A worthy successor to what was likely the best YA novel I've ever read. I mean, I know that there's been some grumbling at this novel, but honestly I'm not sure why. First of all, there was almost no chance it was as good as ACOMAF - that's the type of book that comes along only a few times in a lifetime of reading and is, truly, unmatchable. Second, with that first point in mind, I was similarly disinclined to put this book down, or for it to end.

Feyre and Rhys are just as perfect here as they were before; their relationship is still the highest of relationship goals. Their absolute and unbendable support and belief in each other and their ability to care for each other that much, yet still allow the other to make their own decisions, to be individual, and support those wholeheartedly is truly gorgeous. And there was some beautiful, if incredibly tear-jerking, parallels in their story from the end of ACOTAR to the end of ACOWAR - it could have been slightly cheesy/overdone, but it was true to their personalities, and that's what I felt was the important part. Plus, Rhys' bucking of the rules and ultimate respect for the equality of Feyre in his court and the world is what allows her to step up and save them both from the selflessness that could have broken them both. Plus, what a fantastic spin on the first advice that Feyre gets from the Suriel, all the way back in book 1: Stay with the High Lord. The continued development of our "Inner Circle" Cassian, Azriel, Mor, Amren, and now with the added growth of Nesta and Elain (and, partially, Lucian and Varien) is just as well done as it was started in ACOMAF. We get to learn more and more about each of the characters themselves and, also, we see them develop new and deeper relationships among each other, both romantic and otherwise. The bonds that Maas writes between people are some of the best, of any kind, that I have ever read - the love, platonic and otherwise, the protectiveness, the guilt and secrets and confidences, are truly the best. The speed of things for Cassian and Nesta, for Lucien and Elain, for Azriel and Elain, for Nesta and pretty much everyone, were paced perfectly. And Nesta and Elain's role in the end of Hybern, the parallel of Cassian in the end of ACOMAF and ACOWAR, but the sister's changes, was exactly what I wanted from that. And the Bone Carver, the Weaver, Bryaxis - I loved that we saw them come back and enjoyed the roles they played greatly (and Feyre and Rhys secret "mating gifts" to each other). Plus, the Ouroboros was an interesting piece of the story that I think i would have liked to hear more about, but reminded me of the mirror in Snow White a little (a love all the nods to classic fairy tales in dark, twisty ways). The sentiment that "only you can control what breaks you" is something we can/should all aspire to. Inspiring.

There were a few things about this book that made me hesitate slightly, that made me less smitten overall than I was in the second book. And these reasons are mainly related to Tamlin. I mean, I love that he was not just cast as the secondary "big bad" after Hybern, that his character was complicated, with facets of rage and jealousy, but also that (as is right) his real love for Feyre didn't just disappear. But I feel like, maybe because we weren't near him or in his head like we were with the rest of the characters, his changes of heart were timed to be convenient for the plot and seemed too perfect or easy. I think Jurian's changes were similarly placed and used, along with the appearance of Drakon and Miryam and the sister's father, but again that's comparing it to the way we see the changes slowly unfold within Rhys in ACOMAF and perhaps that's unfair (they are neither the heroes of the story or the focus of the plot here). Plus, none of it was enough to make me want to stop furiously turning pages to see what happened next. I'm really interested to see what happens next, with all the new players coming into their own - Nesta, Elain, and especially the young and cursed Queen, Vassa (becuase let's be honest, her curse sounds exactly like the one in The Swan Princess and I have no words for how much I LOVE The Swan Princess). I'm excited for the new world that will have to be built in the wake of the war with Hybern and the fall of the wall, but at the same time, I really appreciate the natural stopping point we reached at the end of the book. I cried, I smiled through the tears, and in the end I was able to fall asleep reasonably quickly after finishing, which let me tell you did NOT happen after the last book.

Like I said, a worthy successor, though not quite the same caliber as ACOMAF. Nicely done Maas - I'm still in love with the story of the Night Court, the Court of Dreams, the Inner Circle, Night Triumphant and the Stars Eternal.