Book Review: ‘A Court of Wings and Ruin’ by Sarah J. Maas

Apr 24

If you know Maude Garrett, you know she has read the ACOTAR series from beginning to end four times over. We read A Court of Thorns and Roses last January. When the community loves a series, we continue to read them for book club as our BONUS BOOKS.

Last October, we read the second novel in the ACOTAR series, A Court of Mist and Fury. For April, we wanted to continue in the world of fairies with A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas.

Our Discord has a Sarah J. Maas and ACOTAR channel where the MBC community has lively discussions. Come join our live book chat on Twitch so we can all gush about this series together.

The best part of the world-building in Sarah J. Maas’ novels is the deep connection to the characters that they begin to feel like family. Returning to her world is returning to familiarity and comfort.

Here is my review of Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas! Let me know how you feel in the comments below.

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
**Synopsis:**
Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's actions and learn what she can about the invading king threatening to bring her land to its knees. But to do so, she must play a deadly game of deceit. One slip could bring doom not only for Feyre, but for everything and everyone she holds dear.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre endeavors to take her place amongst the High Fae of the land, balancing her struggle to master her powers- both magical and political- and her love for her court and family. Amidst these struggles, Feyre and Rhysand must decide whom to trust amongst the cunning and lethal High Lords, and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

SPOILERS BELOW

A Court of Wings and Ruin Quotes

“Only you can decide what breaks you, Cursebreaker. Only you.” - The Suriel
“I have no regrets in my life, but this. That we did not have time. That I did not have time with you, Nesta. I will find you in the next world - the next life. And we will have that time. I promise.” - Cassian
“I see all of you, Rhys. And there is not one part that I do not love with everything I am.” - Feyre
“It's a rare person to face who they are and not run from it - not be broken by it.” - The Weaver
“Night Triumphant - and the Stars Eternal.
If he was the sweet, terrifying darkness, I was the glittering light that only his shadows could make clear.”
“Long ago, when I looked up at the stars and wished, it was for someone like you to be in my life. I truly believe those stars listened, because getting to share this wild adventure with you has been a dream answered. I love you more than words can convey.”
“...I'm not sure I can give my entire heart to him that way. And... and I love him enough to want him to find someone who can truly love him like he deserves. And I love myself... I love myself enough to not want to settle until I find that person, too.” - Mor
“What we think to be our greatest weakness can sometimes be our biggest strength. And that the most unlikely person can alter the course of history.”

Themes

War
Espionage
Destiny/fate
Love (duh, it’s romantasy)
Mental Health
Death
Abuse/assault
Revenge and/or justice

A Court of Mist and Fury

Characters

Rhysand: he is the most powerful High Lord and the current ruler of the Night Court. He is incredibly handsome and appears arrogant, careless, and cold… at first. He is extremely dark in his behaviour and has an air of mystery, swagger, and sensuality surrounding him. He handles things with a certain level of casualness and grace. Under this mask, he is a kind, generous and humble person. He is the most powerful Fae in the history of Prythian. Rhysand can manipulate and control shadows and darkness. He is a Daemati, meaning he has powers relating to mind control and invasion. This includes memory manipulation and mind reading.
Feyre Archeron: she is the High Lady of the Night Court. She was originally a mortal but was resurrected as a High Fae by the seven High Lords after her untimely death Under the Mountain. For some time, Feyre resided at the Court of Dreams in Velaris after leaving the Spring Court. She is hardworking and dedicated to family, spending most of her days providing and caring for her father and sisters by hunting and selling animals at the market. She wants to protect her family at all costs, and she feels great hatred for the Fae due to her upbringing, her surroundings and earlier experiences of spending time at the Spring Court.
Feyre’s abilities and the corresponding courts:
- Spring Court (Shapeshifting)
- Summer Court (Water Manipulation)
- Autumn Court (Fire Manipulation)
- Winter Court (Ice Manipulation)
- Dawn Court (Healing Abilities)
- Day Court (Air Manipulation)
- Night Court (Darkness Manipulation)
Cassian: He is a childhood friend of Rhysand and Azriel. He rose to become the General Commander of Rhysand’s - the Night Court’s - armies. He is considered to be one of the most powerful Illyrians. He can fly and he has a siphon shield as well as other Illyrian magic.
Azriel: He is an Illyrian and a member of the Night Court. He is the childhood friend of Rhysand and Cassian. His role requires him to see and hear a lot while staying in the shadows, thus he tends to be quiet and keeps his thoughts to himself, observing the shadows. Azriel struggles with self-confidence and self-worth due to his traumatic past of abuse. Azriel is a shadow singer and is physically powerful due to his Illyrian background. He also carries a magical knife that he calls Truth-teller.
Nesta: she is the sister of Feyre and Elain. They lived together alongside their father at the beginning of A Court of Thorns and Roses. She is the eldest of the Archeron sisters and Cassian’s mate. She was mortal but was Made into High Fae after being thrown into the Cauldron by the King of Hybern. She comes off as a hot-tempered woman and is initially portrayed as guarded and stubborn. She is honest and direct and will speak her mind. Feyre refers to her sister as a Queen without a throne, stoic, poised, regal and judgemental. Her abilities are unknown.
Amren: she is a High Fae who lives in Velaris. She is the second-in-command to the High Lord and Lady of the Night Court and is part of Rhysand’s Inner Circle. She is immortal, has illusion manipulation and can cause death by illusion. Amren has connections outside of the Night Court, such as Varian, which prove useful in the fight against Hybern, with added benefits hehehe. She tricks Feyre into “nullifying the Cauldron,” which is in reality a means for Amren to return to how she once was. This was prophesied by the Suriel, and was not a deception against Prythian, but a way to attack Hybern. By the end of the book, she returns with Rhysand from death, the High Lord having asked Amren if she wanted to return whilst in the afterlife.
Tamlin: he is a High Fae and High Lord of the Spring Court. He brings Feyre to his court in Prythian after Feyre kills his friend Andras. He is very strong but a very quiet person. He feels like he isn’t good at making friends or talking to people. He believes he is only good at war and killing people, aside from his skills at playing the fiddle. Tamlin has always shown kindness to humans and refused to harm them after what his father and brother did to them. He has shown his short and explosive temper. He can shapeshift and also change the shape of others. As a High Lord, he has something called glamour magic. He can make people see and think things that he wants.
Lucien: he is a High Fae and former emissary to the Spring Court. He is the current emissary to the Night Court. He is clever, sarcastic, and witty, but kind and loyal to a fault. He is also perceptive and notices a lot of things other people don’t. He wields fire magic which he inherited from his mother, the Lady of Autumn Court, who hails from a family with a strong magical bloodline of flame wielders. He has healing powers and can winnow (teleport to a destination).
Morrigan: Otherwise known as Mor by her friends, is a member of Rhysand’s Inner Circle and the Third-In-Command of the Night Court. She is considered a cousin to Rhys and has a very open relationship with Feyre. She oversees the Court and looks after the dynamics between the Court of Nightmares and the Court of Dreams. Mor’s family used to rule the Night Court before Rhysand’s. Mor reveals to Feyre in confidence that she is uninterested in males, hence why she has never acted upon Azriel’s feelings toward her. She had a relationship with former Mortal Queen, Andromache, whom she loved.
Ianthe: High Priestess with a suspicious aura. She is allied with Hybern, and when she tries to attack Feyre, Feyre manipulates her mind into doing her bidding. Ianthe is forced to smash her hand with a rock repeatedly until it is beaten to a pulp as justice for the faeries she forced into non-consensual actions. Hybern heals her hand to a degree, enough for her to use an ash arrow against the Suriel, and whilst in pursuit of Feyre, she is led to the Weaver to meet her demise.
Elain: She is Feyre’s second-eldest sister who lived with Nesta and their father. She was previously mortal before being made into High Fae after being thrown into the Cauldron by the King of Hybern.
Feyre’s father: He rallies the humans to fight against Hybern. Mostly absent throughout the series this far, he has a pivotal role during the war and makes the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter.
King of Hybern: He was the ruler at the time of the human rebellion and fought on the side of the loyalists in the War. He adamantly refused to let his slaves go, thus, he put the ruthless Amarantha to the task of slaughtering them. After what happened under the Mountain, he sent an Attor to retrieve Jurian to resurrect him with the magic of the Cauldron.
Jurian: He is a mortal and general of the mortal armies during the War between fairies and mortals. He is involved in a love triangle between a High Fae/mortal and a Fae Prince. One devastating day, the High Fae named Miryam leaves him for the Fae Prince named Drakno, and he takes it as the ultimate betrayal. Amanrantha is the one who falls deeply in love with Jurian, but he deceives her as the feelings are not reciprocated. She ends up enslaving him.
Autumn Court
Beron Vanserra: High Lord of the Autumn Court. His special powers as High Lord are those of fire manipulation.
Eris Vanserra: Eldest Son and heir to the Autumn Court. It is revealed that Eris isn’t wholly supportive of his father and regularly consults with Keir at the Night Court, with his motives to overthrow Beron should he choose to side with Hybern. Eris is a form of distress for Morrigan after their betrothal was called off, and she was abused, left to bleed with nails in her stomach.
Lady of the Autumn Court: Wife of Beron, she is present in the Dawn Court for the meeting with the High Lords of Prythian. Helion reveals that she is a shell of what she once was and disapproves of the actions of her husband. Noting that she gives an approving gesture when Eris apologizes to Morrigan, it is clear she does not agree with the Autumn Court lords for what was done to Mor.
Summer Court
Tarquin: He is one of the seven High Lords of Prynthian and rules the Summer Court. His special powers as High Lord are those of water manipulation. Feyre, Rhysand, and Amren visit the Summer Court to steal the Book of Breathings to see how they would crack the Cauldron. Here, Tarquin senses his powers within Feyre and takes a liking to her.
Varian: Prince of Adriata, Amren’s Summer Court contact and love interest. It is he who alerted Amren to the initial attack from Hybern on the Summer Court.
Cresseida: Princess of Adriata.
Winter Court

Kallias: High Lord of the Winter Court. His special powers as High Lord are that of ice manipulation.
Viviane: Lady of the Winter Court and Kallias’s wife. She and Morrigan are very close friends.
Night Court
Keir: Morrigan’s father and steward of the Hewn City (Court of Nightmares), Leader of the Darkbringers.
Dawn Court
Thesan: High Lord of the Dawn Court. His special powers as High Lord are that of healing.
Day Court
Helion: High Lord of the Day Court. Helion has considerable abilities, notably that of curse-breaking, lending to his moniker “Helion Curse-Breaker.” It is during their visit to the Dawn Court that Feyre & Rhys realise that Helion is Lucien’s biological father.
Notable Fae
The Bone Carver: An imprisoned Death God who, from Feyre’s POV, takes the form of Rhys and Feyre's future son. He asks for the Ouroboros in exchange for his aid against Hybern. The reasoning for this is not because he wishes for the mirror, but as proof that Feyre is worth helping.
The Weaver: A Death God and twin of The Bone Carver. Her real name is Stryga and once revelled in the worship she received (before the establishment of Prythian). A female faerie whose name is unknown, sought to end the reign of the Death Gods, tricking Stryga into being confined to her cottage in The Middle and diminishing her powers.
Koschei: Elder brother to The Bone Carver and The Weaver, also a Death-God.
Bryaxis: A monstrous fae creature that sends shivers down anyone’s spine. Residing in the bowels of the Library, Feyre makes a deal with Bryaxis to give her sunlight in the library in return for aid against Hybern. After the battle, Bryaxis’ location is unknown.
- Lesser Fae
  - The Suriel: We know the Suriel, they are captured and answer any questions truthfully that the captor asks. Sadly, the Suriel is killed by Ianthe before Feyre can have all of her questions answered.

bOOK cHAT: A cOURT OF thORNS AND rOSES

Review

Was the ending of A Court of Wings and Ruin anticlimactic?

In a way, yes. The most impactful moment was when Nesta faced Hybern. Feyre’s father sacrificed himself to save Nesta from the King of Hybern. It made Nesta rage on to kill Hybern herself with the help of Elain at the end of the battle. It was incredible that the Archeron sisters defended the human realm as Fae. They were the most intriguing aspect of the third novel because of how they responded to being Fae. It wasn’t even Feyre and Rhysand this time. I don’t know how Sarah J. Maas did it, but she evenly spread out the development of the secondary characters to serve our protagonist well.

After killing Hybern, Rhysand’s death and resurrection were something I didn’t expect. It was devastating because I thought, “Wow, will she end up with another High Lord?” But then the Lords came around with Feyre’s plea to save him, and they all gave Rhysand their powers to bring him back, similarly to ACOTAR. It did feel like a copout for some additional drama because the King of Hybern is dead. I also felt indifferent when Feyre held the meeting to bring everyone together and make the connections more amicable. It felt like a calm way to end the third book without knowing what’s ahead.

Is it better than A Court of Mist and Fury?

It’s hard to answer this question because A Court of Wings and Ruin is structured differently from the previous two. It was divided into three parts to show Feyre’s growth as a leader and High Lady, and how she strategized as Fae and not as Rhysand’s partner. At first, she destroys Tamlin and the Spring Court for revenge, then she takes the new position as Rhysand’s wife in the court, and afterwards, she becomes a leader who can bring the humans and fae together. It’s not as good as A Court of Mist and Fury, and unfortunately, there’s also less spice.

There’s more of a comfort level between Rhysand and Feyre, so they trust each other more. Nothing new happens with their relationship, there’s little growth, and I felt they stayed stagnant for how long this book is. The focus shifts to the political stance of the war against Hybern and gathering everyone to fight in the end.

So the meetings with other High Lords were a bit underwhelming, but the world-building for other courts was depicted beautifully. It felt like an eternity to get to the end, but maybe Sarah J. Maas wanted a realistic timeframe to show how long it would take for the war to happen.

Are the secondary characters more engaging than the protagonists?

Rhysand and Feyre faded into the background because the secondary characters became more compelling. I wanted to know more about Lucien, Amren, Mor, Nesta and Elain, and they instantly became the more interesting characters. The relationship between Nesta and Amren was fascinating, and even Nesta’s growth as Fae helped me better understand her character.

Even though she’s harsh and not as likable, this third book made me like her even more. Her relationship with Cassian is also fascinating, and what we learn about Morrigan makes me appreciate her relationship with Azriel even more. Love can come in many forms, and doesn’t end with romantic relationships, so it’s important to show the balance between them all.

The way Drakon and Miriam show up in the end also made me appreciate their relationship and how they have their story set aside from the history books. It’s their truth, and not Jurian’s. The richness of A Court of Wings and Ruin lies in the small moments between all the secondary characters and how they learn about each other. The combination of new and old helps certain characters resonate with one another.