This book is a companion to the reader; to reflect their difficulties and aid healing themselves. While reading the first half to three quarters of the book, I thought the story lacked plot, but this is instead a great story of the characters. For this story is heavy on the romantasy character development than the fantasy world plot. The book was long, maybe if there were a couple hundred less pages the plot would have felt more substantial. This book also reflects how long the journey can be to heal oneself. I wonder if the next standalone books will follow this heavy character development focus, with the plot slowly progressing through them.

Gwyn and Emerie are such lovely characters. As the book discussed, they were a fresh slate for Nesta to truly be herself, without the emotional backstory she has with her sisters and the rest of the inner circle. The three were unique from one another and had a great dynamic, I really enjoyed watching the trio’s friendship blossom.

The *spice* was too much for me and sometimes I felt it was at inappropriate moments. Due to the original ACOTAR series being tamer, I believe this book should have carried on similarly. I like the change, but I would have preferred less descriptions, to allow the reader to focus on their emotional development.

I feel torn with Rhys’ portrayal. It’s a great writing skill to show him differently from Nesta’s eyes. But even from Cassian’s perspective, the charming Rhys we’ve grown to love was mostly a shadow in himself at this time. The troubles Rhys faced aside, he just straight out hates Nesta most of the time, we're shown brief moments were he has some level of understanding of her.

I wish their bonds were more healed before he literally fell on his tattooed knees at her for saving her sister.

ACOFAS wasn't a cosy festive read for me; it was full of everyone's trauma and torment. Rhys and Feyre seam more settled in their conscience in this book

apart from the obvious issue that developed,

and I wish they could have been given some happiness for some time, but they were thrown straight back into troubles.

Nesta is a character that always resonated with me. I saw her pain and what her intentions were despite how her actions turned out. I understood how she knew her mistakes, hated her actions, the self-loathing and sabotage. It was so warming to finally see her beam to life (personally exasperated by the fact it's been a while since I read the previous books in the series). She was a character written with many facets, and perhaps a couple would reflect inner demons of the reader, and you'd go on the journey with her.

The further I got through the book, more and more I hoped for Nesta to explore her powers greater. Rather than hide away or be passive to them or call to them only in desperation. But this was such a refreshing change to fantasy; to have a character’s focus mostly be on themselves  than mastering their powers for whatever they face. To explore a character who is afraid of her powers - for good reason.

It's always the least 150ish pages isn't it SJM.…. I was waiting for it!

Rhys should have told Feyre before she married him - even before they got very close, about the risk to her and their potential baby's life and further extension - him when they made that bond, if it were to have wings. It doesn't matter how small a possibility it was, there is Illyrian in his blood. No one seamed to care too much about Feyre's looming fate, it was very strange to spend three books and a novella building this really close inner circle that accepted her lovingly, but then they not despair over the news. Cassian's and Nesta's perspectives read through the third person narrative, also played minimal attention to the dark fact.

Another writing issue I have is Azriel realistically didn't have the time to

train the Valkyries every morning

, everyone was way too relaxed with the war prevention efforts.

I felt the book focused more on Nesta's trauma than Cassian's. I felt the books focal character is Nesta, but Cassian's is very close second and they're a duo. Nesta only thought through her POV that Cassian would be affected by leaving his Illyrian's for her in ACOWAR. I felt that should have been discussed between them, and Cassian having some emotional troubles to heal through with Nesta on her own. Also between them, they never properly talk about their feeling for one another. Unlike Rhys and Feyre in ACOMAF, this fitted more with their characters, but they should have had moment of something more, many thoughts had still not been said allowed.

I want to give this book 4 stars, but the lack of world plot is keeping me to just below. But trust me that it is a worthy read, it has become one of my favourites. This novel soothed my soul.