A Court of Wings and Ruin is the third book in Sarah J. Maas’ ACOTAR series and war is very much the backdrop to this story. All seven courts of Prythian must join forces to defeat the threat of the King of Hybern. If that sentence means nothing to you then take it as your sign to read the two previous books, A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury before jumping into this one!
Opening sentence: The buzzing flies and screaming survivors had long since replaced the beating war-drums.
Lead character, Feyre (now High Lady of the Night Court) is undercover in the Spring Court after the dramatic events at the end of A Court of Mist and Fury, putting her right back in the clutches of Tamlin. Who, by the way, I feel is a complex character and not the straight-up villain lots of people think he is.
“It’s all part of the game, Feyre darling. Who to trust, when to trust them – what information to barter.”
The ultimate war
This explosive opening sets the scene for the war that follows. The Night Court gang (with help from the other courts, oh and monsters like my fave the Bone Carver and a new enigma, Bryaxis) need to get the Cauldron off the King of Hybern to unleash the power and win the war.
Elements linked to this that I liked were that we get a few more Rhysand POV chapters and we get to meet the other High Lords in more detail and develop the wider world building a little more.
My favourite part though was reading more about Feyre’s sister, Nesta – she is becoming really interesting, in my humble opinion. Her developing story and allusion to the great power she contains is far more enticing to me than Feyre’s story.
“You took something from that Cauldron, girl. The king wants it back.”
Mixed feelings
Pleased to say that this series has grown on me. This book was looooooong though! I read it solidly on a 4-hour plane journey and felt like I’d barely made a dent!
I’m not sure why but something is stopping me getting full on board with ACOTAR though. I’m not fully emotionally invested in it in a way that literally millions of other people clearly are. I don’t really feel invested in the characters – Feyre lacks something for me, Azrael and Cassian are interchangeable and Rhys – he just isn’t as hot to me as everyone else seems to think he is.
Upon reflection, I also think part of it is the writing style – these characters stick out their tongues and give vulgar gestures far too often for my liking. There must be other ways to convey annoyance or joking around?? That said – I have enjoyed the last 2 books and do feel the need to see this series through now as there are (currently) only 2 books left, so I’ll report back!
- Get your copy of A Court of Wings and Ruin here;
- First published 2017. This edition Bloomsbury 2020;
- 699 pages;
- Book review rating:
Books on the 7:47 
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