A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas is the follow up book to ACOTAR. Personally I was leery to start it. I liked Tamlin and I loved Rhysand, but more than that I loved Feyre AND I did not want to read a triangle. I hate this trope in YA literature (though I’m not sure I’d classify this book as YA…just saying). However I was worried for no reason. Sarah J Maas is a genius….seriously folks she is!

Please note that if you have not read the first book in this series that there are minor spoilers to that book in this review. Read at your own risk.

How far Feyre has come from the brave, human girl in the woods?! She is nothing like the girl we met in ACOTAR. Feyre is plagued with night terrors from her time Under the Mountain. She’s high fae!!!! Like what?! And she has this bargain with the Lord of the Night Court hanging over her head like a threat. Feyre starts this book terrified and I really can’t blame her. I could even identify with her to some extent. It’s miraculous that she is even functioning after what she was put through. I loved reading her progression….does that make me weird? Because she is in a really dark place during this book and it takes a good portion of the story before she sees even a glimmer of light.

Oh and Tamlin….you beast! I knew my gut was right. You were evil incarnate and I knew it. I guess evil incarnate isn’t the right term. His need for control and angry outburst increase tenfold after coming home from Under the Mountain. If it’s possible to be more screwed up than Feyre, he is. The two together are a bomb waiting to implode. Tamlin is extremely over-protective to the point that he eventually confines Feyre to the house, not letting her leave, not giving her space to breathe. Under Tamlin, Feyre is withering.

And the knight in shining armor, well shadows….Rhysand *swoon* Rhys was one of those characters that I knew there was more to him. He’s secretive and holds those secrets close. He literally swoops in and saves Feyre from her marriage to Tamlin, calling in his bargain during the ceremony. It was epic, I may have snickered just a little and sighed relief with Feyre. I liked seeing more of Rhys in this book. It helped to understand him more and the balance in his life. I want to say more but I also don’t want to spoil it!

The plot of this book is really about all the kingdoms overcoming what was done to them Under the Mountain. They are coming to terms, rebuilding their territories, and preparing for whatever the Prythian king has in store for them now that Amarantha has been defeated. This is a dark read. Feyre is struggling to come to terms with what has happened to her. She is living with a man who is beyond broken and her savior is a man who deals in shadows and secrets.

Overall I loved this book. Each page was filled with details that came to life as I read. The imagery was stunning. The creatures Feyre encounters were terrifying. And the romance was steamy and slow building. Loved it!!! If you’ve not read the first book, I highly recommend you do. If you enjoy high fantasy, this does not disappoint.