It’s weird to think that I’ve never reviewed any of these books on my blog before. I love these books, so it’s about damn time that I do. I had no intention of rereading these books this year, but sometimes you just have to give into Mood Reading and go for it.

I was on TikTok – that app takes up an embarrassingly large amount of my time – and I found my way over to the BookTok section. More specifically the SJM section and suddenly I had this intense urge to reread the books. My obsession with the series came back in full force and before I could think about it too long, I downloaded the audiobook for A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Then I spent more time on BookTok watching POVs and other ACOTAR related content.

I always tend to spiral a bit when reading a Sarah J. Maas book – especially when I binge whole series – and I definitely listened to these books pretty much back to back. I was also working when I decided to read these books, and it was nice just listening to a book that I’d already read. I really want a movie or show version now, though that prospect scares me, because I don’t know if they could actually do it justice.

I definitely recommend the audiobooks – they’re so enjoyable and I really love the narrators. Jennifer Ikeda narrates A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury and I really liked how she brought Feyre to life. I have zero complaints as to how she read the book. Amanda Leigh Cobb narrates A Court of Wings and Ruin and does a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life and I love how she voices them all. I didn’t actually realize that the narrator changed for the third book. I do remember thinking that the voice sounded a little different, but I was too wrapped up in the story to really care or mind. Usually I’m not a fan of narrator changes, but both women do such a fantastic job at reading these books that I have no qualms.

I wasn’t even sure I was going to review these books, but I figured I’d just do one comprehensive post, with 3 mini reviews/discussions. These are probably going to contain spoilers – the books have been out long enough that I don’t feel inclined to censor my thoughts.

So, let’s jump into these reviews!

*These Reviews Will Not Be Spoiler Free*

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Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

So, usually when I reread this book, I fall back in love with Tamlin a little bit. I know, I know, it’s weird and I can’t help it. Surprisingly, this time, I didn’t. I was actually quite shocked that I really didn’t feel anything for him in this book. I didn’t even feel bad for him and his predicament. I totally get why people – myself included – fall for him. I remember reading this book for the first time and being completely in love with Tamlin. Like, 100% thought he was endgame and I was here for it. I loved how sweet he was with Feyre and how he sacrificed his freedom (and everyone else’s) so that she would be safe. Very typical Beauty and the Beast. I really love the first half of this book, but it’s the second half, the Under the Mountain half that I thoroughly enjoy. Everything leading up to Feyre facing off against Amarantha is great and fun and NSFW, but I absolutely dig the trials. It doesn’t hurt that Rhys is there, and let’s be honest, he’s the freaking reason everyone picks up this series.

I’m totally of the opinion that what Rhys does to Feyre Under the Mountain is to protect her. You can argue all you want, you can shit on him, but you’re not going to convince me otherwise. I think the circumstances sucked, and what Feyre did, what Rhys did, it was to protect themselves, to protect her. I fully believe that if Rhys hadn’t done what he did, Feyre wouldn’t have come out from Under the Mountain as intact as she was. I think her mental health would have been so much worse – assuming that she still beat Amarantha and made it out.

I also think that without Rhys’ meddling’s, she wouldn’t have survived any of it. Regardless of how strong Feyre is, I 100% think she would have died Under the Mountain.

So, yeah. I’m solidly Team Rhys and I love him.

Overall, this book is just so enjoyable. Feyre’s journey is wonderful and watching her let down walls and just live instead of surviving is so heartwarming. To be honest, I would not be upset if some shape shifting fae decided to come sweep me away from my life.

I’ve reread this book I don’t know how many times, but I can honestly say that listening to the audiobook was a whole new experience. I loved every minute of it, and if you’re dying waiting for the movie that may or may not actually happen – because let’s face it, we’ve been here before – listening to the audiobook is the next best thing. Jennifer Ikeda just brings Sarah’s writing to life in a completely new way and hearing the characters instead of just reading them in my mind, completely altered how I consumed this story.

Also, with this being my nth time reading this book, and having recently reread the Throne of Glass Series and House of Earth and Blood, I picked up on little things in the book and things that tie the worlds together. Obviously, we know they’re all connected, but I have new theories and suspicions that I didn’t have prior to this reread.

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Title: A Court of Mist and Fury

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

Let’s be real, this book is fucking amazing. I love that Sarah isn’t afraid to write about the hard things. One of my favorite parts of this book is seeing Feyre’s suffering. Okay, that sounds absolutely horrible, but it feels so visceral, so real and so genuine and you actually feel what Feyre’s feeling. Unlike my meh feelings towards Tamlin in ACOTAR, oh boy, did I hate him in this book. On one hand, I can kind of see where he’s coming from, why he’s acting the way he does, on the other hand…

Fuck him.

Just…fuck Tamlin. And fuck Lucien’s inaction in this book.

But, back to Feyre. Her journey in this book is so satisfying. Not to glorify the trauma she goes through, but to see her hit rock bottom, to finding the love of her life and then thriving…it’s so satisfying. I’m also not opposed to putting characters in incredibly emotionally difficult positions and I happen to think that the way SJM explores these darker, traumatic moments is well done and leaves me (the reader) feeling everything.

I’m totally team Rhys. I doubt this is a shocker. I’ve been Team Rhys since the first time I read this book. Hell, I was probably Team Rhys from the first moment he showed up in ACOTAR. I also found myself falling more in love with the Court of Dreams – which I didn’t know was possible. I love Mor, Amren and fuck, Cassian and Azriel. I forgot how good their characters are. I’m definitely looking forward to the new book coming out next year. I’m ready for more Cassian.

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Title: A Court of Wings and Ruin

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Looming war threatens all Feyre holds dear in the third volume of the #1 New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s manoeuvrings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit – and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords – and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

I have one thought – Cassian and Nesta had better be fucking mates or destined to be together in the next ACOTAR book, or I will riot.

I remember the first times I read this book; I wasn’t a Nesta fan at all. I loved the enemies to lover’s thing she and Cassian had going on; it was entertaining but I really didn’t like her character. Basically, I couldn’t forgive her for her treatment of Feyre. Now, now I’m invested, and I think Sarah is going to do her story justice. She’s been through so many traumatic things, that I’m looking forward to seeing her potentially come out of the dark place she’s in.

This book is still as good as the first time I read it, and I definitely teared up at work at a certain part. I mean, how can you NOT.

Literally ripping my heart out of my chest would probably be less painful.

Okay, that might be a bit dramatic, but you get it.

And listening to that death scene, and not just reding it…you don’t need a heart to live, right? I teared up at work listening to this, and my coworkers didn’t understand LOL.

I know this book is about Feyre, and her journey, but I really did find myself focusing more on Nesta and her journey in this book. Where I used to find her annoying, now I want to know her inner thoughts and turmoil’s. Sure, she’s made mistakes, but she’s fierce, tough and incredibly loyal. Where I used to find her a nuisance and tiring, I now find myself sympathetic and wnting to know more. I want to see Nesta and Cassian’s relationship and I want to see her go through her own emotional journey.

I also want more Azriel, Elain and Lucien. The first time I read this book I was 100% Team Azriel+Elain, the mating bond be damned. This time around, I’m actually quite torn. Hell, Elain can just be with both, that would be fine with me.

This book is still as satisfying as the first time I read it and listening to the audiobook was so enjoyable.

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This is easily a series I can and will reread over and over again. I highly recommend the audiobooks, and feel free to let me know what your thoughts are!