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Court of Mist and Fury Sarah J. Maas Bloomsbury, 2016 |
Plot Summary
Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart. Though she's now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people.
As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre's hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different people: one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin. While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future-and the future of a world in turmoil.
Reviews
● Kirkus (16 March 2016): “After the events of A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015), Occasionally the characters fall too neatly into wholly good or completely bad boxes, which at its least subtle comes across as manipulative of readers, but the large cast provides relief from Feyre’s deep psychological wounds. The erotically charged lead-up to the romantic storyline’s climaxes (pun intended) adds stakes to the cliffhanger. Hits the spot for fans of dark, lush, sexy fantasy. (Fantasy. 14 & up).”
● School Library Journal (01 May 2016): “Gr 10 Up—Maas continues to uphold her reputation for building alluring and breathtaking worlds and creating characters who feel so real they could walk off the pages of the book. In this volume, which picks up where A Court of Thorns and Roses left off, Feyre is engaged to Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court, whose kingdom she went to great lengths to save under the mountain. The Spring Court is grateful for the sacrifices she made, but Tamlin is all too happy to lock Feyre up in his castle and protect her from the many dangers of his world. Struggling with her own depression, Feyre sets her needs aside to make Tamlin happy, but when his overbearing tendencies go too far, Feyre nearly breaks. She is rescued by Rhysand, the feared High Lord of the Night Court, with whom she struck a deal and to whom she has been bonded ever since in ways she can't explain. He shows her a new life and, with the assistance of his Fae friends, helps Feyre learn to control her newfound powers and tap into the strength she forgot she had, which may just be the key to saving Prythian from the evil King of Hybern. The sensuous romance that develops between Feyre and Rhysand will take readers on a whirlwind so fun and addicting they won't be able to put it down until the very end. Peppered with titillating scenes, the love story evolves in ways that may frustrate some readers but remains true to real life. VERDICT A must-have where the author's previous works are popular.”
● AudioFile (2016): “This story begins immediately after Feyre's death and rebirth Under the Mountain. Anger and distress color narrator Jennifer Ikeda's voice as Feyre is haunted by the choices she had to make in Book 1. Ikeda's measured pace and cool tone suit the frustration and deep depression Feyre feels living under suffocating rules. But as the story continues, Feyre finds unexpected solace, friendship, and a new sense of self-worth through her relationship with Rhys. Ikeda's narration even becomes occasionally flirtatious as Rhys begins to offer more than safety. Listeners will find themselves engaged and, at the end, eager for the trilogy's final book.”
● Publisher’s Weekly (28 March 2016): “Fans may be frustrated by Feyre’s shifting romantic allegiances, but Maas lets the relationship dynamics change organically, and her talent for creating chemistry between her characters (including some fiery sexual encounters) is as strong as ever. Maas gives Feyre the space to regain her agency and prove herself the equal of any High Lord, resulting in an immersive, satisfying read. Ages 14–up.” ● Booklist At times, this straddles the line between YA fantasy and adult romance— Feyre is almost 20, and her sexual encounters are many and detailed. But the world is exquisitely crafted, the large cast of secondary characters fleshed out, the action intense, and the twist ending surprising, heartrending, and, as always, sure to guarantee readers’ return.
Awards
● Children’s & Teen Choice Book Awards
● Teen Book of the Year Finalist 2017
Lists
● Whiby Public Library Doorway to Discovery Podcast Season 2 Episode 1 – The Romance Renaissance (staff created)
● Broken Arrow Library Cover to Cover Book Club May Recommendations (staff created)
References
Audiofile. (2016). A Court of Mist and Fury. AudioFile. Retrieved 6 15, 2022, from https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/110808/a-court-of-mist-and-fury-by-sarah-jmaas-read-by-jennifer-ikeda/
Magnusson, T. (2022). Dr. Magnusson's Database of Book Bans and Challenges in the United States 2021 - 2022. Database, EveryLibrary Institute. Retrieved 6 30, 2022, from https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LqhGcvFDdT4izvoXRrz95BTDUzLr7M3IHf-2HGKhX7I/e dit#gid=1604785798
Pruitt-Goddard, C. (2016, May 1). Court of Mist and Fury. School Library Journal, 62(5), 116. Retrieved 6 30, 2022
Reagan, M. (2016, 5 1). A Court of Mist and Fury. Booklist, 112(17), 82. Retrieved 6 2022
Rydzinsk, T. (2016, 3 21). A Court of Mist and Fury. Publishers Weekly, 263(12), 79. Retrieved June 30, 2022
Stone, S. (2014). Beyond Magenta. School Library Journal, 125.
Book Resume created by Virginia Library Association and PDSAL
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