A Court of Mist and Fury (the spoiler edition)

[snshne322]

abs MrsAxilla

Yes, Rhys.  Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

I don't know if I knew it would be Rhys or if I just really wanted it to be him.  Tamlin was good in the first book. I really enjoyed him, but I LOVED the Rhys parts.  I couldn't figure out how Rhys was going to be the love triangle, but it was done amazingly well.

Tamlin irked me immediately.  As soon as she mentioned that they dealt with their nightmares alone and didn't acknowledge them with each other, warning bells were ringing. I couldn't figure out how someone would allow their partner to hurl in the bathroom and completely ignore it.  The trashing of the house and completely ignoring her concerns.  In book one I thought he was just Alpha male and parts of that is kind of hot.  This is screamed desperate dictator. 

I loved his inner circle, especially Amren.  She added so much to the I'm a kick ass woman.  The group allowed her to recover and return to the person had she had been.  Someone who is self reliant, strong and takes care of people.

I understand the tension and why she was conflicted, but the last half of the book was like a one big case of blue balls. OMG, I just wanted them to give in!  And I nearly cried at Rhys's side of the story when they were in the cabin.

I was bummed to find out that my library doesn't have audiobook copies of these.  I want to listen to them now!

[MrsAxilla]

I don't know why, but I didn't really see it coming, especially not with Rhys. Maybe because I really hated that he made her drink the wine and sexy dance for the Court Under the Mountain. But he made up for that when he stopped the wedding and the way he treated her the first time at Night Court - like an equal. I was worried that Feyre would be a stereotype and be all "but I LOOOOOVE Tamlin!!" Puke. I should have remembered that Sarah Maas doesn't write stereotypes. Did you know she started Throne of Glass when she was sixteen? Crazy!

[snshne322]

To be fair, it's been a year-ish since I read the first one and that's part of the reason I'd like to do the audio version. I knew he seemed like a manipulative bastard in the first book, but it always felt like something more to me.

I'm so glad that she didn't leave it as a cliff hanger where the reader thinks that the bond is actually broken. I love knowing that she's at the spring court scheming and the Lucien might very well be aware.

[abs]

I really didn't see it coming, either. I wasn't sure what I was expecting from the book but definitely not what I got. At the end of book 1 I liked Tamlin. I thought he was controlling but overall a good guy. When he left Feyre alone with her nightmares though I started to side eye him and when he refused to help train her I was pretty much done with him. I think I actually cheered out loud once Feyre decided to stay with Rhys and not Tamlin.

I really can't want to see where book 3 takes us. The mate thing with Lucien makes me nervous. It seems a little too convenient to me that he mated with Feyre's sister. I absolutely think Lucien knows that Rhys and Feyre's bond is intact. I also think he's on her side. It will be interesting to see how that all plays out.

[MrsAxilla]

May 24, 2016 11:26:08 GMT -5 snshne322 said:

To be fair, it's been a year-ish since I read the first one and that's part of the reason I'd like to do the audio version. I knew he seemed like a manipulative bastard in the first book, but it always felt like something more to me.

I'm so glad that she didn't leave it as a cliff hanger where the reader thinks that the bond is actually broken. I love knowing that she's at the spring court scheming and the Lucien might very well be aware.

I love the ending, too! I hate cliffhangers like that with a passion! (Unless I'm late to a series and the next ones are out already - lol).

[MrsAxilla]

I also love that Rhys didn't try to win her over and dropped most of the masks right away. She naturally evolved from loathing to love.

[ufcasey]

I just finished the book! Here's what my review was for the first book: "Sadly, this was only just ok for me, which is a shame because I love her other series. It wasn't insta-love, but it was close enough. My favorite character was actually Rhysand."

And now? HOLY CRAP I LOVED THIS SECOND BOOK. And yes, I am a bit ecstatic that Rhysand ended up being even more super awesome than I could have ever imagined. I thought he would play a bigger role and wasn't the bastard that he seemed, but I never could have imagined how well Maas planned out the big reveal in chapter 54. As soon as I finished that chapter I paused reading the book just so I could flip back to reread the pertinent parts of book 1 with new eyes. That seriously was THE BEST reveal ever.

[ThirdandLong]

After seeing the earlier (ns) post, I read CoT&R, which was sitting in my to be read pile. It was fantastic! Just the kind of book I love - magic and intrigue and a kick ass heroine. Many excellent parts, including but not restricted to the bone javelin at the end of Trial 1. Like every reader, I wasn't a big Rhys fan, though the ice thawed a bit when he visited her cell before the final Trial. But the moment he started screaming her name as she was being beaten and tortured, you just had to know there was more to it than just "I didn't want you to fight alone."

Mist & Fury - Woah! Every character in the Inner Circle is written in the typical Sarah Maas rich, dynamic manner. So complicated, so flawed. How can you not LOVE their camaraderie, their family love? The novel is so far beyond just a love story, or a fairy story. It's like Game of Thrones meets Fairies. The Hybern scenes were mindblowing, and I was terrified for our main character. When the bond was...you know... (even now I don't want to spoil anyone)... I had to put the book down for a bit and walk away. Fantastic ending! Awesome reveals! Loved the battle scene in Velaris! Loved 'the huntress who looks back on those less fortunate.' Loved the Inner Circle!

That said.... there were things I didn't totally get. Anyone want to talk about the questions remaining?
Like - how are they tracking Rhys' use of magic? Where are all these Ash arrows coming from? Who wants to bet we see Drakon and Myriam before the end? The explanation of why Jurian would side with Hybern seemed weak - why would the #1 hater of Fae ever join with the one Fae Lord who wants to bring down the walls? What the heck is Spring going to do when Hybern enters Tam's lands to get to the wall and every other High Lord converges on Spring to stop him? How is Feyre going to play her part but keep Tamlin out of her bed (Fire Night is coming)? The queens were awfully concerned about the Fae threat above their own wall on the continent, so what the heck is North of their wall and how come no one talks about those Fae? Where do we think Mor stashed the sisters (and who saw Nesta's transformation coming, with all that Cassian banter. I can't wait to see what kind of abilities Nesta has.)? What's going on with the 6th queen, and where is Feyre's dad really? And... when do we get to meet the Day and Dawn and Winter and Autumn Courts because I really really can't wait? Do we know if there are six books slotted for this series too?

[ThirdandLong]

snshne322 ,
Since you're such a big fan - did you know that the Target copy of this novel had an exclusive chapter? I read everything on Kindle, so I found the bootleg - Extra Chapter with Cassian and Nesta. This nice tumblr user posted it in Part I and Part II. Pretty good stuff.

[snshne322]

May 31, 2016 12:03:43 GMT -5 ThirdandLong said:

snshne322 ,
Since you're such a big fan - did you know that the Target copy of this novel had an exclusive chapter? I read everything on Kindle, so I found the bootleg - Extra Chapter with Cassian and Nesta. This nice tumblr user posted it in Part I and Part II. Pretty good stuff.

I didn't know that!  I'll read it, thanks!

[leeba25]

Wow, that book was really, really good. This was the best I've read of hers, so far. The Throne of Glass series is not nearly as good as this one was. I hope the next one in this series lives up to the greatness of this one.

Some random'ish thoughts & reflections:

The reveal - ch 54 - absolutely amazing. The way Maas brought the character of Rhysand forward, slowly at first and then more and more, and building up to the full story, was exquisite. He grabbed my heart, he really did. When she first asked him to tell the story, I was thinking, meh, we already know he was a double agent, etc. But no, it was so nicely fleshed out, thoughtful, and heartbreaking.

The bickering & flirting between Rhys & Feyre -- so fun, sexy, and funny. Even when they weren't flirting, I loved his wit. Example - when he came to get her once at Spring Court, and noticed how awful she looked, he said something to Tamlin like, "are you running short on food in your Court?" He's such a smartass.

I read some goodreads reviews that slammed Maas' sex scenes. I wholeheartedly disagree. I thought they were hot as hell. That scene where she was on his lap and they were both pretending to pretend at the Court of NIghtmares? Omg.

I loved all the characters, and how Feyre found her people. I loved how Feyre grew especially, how she learned about herself and what she wants, what she's good at, etc, etc. Also, Lucien. Omg. He's going to help save this whole thing, I know he is. The looks he kept giving? Awww, yeah!

I was SO ANNOYED at (I think) the 3rd to last chapter. I thought she was really sacrificing herself, and I was like, why doesn't she make sure they get out and then winnow out on her own? The actual end made so much more sense. And i loved the amount of cliffhanger that it was. We have an idea of the types of things that are coming, but there's not some big "wait, what?" like some books do. (And TV shows, I'm looking at you, TWD.) The end was just perfect.

Couple concerns / didn't like:

Rhys not telling her that he knew she was his mate... I thought his explanation was weak. I expected him to say that he didn't tell her because he wanted her to have the choice of how she felt about him, knowing how big of an issue being trapped is for her. He wanted her to come to it on her own. That knowing that might have felt like a trap, and he didn't want to do that. Of course she wouldn't have appreciated that.

I hate the name Feyre. It's too awkward to say, even when I try to say it quickly. Maybe listening on audio would make it less awkward. LOL. I know this is a big important thing.

[leeba25]

c7, Yes, I took it that the book overcame her own will, but you make a good point. She can overcome these unbeatable obstacles sometimes but not always.

I also thought there was a little too much of a parallel with this series' book and how it interacted with Feyre, and the "Fever" series by Karen Marie Moning. The whole "oh no I can't trust myself around this book that isn't really just a book" to even the name of it (the book of breathings, vs the song of making).

[snshne322]

Jun 29, 2016 10:47:20 GMT -5 c7 said:

ANDPLUSALSO Tamlin who? RHYSANDER EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK AND TWICE ON SUNDAYS.

Right? Tamlin has NOTHING on Rhys. 

Tamlin is like the high school jock that really likes you, but really he's just in the relationship for the image and what it does for him. Rhys is the broody guy in the corner who is hot as fuck who lets you fight your own battles because you're a strong woman and knows what you're worth.  NO CONTEST.

[snshne322]

Jun 29, 2016 10:53:15 GMT -5 leeba25 said:

c7 , Yes, I took it that the book overcame her own will, but you make a good point. She can overcome these unbeatable obstacles sometimes but not always.

I also thought there was a little too much of a parallel with this series' book and how it interacted with Feyre, and the "Fever" series by Karen Marie Moning. The whole "oh no I can't trust myself around this book that isn't really just a book" to even the name of it (the book of breathings, vs the song of making).

Interesting point!  I didn't even make that connection, and I just reread the Fever series a few months ago.  It's kind of par for the course in Fairy lore about magical objects being personified though, right?

I feel like Revjen might have some thoughts on that for some reason, but I don't want to tag her in case she hasn't finished.  I think she was working on it maybe? I'm not sure.

[leeba25]

Ok, this is my last criticism. I loved this book so much, but I'm thinking of things that irked me now for whatevr reason.

Why all the vomiting? I mean, have you ever just vomited in real life from the sheer stress of a situation? THis happens all the time in books. Mostly I've noticed it in NA kinds of books where someone is so scared, stressed, whatever that their body can't take it and they throw up. I "get" why she would wake up from her nightmares retching, but omg enough. And then in the room with the King of Hybern at the end, when they put Nesta in the water. "I vomited on the floor." C'mon girl, get a hold of yourself.

I feel like it's a crutch for authors. Like a character thinking - or saying - how much they love someone. Show me, don't tell me. A sudden vomiting on the floor is a cop out for you finding another way to explain how heart-wrenching that scene was for Feyre.

[abs]

Jun 29, 2016 10:53:15 GMT -5 leeba25 said:

c7 , Yes, I took it that the book overcame her own will, but you make a good point. She can overcome these unbeatable obstacles sometimes but not always.

I also thought there was a little too much of a parallel with this series' book and how it interacted with Feyre, and the "Fever" series by Karen Marie Moning. The whole "oh no I can't trust myself around this book that isn't really just a book" to even the name of it (the book of breathings, vs the song of making).

Oh, that is interesting! I hadn't made that connection. I read the Fever series so long ago so I had forgotten about some of the details. I agree with you that I thought the book overcame Feyre's will and not that she connected it on purpose.

There were a few things in the book that annoyed me.  I was totally side eyeing Lucien at the end when we mated with Feyre's sister.  It just felt forced to me but I do like Lucien so we will see where this goes.  But basically the thing that annoys me the most is having to wait until freaking MAY.

I'm glad you loved it though leeba!

[ThirdandLong]

Have you guys seen this?  I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief over Calanmai.

[ufcasey]

Oh good! I didn't want her to go that far in her subterfuge. I vote that Tamlin and Ianthe paired up and she won't take being second fiddle to Feyre again very well.

[snshne322]

Jun 29, 2016 12:23:17 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

Oh good! I didn't want her to go that far in her subterfuge. I vote that Tamlin and Ianthe paired up and she won't take being second fiddle to Feyre again very well.

That's quite a good theory!

[ThirdandLong]

Jun 29, 2016 12:23:17 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

Oh good! I didn't want her to go that far in her subterfuge. I vote that Tamlin and Ianthe paired up and she won't take being second fiddle to Feyre again very well.

Meh... dunno.  The High Lord of Spring f***s someone every single Calanmai, no one seems to care. Feyre didn't really care the previous Calanmai, despite her comment about leftovers. Some people on tumblr think maybe Ianthe got knocked up on Calanmai by Tamlin, but that seems like an easy out by Maas since it's been noted several times how difficult it is for Fae to get pregnant and how rare offspring are.

But that does puzzle me - the characters in this story seem very sexual... if a fairy male and female are immortal and are married or mated for millennia and they f**k like bunnies, then it stands to reason they could have hundreds of kids without some kind of "children are rare" premise. Lucien and Tamlin both have/had several siblings but not... hundreds of siblings. Rhys was Amarantha's whore for 50 years, but she never conceived presumably.

[ThirdandLong]

Jun 29, 2016 14:03:00 GMT -5 c7 said:

Jun 29, 2016 13:48:37 GMT -5 ThirdandLong said:

snip

I'd agree if Feyre was a one night stand. Ianthe wants power. She sees Tamlin as a pawn to get that power. Tamlin is so devoted to Feyre that she jeopardizes Ianthe's end goal. So in that respect, I see Ianthe not taking well to being second fiddle to Feyre again.

The King of Hybern indicated that the High Priestess' end game was to eliminate the High Lords and only have Priestesses ruling Prythian. I took that to mean that Ianthe isn't interested in Tamlin so much as she is interested in the fact that he's weak and needy, relying on her guidance, and perhaps easy to topple. She did betray Tamlin to the King of Hybern, after all. She buttered Tamlin right up and served him to the King of Hybern, her friend. That business between Rhys and Ianthe all happened before Ianthe fled to the continent during Amarantha's rule and met the King of Hybern, so I think now she cares much less about bearing some High Lord's whelp and more about her own power.

[leeba25]

ThirdandLong, So according to that screen shot, Calanmai already passed ... I'm a dork so I went back and read a few of Feyre & Rhys' first interactions from the first book. When Tamlin was explaining Calanmai to Feyre, he said (or actually maybe it was Lucien? Whatever, one of them was telling her) that all of the courts celebrate Calanmai and participate in the rites, and that the magic they invoke that day leads to more fertile lands for all of Prythian. I don't remember there being a Calanmai celebration or rite in the Night court ... did I miss that?

[ThirdandLong]

Jun 30, 2016 9:35:25 GMT -5 leeba25 said:

ThirdandLong , So according to that screen shot, Calanmai already passed ... I'm a dork so I went back and read a few of Feyre & Rhys' first interactions from the first book. When Tamlin was explaining Calanmai to Feyre, he said (or actually maybe it was Lucien? Whatever, one of them was telling her) that all of the courts celebrate Calanmai and participate in the rites, and that the magic they invoke that day leads to more fertile lands for all of Prythian. I don't remember there being a Calanmai celebration or rite in the Night court ... did I miss that?

Well, from the story we know a tiny handfull of things - #1 No one really knows what goes on in the Night Court, so Lucien/Tamlin/etc may be making a generalization here. They emphasize this 'lack of knowledge' to Feyre when she returns from her week long visits, that she has unprecedented access.  #2 Seemingly Calanmai is a sex rite relating to fertility. Ms. Maas says that Feyre and Rhys were in the cabin during Calanmai, so there was definitely sex happening, which is possibly why no one is too concerned about the High Lord missing it. It's not like he botched it and now all the crops will fail. #3 Because our POV character was at the cabin, we don't really have any idea if the rest of the Night Court was celebrating Calanmai. No character mentions it.

I was trying to do the math a bit. In real life, Calanmai is celebrated May 1st. So she and Tamlin are getting married just after winter solstice, and she spends her week in Night Court, ending maybe beginning of January. Another month passes with lighter guard, and Rhys shows up for another week in Night Court, the book reading week, ending maybe beginning of February. A little time passes before the house lockdown scene, so maybe that's the middle of February. When she feels so guilty for having feelings for Rhys, she specifically points out that it's 'only been 2 months', so that's maybe middle of April (Nynsar/Starfall). They dance all night and then spend two weeks in the Illyrian Steppes, which would put us back at May 1st.  Why Maas didn't mention Nynsar in ACOTAR... who knows? Maybe she's backtracking a little bit. There was a big gap between when she wrote ACOTAR and ACOMAF, and perhaps the story changed on her (she does talk about how Feyre's sisters started out as lesser characters originally but will be very important in book 3, so it happens...)