The Laughing Listener
June 2018
Format: Paperback

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I DID IT PEOPLE. 700 FREAKING PAGES AND A MONTH OF READING, BUT I DID IT.

Okay, let's get something out of the way—[b:A Court of Mist and Fury|17927395|A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1485259138s/17927395.jpg|25126749] was better. There was just something so perfect about that second installment this one didn't have. I don't know if it was the added length, or maybe because it lacked that amazing romantic tension, but this one just fell a little flat after the mind blowing adoration I had for ACOMAF. Plus, I really missed the character growth we saw in Feyre during the last novel. She goes from a scared, traumatized woman to one of incredible strength and courage during book two, but that's already established in this one. Feyre's character kind of stays the same during A Court of Wings and Ruin (at least in comparison to the last novel), which made this third book a tad more dull.

Despite all of this, I couldn't bring myself to give this anything less than 4.5 stars because I LOVE THIS SERIES SO DANG MUCH. *Sobs*



This time around, I really just adored returning to this universe and visiting these characters again. That kind of IS what’s good about this novel. The strong mating bond and romance between Rhysand and Feyre is a wonderful thing to see and watching them face their adversities together was so wonderful! That meeting between the High Lords where Feyre declares herself High Lady??? AMAZING. It was also super great seeing Mor open up to Feyre about her sexuality and I’m hoping that’s explored more in the future books. Plus, VARIAN AND AMREN WERE THE CUTEST!! And the tension between Cassian and Nesta?? OH. MY. GOD. I am so thirsty for that ship. They would just stand in the same room and I’d freak out.



There’s just so much book though!! In the beginning, seeing Feyre in the Spring Court trying to spy out information felt like such a big deal, but by the end it seemed so far away and inconsequential. And there was just so much battle stuff?? Maybe this was just me being impatient, but during the last 100-ish pages I really just wanted them to get on with it already. I was also very bitter about the lack of Lucien. He completely gets SHAFTED in this novel. Towards the beginning he goes away to get Queen Vassa and then just DISAPPEARS FOR THE REST OF THE BOOK. And when he shows up at the end, Lucien has a super cool story about his journey THAT WE DON’T GET TO HEAR. Not cool. My boy Lucien deserves better and I’m REALLY hoping he gets more love (literally AND metaphorically) in the coming books.

FINAL WORD

I know I sound salty (and I am a little), but I really did love this book! It had my favorite characters and ships in it, so you really can’t go wrong!

#1 ↦ [b:A Court of Thorns and Roses|16096824|A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491595796s/16096824.jpg|21905102] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✦
#2 ↦ [b:A Court of Mist and Fury|17927395|A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1485259138s/17927395.jpg|25126749] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✦
#3 ↦ [b:A Court of Wings and Ruin|36233660|A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1514213400s/36233660.jpg|25126752] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✧
#4 ↦ [b:A Court of Frost and Starlight|31076583|A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3.1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1517328945s/31076583.jpg|54810660] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✧