A Court of Thorns and Roses: A Summary and Review

A Court of Thorns and Roses, written by Sarah J. Mass, is a young adult fantasy novel published in 2015. It’s the first book in a series of five. The story starts with Feyre, the main character, hunting in the snow to bring dinner back for her family who are among the poorest folk in her village. Feyre spots a wolf who she suspects is a High Fae (fairy) shapeshifting as a wolf and decides to shoot it with an ashwood arrow, the only thing that can kill a Fae. After bringing the wolf home to her father and two sisters and skinning and cooking the wolf, a massive beast comes to Feyre’s home and states that she’s broken the treaty. Now after killing a High Fae, she must give her life to pay the debt. Feyre agrees to go with the Fae and is led to Pyrithian, the world of the Fae, and is introduced to a whole new world. The creature who brought Feyre to Pyrithian is revealed to be Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court. Instead of being kept like a prisoner, Tamlin tells Feyre she is free to do as she pleases, just to stay in Pyrithian. After coming across countless creatures trying to kill Feyre and fill her days with danger, she soon gets word of a war that is bound to happen between Pyritian and Feyre’s own world, the human world. Even while danger is in the air, Feyre finds herself feeling safe in the presence of Tamlin. 

Towards the end of the novel, Feyre learns that the danger set over the world of Pyrithian is Amarantha, the tyrannous queen who stole everyone’s magic 50 years ago. Tamlin sends Feyre back home to her family, but Feyre returns to Pyrithian soon after to find Tamlin’s home empty and that everyone was taken under the mountain where Amarantha is ruling them. Feyre finds her way under the mountain and makes a deal with Amarantha. If Feyre can solve one riddle and complete three tasks of Amarantha’s choosing, she will free everyone, their magic, and Tamlin, who Amarantha is keeping as her lover. Feyre completes the three tasks, after they almost kill her, and awaits for Amarantha to free everyone. Amarantha twists Feyre’s words claiming that it wasn’t specified when she had to free everyone. Luckily, Feyre solves the riddle. It was specifically said that Amarantha would free everyone immediately after the riddle was solved. In the action-filled scene, Amarantha tries to kill Feyre and Tamlin tries to kill Amarantha. Tamlin succeeds but not before Amarantha can kill Feyre with her last breath. After Amarantha is dead, the focus turns to Feyre who is brought back to life as a High Fae by Tamlin. The book leaves on a mild cliffhanger; It feels like a satisfactory ending if the reader were to stop reading the series after the first book but entices you enough to make you want to continue reading the series. 

In my opinion, the novel is a nice, easy, and interesting read. I like the characters overall, especially the comedic relief of Lucien and the development of Feyre’s character. The war aspect of the story was easy to understand and the romance storyline wasn’t too overwhelming and was nice alongside the war and action. While reading, I enjoy lots of dialogue throughout the story and this book had the perfect amount. This is one of my favorite fantasy books and I can’t wait to read the next four.