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Joy Reads is currently reading

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3)

by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: fantasy, favorites, romance, series, ya, ya-botm, currently-reading

Reading for the 3rd time

read in May 2017

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Joy Reads said: " I will try and keep this spoiler free, but it will be difficult. I have heard people's complaints about this book, and I understand them. I think their feelings are valid. Maybe this isn't a five star book, but I personally read for pleasure and I en I will try and keep this spoiler free, but it will be difficult. I have heard people's complaints about this book, and I understand them. I think their feelings are valid. Maybe this isn't a five star book, but I personally read for pleasure and I enjoyed every minute I read of this. But I also understand if others are disappointed or underwhelmed. The last book in a trilogy is difficult. Fans build high expectations. We all have an idea on where the book should go. Let's be honest, if it goes how you want, you are kind of disappointed because there is not surprise. If it doesn't, you are pissed off because your story was better. It's a tough book for an author to write. So let's do this:

I have to start by mentioning that I have heard complaints that Maas makes characters "too perfect." I definitely see this in Throne of Glass series. However, I don't really see it here. I see a lot of flawed characters hurt and overcoming. I see Maas deal well with issues of PTSD, and how different people react differently. Some people become a shell, some exude happiness as a mask, some succumb to anger, some attempt to control or some attempt to be the only sacrifice for others. And I loved these characters. All of them with all their flaws, even ones I am sure fans will love to hate.

This book picks up where ACOMAF left off: with Feyre traveling as High Lady of the Night Court to the Spring Court as spy and actress. I felt this was interesting, although many did not. I felt it showed a part of Feyre's character we don't always get to see. I also enjoyed getting to spend time with Alis, Lucien, even Tamlin. You got to learn about Jurian and Hybern, about Ianthe and her conniving ways. However, I admit I missed my "family" from the Night Court, so I was thankful this was all over at around 10-15%.

I enjoy Feyre and Rhysand together. Many people eye rolled at their cheesy (and yes, it is cheesy) relationship and constant affection. I kind of loved it. I like to get swept away in people loving each other with all the hate in the world today. It makes me happy. And so does all forms of cheese. However, if you are one of the readers who didn't like the sexual aspects of this series, this book is going to annoy you because it was rather prevalent (although, less graphic, I think).

I also loved watching each of the characters grow: Nesta with her hard heart and how she dealt with the change versus Elain, with her soft loving heart and how she dealt with it. Lucien, realizing just how far he had let his friend go and where he will go from there. Cassian leading troops into battle. Azriel teaching. You get to see Amren make huge decisions about who/what she is and who/what she wants. I even enjoyed watching Tamlin.

You get to meet all the high lords in this book (and only one high lady). You get to see how war has changed Tarquin, and his gentle soul who dreamed of getting rid of the caste system. I enjoyed meeting these characters. I didn't like all of them, and I wondered about others. I am curious to see what role they play in the companion novels.

This book has actual war in it. We have seen surprise battles play out, but this has actual war. It's bloody, it's brutal, and it isn't pretty. But I loved how Maas handled it all. I like how this book ended. Not everything was wrapped up. There were some loose ends, but with companion novels coming out, that is to be expected. Overall, I think it ended as well as it could. Not everything is happy, but it won't be after war.

Now for the spoilers:
(view spoiler) ...more "

progress:

(page 483 of 707)
— May 03, 2017 04:40AM

Aug 08, 2022 10:01AM · see review

Joy Reads is currently reading

Fever Dream (Emerald Lake, #1)

by Elsie Silver (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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May 20, 2026 06:20PM

Joy’s Notes & Highlights

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

4 highlights

History books say that kings and dukes and generals start wars. Don’t believe it. We start them, you and I. Every time we turn away, keep quiet, stay out of it, behave ourselves.

See Joy Reads’s 4 books with notes and highlights…

Joy’s Quotes

“Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday you'll meet a boy who will learn your favorite flower, your favorite song, your favorite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won't matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows

tags: leigh-bardugo, six-of-crows

7308 likes

“I’ve been nothing but kind to you. I’m not some sort of monster.”
“No, you’re the man who sits idly by, congratulating yourself on your decency, while the monster eats his fill. At least a monster has teeth and a spine.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom

tags: doing-nothing, inej-ghafa, monster

311 likes

“Maybe there were people who lived those lives. Maybe this girl was one of them. But what about the rest of us? What about the nobodies and the nothings, the invisible girls? We learn to hold our heads as if we wear crowns. We learn to wring magic from the ordinary. That was how you survived when you weren’t chosen, when there was no royal blood in your veins. When the world owed you nothing, you demanded something of it anyway.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom

tags: crooked-kingdom, grisha, inej-ghafa, six-of-crows

2913 likes

“Have you ever asked yourself, do monsters make war, or does war make monsters?”
― Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke & Bone

2705 likes

“Once upon a time, an angel and a devil held a wishbone between them.

And its snap split the world in two.”
― Laini Taylor, Days of Blood & Starlight

559 likes

More of Joy’s quotes…