My Experience Reading of A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Alright I’m moving onto the next book in the series by Sarah J. Maas, which is A Court of Mist and Fury. Similar to the last book, I’m going to share my thoughts as I read the book. Last time I broke the sections into each reading session I had (granted literally the last three were truly all one sitting but I paused to write up my thoughts). Which is how I’m going to structure this again as I think that works the best for how I read.

Similar to last time, this will include spoilers as I’m reading the book though I’ll try to keep it to a minimum.

Part One (Chapters 1-13)

This book happens three months after the events of A Court of Thorns and Roses. Tamlin and Feyre are engaged with their wedding being the first major event of the book. Here’s my breakdown of the characters during that along with my thoughts on them:

Feyre: She is suffering from PTSD after having been forced to kill two individuals, tortured for three months, and is suddenly in a new body that she doesn’t quite understand. She has stopped painting, gets violently ill every night, has next to no emotions, actively avoids sections of her house, and certain colors trigger her. The girl needs help, and it’s getting ignored. Especially by her wedding planner who she tells any color other than red. And guess what color is at the wedding, red. She literally starts to lose it. Not to mention she’s having reservations as she has been getting treated like a trophy by Tamlin, can’t do anything that might remotely help her cope, and can’t have her own freaking thoughts for a minute. I feel bad for her.

Tamlin: Ok, I’m starting to dislike Tamlin. While he was slightly protective before, he is out right controlling now. Feyre is locked in the manor, and he just parades her around like a trophy. When she mentions, she hates her dress. He agrees but tells her to wear it anyways. And he’s completely oblivious to the fact that Feyre is suffering when he’s literally sleeping in her room. Granted he could be a heavy sleeper, but I can’t know how you could not notice. The girl is literally described as having dark circles under her eyes, startled by a lot of things and literally attacked him out of fear when he surprised her, and is losing weight. He shows no concern. Great guy (sarcasm). Plus, he outright says she won’t be his equal, when she asks what her role will be in society after their marriage. She’s very independent and stubborn… that’s not a good sign already for their future.

Then the wedding happens. Feyre walks down the aisle in a dress she hates, and there are red roses. She is losing it. To a point she stops walking and calls out mentally for someone to save her. Rhys appears, as he hears her through their bond and whisks her away. 10/10, true good boy, love him. And it turns out he was just giving her space to adjust, he didn’t actually really care to collect on their bargain of her spending a week every month in the Night Court. He only did it because she asked.

While she’s there he actually helps her learn how to read (granted it’s with self-centered notes about himself) and learn how to use her fae abilities. Granted it was just mental shielding the first time, but it’s something. A hell of a lot more than Tamlin. Also while she’s there she actually starts sleeping better and starts to look healthier again. Plus Rhys reveals he has known the entire time she’s back about everything she’s gone through from their bond. He claims it’s the bargain, but I don’t think so. If I thought Hades and Persephone last book, I have a feeling the plot is going to mirror that in this book. So, her mate isn’t Tamlin it’s Rhys. Which is what the bond actually is, not their bargain.

Anyways, she goes back to Tamlin as the week is up. Only to find Tamlin has destroyed a good portion of the manor in her absent and outright does not want her to learn any possible abilities she may have gotten from the seven High Lords or how to fight with the possible war that’s coming up. Two things that were brought up to her by Rhys. Who said she has two options: be a trophy wife for Tamlin (he’ll back off) or be the strong Fae that she’s in the middle of becoming (literally described as the signs of a High Lord coming into power). However, Tamlin bans her from ever leaving, in addition to that she’s not allowed to learn anything out of fear that the other High Lords may want her dead.

I get he watched her die but this is ridiculous. Not to mention, he literally did nothing for months in regards to her. Other than watch her get tortured, never bat an eye or assisted her. I get something bad may have happened had he, but any acknowledgement could have helped her. Especially as in the end she had retreated so far into herself that she basically shut down and didn’t even think it was worth it until she found out it wasn’t just Tamlin she was fighting for, but literally every elf in the realm. Whereas, Rhys risked his neck and helped her multiple times (saved her life twice). Did Rhys get thanked for this by Tamlin? No, Tamlin calls him the enemy then tries to force Feyre into telling him Night Court details in the event Tamlin needs it for something. You’re fiancé just had a nice week to recover, leave her alone.

Feyre calls him out for being controlling and feels like she’s drowning. After he freaks out, she creates a wall of wind to protect herself from him. Which prompts Tamlin to ease up on the guards at least for a few days until Rhys shows up. After she gets back, Tamlin doubles the guards and refuses to let her leave. And refuses to let her learn her abilities, when they keep manifesting. Tamlin also has been leaving her alone for long periods of time with no one to talk to. The girl spirals. I felt awful for her. Then one day, she demands to go with sick of being locked up. Only to be completely locked by magic in the manor, which she has a full PTSD episode that results in her darkness abilities lashing out. Rhys ends up with the help of his cousin, Mor, rescue her and take her to the Night Court (not as part of the bargain). She asks to stay, which he agrees as long as she helps him. She agrees as she doesn’t want to return to the Spring Court after what Tamlin did.

I don’t blame her and I fully get the Tamlin hate now. Maybe there’s more but no… you don’t do that. Your fiancé for months has not been herself and clearly needs help, and instead of being there you made her feel like she was in a prison. The exact thing she’s having PTSD over. Rhys is 100% better to her and refuses to let the issue just slide. He points it out that it’s been getting worse to the point she has no emotions anymore. She’s completely numb and shut down. Plus, he has been helping her learn to read something she actually is improving on and during her second visit could read a full book on her own. Not to mention, can shield her mind fairly well. What has Tamlin done? What has he only ever done? Nothing. 0/10, worst fiancé ever.

Chapter 14-39

This section goes through Feyre starting to come to terms with the fact that Tamlin is an asshole that never lifted a finger to help her. And actually starting to confront what happened Under the Mountain in the previous book with the help of Rhys and his Inner Court. Which I have to say are some of my favorite characters. I didn’t really get overly attached to the ones from the Spring Court, but the Night Court crew I love. As they genuinely care about each other, and help Feyre. Not just deal with the trauma but how to use her new abilities and learn how to fight. Three things Tamlin and the Spring Court would never do. Plus, Rhys and Feyre share what they went through to each other and help the other with it. And tons of flirting through notes they send back and forth to each other.

We also get to learn about the Night Court, and everything that Rhys did to protect his home which he managed to keep a secret for 50 years. Not to mention from the rest of the faerie world since he was born. Which I find fascinating as he does a good job to the outside pretending that he actually is the High Lord of Nightmares. When in reality he’s not, it’s just a front to protect his people from any and all outside threats.

The other main thing that happens in this section of the book is they learn through the Bone Carver that the king of Hybern has the Cauldron. A thing that can create new faerie as will as shatter the wall, so he can destroy the mortals. In order to stop him they need to find a book that has been separated into seven parts. One is in the Summer Court (which they visit and steal the book only to start a feud for lying to them) and the other six are with each of the Queens of the Mortal realm. Feyre actually has come out of her shell and starts having some emotions again, laughing for the first time in months when they return to the Night Court. Also Rhys gets jealous of Feyre flirting with the High Lord of Summer. If that’s not another sign that their bond isn’t from the bargain, I don’t know what is.

Chapter 40-69

Feyre continues to train with Cassian and Rhys until their presence is found multiple times by the Spring Court and Hybren’s army. After Rhys gets seriously injured, Feyre learns that are mates which is what the bond was being them the whole time not the bargain. She accepts the bond, making it permanent before Rhys has her sworn in as the High Lady of the Night Court. His equal. I seriously love him.

After they tell the 5K+ secret of the Court of Dreams to the mortal queens they are betrayed. Hybern invades the city and though they were able to defend him off, they go to his castle the next day. Where they are captured as Tamlin has made a deal with Hybern to allow him into Prythian in exchange for Feyre. If I didn’t already hate the guy before for abuse, this sent me royally over the edge to loathing. Not to mention four of the mortal queens offer up Feyre’s sisters as a test of the Cauldron’s abilities.

Feyre cannot stand the thought of what’s happening especially after seeing both of her sisters turned against their will. So, she breaks the wards of the castle claiming that she freed herself of Rhys’ mind control as she rushes to Tamlin. Then begs the King to break the bargain in exchange for allowing her friends to leave alive. Azriel having a severe wound and Cassian’s wing torn to shreds that may never heal correctly, meaning he wouldn’t be able to fly again. Rhys and Morrigan get their group out along with Feyre’s sisters, but has to leave her behind as she is now their spy in the Spring Court as she managed to convince Tamlin that she still wants to be with him (which she doesn’t).

Overall Thoughts

I loved this book, I did not predict the ending like I had in the previous book. Beyond that Feyre was going to end up with Rhys, which happened well before the ending. As I had already guessed at the bond in the previous book, but I love how it got explained from Rhys’ when the two talk about it. And you can see how they had some connection from the very beginning, before they even formally met. Plus, Rhys could’ve brought it to her attention sooner but chose not to, so it was always her choice. Tamlin only ever wanted her as a prize, but Rhys is best boi that treats her as an equal.

If I were to give this book a rating it would be 5 out of 5 stars. I couldn’t put the book down the entire time I read it, and the fact that I couldn’t guess at the ending on what would happen makes me give this book a higher rating than the 1st. Granted, it very much is the tale of Hades and Persephone. Persephone always has to leave the underworld to go back to her mother, Demeter. Much like Feyre, though she doesn’t want to, has to go back to the Spring Court with Tamlin in the end.

I have no idea what’s going to happen in the next book, but I’m looking forward to reading it.

If you’ve read A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, what did you think of it?

Love ya,

Mae Polzine

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