A Court of Thorns and Roses is an outstanding trilogy by Sarah J. Maas that follows Feyre, set in a medieval-like world with Fae creatures. Feyre is human and has to provide for her family of two sisters and a crippled father. While hunting one evening, she kills a Fae wolf, which kick starts the story's plot into action. The novels in this trilogy are A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, and A Court of Wings and Ruin (with the novella A Court of Frost and Starlight).
SPOILERS AHEAD! After killing a Fae wolf, Feyre is confronted and collected by Tamlin, the handsome (of course) High Lord of the Spring Court in the Fae Realms. As expected, they fall in love. When Tamlin is captured by a Fae Queen who has plagued their lands for 49 years, Feyre submits herself to a series of tests in order to prove her love for him and "win" him back from his captor. This results in her dying and being brought back to life as Fae, since she saved their kingdom.
The second novel is when things start to get interesting. At the beginning, life isn't looking too good for Feyre. She's traumatized by the events of the previous novel; she's not eating or sleeping and is slowly fading away. At this point, a deal she made with the infamous High Lord of the Night Court in order to survive her time at the trails is called in. She must spend one week of every month in the Night Court. However, Rhysand (the High Lord) doesn't call in this deal until her wedding day to Tamlin when she panics and is about to run (whether she realizes it or not).
What's so important about this series (the second novel in particular) is how Maas addresses abusive relationships. The series is written in first person, so the reader experiences the events the same way that Feyre does. This is why it's so hard to see that her relationship with Tamlin is abusive until Feyre herself sees it, with the help of Rhysand. Even though Feyre went through so much for her relationship with Tamlin and was literally put on trial for it, her relationship is not healthy. This is such an important novel for women to read because the way that the events are seen through the eyes of Feyre. Just because Tamlin loved her does not mean that he wasn't abusive.
As a reader, I was taken by surprise because of how Feyre justified all of his actions, such as not letting her make decisions or help in the rebuilding of his court "for safety." Looking back, it was blatantly obvious. The way the Maas subtly addresses this makes you re-evaluate the relationships in your life and understand how women in these types of relationships stay in them. I also appreciated the irony in who Feyre ends up with. Tamlin is the blond-haired, perfect, fairy-tale guy- who is actually abusive and the worst person for Feyre to be with. This is compared to Rhysand, the supposed terror and pillager of lands- who is actually kind, understanding, and perfect for Feyre. Maas shows how the "perfect guy" to the world might not actually be all that perfect behind closed doors.
This is just one aspect of an all around incredible and well written series. In fact, A Court of Thorns and Roses is by far my favorite series. Another series that Maas has written is the Throne of Glass series, which has seven novels. I am currently reading this series, and so far it has been another success by Maas in my book. For my next blog, I will be diving into this series and examining the links between the two series.
For more information on A Court of Thorns and Roses, visit Goodreads.