Just finished it. Wow, just wow. I started it with hesitation because Nesta was not my favorite character in the previous books. But what a story. So worth reading.
SJM will continue to get my money. For me, she never fails to entertain, even if her books vary in how well the plot/development is. So some books I find weak and some strong, but I pretty much always enjoy them. And I agree so much with this review. This book clearly to me felt like a book close to her heart and like she got the chance and freedom to fully explore things- both in themes and explicit romance. And especially to what you mentioned at the end, how she shows and recognizes experiences- both small and big- like the traumatic birthing experience. Yes! I don't think people talk enough about how many experiences SJM includes in her books that are glazed over elsewhere in fantasy (off the top of my head, I remember thinking like 'wow in ToG and here she mentions women having to deal with their periods') and I appreciate her doing so. To have female characters like the ones she has. Thanks for this review Bethany 💜
I'm finally catching up on comments but thank you Livie! I agree with you and really appreciate the way she addresses trauma and other experiences. I think it's valuable.
This is a great review, Bethany. I loved ACOSF too (WAY more than I thought I would) and it also really made an emotional impact on me. It was a journey to read, and I loved every word. Definitely not a book for everyone but I really enjoyed what this book did! :-)
So glad you posted.a spoiler-free review because I haven't read this series and want to start it soon. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and heart with us.
I'm very new to Maas' writing, I'm just finishing the first ACOTAR series (the online vitriol sadly kept me away from even trying for a long time :/ ). I loved the way she dealt with difficult subjects like PTSD in ACOMAF. So I'm glad to hear this book is even more powerful, it makes me excited to pick it up next. Thanks for the thoughtful review!
Thanks for your beautiful and heartfelt review. I fall into the “Sarah J Mass can do no wrong” camp, but I’ve still been very reluctant to read Nesta’s story. Thanks to your review, I’m really looking forward to it now.
Soooo happy you posted a spoiler free review! I plan on reading this but couldn’t get to it right away. And I’m so glad you liked it - I’m even more excited 😛
Thanks for the mostly non-spoiler review! I am still working my way through ACOMAF and had hoped to be caught up in the series by the time this book released. Really looking forward to eventually reading it and then binge watching all of the reading vlogs that people are posting about this book.
This review is so good. Great. I’ve been trying to read this book for a few weeks and by trying I mean every time I read I’m so invested. I absolutely love this book. I’m half way though and I’m in a slump. I’ve loved nesta from day one but I’m glad we’re talking about the mental health issues within this. I think I’m gonna come back to this after I read a quick single book bc wow. I love this book. I wanna be ready to read it. Also ily ty
Not a huge Sara J Mass fan but I liked this book more that I thought I would (I find that I prefer the novels she does as part of a series where she focuses on a different character than the main one)...but more importantly I found your review particularly insightful and powerful. Thank you for that
I'm almost done this book now and I really like how they handled Nesta's trauma so far. The book was so filthy, I adored it. I really hope we get Elain next book.
Oh shit. I'm 300 pages in. My daughter is 2 1/2 & her birth was literally the absolute worst thing I have ever gone through. I dilated from 1cm to 10cm and delivered within 10 min while the epidural needle was in my back still. I couldn't move or I'd risk paralysis. I screamed so hard and loud I passed out. I can't even remember most of the delivery bc I think my mind has blocked it out and I NEVER understood thay level of trauma until her birth. Whoosh. Im going to need to brace myself for the ending I guess. Yikes. All my love and strength to anyone who has experienced that or many of the other things in this book as I also struggle with many mental health issues since that birth starting with severe post partum depression.
I am so sorry that happened! Thank you for sharing. The birth of my first child was incredibly traumatizing also though thankfully my second was completely different. Just know that things end up okay in the book! And things can get better in general. I had some PPD after my second kid also so I know it can be hard. Love to you!
@@BeautifullyBookishBethany my son is 12. I had him 24 and my now 2 year old at 34. My son's labor was 8 hours from induction to birth andni pushed twice. Easy as cake for a first baby! 10 years later my daughter was like nope, im gonna give you pre-eclampsia and then make you contract for 2 days but not dialate ans then BAM, im gonna come immediately! I literally had her fall out of me while trying to hold her in nc the Dr had a 12" needle in me trying to numb the pain and she jusy came flying out. It was awful. I passed out snd don't remember much after she was born. I'm glad things end up well but I also like to see things similar to my pain om the page bc it helps me cope with the characters progression. I'm not afraid to go there bc going there helps lesson the trauma each time. So sorry you had a bad experience too! Those little sh*ts make it all worth it though and I'd do it a 100 times over for my son and daughter!
I am only on pg 52 and I already almost cried. Nesta is definitely a broken character. The first time I read ACOTAR series, I couldn't stand her. But when I reread the series, to get ready for this book, I took my time reading it. Because I wanted to really pay attention to Nesta. And try to understand her more, and that did help me like her more. Great review and I can't wait to see the good, the bad, and the ugly of the book. I had a miscarriage, as well as a hard time having my oldest daughter Robyn. And my mom, had very intense births. And 2 of my nieces actually died and had to be revived, while giving birth. So while its a very hard and awful thing to have to experience. I think it needs to be discussed in books, as long as its done right. But I do think there should be trigger warnings.
Yes! So glad to hear you're enjoying it Lori. It's intense but really good. Wow, thank you for sharing. I'm sorry to hear that and yeah, I think it's important to talk about it in books.
Oh thank you so much!! Great question. I think it depends on whether you are a reader who wants to understand all of the context or not. If not, I think you could get away with reading a wiki overview of the books.
I read a lot (300+ books a year), so it becomes harder and harder for me to really love a book because my expectations are getting higher and higher. I would say 10-15years ago Sarah J Maas would probably be my favorite author. I would just have LOVED all her books. But know I see the problems and weaknesses in her stories and I just have become a more critical reader. BUT, that does not mean, that her books are not like candy. I read them so, so fast and really enjoy them and when I am finished I have a sugar hangover but STILL wish there was more! I loved that Nesta is a very difficult and not very likable character. That she has real flaws and not the "cute book heroine flaws" that are in reality not actually flaws. Nesta is a B*tch. And I like that. All in all A Court of Silver Flames is not perfect but really readable and the character of Nesta makes it a different reading experience.
I hadn’t planned on reading this book because ACOTAR is my least favorite of her series. I love CC and the later TOG books though. Now you have me very curious.
Thank you so much! I think if you don't mind not knowing everything, you could probably get away with reading a wiki or something about the rest of the books.
I think it really depends! If you don't mind not knowing everything you maybe could get away with reading a wiki about the other books or something. But it depends on the sort of reader you are.
This video made me seriously consider giving Sarah J. Maas a second chance. More so because it made me google her oeuvre and realise just how young she was when she wrote Throne of Glass, which completely put me off even finding out what the hype about her was. Thank you for an insightful review!
Just finished it. Wow, just wow. I started it with hesitation because Nesta was not my favorite character in the previous books. But what a story. So worth reading.
Yes! Agreed.
This book had me in tears several times, excellent read
SJM will continue to get my money. For me, she never fails to entertain, even if her books vary in how well the plot/development is. So some books I find weak and some strong, but I pretty much always enjoy them. And I agree so much with this review. This book clearly to me felt like a book close to her heart and like she got the chance and freedom to fully explore things- both in themes and explicit romance.
And especially to what you mentioned at the end, how she shows and recognizes experiences- both small and big- like the traumatic birthing experience. Yes!
I don't think people talk enough about how many experiences SJM includes in her books that are glazed over elsewhere in fantasy (off the top of my head, I remember thinking like 'wow in ToG and here she mentions women having to deal with their periods') and I appreciate her doing so. To have female characters like the ones she has.
Thanks for this review Bethany 💜
I'm finally catching up on comments but thank you Livie! I agree with you and really appreciate the way she addresses trauma and other experiences. I think it's valuable.
This is a great review, Bethany. I loved ACOSF too (WAY more than I thought I would) and it also really made an emotional impact on me. It was a journey to read, and I loved every word. Definitely not a book for everyone but I really enjoyed what this book did! :-)
Thank you! I appreciate that. And yes, it was such an emotional journey for me.
So glad you posted.a spoiler-free review because I haven't read this series and want to start it soon. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and heart with us.
Thanks Trina!
I'm very new to Maas' writing, I'm just finishing the first ACOTAR series (the online vitriol sadly kept me away from even trying for a long time :/ ). I loved the way she dealt with difficult subjects like PTSD in ACOMAF. So I'm glad to hear this book is even more powerful, it makes me excited to pick it up next. Thanks for the thoughtful review!
Thank you for sharing! It's unfortunate that has kept people away from her books but this one is incredible.
Thanks for your beautiful and heartfelt review. I fall into the “Sarah J Mass can do no wrong” camp, but I’ve still been very reluctant to read Nesta’s story. Thanks to your review, I’m really looking forward to it now.
Thank you! I hope you love it!
Soooo happy you posted a spoiler free review! I plan on reading this but couldn’t get to it right away. And I’m so glad you liked it - I’m even more excited 😛
It's so good! I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for the mostly non-spoiler review! I am still working my way through ACOMAF and had hoped to be caught up in the series by the time this book released. Really looking forward to eventually reading it and then binge watching all of the reading vlogs that people are posting about this book.
Yes!! Good luck!
@@BeautifullyBookishBethany Thank you! :D . I'll need it as I'm easily distracted by all the books I want to read 😆.
This review is so good. Great. I’ve been trying to read this book for a few weeks and by trying I mean every time I read I’m so invested. I absolutely love this book. I’m half way though and I’m in a slump. I’ve loved nesta from day one but I’m glad we’re talking about the mental health issues within this. I think I’m gonna come back to this after I read a quick single book bc wow. I love this book. I wanna be ready to read it. Also ily ty
Not a huge Sara J Mass fan but I liked this book more that I thought I would (I find that I prefer the novels she does as part of a series where she focuses on a different character than the main one)...but more importantly I found your review particularly insightful and powerful. Thank you for that
Thank you so much! Yeah, I thought this was a particularly good book from her.
Loved your review! I wasn’t going to pick this up right away but guess I will be picking it up a lot sooner.
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it.
i cried SOOOO much in that one part omg It was so beautiful to me
Yes!
Was the best of the Acatar bunch !
I really enjoyed this book! Loved hearing your thoughts :)
It's so good! Thank you!
I am 400 pages in and loving it.
So glad to hear it!
Thank you so much for this review I am all he chapter 15 and I'm loving it so happy to know there's a happy ending
You're welcome 😊
I'm almost done this book now and I really like how they handled Nesta's trauma so far. The book was so filthy, I adored it. I really hope we get Elain next book.
Haha! Yeah, it's a great book.
I'm definitely trash for Sarah J Maas, and I found this a really measured, insightful review! :)
Thank you so much!!
Oh shit. I'm 300 pages in. My daughter is 2 1/2 & her birth was literally the absolute worst thing I have ever gone through. I dilated from 1cm to 10cm and delivered within 10 min while the epidural needle was in my back still. I couldn't move or I'd risk paralysis. I screamed so hard and loud I passed out. I can't even remember most of the delivery bc I think my mind has blocked it out and I NEVER understood thay level of trauma until her birth.
Whoosh. Im going to need to brace myself for the ending I guess. Yikes.
All my love and strength to anyone who has experienced that or many of the other things in this book as I also struggle with many mental health issues since that birth starting with severe post partum depression.
I am so sorry that happened! Thank you for sharing. The birth of my first child was incredibly traumatizing also though thankfully my second was completely different. Just know that things end up okay in the book! And things can get better in general. I had some PPD after my second kid also so I know it can be hard. Love to you!
@@BeautifullyBookishBethany my son is 12. I had him 24 and my now 2 year old at 34. My son's labor was 8 hours from induction to birth andni pushed twice. Easy as cake for a first baby! 10 years later my daughter was like nope, im gonna give you pre-eclampsia and then make you contract for 2 days but not dialate ans then BAM, im gonna come immediately! I literally had her fall out of me while trying to hold her in nc the Dr had a 12" needle in me trying to numb the pain and she jusy came flying out. It was awful. I passed out snd don't remember much after she was born.
I'm glad things end up well but I also like to see things similar to my pain om the page bc it helps me cope with the characters progression. I'm not afraid to go there bc going there helps lesson the trauma each time.
So sorry you had a bad experience too! Those little sh*ts make it all worth it though and I'd do it a 100 times over for my son and daughter!
I am only on pg 52 and I already almost cried. Nesta is definitely a broken character. The first time I read ACOTAR series, I couldn't stand her. But when I reread the series, to get ready for this book, I took my time reading it. Because I wanted to really pay attention to Nesta. And try to understand her more, and that did help me like her more. Great review and I can't wait to see the good, the bad, and the ugly of the book. I had a miscarriage, as well as a hard time having my oldest daughter Robyn. And my mom, had very intense births. And 2 of my nieces actually died and had to be revived, while giving birth. So while its a very hard and awful thing to have to experience. I think it needs to be discussed in books, as long as its done right. But I do think there should be trigger warnings.
Yes! So glad to hear you're enjoying it Lori. It's intense but really good. Wow, thank you for sharing. I'm sorry to hear that and yeah, I think it's important to talk about it in books.
Hello Bethany, I loved you review! I almost cry.
I have a question and it is: can I read this book without reading the other three??
Thank you!
E.
Oh thank you so much!! Great question. I think it depends on whether you are a reader who wants to understand all of the context or not. If not, I think you could get away with reading a wiki overview of the books.
I read a lot (300+ books a year), so it becomes harder and harder for me to really love a book because my expectations are getting higher and higher. I would say 10-15years ago Sarah J Maas would probably be my favorite author. I would just have LOVED all her books.
But know I see the problems and weaknesses in her stories and I just have become a more critical reader. BUT, that does not mean, that her books are not like candy. I read them so, so fast and really enjoy them and when I am finished I have a sugar hangover but STILL wish there was more! I loved that Nesta is a very difficult and not very likable character. That she has real flaws and not the "cute book heroine flaws" that are in reality not actually flaws. Nesta is a B*tch. And I like that. All in all A Court of Silver Flames is not perfect but really readable and the character of Nesta makes it a different reading experience.
Yeah, I read a lot also and enjoy her books despite their imperfections. But yeah, Nesta I loved.
Nice review 👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you 🙂
I hadn’t planned on reading this book because ACOTAR is my least favorite of her series. I love CC and the later TOG books though. Now you have me very curious.
Haha! I'm getting a lot of that! Yeah, it's my least favorite of her series too but I loved this one.
This was a great standalone review! Do you think this could be read outside the context of the rest of the series? The themes seem really compelling.
Thank you so much! I think if you don't mind not knowing everything, you could probably get away with reading a wiki or something about the rest of the books.
I've never been interested in this series until this review. Could I just read this book and not the others or will I super be missing context?
I think you will definitely miss a lot without reading the others.
@@susiecarson good to know!
I think it really depends! If you don't mind not knowing everything you maybe could get away with reading a wiki about the other books or something. But it depends on the sort of reader you are.
@@BeautifullyBookishBethany thanks for the tip! I think I might read the whole series soon. Why not at this point? Haha
This video made me seriously consider giving Sarah J. Maas a second chance. More so because it made me google her oeuvre and realise just how young she was when she wrote Throne of Glass, which completely put me off even finding out what the hype about her was. Thank you for an insightful review!
Thank you! Yeah, she was very young and has definitely grown as an author.
❤️
The book's a bit expensive :( Parents wont let me buy....
absolutely loved it ! Honestly i hated Azriels special chapter , it made me really not like him right now!
I got the Amazon version, so I didn’t get Az’s scene. Guess I won’t drive to B&N to read it, lol. I really hope Az ends up with Elain. Screw Lucien!
Oh no! I didn't get that one!