feyre uncovers deeper layers of the faerie world, the stakes escalate, and the action ramps up. The latter half of the book is where you’ll find yourself racing through pages, eager to see what happens next. The world Maas has crafted opens up in surprising ways, and the tensions and questions that build up throughout the slower first half pay off in big and unexpected ways.

Let’s dive into the romance, which is a pretty big deal in A Court of Thorns and Roses. The central romance between Feyre and Tamlin is meant to be a focal point of the story, but I have to admit, I found it lacking in the romance department.

The Romance of It All

In this book there are three primary male characters: Tamlin, Lucian, and Rhysand, four if you count the father, but like I already said, Maas wants us to hate him. 

Tamlin, the brooding High Lord, is shrouded in mystery and, to be fair, has moments of charm, but the worst-kept secret and biggest spoiler about this series, especially if you come across it on BookTok, is Tamilin’s fall from grace. You spend all of ACOTAR in love with him only to hate him with a passion in one of the next books. So I spent all of ACOTAR waiting for this epic romance, but I never really felt the romantic spark between him and Feyre. Throughout the book, their relationship seemed tame and leaned heavily on the “beauty and the beast” trope of a captured girl growing a soft spot for her beastly prince. And yes, I said soft spot because I refuse to use the word love for this pair. There were no moments where I felt a genuine emotional connection or chemistry between them; in fact, the book has maybe 3 spicy scenes (later books get spicier), but I can’t remember even one of them. Tamlin’s actions, even when they were supposed to be romantic gestures, often fell flat for me. 

When Tamlin makes a significant gesture, like setting Feyre free, it feels somewhat hollow. It didn’t seem to stem from a deep emotional connection with her, but rather from a sense of obligation and a plot device driven by the beauty and the beast of it all. 

In contrast, I found Feyra’s interactions with Tamlin’s friend Lucien to be far more engaging. There was a palpable chemistry and a dynamic that felt much more interesting and authentic. Lucien’s wit and complexity brought a refreshing energy to the narrative, and his relationship with Feyre added more layers and intrigue to the first half of the book, so much so that I was rooting for a Lucien-Feyre plot twist, but they are firmly friend-zoned.

While the romance between Feyre and Tamlin is central to the plot, I personally found it to be more about fulfilling a narrative function (which it does for the series as a whole) rather than offering a truly heartfelt connection. The dynamic with Lucien, on the other hand, added a spark that was noticeably missing from Feyre’s relationship with Tamlin.

I haven’t said anything about male number three. What about Rhysand? You need to read the book for that.

World-Building, Character Depth, & Romance That Surpasses Its Hype

One of Maas’s strengths is her ability to create vivid, multi-dimensional characters and worlds. Feyre is a strong and determined heroine who grows significantly over the course of the novel. Her journey from a struggling and starving huntress to a key player in the faerie realm is compelling and the core aspect of the story.

While we don’t see much of the faerie world of Prythian beyond the Spring Court and Under the Mountain you finish the book with a lush understanding of the world, magic, and intrigues. Maas’s attention to detail is impressive, from the vibrant descriptions of the landscapes and intricate costumes to the deep knowledge of lesser characters and monsters Feyre encounters over the course of the story. 

This world doesn’t feel overdone and high fantasy, and while it’s not a modern fantasy with magic in 2024, it also doesn’t feel like a period piece but rather its own universe.

Final Thoughts: Worth the Read?

So, is A Court of Thorns and Roses worth your time? Absolutely. As someone who has read the entire series thats been published as of August 2024 don’t DNF this book. While the first half might test your patience, the latter half of the book delivers enough excitement and twists to make up for it. Maas’s efforts with world-building and character development in this book set the stage for an unrivaled fantasy series with themes of love, power, and resilience. Books two and three were my favorite in the series, and while others might recommend skipping or skimming this book to get to those, I think it’s a disservice to yourself as a reader and to Maas’s work in developing what she has.

Hooked on creating worlds readers can’t resist? Book a Mini Manuscript Critique today—let’s make your manuscript as compelling as ACOTAR made me feel.