STORY & PHOTO BY GABRIELA GARCIA, STAFF WRITER
Sarah J. Maas opened up the expansive Faerie world with the first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses, of the ongoing series that began in 2015. This fantasy romance novel follows Feyre Archeron, a young human girl who is captured by a wolf-like beast after murdering a faerie without provocation.
Feyre’s ongoing struggle to provide food for her bankrupt family weighs in on her when she makes the kill that changes her entire life. A wild beast-like creature takes her captive, escorting her to Prythian, the land on the other side of an invisible wall where the Faeries live.
There she meets the High Fae of the Spring Court, Tamlin and Lucien, both breathtakingly handsome and unnervingly not human. They both wear masks, resembling masquerade masks, that cannot be removed, put there by some unknown evil sickness that has reduced their magical powers. Feyre came to notice that the entirety of the Spring Court wore masks that can not be removed and was consumed with questions she desperately needed answers to.
Feyre’s curiosity is her biggest flaw, her disregard for her own safety leads her to countless scoldings and time-outs to her bedroom, which she usually never listens to anyways. In Prythian, Feyre is given everything she could ever dream of, but with the weight of her family being left behind to fend for themselves she struggles to adjust to her new life. Which leads her to make dangerous decisions and forces Tamlin to continuously rescue her.
Tamlin is a beautiful creature, incredibly strong and stubborn. A combination that helps him but come to find out it also led to his biggest struggle. Immortal and left to only some of his magic, Tamlin protects the borders of his court with alarming swiftness. At least that’s how Feyre sees it. Feyre is enchanted by his wonder and the warmth he radiates under his brooding. In turn, Tamlin sees Feyre as naive but stunning in her courage and bravery. They fall for each other and in the end make the hardest decision for both of them. Their relationship is seductive and steamy, giving the book a necessary kick for readers to dish over.
Lucien on the other hand, while trying to be a good friend and right-hand man to Tamlin, struggles to give Feyre the information she desperately wants to better understand the world she is now a part of. His friendship with Feyre blossomed after several months. He develops a protective instinct when it comes to her and in the end is the one to help her do what she must to save the Spring Court from darkness. Lucien’s character is comedic relief and his banter with Feyre provides a lightness that helps keep the reader committed to their friendship.
The suspense built up throughout the book captures the intensity of the feelings the character is feeling. There’s a sense of adrenaline that the reader can feel along with the characters as they are “living” in their adventure. Her attention to the details of Prythian and it’s habitants are seductive.
Maas managed to create an extensive world that feels so surreal, her descriptions of the adventures that Feyre, Tamlin, and Lucien embark on are so intricate. They help the reader completely envision the characters in this world. Overall, Maas’s first novel of this series is stunning. It captures the world she created with expertise and leaves the reader yearning for more of Feyre, Tamlin, and Lucien.
Author Photo Caption
Sarah J. Maas is an American fantasy author best known for her two major series, Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses. She is also the author of Cresent City. She’s sold over twelve million copies and her books have been translated into 37 different languages. Her social media handles are @therealsjmaas.
