Pop-Culturalist.com

Readers who love fantasy, a little romance, and strong female characters will love A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. It is a great addition to Young Adult literature.

Feyre, the main character, is a 19 year old huntress who is eeking out a meager existence for her family in a tiny village on the outskirts of a forest. Formerly rich ship merchants, her family fell on hard times, and it is up to Feyre to take care of her semi-invalid father and two older sisters. One day, she ventures a little too far in the forest and kills a wolf. That moment will change her life forever.

Tamlin, a lethal, immortal Faerie, arrives on her doorstep seeking retribution. Feyre must go live with him in the magical lands she grew up fearing and only hearing about in legends. There, she encounters all sorts of magical creatures–both evil and good–and learns of a blight that has cursed the Faerie land. Soon, it will spread to the human world. As she develops feelings for Tamlin, she realizes that she has a role to play in the curse. She must figure out how she can help break it, or lose Tamlin and his world forever.

Feyre is a terrific main character. She is strong and self-sufficient yet she has to learn to let her guard down, trust others, and let love in. Tamlin is a sizzling romantic lead. He is strong, intimidating, yet playful and tender when it comes to Feyre. There is a clear play on Beauty and the Beast. Tamlin’s magical power is in shape shifting, and he often shifts into a wolf-beast. Additionally, like Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Feyre is human and key to breaking the curse that cloaks Tamlin’s lands.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is full of other well-crafted characters. Lucien, the right-hand man and best friend to Tamlin, is charming, funny, and slow-to-trust Feyre. Rhys, another Faerie Lord, is beautiful, sleek, and dangerous. You’ll waver between wanting Feyre to get as far away from him as possible to wanting Feyre to trust him. And, finally, there is Aramantha, the story’s evil Queen. She is a Faerie who delights in torture, and her scenes will make you shiver.

This book is the start of a series. Luckily, A Court of Thorns and Roses does not end on a cliffhanger, but it still does leave you wondering what comes next and wishing for the next book.

Be on the lookout for this book in film–it was optioned recently by Tempo Productions.