Redheaded Jill

I think it’s been a year or two since I started seeing reels and reviews about this series. I finally broke down and read them myself. Here’s what I think (as a lover of fantasy, romance, King Arthur, LOTR, Narnia and George MacDonald).

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

Of the entire series book 1 is the best. People say this series is full of steamy scenes, but I honestly don’t remember them. If I recall correctly they were so cringey I skipped SEVERAL pages at a time, especially in the later books.

Essentially Tamlin is a cursed Fae Lord who needs someone to break his curse. He manipulates Feyre, who is a starving human providing for her sisters and father. She comes to his world, they fall in love, she rescues him from his curse and when she is killed at the end they revive her with magic making her a fae as well.

Fae is a new term for me. I imagine it like a combo fairy elf type.

I like Feyre in book 1. She is strong willed and honorable. I love the magic element. I think the author does a really nice job introducing the different characters and their abilities. My favorite being the suriel, a creature who once caught will tell you anything you want to know. They’re very illusive and Feyre manages to catch it by luring it with I want to say a chicken and a cloak? Anyway, it’s super creative. The villains are sufficiently scary and the heroes are sufficiently gallant. At least in book 1.

Later the heartbreaking way Feyre’s family are drawn into the plot and used is well done. Especially Nesta. Holy cow do I become a team Nesta fan girl later on. The use of a magic cauldron is reminiscent of Lloyd Alexander which I appreciate. The way Nesta in her anger steal from the cauldron its abilities is clever. In later books you meet Rhysand’s inner circle and Amren is amazing. She is an otherworldly being that is trapped in a fae body with unimaginable powers. I like how Lucien’s family is awful, but you find out his brother is actually working to help the “good guys”.

After book 1 everything goes down hill. The things that I really didn’t care for include: fated mates (it feels forced and I hate Rhysand). And how convenient that two of the main people in his court are mated to a former humans. I don’t like how being made into Fae instantly gives the sisters special powers. I don’t care for how useless Elaine is after being turned. I think Cassian is the most unlikable character of all time. She gave Morrigan a pointless back story. I think it’s pretty cowardly how the entire night court remained hidden for decades while Rhysand was trapped underground instead of coming up with a plan to free everyone. I hate that Tamlin is made into the villain. He’s far from perfect but I believe his love for Feyre is pure and she stabs him in the back countless times.

Lucien is the only character who I consistently like. He is loyal from the first to the last and Elaine doesn’t deserve him. I also like Nesta until she caves at the end. She gives in to Cassian too easily. And they made her a complete floozy for no reason. And she’s right in her fight with Feyre and Elaine. Nesta only ever cared for her sister Elaine and she gets betrayed over and over. And then at the end she’s just ok with everything bc Cassian humbled her by essentially putting her through boot camp. Rhysand is an idiot. I didn’t like him from book 1 till the end.

I don’t care for Feyre after book 1. I don’t like how easily she gave up on Tamlin. I don’t like how easily she gave in to Rhysand. I don’t like how she suddenly has to have a special title and that such a big deal is made out of there being a high lady. And then the pregnancy scare, where Nesta saves her even though Feyre doesn’t deserve it.

I don’t know if Maas will write any more books for this series. This is the type of thing where by book 3 I was miserable and wanted to give up, but I was too invested so I kept reading hoping things would improve.

I think the world of Prythian has so many great qualities and characters, but the plot takes too many disappointing turns. It’s an upside down world where good is bad and bad is good. They demonize male protectiveness, and put the female characters on a pedestal. Feyre NEVER listens to reason and in the end it gets a lot of people killed, including but not limited to her father. (Thus Nesta’s COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED anger towards her.)

2.5/5 stars