Simply dazzles.” —Booklist on A Court of Thorns and Roses starred review
“Passionate, violent, sexy and daring…. A true page-turner.” —USA Today on A Court of Thorns and Roses
“Suspense, romance, intrigue and action. This is not a book to be missed!” —Huffington Post on A Court of Thorns and Roses
“Vicious and intoxicating…. A dazzling world, complex characters and sizzling romance.” —Huffington Post on A Court of Thorns and Roses Top Pick
“A sexy, action-packed fairytale.” —Bustle on A Court of Thorns and Roses
“Fiercely romantic, irresistibly sexy and hypnotically magical. A veritable feast for the senses.” —USA Today on A Court of Mist and Fury
“Hits the spot for fans of dark, lush, sexy fantasy.” —Kirkus Reviews on A Court of Mist and Fury
“An immersive, satisfying read.” —Publishers Weekly on A Court of Mist and Fury
“Darkly sexy and thrilling.” —Bustle on A Court of Mist and Fury
“Fast-paced and explosively action-packed.” —Booklist on A Court of Wings and Ruin
“The plot manages to seduce you with its alluring characters, irresistible world and never-ending action, leaving you craving more.” —RT Book Reviews on A Court of Wings and Ruin
05/01/2015
Gr 9 Up—When 19-year-old Feyre kills a wolf in the barren woods near her home in Prythian, she thinks it might be enough to help her family survive another long winter. Instead, a monstrous creature soon comes to the cottage, accusing Feyre of murder and demanding she return with him to the Fae realm as payment for the life she took. Feyre finds herself held on a lavish estate belonging to an elite Fae creature known as Tamlin. Over the course of her captivity, Feyre soon learns that life in the Fae realm can be as much of an opportunity as a punishment. When her feelings for Tamlin shift from loathing to lust, Feyre also realizes little will be able to keep them apart—not even the threat of evil lurking on the borders of the estate. Something that has cursed Tamlin for centuries may destroy him and his realm if Feyre can't find a way to stop it. Maas follows up her "Throne of Glass" novels (Bloomsbury) with this series opener. Readers will find the author's trademark blend of action, romance, and witty banter as well as a sexier, edgier tone. This retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" and "Tam Lin" (with elements from ancient Greek mythology thrown in) has a strong focus on Feyre's physical attraction to Tamlin, but characters lacking in dimension detract from Feyre's strengths as a capable but rash heroine. Uneven pacing includes a slow start followed by a game-changing information dump, and then a more action- and less romance-filled second half. VERDICT A weak fantasy with strong romance elements. Good for fans of Maas's previous books looking for a more mature read.—Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library
2015-03-17
A wild new take on "Beauty and the Beast" in a world where humans and the faeries who once enslaved them live separated by a wall erected under Treaty. Feyre keeps her once-great, now-impoverished family fed—but just barely—by hunting. On a desperate trip, she kills a large wolf that's actually a fae, which she learns when a large beast tears into their cottage demanding the murderer. For retribution, he brings her to the faerie lands she grew up hating and fearing—with reason, as many dangerous faeries love tormenting humans. She learns truths and lies about faeries, who have been afflicted by a mysterious, magical blight. When not in beast form, Tamlin is beautiful, powerful, and one of the seven High Lords of faerie. Their romantic courtship sizzles with sexual tension before reaching a consensual consummation conveyed in appropriately brutish language (Tamlin is a shape-shifter, after all). Feyre knows the fae are keeping dangerous secrets from her, but by the time she finds out the truth it might be too late. In the end, it's Feyre who must face nigh-impossible trials and cruel court games to save Tamlin. The plot is not without its occasional weak moments, most notably a late exposition dump and a too-easy final riddle. Nevertheless, the sexual tension and deadly action are well-supported by Maas' expertly drawn, multidimensional characters and their nuanced interpersonal dynamics. A satisfying conclusion to the storyline leaves the door open for future books. Sexy and romantic. (Fantasy. 14 & up)
