A Court of Thorns and Roses

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses (Book 1)

By: Sarah J Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens/Bloomsbury YA

Publish Date: 2015

ISBN: 978-1619634442

Page #: 432 pages

Classifications: YA, Mature Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, Fairy Tales

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Age Level: Depends on the maturity of the reader but generally, 9th & Up (Older Teens)

Series Titles: A Court of Thorns and Roses 

Subjects: Romance, Fantasy, Fractured Fairy Tales, Fairy Tales Retold

Reader's Annotation: I really enjoyed this book. Though I actually liked the second one better. (That's rare for me!) It is pretty advanced in its content, so I would recommend it for the more mature YA reader or adults. Personal take: it is a retelling, fractured fairy (faery) tale with elements taken from Beauty and the Beast, the Ballad of Tam Lin, and the myth of Persephone (esp. in the second title). Persephone is one of my all-time favorite myths so clearly, this is a fantasy I loved escaping into. I challenge the SJL review below by saying I did not find this title to be "a weak fantasy with strong romance elements." Well, the strong romance was there but, I have read weak YA, and this is not that. Might not be for everyone, especially those who enjoy realistic fiction. But, aside from that, it's one of the better ones. Again, the second one is better! So stick with it!

School Library Journal Review: When 19-year-old Feyre kills a wolf in the barren woods near her home in Prythian, she thinks it might be enough to help her family survive another long winter. Instead, a monstrous creature soon comes to the cottage, accusing Feyre of murder and demanding she return with him to the Fae realm as payment for the life she took. Feyre finds herself held on a lavish estate belonging to an elite Fae creature known as Tamlin. Over the course of her captivity, Feyre soon learns that life in the Fae realm can be as much of an opportunity as a punishment. When her feelings for Tamlin shift from loathing to lust, Feyre also realizes little will be able to keep them apart—not even the threat of evil lurking on the borders of the estate. Something that has cursed Tamlin for centuries may destroy him and his realm if Feyre can't find a way to stop it. Maas follows up her "Throne of Glass" novels (Bloomsbury) with this series opener. Readers will find the author's trademark blend of action, romance, and witty banter as well as a sexier, edgier tone. This retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" and "Tam Lin" (with elements from ancient Greek mythology thrown in) has a strong focus on Feyre's physical attraction to Tamlin, but characters lacking in dimension detract from Feyre's strengths as a capable but rash heroine. Uneven pacing includes a slow start followed by a game-changing information dump, and then a more action- and less romance-filled second half. VERDICT A weak fantasy with strong romance elements. Good for fans of Maas's previous books looking for a more mature read.—Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library

Other Titles in the Series: A Court of Mist and Fury (Book 2)
A Court of Wings and Ruin (Book 3)
A Court of Frost and Starlight (Novella/Bridge)
Untitled (Book 4) 

Stars: 4.5

Extras
Author Webpage: World of Sarah J Maas (Official) Link
Pronunciation Guide: Link 
Bookish Loot Collector's Edition: A Court of Thorns and Roses Collector’s Edition: Link

Coloring Book: A Court of Thorns and Roses Coloring Book Link
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Litographs: Link
Redbubble: Link