August 18, 2021 - Staff Reviews

 

A Court of Frost & Starlight

By Sarah J Maas

Release Date: May 1, 2018

Ebook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/3960626

3 Stars - The Night Court's story continues in this brief but entertaining interlude between trilogies that will make up an entire series. Rhys and Feyre's adventures continue but things are relatively quiet over their holiday. Definitely not a standalone, a nice time-filler or refresher for fans of the series looking forward to reading a Court of Silver Flames.

I'm not a huge paranormal/fantasy reader, maybe a few a year. So I'm in the small camp of people who didn't love or hate this entire series it seems. Maas has a bad habit of trying to throw in everything but the kitchen sink. This goes for description, plot, scenes, you name it. Feyre took a long time to warm up to, and I'm not sure I have that patience in me for Nesta. Rhys was easier to like and I think after getting lota of POV in this entry, the other heroes will be the same. Having his perspective in this one, particularly those scenes with Tamlin, was one of the most entertaining parts.

This reads very much like a Christmas novella from a contemporary romance author with everyone making an appearance for the Winter Solistice, buying gifts, cooking, drinking, and decorating. But there's little to no action. We get a definite sense of foreboding for the upcoming books but also a profound sense of hope for the future that was sort of lacking in A Court of Wings & Ruin. Rhys and Feyre are much more connected here, and that was refreshing after some disatisfaction with the turns in there relationship in the last book. However, I think the other characters relationships were still a bit too thin here and might be disappointing for anyone really excited for them. It's more of a tie-up for Rhys and Feyre, less a great introduction to the the many other possible couples that are going to be explored. But that's probably just to leave us wanting them more.

(NS)