A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world.

At least, he’s not a beast all the time.

As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

From bestselling author Sarah J. Maas comes a seductive, breathtaking book that blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read.

Paperback, 419 pages

Published June 2, 2015

 by Bloomsbury Publishing

4.5/5 stars

Full disclosure - this was my 4th time reading this book and I honestly can't tell why I never sat down and wrote a proper review before now. Better late than never I guess! I picked it up again to refresh my memory as I work my way through the rest of the series, determined to finish before book six arrives this fall.

This was one of my first forays into fantasy,  what really drew me in originally was the Beauty and the Beast retelling at its heart. Though I will say that it is so much more than that. The world building is intricate and impressive and on this reread I found myself rediscovering details I had completely forgotten.

At the centre is Feyre, a 19 year old who had to grow up too fast and has spent most of her young life taking care of her family even when they didn't appreciate it. She is a character easy to root for. The Spring Court is nicely rendered and the tension that builds between Feyre and Tamlin makes for a compelling read.

The ending is suspenseful and full of tension, introducing new characters while setting up what promises to be a very different journey for Feyre in the next book. Let's just say the girl who entered the Spring Court is not the same and what lies ahead for her is going to test everything she's made of.

I am not counting this as part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge since it is a reread.  I've already reread book 2 and hoping to start 3 shortly.   Kinda like Diana Gabaldon, each book does grow a little more in size.

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever. 

Paperback, 432 pages

Published January 1st 2016

 by Bloomsbury Childrens

4/5 stars

One of my reading goals this year is to complete some of the series I've started, which has me rereading the first book in the A Court of Thorns & Roses series. This is one of those series that gets bigger and better with each book (book 2 is a reread also.) I decided to challenge myself by stepping outside of my comfort zone a few years back, reading a different genre - YA fantasy - which I'm still new to, but was swayed by the positive reviews on social media.

Feyre is a teen who supports her family after they fall from the high life and must fend for themselves. It's a mistake that changes everything for Feyre, as she finds herself in a world divided between humans and fairy-tale-like creatures. It has a Beauty and the Beast feel to it.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The characters were likeable, though I didn't always agree with their decisions, and the plot was complex and intriguing. I felt like I was right there in the setting with all the mystical and fantasy elements. I also surprised myself with what I forget from my first read.  Looking forward to Feb when I begin the next book, A Court of Mist and Fury.