A Court of Mist and Fury is the second book in the mega popular A Court of Thorns and Roses series and, amazingly, it doesn’t fall into the pit of middle-book syndrome. The story continues with Feyre, a newly made immortal in the fae lands. An immortal body with a human heart. In the first book she was quite human and was drawn into a Beauty and the Beast retelling where she was unaware of a spell that kept the fae masked, nearly deplete of powers, and threatened to destroy both the human and fae realms. Bu things change dramatically in this second book. Feyre is reborn and beauty finds a new beast.
A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) Book Review
In the first book, Feyre made the mistake of killing a faerie in wolf form while out hunting. She was brought to the fae lands for punishment which wasn’t much of a punishment except for being stripped of her freedom and separated from her family. There, at the Spring Court just over the wall that divided human and fae realms, she lived comfortably in a regal home, doted upon by lesser fae, and lavished with riches by Tamlin, High Lord of the Spring Court. Strange punishment for murder. But it was all a rouse. If she fell in love with Tamlin, the curse would be lifted. But it wasn’t so simple. She didn’t understand until it was too late but she charged after Tamlin anyhow, and gave her life to save the fae realms. After her sacrifice, all of the High Lords gave her immortality for saving them, and Feyre was brought back to life.
In A Court of Mist and Fury – don’t get too comfortable with the Feyre and Tamlin ship. The anti-hero Rhysand is back, and he’s come for his payment. Rhysand was the evil queen’s right-hand consort and whore but is was all a rouse. Mortal enemies with Tamlin, he knew Tamlin’s curse and the mortal Feyre could be the end to her rule if he played his cards right. He helped Feyre break the curse, but at a cost. He bound her to him and charged her one week per month to be spent with him at the Night Court. Just when Tamlin and Feyre are about to be married, Rhysand sweeps in and steals her away to fulfill her promise.
At first, she’s livid. But she wasn’t quite happy with her recent confinement, so the change isn’t too terrible. And Rhysand is different. Now that he has his full powers back and is away from the clutches of the evil queen, he’s different. Nice, even. Unlike Tamlin, he begins to train her to use her new fae powers. And unlike the other faeries, she was made from all of them. She has all of their powers, which makes her a highly coveted prize – for breeding.
While back at the Spring Court with Tamlin, he knows her worth. He knows that everyone wants her. But instead of preparing her to defend herself with her new powers and instead of training her, he keeps her confined to his estate. She’s essentially a prisoner. And she begins to resent Tamlin little by little. When Feyre is taken to the Night Court to fulfill her oath each month, she finds freedom. Not only does Rhysand teach her how to defend herself, he teaches her how to use her powers, and how to read
Tamlin also refuses to tell her things. He doesn’t treat Feyre as his equal, but instead as a child or a prize. Something to be locked away. Feyre wants honesty and the truth, and Rhysand gives that to her for the most part. Through him, she learns of a new army preparing for battle. One that is even worse than the evil queen. One that is very, very interested in this newly made faerie with all the powers. Feyre eventually chooses to stay with Ryhsand and with his friends, her new family, and together they prepare to save all the lands once more.
At first, I was angry about Tamlin, but I should have known this would happen with author Sarah J. Maas. She loves the anti-hero and bad boy, and she’s always throwing a curve ball. Thankfully, Rhysand grew on me. The bad boy image was just for show, although he truly is a warrior and the most powerful of the High Lords in the land. In the first book, Tamlin shows Feyre a new world and she goes from rags to riches in a heartbeat. But he barely gets to know her. Rhysand, on the other hand, wants to know everything about her and he wants to give her what she truly wants: freedom, knowledge, and a chance to do something other than sit around and look pretty.
We get more insight into the politics of the faerie world which is fascinating. The female faeries really don’t have the best lot, even the among the high fae. Depending on the masters, the young females can be sold into marriage against their wills and be coveted for their wombs alone. In some other lesser fae cultures, the females are kept as imprisoned baby makers. There are no High Queens, only High Lords. Rhysand goes against the natural order of things. His closest friends and allies include females who fight, one of whom he saved from an arranged marriage. He and his inner circle believe females can fight, can be decision makers, and shouldn’t be sold into baby-making slavery.
The Rysand you thought you knew from book one is gone. But not everyone knows that. Many others think he is still evil, and he’s content to let those rumors fly. Now that Feyre is with Rhysand, Tamlin thinks she’s under a spell. Things are just starting to get good.
A Court of Mist and Fury is a delicious, sexy, and exciting romp through point-eared fae lands. When you thought the Spring Court was amazing, you’ll want to move right on over to the Night Court and never leave, each revelation more magnificent than the last.
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A Court of Mist and Fury
by Sarah J. Maas
