A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 3); Sarah J. Maas

This book took me a lot longer to get through than the other two. Maybe because of the bible-like pages where this book was just so much longer than the others, or maybe it was because of the pacing this time around… Regardless, here we are, in the third book of the series, the final one of this particular story arc before we switch to a new POV with Nesta. And honestly, after “A Court of Wings and Ruin”, I’m very ready for another POV. Well, I want Nesta’s POV. I don’t necessarily care for any more of spooky Elain, either. Perhaps it’s this time in my life where the way Nesta processes her grief and trauma sings to me much more clearly than Feyre’s, but I am so hype for more of my mean girl Nesta after so much of Feyre using/needing her friends and allies to run a distraction for her so she can do something useful.

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I know that sounds harsh. I did like this book though, just not as much as the second book, and it’s that disappointment that speaks loudest now. I always thought SJM was phenomenal at pacing, so even 600+ page books fly right on by. Not so much this time. And because the pacing wasn’t what I wanted, it let the small annoyances start to become more and more noticeable. Like how often Feyre reminds us that Rhysand is her mate and she is his mate and they are mates. And, this may just be a me thing, but I never got the extreme dislike of Tamlin that seems to be required for this story. That is a hold over from book 2 actually. I never liked how his misguided grief was vilified while Rhysand’s questionable actions were shrugged off. It was an odd thing to “show”: that one form of grief and trauma is more acceptable. So that also brought my enjoyment down given what the first part of the book focuses so much on. Then there was just how overwhelmingly powerful Hybern was compared to… everyone and everything. Which in turn made it so that the only solution to the Hybern problem was a dues ex machina.

Ok, I promise, I’m done with talking about the things that bothered me.
 
One of the interesting things I found in this story was just how many biblical parallels there are with certain characters, especially as we learn more about Amren and Drakon’s people. It’s hinted a bit in earlier books, but Amen’s story arc really solidified a lot of the biblical inspiration SJM relied on for her world building. It does, from what I understand, set up a good bridge to this wider fae universe SJM has between all her series. I also really enjoyed the growth the sisters and their relationship underwent, even if spooky Elain is my least favorite. I loved Nesta in this book, I truly did. I love her anger and disdain; you see her being selfless when she was so often painted as selfish. There are also moments of beautiful, painful emotion between this found family Feyre has cobbled together that are really lovely. And yet, because the pacing made this book feel its length (and everything else I mentioned in that second paragraph) I’m giving this book 3 stars, BUT am really looking forward to Nesta’s book!