Book Review: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

The Gist: The 4th book in the iconic A Court of Thorns and Roses series solidifies Nesta as my favourite character; perspective is everything.

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4

Release Date: February 16, 2021

Format: Kindle

Rating: 4.25-stars

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Nesta is now my favourite character in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. She’s so freaking awesome. This book had serious Heir of Fire vibes with Nesta’s poor mental health, especially how her powers are so intertwined with her trauma. The character growth and new friendships MADE this book.

Rhys & Feyre and Co. are insufferable for the majority of this book. I get that Nesta’s is defined as prickly, straight-up mean, and rude. The way they approached trying to help Nesta was filled with ultimatums, consistent humiliation and maligning. It’s like no one realized Nesta’s trauma was as valid as Feyre’s in book 2 of the series or Elain’s. I loved how Nesta pointed out to Elain how unfair it was that Elain was allowed to wallow in despair for MONTHS. Yet, because Nesta’s trauma manifested in drinking and sleeping around, everyone suddenly became the morality police: Nesta was only allowed to grieve and hurt their way. It felt like everyone wanted Nesta to present as OK, even if she was dying inside, so they didn’t have to worry.

Did anyone else notice how Nesta’s dealing with her trauma was continuously made about the Night Court? It was never about how Nesta was feeling but how her actions reflected on them. No one took the time to decent themselves and ask why, case and point being the real reason Nesta ran out of the last Winter Solstice celebrations when everyone was like RuDe.

The saving grace of A Court of Silver Flames was Nesta’s new friendships with Gwyn and Emerie. They were amazing, and I love them all dearly. Cassian and Nesta were also great together – although Cassian took way too long to put Rhys in his place.

Also, I’m so over all the powerful women in this series having their powers curtailed, but Rhys gets more messages suggesting he’s The Chosen One. The scene about Nesta’s sword (no spoilers) was horrible: shame on Amren and Rhys. Throughout the book, there’s consistent messaging that only Rhys can have these sUpErPoWeRfUl abilities; hence, everyone sees Nesta as a threat despite her never using her powers in anger.

I also was so annoyed how Nesta would make some great points about the problematic power dynamics in Feyre’s group (what Rhys and his friends elect to keep secret from Feyre and Nesta is a-la-Tamlin). However, because she did it to lash out, Nesta always came across as lower than dirt to the rest of them, which undermined the credibility of her very valid point. Sigh.

I felt the pacing in A Court of Silver Flames was excellent, but the book is 100% character-driven. The action and intrigue take a backseat to the romance and Nesta’s grief and healing. Therefore, I can see how readers might complain about the book being too slow. I think plot-driven readers will struggle with the book.

Finally, the ending was incredibly rushed. There was so much happening in the last few chapters that I wish there was more time for the reader to process everything. Also, one gaping mistake:

Overall, I loved Nesta’s story so much – her growth, her friendships, and her romance with Cassian, that the high-handedness of Rhys’s court didn’t decrease the book to a 2-star rating, which says a lot.

Buy A Court of Silver Flames

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Other Books I’ve Reviewed by Sarah J. Maas

Read More

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Single Sentence Review: After struggling to get into the book, I found the world-building quite engaging. However, the judgemental attitude of Feyre and lack of assertiveness, while realistic, made her a lacklustre Heroine in my eyes.

<strong>Synopsis</strong>

Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price …

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

Tags: Beauty and the Beast Trope, Enemies to Lovers, Family Issues, High Fantasy, Slow Burn Romance

Read More

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Single Sentence Review: Another engaging book in the series with its complex plot and interesting character introspection. The dichotomy of Rhys’s characterization made his devotion to Feyre unconvincing – he treats Feyre (like the rest of his court) as chess pieces and thinks the end justifies the means even when the means further traumatizes his friends.

<strong>Synopsis</strong>

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.

Tags: Abuse, Anti-Hero, Enemies to Lovers, High Fantasy, New Adult, PTSD, Slow Burn Romance

Read More

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Single Sentence Review: A fittingly epic conclusion that further explores the friendships and romances in the series. I particularly loved Feyre’s espionage, but of course, Maas had to transform Feyre’s badassery into petty revenge. I’m getting tired of seeing a pattern of powerful women made impotent (compared to their men counterparts) throughout Maas’s series’.

<strong>Synopsis</strong>

FEYRE WILL BRING VENGEANCE.

She has left the Night Court – and her High Lord – and is playing a deadly game of deceit. In the Spring Court, Tamlin is making deals with the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees, and Feyre is determined to uncover his plans. But to do so she must weave a web of lies, and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As mighty armies grapple for power, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords – and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

BUT WHILE WAR RAGES, IT IS HER HEART THAT WILL FACE THE GREATEST BATTLE.

THE THRILLING THIRD BOOK IN #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING FANTASY SERIES FROM SARAH J. MAAS.

Tags: Fae, Family Issues, Marriage, Politics, PTSD, Separation, Soul Mates, Sweet Romance, War