For many years, I had forgotten my adoration for reading, and A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) really pulled me out of that slump. Its beautiful writing, moreish imagery, and devilish characters made me feel as though I was in the spring court alongside our protagonist Feyre.
Is ACOTAR inspired by Beauty and the Beast?
From the start of the book, we experience such a powerful writing style that personally took me back to my teenage years when I was reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins in my bedroom, staying up way too late to avoid school. Feyre is beautifully described, even as her dishevelled appearance is given to the reader, she feels exceptionally alive.
I personally fell in love with following her development from having a cold and harsh exterior, to having a new light in her eyes when she meets Tamlin. The whole story certainly feels like a blur between the fairytale of Beauty and the Beast and the dystopian world of the Hunger Games, and it had me enthralled.
ACOTAR writing style and character development
I love that Sarah J. Maas writes Feyre like a stubborn child, because fundamentally, that is what she is. She is a young girl who hasn’t had the chance to learn many key aspects of adulthood, only “fumbling” with the local boy in a barn. But as Feyre travels to the spring court in Prythian, I feel as though she finally allows herself to flourish and become who she wants to be. She starts eating better, dressing in clothes that make her look and feel like a woman, instead of a girl, and overall lets her flair come out in her spicy attitude and ignorance. Some of which is not clever of her, but who, as a teen, doesn’t completely disregard what someone is telling you because you think you know best?
I won’t go too deep into any story elements because I genuinely believe that this is a must-read for anyone who enjoys smutty fantasy, which leaves you yearning for them to finally kiss after all the near misses! But I will say, the escalation of the plot really caught me by surprise, and I think it makes the book even more enthralling for it. The only downside is that Sarah J. Maas’s writing style is definitely more teen, and you have to overlook some interesting word choices to truly allow yourself to be invested in the story, such as why do Feyre’s bones “Bark”? and do we really need to know about her watery bowels? But I chose to focus on the gorgeous descriptions of the spring court to push the bowel talks from my poor mind.
ACOTAR Rating
Overall, I truly believe ACOTAR is worth every page flip and should be read by anyone who enjoys Romantasy. It is truly like a metaphorical gateway drug back into reading.
My favourite quotation: When Rhysand told Feyre to be glad of her human heart, and to pity those who feel nothing at all, I was so hooked I think I picked up the next book immediately. The solemn vibe between them just felt so realistic for what they had just overcame, and I knew from that point on that these books would be my Kryptonite.
So, what are you waiting for? Get yourself a cup of tea and start reading, as it truly is magical and well deserving of the ongoing hype.
