A Court of Wings and Ruin

I thought ACOMAF would be hard to follow up, because tbh i love the romance and since the second book had the building up of to their relationship. I was curious on how we’d see Feyre and Rhys as a couple and it didn’t disappoint. Feyre and Rhys remind everyone that they are mates and in love almost every time they are together, lmao, but i love their sweet moments as well, it had me crying wanting my own Rhysand! The build up to the war, i felt sometimes was a little dragged on, made us nervous with all the ‘we might never see each other again’ talk, had me thinking someone would die! but there were moments in the book that made it bearable! Cassian and Nesta’s moments, i lived for them! Mor’s confession, Elain’s power finally being revealed, Azriel’s moment defending Feyre from Tamiln. Feyre has come a long way as well from the first book, that is what i call character development to the finest! The court of dreams! i love them! i love lucien so much, my bb has suffered so much and the bombshell drop on who his dad is! I was screaming. This book really did have me screaming, laughing, and even crying! I love happy endings, and i know many of you didn’t like the ending without any ‘major’ sacrifices, but man she did lose a lot. The Suriel had me BAWLING. The Carver too, Feyre gained the trust of ‘monsters’ that no one saw as ‘human’ until she came along. The Rhysand scene, the Amren scene, The scene with their dad, oh so many emotions were conveyed into this book, and i loved it. This was a book that every time i’d pick it up, it was hard to put down because of the suspense of wanting to know more, the feelings emotions. 100/10

(5/5⭐️) “My rage had become a living thing inside my chest, an echoing heartbeat that soothed me to sleep and stirred me to waking.” —Sarah J MaasFeyre is ready to fight in this final installment of the ACOTAR trilogy (not counting the novella). Having failed to damage the cauldron in ACOMAF, Feyre is taken into the Spring Court under the guise of having been brainwashed. Tamlin believes her leaving him was all Rhysand’s doing. She encourages this misbelief, determined to rip apart Tamlin’s court from the inside. Meanwhile, the King of Hybern is done staging his troops for war. He’s ready to bring Prythian to its knees. He plans to strike hard at the wall, then sweep across the land and take all the courts. The only way to stop him is to unite all the High Lords, and even then it might not be enough. It will take something short of a miracle to bring him down. But the world has some unexpected allies in the form of monsters. It also has Feyre, Amren, Nesta and Elain. These strong women are unlike others for more than one reason, but especially because they are “made.” They just might have what it takes to save everyone, even if it kills them.Crying!!!! I’m CRYING. Or I was. I don’t remember the last time I cried so much in a book. Happy tears. Sad tears. Sometimes I was just crying because of how emotional this book made me. Like Rhysand’s little circle up before the final battle (which reminded me a lot of the final battle in LOTR btw). Rhysand’s words to all his friends. This might be the last time they are all together. That was all I could think as tears washed down my face. As a sense of foreboding and fear settled over me. Deep down I was thinking, SJM wouldn’t DARE kill ANY of them...right?!...right?!“I believe everything happens for a reason. Whether it is decided by the Mother, or the Cauldron, or some sort of tapestry of Fate, I don't know. I don't really care. But I am grateful for it, whatever it is. Grateful that it brought you all into my life. If it hadn't... I might have become as awful as that prick we're going to face today.”The plot in this book was faster paced than ACOMAF. A lot faster. Everything happens in rapid succession. There’s NO time to catch your breath. Feyre is in Spring Court for the first part, bringing it down, and then running for her life, and there’s the meeting of the High Lords—which was OMG, tense—and the attack at the library, all the battles. You get the picture. It’s GO GO GO.In terms of world building, SJM really tied things off nicely. I loved her introduction of some of the monsters, giving us an even deeper glimpse into Prythian. Like the use of the Weaver, the Bone Carver, and the creature from the depths of the library for the war. We got to see all the High Lords together. We got to see more magic. Everything was brought to a nice close in that regard.There was still PLENTY of romance, and hints of new romance to come, like Cassian and Nesta (SO excited for their upcoming novella), and Elain and Lucian...? If that ever happens.“Nesta looked at the king with death twining around his hands, then down at Cassian. And covered Cassian’s body with her own. Cassian went still - then his hand slid over her back. Together. They’d go together.”I really liked the way Rhysand and Feyre’s relationship strengthened, too. That he trusted her with things as dangerous as sneaking in to the King of Hybern’s camp to rescue her sister spoke VOLUMES:“You do not fear. You do not falter. You do not yield. You go in, you get her, and you come out again.”WOW. That quote though. Those two are my favorite bookish couple of ALL TIME. Hands down. He could have insisted on doing it himself. Or even sending someone else. But he trusted Feyre because she was confident that she could succeed.In terms of character development, where the last book was Feyre healing, I felt this book was her coming into her own. She really learned how to take matters into her own hands, how to be strong, how to make her own decisions. She definitely did some growing, with Rhysand’s encouragement no less. She looked into the mirror and saw who she really was, and she accepted that.The other character arc that stood out to me was Tamlin’s, even though it happened mostly in the background. He went from feeling he owned Feyre, to finally accepting that she wasn’t his, but even more: he saved her life. That, in my eyes, fully redeemed him. I still find fault with him, and he’s not my favorite, BUT he saved her life.The ending was a little surprising but very satisfying for me. I really didn’t expect Amarin to come back, but she did and I’m happier for it. I liked that she came back changed. And...Rhysand dying? That was...I’m not sure. At first I thought it was unnecessary, but the more I think about it, I think it was necessary BECAUSE we needed Tamlin to be the final say in the matter. We needed that final acorn of life from him. We NEEDED to see that Tamlin had FINALLY accepted Feyre’s choice. That he would ...

I have no words for this book at all.

This book had me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath! The building of the story, masterfully crafted. Enticingly delicious!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This one had everything — war, heartbreak, plot twists, and some really powerful moments. Feyre fully stepping into her power? Loved that. And some of the side characters?? Obsessed. ACOMAF is still my fave emotionally, but ACOWAR gave me the closure I needed. Solid read.

Bought this for my girlfriend who had already read the series, but wanted a hard copy to collect, and she really enjoyed the look and feel of this book. She really enjoyed it, and it looks great on a shelf, so it is a win-win

Probably my favorite in the series! I love the development of the characters and how the plot is evolving!This book does have content I would say is inappropriate for kids under 16.

- I love how this book is a fantasy but really.. the relationships and friendships are what should be our reality.. and are what is entirely possible to become our reality, we just need to think a little, dream a little, and look to the world for being a better place..

A terrific book and great follow on to the two previous ones! Much more depth to all the characters and the dialogues were fascinating and suspenseful. Feyre and her sisters were challenged by the most extreme monsters and events but fought back with the rest of the family! Such a fun saga!

Ms. Maas makes her reader actually feel like they are in the world she has created. Characters who you love, some you dislike. But, allows the reader to understand what the character is and why they do what they do. Makes one want to live in this imaginary world

I am a voracious reader and I'm new to Sarah J Maas. This is the first books of hers I've read. Loved the world building, the complexity of the characters, the fast pace action. I can count on one hand the times a book has reduced me to tears. This one did. I was shattered. THEN, Then......she put my heart back together again. 5/5

This book had me on the edge of my seat. As they planned for the war, I kept hoping for certain things to happen and although some did, others didn’t and then there were still plot twists that were unexpected.Shocking moments for me were the murder of Feyre, Nesta, and Elian’s dad. I literally sat with my mouth open for a solid 5 minutes. And then when Rhysand died…I wanted to throw my kindle across the room. Looking forward to book #4 to see what lies in store for the Nightcourt.

The descriptions of everything and everyone and the details that go with it… incredible. I think I’ve liked each book in this series so much because of her writing. This one felt heavier somehow even with the death and destruction in the previous ones, maybe the war scenes in this one made it feel that way? I really enjoyed it and felt just as wrapped up in the friendships, relationships, potentials for allies and enemies and more. Not sure why it took me so long to read these because I am really enjoying them!

I’m not sure I can describe how much and why I loved this book so much… the author describes everything perfectly so that you can see it and feel it. And she doesn’t repeat herself so that you get bored thinking that she is just trying to stretch the story out. Everyone in the story is fully developed and you honestly care about all of them (even if you do have favorites). It was a long book but the story needed that amount of time and space to be told. Early on, I had a feeling where it was headed and I was correct. But I still loved the way she gets you there. I really want to dive right in to book 4 but I feel like I need a little time to reflect on book 3 and savor it. I know I sound like a complete book nerd, but stories like this really pull me in and take me away when I need a life break!!

"Only you can decide what breaks you, Cursebreaker. Only you." – And let me tell you, this book broke me in the best way possible!Sarah J. Maas delivers an absolutely gripping and emotional conclusion to the ACOTAR trilogy with A Court of Wings and Ruin. This book is filled with high-stakes battles, deep political intrigue, and so many heart-wrenching moments that I couldn’t put it down. Feyre’s journey is fierce and powerful, and the way she navigates war, love, and loyalty is nothing short of inspiring."I would have waited five hundred more years for you. A thousand years." – The romance in this book? Perfection. Feyre and Rhysand’s bond is stronger than ever, and their love story is woven beautifully into the chaos of war. But it’s not just about them—Nesta, Cassian, Azriel, and even Tamlin all have moments that make this story richer and more complex.The world-building is stunning. We finally see more of the other courts and their rulers, each with their own secrets and agendas. The war against Hybern is brutal and emotional, and the battle scenes are written so vividly that I felt like I was right there.If I had one small critique, it’s that some moments felt a little slow, but honestly, the tension and emotional payoffs more than made up for it. This book has everything—action, romance, heartbreak, and redemption.Final Thoughts: "Remember that you are a wolf. And you cannot be caged." – If you love fantasy with powerful heroines, breathtaking romance, and high-stakes drama, this book is an absolute must-read. It’s thrilling, emotional, and completely unforgettable!

Okay, well, I didn't think it could get any more interesting and intricate, but it did!Now, I feel I must mention that I do not choose books because they feature romance - it's a nice-to-read-every-now-and-then - so I predominantly started reading this series because of the fantasy. That said, I love Feyre and Rhysand's relationship. While I am not the biggest fan of the "mates" trope (I don't like feeling cornered into something, for me it is about who you choose and who chooses you), it doesn't feel so typically "matish." There is choice and freedom in the relationship, which is also contrasted by some of the other Fae males throughout the series; it adds a nice social/political complexity to the story, but also makes you love Rhys all the more.I also very much enjoyed the friendship between Feyre and Mor; it is raw and real and you can tell that Mor cares for Feyre more than just as her High Lady. It made me reflect on how your life is not only your own and how much it matters to those who care about you, and vice versa.Now what I really savoured was Nesta and Elain's character development - I like where this is headed and it was such beautiful poetic justice [spoiler ahead] that these sisters took out the King of Hybern. It shouldn't have been Feyre, that wouldn't have felt right.The twists and turns had my heart racing; I laughed, I cried, I nearly threw my Kindle against the wall - really, my head was spinning by the end of it. In a good way! The only thing I didn't particularly enjoy were some of the last chapters covering the war with Hybern. Yes, all odds were against the Courts, it really didn't look like they were going to make it - and they shouldn't have. Not as well as they did - the war felt too rushed, the help that came in, miraculously, felt too forced and there were too many aspects easily solved. A moment of silence for those we lost, though.My favourite thing about this book is the worldbuilding, the fantasy, at the end of the day. I loved meeting more of the court High Lords, learning more of the history before the wall, seeing the hundreds of years' history between the characters, and getting a better understanding of the magic system, creatures and lore. There is some good LGBTQ representation in the story and I do hope we get to see more of this as the series continues - getting to read from such a character's perspective would be brilliant!A great part of the series indeed!

I loved every moment in this book. I was worried that after A Court of Mist and Fury that the rest of the series would not hold up. While ACOMAF is my favorite so far AOWAR definitely held it own.I love all the new characters that we got to meet in this book along with all the new relationships.I love the connection between all the high lords. We get to see a lot more of their history and the relationships that they all had prior to the current timeline.Many secrets were reveled in this book... or more so truths that have not yet been told.Mor and her secret that now only Feyre knows. I love this direction for her but I also am sadden for the relationship I was hoping for, for her and Azriel. I hope that in the future books we get to see more of their friendship. I hope they will both have new love interest in the future books.Herion and Lucian... Father and son. I Hope this is something that gets brought up again in the net book.The relationships that still have so much questioning and I cannot wait to see what happens.Obviously my favorite is Feyre and Rhys. Enough said.Cassian and Nesta. Are they mates? Not mate? WHAT? I need more. I need to know! There is something more there and I cannot wait to read more to find out.Amern and Varian. I just need more of these two. I love the little bits that we got in this book.Lucian and Elain. We know they are mates. Elain is still in love with her human ex fiancé Greyson. Ew. I love how gentle and understanding Lucian is and backs away when she needs him too.ALL THE TWIST AT THE END!3 that got me the most!1. Feyre, Nesta and Elain's father. I was in tears! "He calls himself the Prince of Merchants" “He told me he's got three daughters who live here. And that he failed them for many years. But he would not fail them this time." The ships at the front of the human armada became clear, along with the gold lettering on their sides. "He named his three personal ships after them," Drakon said with a smile. And there, sailing at the front...I beheld the names of those ships.The Feyre.The ElainAnd leading the charge against Hybern, flying over the waves, unyielding and without an ounce of fear…The NestaWith my father…our father at the helm.I love this for these three so much. I completely forgot about their father and kind of just wrote him off. Then out of nowhere he has been battling and rallying for his girls. He didn’t know they were fae and was right in the middle of everything happening but he knew they were there and need help. I am sad that the King of Hybern killed their father. I would have really like to see more of his thoughts on becoming them becoming fae and what happened to them in his absence.2. Amren’s betraying/ not betraying Feyre. Let me tell ya I was so mad for a hot minute. I had to put the book down. I could not believe what was happening. I was thinking no way Amren is on the wrong side of this. She has helped and done so much. Then the twist.The Suriel left the message to Feyre for Amren. For Amren to release her true self so that she alone can defeat Hyberns army. The begging from both Feyre and Varian for Amren not to release her true self because she would not remember them. She would not be able to return. But she is able to come back but she now is different.She looked to Varian, a wry smile on her red mouth. “I watched them most—the humans who loved. I never understood it—how it happened. Why it happened.” She paused a step away from the Cauldron. “I think I might have learned with you, though. Perhaps that was a last gift, too.” Varian’s face twisted with anguish. But he made no further move to stop her. She turned to me. And spoke the words into my head—the spell I must think and feel and do. I nodded. “When I am free,” Amren said to us, “do not run. It will attract my attention.” She lifted a steady hand toward my arm.“I am glad we met, Feyre.” I smiled at her, bowing my head. “Me too, Amren. Me too.” Amren grabbed my wrist. And swung herself into the Cauldron3. Rhys dying. I did not see this coming! I have never had a book where one of my favorite characters dies. Or a main character die. I normally love the smaller characters more. Call me cheesy but I love, love. When he died and once Feyre noticed what had happened, my gut wrenched.Rhys was sprawled on the rocky ground, wings draped behind him. He looked like he was sleeping. But as I breathed in— it wasn’t there. That thing that rose and fell with each breath. That echoed each heartbeat. The mating bond. It wasn’t there. It was gone. Because his own chest … it was not moving. And Rhys was dead.The after math of this was just a much heart wrenching, maybe even worse. Feyre begging everyone to help Rhys and just when you think no one can help him. Feyre asks the high lords to bring him back like they did her. They need them all to do it, even Tamlin. Feyre says she would

*****Spoilers*****A fantastic written work! I am a sucker for happy endings, well mostly a happy ending anyway, at least in this book. Feyre and Rhys and crew jetting off constantly to face danger and war and try to make their world a better place. They accomplished much and have the makings for the peace and unity they crave so hopefully things will go well if there's another book to this series.I did not like Feyre's plan or execution of her plan to deceive Tamlin. Faking her feelings to get out from under Hybern was prudent in the moment but when she went back to the Spring court and sowed discontent and disrupted the trust Tamlin's court had in him, I was let down. Especially since Tamlin's actions at the time were in an attempt to save Feyre, misguided though his goals were. I'd have much preferred if Feyre disappeared from Spring again after talking to Tamlin. Too, I never really bought into Feyre's hatred of Tamlin. Yes he stifled her and locked her in his house with wards up and it was devastating after her stay under the mountain but it wasn't so egregious in my opinion to garner such strong dislike from Feyre. Tamlin loses her and Lucian from his court at the same time in a nest of King Hybern's goals. It's just that much sadder to find that Tamlin was trying to fight against the King through the keeping his enemies close adage. And he comes through for her in the end when she and Azriel go to that enemy camp to save her sister Elain. My hope would be that Tamlin finds himself a mate down the line, he's been battered enough, I think.Rhys. Oh Rhys. I liked him under the mountain when he was bad but knowing the truth behind the mask is perfect too. He makes mistakes but his heart is in the right place and his selflessness and attempts to shield others so takes more on himself in sacrifice of everything he has and is breaks me when he dies putting it into repairing the cauldron. Thankfully the other High Lords survive the battlefield and give them his essence plus Fayre so that he's resurrected. I wouldn't have liked the outcome had he remained dead but it does make me wonder if it would work for all of the other High Lords? And what that knowledge will mean in future for the courts.Thank you for FINALLY revealing the story behind Mor's inability to love Azriel the way he desires. The next step is for her to actually tell him that she prefers women. I like Azriel the best and he should hear what she says so that he can move on fully, I think. I also want Mor to be happy with whoever she chooses without fear of what others think. It's curious though that Mor has her sexuality hanging over her head when one of the high lords has a same sex mate. Makes no sense.Cassian and Nesta have the beginnings of something, if she'll allow it. The care is evident between them but after the final battle, she seemed to withdraw instead of move forward on what they were building together. Her desperate cries for him on the battlefield saved his life so I'd think she'd be loathe to waste more time.Amsen was a surprise. I didn't realize what she was doing when she slammed the book shut just after Fayre touched the cauldron but no way did I ever think Amsen was a traitor. Tricks up her sleeve she had but my thought was that she and Nesta had figured it out and Nesta would have to be the sacrifice, especially since Nesta was the most connected to the cauldron. Amsen sacrificed herself but again, she was brought back by Rhys. No longer otherworldly, just high fae but she's there in the end and hopefully can build something with Varian.Lucian has almost no role in this book which I thought was disappointing but it was cute seeing his reactions to and around Elain. He's so careful and considerate and clearly wants the bond but is being patient. Wish them both happiness in whatever future they have but I think it'll be a while for Elain. She's still clearly devastated by her mortal mate Greyson's reaction to her fae transformation. It was incongruous that the gentle son (as previously portrayed) was more harsh and unforgiving than his father (who had been portrayed as just that intolerant of fae). Elain is almost child-like in this book and doesn't interact much with everyone else. I forgot about her until the cauldron snatched her away. That she was the one who stabbed King Haybern wasn't a surprise to me but given her nature to that point, I'm glad she seemed to take something of herself back.Outside of Rhys, my favorite high lord was Helion. Can't put a finger on exactly why but maybe because I sense he needs something more to his life. That he's probably Lucian's father was a revelation that was a shock but I wished Feyre or someone had told them both. Lucian's mother loves Helion but is married to Baron whom his son Eris is plotting to kill. I'm not sure what that would then mean for his mother and Helion but only time will tell if there are more books written.