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When I first read the annotation to this book I thought: Wow, I need to read this one. Later I understood that my desire to read A Court of Thorns and Roses was caused only by my secret hope that it will be similar to Cruel Beauty ,which I love immensely. So, after finishing this book I've come to conclusion that, indeed, these two have one similarity, which is the idea of Beauty and the Beast retelling - they have nothing else in common. I've read a couple of reviews where other readers also compared Cruel beauty with this book and were a little bit disappointed to find an entirely different beast here.

A whole concept of the story holds a lot of possibilities to create something magnificent; I am not a big fan of fairies, but to mix both, Beauty and the Beast story with a faery world, gives a lot of space to create a unique story. Unfortunately, in the end, what I received was some kind of a soap opera, which were popular when I was a little girl, and were broadcasted on almost every channel of our TV.

I guess I liked some of these shows, but it was a long time ago and I was little enough not to understand how full of pretense drama those shows were. Now I am old enough ( I hope) to see the difference between a good story and a soap story. In this book I see the latter. A whole background of the story and every character were just a cover for a romance between main characters, and, yes, the sex scenes (I couldn't find love there) were hot - and I am sad to admit it - but they were the only good thing in this book.

I cried out as his teeth clamped onto the tender spot where my neck met my shoulder. I couldn’t move—couldn’t think, and my world narrowed to the feeling of his lips and teeth against my skin. He didn’t pierce my flesh, but rather bit to keep me pinned. The push of his body against mine, the hard and the soft, made me see red—see lightning, made me grind my hips against his... His bite lightened, and his tongue caressed the places his teeth had been. He didn’t move—he just remained in that spot, kissing my neck. Intently, territorially, lazily. Heat pounded between my legs, and as he ground his body against me, against every aching spot, a moan slipped past my lips.

Yeah, this book has a lot of snarling and growling and claws digging. It was annoooooying. What the heck, I don't want to read about animals, give me normal reasonable humans faeries. Unfortunately, we only get more growling:

he growled, and the sound trembled down my neck...he snarled, his teeth bright in the moonlight.

And it can take forever, quoting all the animal sounds and gestures hero Tamlin does. *Sigh* It's tiring.

The feelings between Feyre and Tamlin were rushed, in my opinion, and appeared out of nowhere at about 30% of the book: there wasn't love or deep feelings between them, just admiration at how beautiful Tamlin is, how he makes Feyre want him, and she doesn't want to want... blah blah blah.

I let myself indulge in the glimpse of a broad chest, arms corded with muscle, and long, strong legs before I walked right into that pool. He wasn’t built like Isaac, whose body had very much still been in that gangly place between boy and man. No—Tamlin’s glorious body was honed by centuries of fighting and brutality.

And she indulges a lot in his beauty; she doesn't love his soul or his character - it's just his male flesh that calls to her. When you read a retelling of Beauty and the Beast you expect epic love between characters, because what else could break the curse, right? In this book it wasn't love literally that broke the curse, it was a trial the heroine went through that broke the curse and one riddle, which was a child's riddle. Seriously, I knew the answer immediately, it was too predictable.

There are those who seek me a lifetime but never we meet,And those I kiss but who trample me beneath ungrateful feet.At times I seem to favor the clever and the fair,But I bless all those who are brave enough to dare.By large, my ministrations are soft-handed and sweet,But scorned, I become a difficult beast to defeat.For though each of my strikes lands a powerful blow,When I kill, I do it slow �

See what I mean? I bet you already know the answer (view spoiler)[it's freaking love! (hide spoiler)]. The whole plot was boring, main and secondary characters weren't likable or interesting. Not even the supposed suspense when the heroine went through trial moved me, the only thought I had was: Is there going to be a love triangle in the future? Because the book gives us a lot of hints that it's possible. The ending was a little strange, no explanation how certain things transformations occurred. I suppose there is going to be more books and we'll get some answers, but I am not sure I want to prolong my acquaintance with this story. I guess some things are better left alone sometimes.

Overall, the book wasn't bad: a lot of people will definitely enjoy it. It's just when you dislike main characters, there's nothing to save the story for you, not even beautiful language or interesting scenery. And I guess my expectations were too high because of the Cruel Beauty that I couldn't appreciate ACOTAR enough to care.

Update: I've decide to give a chance to the next installment, because of one very intriguing character: Rhysand. I want him to wreck havoc on Tamlin's and Feyre's life together!