“He thinks he’ll be remembered as the villain in the story. But I forgot to tell him that the villain is usually the person who locks up the maiden and throws away the key. He was the one who let me out.”

Title: A Court of Mist and Fury

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses # 2

Publication:  May 3rd 2016 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Pages: 640

Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:

Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

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My Thoughts:

My brain has officially imploded due to the sheer force of all the feels. I do not know what to say. I am in an extreme state of emotional turmoil and I can’t even function right now – much less write a coherent review. I thought A Court of Thorns and Roses was spectacularly brutal, yet I cannot begin to comprehend the enormity of what is running through my veins. A Court of Mist and Fury has blown its predecessor out of the water and right out into outer space, maybe even into another galaxy. I don’t know whether to scream in anguish, dance around with joy, and or melt into a puddle of molten feeling. Perhaps all three.

I will never look at ACOTAR the same way again. A Court of Mist and Fury has completely changed the way I look at certain characters, at certain events, and I am glad for it. Even from the beginning, though I did like Tamlin, he was way too damn controlling and it made every alarm bell in my head go off. I mean, he was Edward Cullen on crack – and in this book, he was terrifying because of it. He was always that way, no bullshit. After reading ACOMAF, reread A Court of Thorns and Roses and you can see it all clear as day. I understand the motive, I do, but even the best intentions can lead to horrific and unforgivable actions – as we see here.  I stand by Feyre in all of her endeavors and I love how she comes to realize that she is – that she can be – her own person and not a toy or a prize. You go girl.

Speaking of Feyre, she is not in a happy place. She is broken, sad, and it only grows increasingly worse. Those words alone are too mild for what she is going through. I felt for her, I really felt for her. She was incredible, she saved the Fae and the Courts. I think one of the things I love the most about this novel is that the aftermath is not pretty. It is ugly, it is vomiting and nightmares and an overwhelming sense of nothing that it will tear your heart to pieces. Feyre has lost her will to live and it hurts to read, it hurt to see one of my favorite heroines destroy her own sense of self worth like that. Yet, not all was lost. I won’t get into it too much – because spoiler alert – but I fucking love Rhysand and everything he does and stands for. He is amazing, though that description pales in comparison to the real thing.

Rhysand… oh, Rhys my precious dark and broken thing. I loved him from his very first introduction in ACOTAR, I really, really did. I think I’ve always known where the story line was headed,even then, and it felt so damn good to be right. I relished the events of this book, I loved every single little millisecond of Rhys and Feyre and his friends and family. It finally felt right. And Rhys himself, oh my goodness, how can I possibly ever describe him? There are no words, I cannot possibly do him justice. He’s such a little shit, but he’s my little shit (actually, he’s Feyre’s… but shh). He is fan-freaking-tastic, swoon-worthy, cunning, manipulative, delicious, and so, so caring. There, I tried, and failed – but whatever. Just, LET ME LOVE HIM OKAY!?!?

Besides Rhysand, there is a multitude of new characters that I absolutely adore – namely, Cassian, Azriel, Mor, and Amren. I freaken love them. I can’t tell you who they are or how we meet them, that’s all spoilery – but I can tell you that they are possibly some of my favorite side characters ever. They are hilarious, they add so much to the story. They are priceless additions who will tug on your heartstrings and make you laugh so hard you cry. In simple terms… YAY! They are fabulous, and that is that.

A word of warning, though, there is a lot of sex and it is quite explicit. I’m pretty sure it has gone past Young Adult and moved into the New Adult category, but who cares. Seriously, though, if that sort of thing makes you uncomfortably – keep in mind that it is very present (and amazing). Also, there is a cliffhanger. It will rip your guts out, and that’s the nice way of putting it.

Overall, A Court of Mist and Fury is a spectacular step up from the first book in the series. It is no longer just romance, or simple survival, it is a fight to live and breathe in an entirely new manner. It is about love, and family, and friendship, and sacrifice. It is about what it means to be your own person, to not bow to anyone or anything. This book is so damn good – it is everything it could be and more. If I could give it all the stars in the universe, I would. Hell, I’d take every damn star out of space. Read it. Love it. Revel in it.

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