Scan barcode
A review by crownedaimee
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS BELOW SO BE WARNED.
"He called her Lady Death, and he was her sword."
I really wanted to love this book as much as I loved the precious three books and novella. I had set my expectations way too high and this book did not meet them. I felt like I was reading a romance novel, more than a fantasy novel. The plot wasn't there and if it was then it was just secondary to Nesta and Cassian's sex graze. I know that it's no longer YA but the amount of sex scenes was unnecessary. But I felt like all Nesta did was train with Cassian, work in the library, walk some stairs and had sex with Cassian. If anyone asks what this book is about then that it what I would say. If you cut all of that out then you would be left with a quarter of the book. The human queen, Briallyn, served no purpose. We was lead to believe that she was a big villian and yet Briallyn was defeated within a matter of seconds. Her death was extremely anticlimactic. However, I do think that Koschei will be harder to defeat and will end up leaving one of our beloved characters dead. Possibly Cassian considering the amount of times he has been at death's door. Maybe Rhysand or Feyre?
Nevertheless, the last part was what saved this book for me. The blood rite was written amazingly and the bond that Nesta and her friends created. I also liked Nesta's mental health journey. Cassian was the only one who didn't give up on her and I was think that was extremely important to Nesta in order for her to create friendships with other people. Cassian kept reaching out his hand and I just love the fact that they are mates. It was obvious but I screamed nonetheless. Though I still had no idea what Nesta and Amren even fought about, please can someone explain it to me?
"Never again would she be weak. Never again would she be at someone's mercy."
Nesta, my queen, I love her more since because of this book. I loved her growth in this book, she finally recognised her wrongs regarding her sisters and instead of falling with the inner circle like her sisters, she had found her own friends and I just love them three together. They all went through something and found strength in each other. It was definitely something that Nesta needed. I can't wait to read more about them and how they will contribute to the inner circle. I personally would like to see more of a friendship between Azriel&Nesta because Azzy getting her a freaking Solstice gift, oh my god. Maybe each sister can have an Illyrian brother that they are closer to? Like Feyre&Cassian, Azzy&Nesta and Rhysand&Elain?
Cassian, my love. I absolutely loved his character in the previous books and while I still love his character, he doesn't feel the same anymore. He was this flirtatious badass who used humor as a coping mechanism but that didn't come through as much in this book. I would've loved to have seen more interactions between Feyre and Cassian, as well as him with Rhysand and Azriel. He was always so serious around them and it would've been nice to see them having fun.
Gwyn and Emerie are two people I can't wait to read more about because they are so interesting. I hope that they will play more of a bigger role in the next books, especially with getting to know more of the inner circle further. Am I the only one who is possibly shipping Mor&Emerie and Azriel&Gwyn? Maybe Lucien&Gywn, despite them having no interactions?
My boy Azzy deserves more love. I can't wait to read about him in his own book but please whatever you do SJM, don't make him sex crazed like Rhysand and Cassian. I felt so sorry for him when he had to play "chaperone" for Nesta and Cassian, though it did have me dying with laughter.
Am I the only one who wants to see more of Eris and learn more about him? I actually kinda like his character. I don't think he is this bad character everyone thinks he is and I don't think we are getting the full story regarding Mor.
Even though The House of Wind isn't a character, it deserves some love. Nesta wished for a friend and the House became that friend for her. It made sure that Nesta never went without food and recommend her romance books, I wish I had a house like that, sighs.
However, I hate that there was no Tarquin and barely any Lucien. Like we had two scenes! I know that he isn't important to Nesta and Cassian's story but I miss my precious smol bean. I want to know more about the two characters. If you can include Varian then please include Tarquin. The inner circle could really be good friends with Tarquin and the fact that he wasn't even invited to Starfall when Helion and Kallias was? WHY? SJM better give me a Lucien novel otherwise I will riot. He needs to find out the truth about Helion, it's not right that they are still keeping it a secret from him.
"I am your mate, for fuck's sake! You are my mate! Why are you still fighting me?"
"He called her Lady Death, and he was her sword."
I really wanted to love this book as much as I loved the precious three books and novella. I had set my expectations way too high and this book did not meet them. I felt like I was reading a romance novel, more than a fantasy novel. The plot wasn't there and if it was then it was just secondary to Nesta and Cassian's sex graze. I know that it's no longer YA but the amount of sex scenes was unnecessary. But I felt like all Nesta did was train with Cassian, work in the library, walk some stairs and had sex with Cassian. If anyone asks what this book is about then that it what I would say. If you cut all of that out then you would be left with a quarter of the book. The human queen, Briallyn, served no purpose. We was lead to believe that she was a big villian and yet Briallyn was defeated within a matter of seconds. Her death was extremely anticlimactic. However, I do think that Koschei will be harder to defeat and will end up leaving one of our beloved characters dead. Possibly Cassian considering the amount of times he has been at death's door. Maybe Rhysand or Feyre?
Nevertheless, the last part was what saved this book for me. The blood rite was written amazingly and the bond that Nesta and her friends created. I also liked Nesta's mental health journey. Cassian was the only one who didn't give up on her and I was think that was extremely important to Nesta in order for her to create friendships with other people. Cassian kept reaching out his hand and I just love the fact that they are mates. It was obvious but I screamed nonetheless. Though I still had no idea what Nesta and Amren even fought about, please can someone explain it to me?
"Never again would she be weak. Never again would she be at someone's mercy."
Nesta, my queen, I love her more since because of this book. I loved her growth in this book, she finally recognised her wrongs regarding her sisters and instead of falling with the inner circle like her sisters, she had found her own friends and I just love them three together. They all went through something and found strength in each other. It was definitely something that Nesta needed. I can't wait to read more about them and how they will contribute to the inner circle. I personally would like to see more of a friendship between Azriel&Nesta because Azzy getting her a freaking Solstice gift, oh my god. Maybe each sister can have an Illyrian brother that they are closer to? Like Feyre&Cassian, Azzy&Nesta and Rhysand&Elain?
Cassian, my love. I absolutely loved his character in the previous books and while I still love his character, he doesn't feel the same anymore. He was this flirtatious badass who used humor as a coping mechanism but that didn't come through as much in this book. I would've loved to have seen more interactions between Feyre and Cassian, as well as him with Rhysand and Azriel. He was always so serious around them and it would've been nice to see them having fun.
Gwyn and Emerie are two people I can't wait to read more about because they are so interesting. I hope that they will play more of a bigger role in the next books, especially with getting to know more of the inner circle further. Am I the only one who is possibly shipping Mor&Emerie and Azriel&Gwyn? Maybe Lucien&Gywn, despite them having no interactions?
My boy Azzy deserves more love. I can't wait to read about him in his own book but please whatever you do SJM, don't make him sex crazed like Rhysand and Cassian. I felt so sorry for him when he had to play "chaperone" for Nesta and Cassian, though it did have me dying with laughter.
Am I the only one who wants to see more of Eris and learn more about him? I actually kinda like his character. I don't think he is this bad character everyone thinks he is and I don't think we are getting the full story regarding Mor.
Even though The House of Wind isn't a character, it deserves some love. Nesta wished for a friend and the House became that friend for her. It made sure that Nesta never went without food and recommend her romance books, I wish I had a house like that, sighs.
However, I hate that there was no Tarquin and barely any Lucien. Like we had two scenes! I know that he isn't important to Nesta and Cassian's story but I miss my precious smol bean. I want to know more about the two characters. If you can include Varian then please include Tarquin. The inner circle could really be good friends with Tarquin and the fact that he wasn't even invited to Starfall when Helion and Kallias was? WHY? SJM better give me a Lucien novel otherwise I will riot. He needs to find out the truth about Helion, it's not right that they are still keeping it a secret from him.
"I am your mate, for fuck's sake! You are my mate! Why are you still fighting me?"