A Court of Thorns and Roses (2) - A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
And part 2/3: A Court of Mist and Fury (not translated) Originally published 2016, I read it in English where it contained 623 pages.
Everything should be perfect. It should. It really should. Feyre is alive, High Fae, and Tamlin’s bride. But the Queen broke her. And she can’t heal, what she did was too terrible. When her love’s protectiveness drives him to lock her up for her safety, her deal with the devil becomes her only refuge. And Feyre realizes that her true home is not the Spring Court… and that Amarantha wasn’t the biggest threat to the world, after all. To end what she started, Feyre has to face the void inside her and lots of life-changing questions… and a whole bunch of new powers she doesn’t understand.
Can someone please hit Feyre with a mountain? Hard?
Spoiler:
Seriously, this girl leaves the severely wounded Rhys lying on the ground to go off hide somewhere to sulk. Bad enough. But then, she realises so many good and important things, but instead of going back to him at the earliest opportunity, she sits in that damned cottage. For days. She doesn’t even ask Mor to bring her back after she shows up. And when Feyre does see Rhys: Does she tell him she realised what he actually did for her, what she herself felt for him this entire time? How she even lied about her motives, how she feels sorry and guilty? How she snapped in part because she wished she’d known, so she wouldn’t blame herself for feeling what she did? No! Because that would make this to a beautiful, functioning relationship! And we don’t want that, do we? The most important thing is that the woman’s happy, right?
No! Why do many love stories circle around the heroine’s happiness, instead of equally spreading the feeling? Gah!
This relationship only consists of Rhys’ fighting for her – with all he has, except for the stuff he knows would manipulate her. He uses the precious time he has with her to make her mend herself, even though he has his hands full preventing another genocide. Of course, he tries to be as effective as can be and use what’s best for her for his other agenda. Politics were what kept him from suicide for fifty years in hell. It worked pretty well for him, and he knows how strong and determined Feyre is – and he saw in her mind how important it was for her to fight for the world! Of course, he’d use the help-me-in-this-and-help-yourself strategy. That doesn’t mean she isn’t his top priority.
The writing lessons, for instance. It’s not that important Feyre learns how to write, he could have simply made her memorize the sound of a spell and have her say it out loud. This would have been far less time consuming than making her learn how to read and write. Or he could have hired a teacher. But no, he did it himself. And tried to make her laugh (which worked) while doing it. He spends time with her, even when it breaks his heart – because she’s unfair, or simply because she’s suffering so much. Which, in turn, hurts him. Because she’s given up.
Rhysand was ready to give up his only shot at love and happiness. For Feyre. Because he was convinced she’d be happy with the guy he hated more than anything else. After all he went through, after all rules he broke, he didn’t think he could ever face himself again if he took her love away from her. So he didn’t try to use the bargain or the bond against her. He was ready to let her tie herself to Tamlin for eternity, the only reason why he didn’t was that she freaking called for help. That’s one of the most selfless things you can do for someone you love. And the exact opposite of precious High Lord of Stupidity.
Okay, I might be a little unfair in the assumption that Rhys is doing everything in the relationship. Feyre begins to try after a while. The nightmares, for instance. And before that… how she gradually begins to see the good in him, through his flirts. How she shows him – thoroughly – that he can’t even scare her off when he’s at his worst. And her insights on the relationship are wonderful. But damn it, why couldn’t she tell him? Why couldn’t she heal him?
Rhys is a fascinating character. I’ve hinted not very subtly that there’s more to him than meets the eye. But to actually understand a lot of what happened why in Court of Thorns and Roses? I must admit that, even though I got almost everything after their deal, I couldn’t explain any of what had happened before. He did act like an ass from time to time. But he sure as hell had his reasons. And I didn’t truly understand his complicated play for power in Amarantha’s court. Which was as impressive as… perverse. But the latter wasn’t his choice.
It’s a miracle he hasn’t broken as well.
Which leads me back to Feyre.
I am so impressed by how all of this has been realized. As you should know, Feyre has had to make some tough decisions. And it literally broke her, haunts her. Something she can never set right again. And this was so bloody well done, her gradual decrease, what triggers what, how it builds up, her defense mechanisms – how she begins to simply not care and direct her entire life inwards, how everything becomes so much of a struggle. And how it, fortunately, lessens and lessens until she’s somewhat healthy again. It’s so damn realistic.
I thought that Bella’s issues in New Moon (Bis(s) zur Mittagsstunde) were well done. But compared to Feyre she’s colorless – and, no matter what happened, no one could say that Feyre’s a weak girl dependent on the love of some man. She broke. Shattered. But she got out. She needed a bit help, but she pulled herself out of it and managed to do so in a healthy, honest way. She’s not only strong in spite of her problems but because of it. She’s amazingly inspiring.
But the other side of what happened is well done, too.
I know that Tam is public enemy N. 1, and I pretty much wanted to run him over with a truck, but it makes sense. In a weird, almost perverse kind of logic, it’s perfectly logical.
Spoiler:
Tamlin was always told that his powers make him almost almighty. And after he lost it, he told himself that he could keep anyone safe, if he only got rid of the curse. That he could have prevented everything that happened if he’d only had his powers back. The core of Rhys’ scheme was exactly that: Tam is so damn powerful, he was literally the only thing that could actually kill Amarantha.
Sure, the “I could have prevented everything and kept her safe” line is bullshit. He had a lot more power in the first part than he thought, a lot more possibilities than he realised (he could have tried to smuggle her out the day before her last trial). But he’s sure as hell not almighty. Even if he was – Tamlin’s way too afraid of confrontation to ever make a real difference. He can’t bear the thought to appear dangerous or “other” enough to be challenged – thus the Tithe. Or letting Feyre be abducted on his own wedding. Tamlin goes the easy way – it’s simpler to say “she was the reason I failed. I didn’t have any chance, so why try? Now that she’s gone, I can undo all of this” than to actually look reality in the face and say “I screwed up and now I have to at least try to make this right by her again”.
I think a huge part of him knows that he did, in fact, screw up. That Feyre died because he was too uncreative to save her. And that his protectiveness comes from the helplessness, that he focusses on the only thing he believes could have prevented Under the Mountain – his power and keeping her close. He feels guiolty and knows he can’t go through this again, so he treats her like a jewel: shackle it in metal, wear it around your neck and put it in a box when you’re done. No exposure to extreme temperatures, humidity or anything else that might be unpleasant. Make it yours, lock it up, don’t give anyone even the idea of taking it away from you to shatter it. But Feyre isn’t a jewel, but a person. She doesn’t belong to anybody, she’s her own master and protector. And every time she acts the part, it reminds him that he wasn’t enough. That she bled and died for him, and that he couldn’t save her. And that’s why he looses it. I think that Tam can’t consciously admit his weakness to himself, tough. He has to constantly push the reality from his mind – and this is what really prohibits him from helping her and himself.
Honesty was never exactly Tamlin’s strong suit, but I think that it’s particularly hard for him to be honest with himself because of the reality he doesn’t want to face – and with Feyre, because it was never necessary. Look at it that way: Tamlin first didn’t have the opportunity to be entirely honest with her due to his lack of creativity with twisting wordings of curses. But it worked out just fine. Okay, she died – but she did it for him and came back, so… why should he be honest with her, now? Wouldn’t it be better if she didn’t know a thing? She’ll find out what she needs to know… and he can tell himself what a good protector he is to keep such troubling thoughts from her mind. Besides, a thing like the Queen’s trials would never ever repeat itself, now that Tam has his powers back.
Ianthe does her best to fuel this.
All in all, Tamlin’s reaction, his way of thinking and behavior towards Feyre makes (on a psychological point of view) so much sense that I can’t even find it in me to be angry. He’s a broken, broken, amazingly realistic character, who absolutely screwed up in every way possible. He hurts Feyre. Isn’t good for her, which is why I’m glad for her decision. But on a stylistic level, he’s one of the most realistic characters I ever read about.
Well. To continue with the Spring Court: Even Lucien’s course of action makes sense: He, too, wants to think that now, that Tam’s powers are back, everything will be alright again. And when his friend says: “Okay, it’s not perfect (far from it), but it will be, if you all stand united behind me and do exactly as I say. Then and only then, we will mend our country, our souls and prevent history from repeating itself.” How could he not be blinded by his wishful thinking? Besides, trusting Tam’s judgment has brought him far already. As inexcusable and wrong as it is, he tries to do what’s best.
Fortunately, Feyre mends herself through Rhys. And an incredible set of new friends.
This girl truly develops, doesn’t she? Look at the Court of Nightmares. What happened there? Daaaaamn. You need a hell of a confidence to pull this off, any part of this. From the dress to the show to the sitting-on-the-lap-and-letting-yourself-enjoy-it part. Imagine her being forced to do this at the beginning of ACOTAR. Now, a High Fae actually throws some of the worst shit he’s got around, using her while doing it. And the girl, who refused to wear dresses, is like… gimme more! But their entrance was a hell of a show, wasn’t it?
As for the mysterious set of friends I mentioned. Let me introduce you.
Mor, a Dreamer born in the Court of Nightmares. A powerful, beautiful, fragile and good person, who has been hurt again and again, has been discarded like trash. Whom people have tried to break. But she never lost her inner beauty, her inner light. Never stopped laughing. Instead, she got a healthy dose of “go to hell” for anyone who tries to chain her to his/her rules. And she has the strength and courage to go back to the Court of Nightmares and challenge the people who were supposed to protect her.
Respect for that… respect indeed.
Az is the grounded, down-to-earth and even shy shadow-whisperer and spy-master, who knows the darkest parts of the (human) soul intimately – and might have a few issues with self-value. He has been hurt as well, and is in love with a woman he thinks he doesn’t deserve. But as calm as he is, he has a lot to say. Still waters I deep – but I really wish he’d open his mouth and tell Mor the truth. A bit of honesty would be good here.
As for Amren, the second in command… absolutely terrifying, especially concerning her jewels. Right. Never mock her, or interrupt her. Well… okay, she has a hell of a lot of power, but she’s not that intimidating. And she gave up her precious jewels for a mind-trick on Feyre. And the plot with that man? Kind of adorable, if you ask me.
Cassian just makes you laugh. He and Nesta in a room… Tehe. I don’t know if I’d want to witness that or if I ran away from this. The former would be entertaining, the latter healthy.
By the way, I like Elain’s and Nesta’s roles in the queen business, even though the ending sucked for them. It’s nice they aren’t discarded and forgotten. I like both of them with each encounter more, especially after these b**** came by. Nesta is a force to be reckoned with, but she’s also pretty clever and… well, her heart is in the right place. And Elain’s… Elain. Which is short for: Beautiful.
Spoiler:
The plot with the villains, the cauldron and the book is a bit strange to me – mainly because I have a question. If the cauldron is THE cauldron, which he had to be, who’s the Mother? And Jurian? Why did the High King resurrect him, of all people? Besides, how is it possible, that the High King didn’t realise he wasn’t breaking the mating bond but the deal? And what was this bond of the deal, that the loss of it hurt Feyre and Rhys this much? I’d love to have learned more about the nature of the mating bond and the deal. Because… it was always suggested there wasn’t any difference.
But Feyre must have known, right? And she must have known at least a little about how magic affects this. Otherwise, she couldn’t have made the gamble. She wouldn’t have actually risked that the High King saw not only the deal, but the mating bond as well… and blew up her charade after he’d weakened her and Rhys through destroying the actual mating bond. She has too much natural instinct for politics for that. And she’s too much of a careful tactician to try that.
Which leads me, again, to the politics.
Couldn’t they have said the truth to Summer? He’s a good guy, he might have helped them. And the risk of the queens was a lot higher than the one with him.The queens may rot in hell, by the way.
Okay, anything else?
The different societies are gorgeous. They are absolutely gorgeous! And did I mention that I love the little group of friends around Rhys – and him, of course?
Yes, one more thing. What’s exactly up with Mor, Az, and the High King? That one scene… I have lots of fan theories I hope will prove right in Court of Wings and Ruins… can’t wait for it.
In brief:
Stars for style, ideas, societies, and characters. With a special star for Tamlin, and another one for how Feyre broke. Then, half a star for each the dynamics of the Night Court, minus half a star for content (or rather, Feyre being idiotic and veeery few things that don’t make sense). Which still means SoA. Well done indeed.
Prequel: