Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses is basically a Beauty and the Beast retelling. In the first few pages, you already learn a lot about Feyre - the main character - and her family: Because they lost their fortune, Feyre has to hunt in the forest. One day she killed a (faerie-)wolf and so she ends up at Spring Court in Prythian, the Faerie Realm. She finds herself in the midst of a land she has no place being in, and yet, she finds love with the beast of the story, Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court.

In Prythian, there are three ´main sorts´of faeries: the lesser faeries, the High Fae and the seven High Lords - like Tamlin is one. For me, the whole ´Fae-thing´ is kinda puzzling, because it´s hard to recall what exactly which sort of faerie can do. There are some situations, too, that are a bit difficult to imagine.

At some Point, Tamlin sents Feyre back home, though he loves her. But barely Feyre is at home, she tries to go to Prythian again, because she knows of a potential danger, that can harm Tamlin. It turns out, that this threat is way more dangerous than she has expected, and that Tamlin has been kidnapped by Amarantha. Amarantha is the ´real´ threat to Prythian and only Feyre can save the Faerie Realms - and even the world - now. She either has to do three tasks or to solve a riddle. During the time she is at Amaranthas Court - Under The Mountain - she meets another important faerie (again). This faerie is called Rhysand and he is High Lord of the Night Court. To survive, Feyre makes a bargain with Rhysand - through which she received her tattoo - and he (kind of) helps her do negotiate the tasks. But Rhysand doesn´t help her out of kindness, but to his own advantage.

In the end, Feyre solves the riddle and Tamlin, Rhysand and all other faeries are free again. They subvert Amarantha, but during this process, Feyre dies. Only a bit of ´faerie-magic´ can save her and as she awakes, she´s (somehow - I don´t understand exactly how) immortal. And as all faeries are free, they leave Under The Mountain, and Feyre and Tamlin return to Spring Court together.

All in all, A Court of Thorns and Roses is a lovely book, though I expected a bit more. The actual story of Beauty and the Beast has been picked up pretty good and so is the writing. Though some parts of the book are a bit - let´s say - non-transparent, Sarah J. Maas is still one of my favourite authors. And since I believe, that it´s developable, I´ll definitly read the 2nd part (A Court of Mist and Fury), too. 

This novel is rated 3,5 out of 5.