I actually take some pride in being able to pick up pretty much whatever and try and accept it on its own terms. While this didn’t exceed my expectations (4 stars), it was more-or-less exactly what I had expected. There’s a few things I particularly liked and a couple I didn’t like at all, but I think it is what it says it is on the tin. And for a hot take: I think it’s about as well crafted and enjoyable as many of Sanderson’s novels.

As for things I did not particularly like: The idea that everything hinges on a riddle that is so easily solved but only actually, finally, is by the protagonist—who may be illiterate, isn’t an idiot—was really unsatisfying and a bit annoying, frankly. Like a lot of fantasy romance, the whole “oh no they could have solved everything if they could have just communicated effectively” trope wears really thin for me. But my largest gripe is just how heteronormative the fae are. Yeah, some are good and some are bad, just like humans. But why… is their society constructed like humanity…? It’s so… straight, to be honest. It just feel really derivative and like the fae out of every fantasy series ever, pretty much.

However, these things kind of come along with what a massively successful, commercial fiction fantasy romance book is. Which is pretty explicit on the dust jacket. They’re eye-roll worthy but to a certain degree, I’m sure fans of this genre to some degree want some of these tropes. And… that’s why it’s so widely read and liked!

I also enjoyed that Feyre was mostly capable. It was undermined with the trials, but otherwise had some. Autonomy and agency and there wasn’t any problematic elements. The stakes with the trials actually felt pretty good. The last little battle/fight was legitimately cool and immensely satisfying. The manor of her being “saved” (trying not to spoil anything) felt more realistic than lots of other in the genre.

It doesn’t carve out a unique spot or pioneer anything in fantasy settings, but it’s inoffensive and fun and mostly well executed. Girl gets to catch some pipe from a shapeshifting dude. I can see the widespread appeal.