A Court Of Mist And Fury by Sarah J.Maas (ACOTAR #2)

This book is great - BUT I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE ANYONE'S NAMES. Sarah J. Maas you are fantastic, but please publish something that tells me how to pronounce these names - I feel so bad that I can't. I've heard everyone pronounce them in different ways and I'm just very confused. Besides that, this book was amazing, I genuinely have no words for how amazing it was with all it's little twists and turns and ugh - I need the next one right now. This book was so long that I can't talk about everything though, so I'm just going to mention a few points,

'Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.'

So first off, we're going to talk about Feyre because little Feyre at the beginning of the book broke my heart, she was wasting away so badly and it's tough as a reader to see a strong character like that diminish before your eyes. I really loved how her two separate romantic relationships were explored, and I think Maas did a very good job at illustrating what an unhealthy relationship may look like - and how those like Feyre, the victim, may sometimes not realise this without some help. This was really well explored but I know there's going to be someone out there somewhere whose going to say she's weak because Rhysand 'fixed' her, but he just helped her - which we all need sometimes, and really I think she save herself. On a different note, I don't think this happened in the last book, but I also found Feyre quite funny in this one and her exchanges with Rhysand were so funny (true OTP guys). But despite all that you know what's the best thing about Feyre is? She's sexy and powerful and feminine and SHE KNOWS THAT, she refuses to feel bad about that and uses all her strengths to her advantage; we need to see that more in female protagonist, and Feyre is a perfect example of how it should be done. BE SEXY AND FEARLESS PEOPLE. BE FEYRE.

Now we're going to talk about Tamilin, because that douchebag needs to be dragged through the mud a bit. So, I've got to admit in ACOTAR I had a bit of a crush on this guy, it wasn't too serious I wasn't completely invested, but it was still a crush - oh, how wrong I was. This guy just needs to stop. Just stop existing would be great. The biggest surprise of this novel is that you didn't realise in the first book that Tamilin is a massive, sexist pig, and it hurts when he announces there can't be any High Ladies; but the best thing is how it's a massive middle finger to him when Feyre does become one. Tamilin becomes the unexpected villain in this book with him keeping Feyre in an abusive relationship, and his pursuit of her after she's told him she's left - and oh boy he's a good villain, he gets your blood boiling. He's like a pethtic, whiny Umbridge. I hope in the next book both Feyre and Lucian make him suffer, also I'm looking forward for a Rhysand and Tamilin fight that seems to be just over the horizon.

And our little, beautiful, special Rhysand who I've completely fallen in love with. So in ACTOR we got a sense Rhysand wasn't all bad, and he became this beautiful mysterious creature who I had a slight crush on - despite my denial of this. Rhysand as a character is explored far more in this sequel and it was really nice to learn of his background and understand him more, especially as we discovered it with Feyre whilst their relationship developed. He still kept his dark humour throughout the novel, and his dark manipulated side was still present; however this was partnered with softer sides of him such as his love for his family and home - he became a fully rounded character and it was lovely. Rhysand became this beautiful, caring and sensitive, yet still deadly person in front of my very own eyes and I love him - not as much as Baz, but still. He's such a fictional husband, and Feyre is such a fictional wife.

Now lets get down to the wonderful romance in this book between all the brilliant action and plot (which I won't talk about, I wouldn't be able to do it justice in a little review like this). So in this book we're shown a very stark contrast between a healthy relationship and an unhealthy relationship, and I think Maas accurately portrayed how victims like Feyre may not realise just how controlling a partner can be until it's almost too late. And then came along Rhysand and Feyre and wow, just wow, just please give me more than that Maas. Between them they built a strong, endearing, and relatable romance which made you feel a whole range of things, they were funny and cute, they were daring and sexy, and they fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle; but the best thing about this relationship is how it's just one big middle finger to Tamilin - especially after Feyre was named High Lady of their court (it was seriously the best). Oh, how I wished Feyre had been with him along, she would have been so happy. The other great thing about the romance in this book is that a female feeling good about having sex was presented, and Feyre was not ashamed to have it and you know she wouldn't take anyone shaming her for it - we do not see this enough in YA. There are sex scenes in this book, and a fair few there are, I personally don't enjoy reading sex scenes but I understood the statement these scenes were making so I didn't mind it as much.

Now the ending of this book, oh my god the ending. I can't believe the ending of this book, so much happened right at the end: the human queens being traitors, Feyre messing up the plan (really Feyre?! Really?!), Tamilin being a traitor and partnering with The King to get Feyre back (I hate him), Feyre's sisters becoming elves (oh my god the King is going to regret turning Nesta, ya'll better pray for him), Lucien imprinting on Elain (Maas just gave everyone mates didn't she?), Feyre and Rhysand having their mind link thing broken, Feyre pretending to have forgotten Rhysand and going back to Tamilin to save Rhysand, Lucien knowing Feyre is lying about forgetting about Rhysand, Rhysand revealing Feyre is the High Lady of their court - I CANNOT DEAL. So much happened in the last few chapters that I don't even know how process all of it, I just know I need the sequel ASAP.

Overall, an amazing, emotional and completely frustrating read at the end, because really, who doesn't want to kill that King? Maas has certainly knocked it out of the park again, and this is one of my favourite read of the year so far.