Title: A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Fantasy, fantasy romance
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication Date: 2020
Format: Audiobook
Length: 25 hours

Read if you like: Fated mates, found family, female empowerment, epic battles, political scheming, revenge 

Rating: 

I’m still making my way through my A Court of Thorns and Roses reread and still enjoying it just as much as the first time I went through it. I remember distinctly saying last month that I felt like A Court of Mist and Fury was my favourite book of the series, but upon rereading A Court of Wings and Ruin, I almost think books two and three are tied for me. 

What I love the most about A Court of Wings and Ruin is that with so much of the plot and characters already established, Maas gets to dive into the deep end from the very start and do some truly exciting things with this book. We get to see new characters, other courts, different types of magic, and a nice development arc across a lot of the existing gang. This book made me laugh, cry, and wish that it wasn’t ending, even knowing there are more installments already available for me to read.

I love reading new books, but there’s something so comforting about going back through a series that you loved so much. It’s like a warm blanket, even with all the stress-inducing elements that Maas weaves in, because it’s a story I know I’ll continue to love. I can’t wait to continue my reread of the series from here.

Fair warning: there will be spoilers below for the books before A Court of Wings and Ruin. Please proceed with caution. 

The Book: A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas

A Court of Wings and Ruin picks up exactly where A Court of Mist and Fury left off: with Feyre working for her enemies. To ensure the survival of her friends in the confrontation with the King of Hybern, Feyre pretends that Rhysand had kept her captive against her will and that she was still in love with Tamlin. Upon this realization, Tamlin and Lucian quickly swept Feyre away back to the Spring Court, where Feyre has been slowly but steadily chipping away at Tamlin’s court and allies, sewing the seeds of rebellion as she goes. 

Eventually, she not only succeeds in turning much of Tamlin’s court against him, but she also manages to escape his clutches and return to Rhysand, where the Night Court has been preparing for war. Despite all the trauma that Feyre has already endured, she knows she must play a leading role in the war with Hybern, and works alongside Rhysand as they attempt to pull together enough resources and allies to stand a chance against the mobilizing armies. 

If they’re going to save Prythian from the evil forces that are conspiring against them, Feyre and Rhysand will need to convince the other high courts to ally with them, and will also need to secure a range of magical creatures and objects that, if improperly used, could wreak havoc on their souls and nation. Only Feyre and her family, both found and otherwise, will have the strength and cunning to stand against their enemies, but the cost to do so may be great.

The Review

It’s difficult to review a third book in a series without significant spoilers, but I’ll endeavour to keep them to a minimum.

I love A Court of Wings and Ruin. I think it’s easily one of the best books of the ACOTAR series for so many reasons. The character development that happens in both Feyre and Rhysand is so significant, they’re largely different people by the time the end comes in comparison to who they were in the original ACOTAR. I love that Feyre comes to be a warrior in her own right and that Rhysand owns the softness that makes him so endearing too. They’re both fierce and loyal and protective of their people, and seeing the sacrifices they’ll make to ensure their safety is a satisfying element of the plot.

Speaking of the plot, this book is epic. So much happens, it’s like moving through different eras as you slowly move toward the pinnacle. I loved how much action there was, and how many characters we get to see involved as things move along. A Court of Wings and Ruin is also where you see a lot of the foreshadowing that Maas is known for come to life as the breadcrumbs she’s dropped since book one begin to take meaning and add depth to the overall reading experience.

I really do feel like Maas has a knack for evoking the exact emotion she wants you to feel in a given situation. I listened to this book on audiobook and there were several times where I was sobbing in my car as I grieved for the characters and what they were going through. This doesn’t happen all that often to me, so for it to have happened on both of my read-throughs is a significant indication of how much I enjoyed this book.

This series, to me, is still the OG, the one that got me back into reading and pulls me out of a slump when I need it. I loved this read-through of ACOWAR, and I can’t wait to keep moving through the rest of the series in the coming months.