Literary Marie: Super Series Sunday: ACOTAR

(A Court of Thrones and Roses #1-5)

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

Read an installment of a series.
Share your review/recommendation below.
Include the title, author and series name.

My Super Series Sunday pick is ACOTAR, the entire series by Sarah J. Maas. It is comprised of five (5) books with a sixth book in the works. A passionate, violent, daring series featuring a huntress named Feyre, her sister Elain (a boring lapdog), her sister Nesta (affectionately nicknamed Nestle), High Fae Rhysand (Reese Cup) and his made family consisting of a bastard-born warrior named Cassian, a bastard shadowsinger named Azriel, a beautiful wise monster named Amren and his dreamer cousin with the gift of truth known as the Morrigan. Of course there are other characters sprinkled in throughout the series, of which I have strong opinions on too.

Before The Empyrean series (Fourth Wing and Iron Flame), I was new to reading fantasy. I take that back; I was obsessed with Twilight back in the day. But since then, I had no interest in reading about dragons (though I love to watch Dem Thrones and HOTD). I really had no interest in reading about faeries; winged people with powers and pointy ears...no, thank you. Flying winnowing beings, nope. And the whole shapeshifting bit? Nah.

So it took me three (3) tries to get into the first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses. I read the sample and immediately deleted from all devices. Upon urging of a reading buddy, I re-downloaded and tried the first few chapters but put it down again. Then BookTok got me. Every single review video I watched about this darn series was a glowing recommendation. No bad reviews!

Clearly the problem was me. I had to get out of my own head in thinking of faeries as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell with large elf ears. I set aside all preconceived notions of the fantasy genre and committed to third times the charm. To ensure a fair shot and since I am a series junkie, I purchased the eBook bundle with 5 books in 1 for $40.

Babyyyyyy! Coin well spent. So glad I gave this series another chance after a chance. The world building and developed characters is so beautifully written. The romance, wars, conflict and redemption arcs are amazingly well timed. Bookhearts, I cannot recommend this series enough. Take it from a girlie like me that wanted nothing to do with this faerie romance story.

It is worth all the feels! Worth the nights staying up way past bedtime to read almost 3,000 pages. Worth the scrolling on BookTok for reaction videos. Worth the many Google searches for maps, explanations and theories. It's even better if you buddy read with someone else new to the SJM universe. Okay, I am almost done fan-girling ACOTAR. Thanks for reading this long ass review. Continue for a quick summary and individual rating of each book. Slight spoilers ahead.

"Stay with him, fall in love with him, and all would be righted." ~ pg. 290

A Court of Thorns and Roses 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods. As retribution, she is dragged to a beautiful yet dangerous magical world she knows about only from legend. The faerie lands of Prythian is where no human would dare go unless they had a death wish. Each of the seven courts are ruled by a High Lord. Her captor is a lethal immortal faerie named Tamlin (nicknamed Tampon for reasons), High Lord of the Spring Court. As Feyre adapts to her new home, her feelings transform from icy fear to a fiery passion. Meanwhile, I adapt to the many different creatures introduced: puca, the Bogge, the Suriel, daemati, naga and more.

"Love—love was a balm as much as it was a poison." ~ pg. 1101

A Court of Mist and Fury 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Feyre Cursebreaker is now granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae. But she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and deeds she performed to save the lives of Tampon and his peeps. Her time is split between the Spring Court and upcoming wedding and upholding her bargain with High Lord Reese Cup in the Night Court. This second book is a dark web of love, politics and power. Even better than the first book!

"A world divided was not a world that could thrive." ~ pg. 1859

A Court of Wings and Ruin 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

This third book though is where I was hooked! Feyre has returned to the Spring Court to gather info and learn whatever she can about the king threatening to bring her land to its knees. It's a deadly game of deceit where one slip-up could bring doom to Feyre and everyone she loves.

"There, between a snarl of thorns. A patch of darkness." ~ pg. 2090

A Court of Frost and Starlight 🖤 🖤

At only 200 pages, this novella is simply a filler. Feyre, Reese Cup and their made family are recovering from the war that changed everything. They all have wounds—both physical and emotional scars. Winter Solstice is coming so the atmosphere is festive but the shadows of the past still loom. Meh. Could have done without this one.

"So, yes. I like to read. I cannot survive without reading." ~ pg. 2430

A Court of Silver Flames 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

And finally the book I was dreading because the point of view changes from Feyre to her most-hated sister Nestle. This prickly bitch has a major attitude, is slow to forgive and full of spite. Sex, music and drinking is how she copes to being forced into a strange world thanks to the horrors of the war. This garners no sympathy from me. The one person who ignites her temper and lady bits most is Cassian, the battle warrior and close friend to Reese Cup and Feyre. This book is spicy with themes of acceptance, healing and a redemption arc that made my head spin.

I am now committed to the SJM universe (total of 16 books to date). What a wonderful way to start.