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BR with Tweebie who liked this book more than I did.

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Wow, what a disappointment my most-anticipated book of the year was. It would've been fine if it wasn't for the worst ending possible for this trilogy (in my opinion, of course). Maas gives the fans what they want, I give her that. However, I don't want that. I want something realistic. I want the author to tell me that's what I have, deal with it. Unlike most people, I liked the first half much more than the second. I'm all for plotting and strategies. I didn't care, it's slow (specially the first quarter) because this is war and nothing just happens quickly. I wanted ruses, ploys, plans intertwined with more tricks and politics. To be fair, I did get some. Did I want more? Sure, but it was good enough. The problem was the war.

Prepare yourself for a very long and all over the place review.

Moral: be careful what you wish for.

After seeing some positive reviews while reading it and everyone sobbing, I expected something devastating. And here I am crying because I'm disappointed. Joking, just pissed. But I'm pretty sure if you're already a fan of her previous work, then this one will be no exception. I personally had a different experience with each book and just want her to write another trilogy/series to make up my mind if I like Sarah's work or not. However, with all the novellas, I don't think it'll be happening anytime soon.

I thought a lot about it and I decided to give this book 2 stars. I was so close to 100 books this year and by the time I started ACOWAR *snorts* I was almost done with 4 books but refused to finish them because I wanted this book to be my 100th for the year. So stupid of me, I know that now. The 100th book of the year for me was like a slap in the face. It was so disappointing that I don't know where to start from. Sure, I liked many things about this book, that's why the extra star. And that's coming from someone who loved ACOMAF and was dying to read this final. I wanted a book that will put me in a reading hangover but no, it was one of those books I finished and now want to move to the next book on my tbr list and forget it ever existed. And I'm sure I will. It was so forgettable.

It's not easy to write an ACOWAR spoiler free review. Part of mine will be spoiler-free until I say otherwise. I don't think any of the fans should read reviews before starting it, anyway. Enjoy every surprise.

Sarah is a very talented author, there's no doubt about that. I always admired the worlds she created. Even with all the annoying stuff in her books, the settings she created, stand out from the other YA fantasy novels. She gives it more than a simple touch of fantasy, she aims toward high fantasy world buildings but not so complicated. I love that about her. I also wish we had more books like those, combining fantasy and more than a kiss romance (although I'd rather have only a kiss and not cringe like I do when I read her sex scenes (that shall not be named like this). I learned to skip them, eventually). But yeah, you get the idea.
I wish she wouldn't write spin-offs and would give us more new books with other stunning world-buildings WITHOUT THE MATING THING. However, I know it's not possible. Many arcs weren't concluded.

They said ACOTAR resembles Game of Thrones. I found only a few things in common. We had the wall, the courts, of course, they're no match for these families but like I said before, I appreciate her worldbuilding. But the main similarity is this:

Feyre Achernon, high lady of the night court, the Cursebreaker, the Huntress, Defender of the Rainbow, the Spellbreaker, the Cauldron-blessed, the Emissary to the night court.

Watch out Daenerys! Someone might beat you at this!


Authors and publishers should stop comparing every YA* fantasy book to ASOIAF. They'll never get there

*I know this is a NA but that's not the point.

ACOTAR is one of the few books I consider rereading (and I don't do rereads). In fact, it's the only book, with its sequel ACOMAF, that I know I will be.
A lot has changed since I read the first book.

ACOWAR left some very memorable characters that aren't from our favorites -who became less favorite. At least Feyre didn't become another Aelin. Thank God. In fact, she was so much of an opposite, too perfect. But yeah who cares I still like her.
Rhys is another story, I'm not swooning anymore. He doesn't make me fangirl. What's wrong with you, you might ask. Well, he isn't the same guy I loved in ACOMAF. Or is he? Yep, I desperately need a reread.

I liked that it deals with abuse, Maas always handles not so easy topics. I can understand why she is so popular. I know I'll read her future work without thinking twice. Things I don't want to see in her future series are many (most of which are already agreed upon, though):

�� The bullshit mating thing

I think Maas tried to explain it a bit in this book but it's not enough. It's ridiculous. And now, my darling Lucien will have to desire Elain instead of trying to find his match. I think we all agree on this, though.

�� The annoying matchmaking

You know when each author projects his personality onto one of his/her characters? Well, it's obvious that Maas is Feyre and they both love matchmaking. Just like Manon, she ruined Amren for me. While Amren's match is better, it's ruined. Great characters can't stay single. (view spoiler)[What about Mor and Az? Don't shit me, by the end of this series, I'm sure both will find their own match. And oh, I see Elain with Az and can't imagine her with Lucian. My poor boy, hope he won't try to kill him. (hide spoiler)] Even though I like the fact that Maas' heroines have more than 1 love interest, and that it shows the readers that it's okay not everything works from the first time, it was too much in ToG.

�� The smut.

Oh. My. God. The Cringe. I said I want more books with similar setting with more smut. I prefer them to stay free of anything more than a kiss if it meant that we won't have to skip paragraphs to not be disgusted. If Mr Trump thinks so too, you can only imagine the truth

�� Beautifulness.

Yeah, everyone is pretty. Everyone is stunning. Humans, Fae, everyone gets to be beautiful! I guess this trope and matchmaking are her favorites in her books since we read about it constantly. I don't think it was worth mentioning since it's globally known. I thought it might stop in this book, of course, I was wrong.

�� Animal sounds.

Please tell me how can a human being purr, bark, snarl, and hiss. Actually, I can't imagine someone hissing without laughing because it's so fake. Sorry, I meant so vicious.

Yeah, Maas, you have some great ideas why ruin them with these stupid things?

Some might say the book was boring and slow in the first half. But I didn't think it was. We have to see the war strategies. They came a bit late but it's fine since I love these stuff, so they were definitely an extra point in this book. Too bad they have been ruined by the terribly done battles. Will get to them in the spoilers part. I wanted more bloodshed, more gore, more WAR.


MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Not hiding anything, anymore

Let's start with the few things I liked.

Feyre was so kickass in the meeting with the high lords, loved how she attacked Berin. Although I hated how Rhys said something: don't speak to my mate like this. Doesn't she have a name other than your mate? Was this supposed to be sexy?
God, the mate thing is so annoying. She is a woman and shall be treated as such in front of the other lords and others so they can respect her because of what she is and not because what she is to him. Mate her as much as you want in private (readers included too). I couldn't but mention something negative, it's that bad. The twist about Lucien's father wasn't expected but I liked it. Helion is definitely my favorite of the other high lords. But I couldn't imagine him without the blond hair for some reason even though it's onyx. Many would mind Jurian switching sides but I honestly wasn't surprised because his reasons for joining the king were ridiculous and unconvincing.

Her sisters... Well, I was supposed to think Nesta is so badass and all and sympathize with Elain. I did neither. I don't like them, they're just mehh. I'm not impressed.

I can't hold back anymore. I have to talk about the DAMN ending.

The Suriel and the Bone Carver were my favorites in this book. I think they made it to my favorite secondary characters of all time. The Bone Carver is just so cool. I really liked him. He wanted Feyre to get better and even when he knew that he probably won't survive he still helped, he still fought for them. And the scream of the Weaver... Just broke my heart. Then the Suriel dying too for Feyre made me love him even more. These were my favorite scenes, for sure. I wouldn't be an ASOIAF fanatic if I didn't like people dying for the sake of reality and logic. Too bad they were the only ones.

I was guessing with my friend who will die from the inner circle, it only seemed logical because it's the realistic thing to do since this Hybern is so strong. We know who will win but the question is how. This is fucking war and none of the main characters dies? Oh, spare me this bullshit. At first, I thought it'll be Amren then no, no, Azriel. The book wasn't predictable in this way and I definitely don't mean it in a good way. Nobody of the main characters dies. They all survive without a scratch like seriously, what the heck?!!! They'll be as good as new in few weeks. No disabilities even. It's ridiculous. It's absurd. It's the cheesiest thing to do.

I wanted to see more of Lucien's arc, honestly. I liked how he escaped to Velaris and that he was trying to adapt, however, I wanted to see more of him. He's probably my favorite "male" at the moment. They just sent him to get the sixth queen and I was so frustrated when we didn't see more of him until the last minutes of the battle. Having a chapter from his pov wouldn't have hurt, especially since some of Feyre's chapters already stretched a lot bit. Maybe we'll know more about it in his novella which I'm sure he'll have. Still, I think it will lose its rapture since we didn't know about it while it was happening.

Drakon and Myriam were mentioned enough in the book to know that they'll come to help. I knew they'll come. Of course, the sixth queen will too but what I didn't expect is Feyre's father taking spotlights instead of Lucien. Like seriously, after everything he's done, he comes out of nowhere and steals the lights? Someone compared it to Minas Tirith battle and they are absolutely right. Why? Because everyone is coming to their rescue just when they're losing. In the LOTR it's more than amazing because come on, it's Tolkien. It couldn't be more cheesy here nor predictable and disappointing.

Do you know Fairy Tail? It's a popular anime where everyone survives anything, nobody dies, and the bad people always become good. Of course, there's also the nakama power up but thank goodness it wasn't here or I would've lost it. The thing is I hated this anime (yet still reading the manga, don't even ask why).

I couldn't help but compare the two. Let's see:
�� Cringe worthy fan service? Yep.
�� They win against more powerful folks? Naturally.
�� After all the injuries, no disability? Of course.
�� Everyone coming to their rescue? (just for clarification, this mostly happened in the battle vs Zeref that is not animated yet.) Disappointingly, yes.
�� Only the ancients dying? (that too from the latest arc.) Sadly.
�� Everyone has a match? Oh, yeah.
�� Bringing back the dead? Shockingly, that too.
�� Bad guys becoming good? You have no idea.

I can go on forever. I don't mean to say that Maas copied FT because no, she didn't. I just think I hated both popular series for the same reasons. I read and watched the same ending hundreds of time. At least, in FT, the battles are more intense and bloody with cooler superpowers.

While I knew Rhys won't die permanently, I thought that Amren, after going back to her true self, will leave forever to her world. Rhys was resurrected and now he's more powerful than ever. As for Amren... She came back to life and I couldn't take it anymore. I lost all hopes of redemption for ACOWAR. Oh don't get me wrong, I still love her even though less than I did in ACOMAF. She lost a part of her badassness and wasn't so intimidating anymore. She even became a high fae. Like not a human or something but no, she'll have some powers and be strong again *eye roll* She's still my favorite female after Feyre but it was silly how everything turned out perfectly. How they all had their HEA. Not even Beron and Kier died. The more I talk about the ending, the more I despise it. The only person of those who deserved death and actually died was the King as if we didn't see it coming.

Rhys and Feyre's relationship lost its allure for sure. I wasn't fangirling, dying for their moments together, anymore. Their bond made me see them as one person. Neither was independent. Feyre while taking some great risks and succeeding, I couldn't see her without Rhys. In his turn, he lost all his charms, in my opinion. I don't approve of what he did with Kier/Eris/Mor. He took some terrible decision because of his desperation, I know people take hasty decisions during war but from someone like him, I expected more. Feyre thinks sex is so important and it should come first in their relationship as if it's the point. She mentioned how much she appreciated Rhys because he allowed her to see her sisters first before satisfying his needs. SERIOUSLY?!!!!!! COME ON PEOPLE!!!!!! It's not even that they'll have hot sex anyway. I didn't think twice when I skipped these paragraphs. Feyre and Rhys are definitely removed from my OTPs list even though they were in the top 5. I miss my sarcastic Rhys, the sexy mysterious, witty, intelligent guy that made my heart burst.

And oh, while I enjoyed the lords' meeting, it doesn't mean that it was good. The lords, who are supposed to have centuries of experience, didn't look so mature and wise.

I've read so many books where we had REAL war. Bloody wars that don't end in one weekend. This one couldn't even compare. They said the last took years to end but this one happened too fast. During war, people suffer. Here, only warriors died. Maybe those in Tamlin's land a bit but it's impossible for it to be so simple. They didn't extinguish their financial resources, for example. People in most of the fae lands didn't feel the terrors of the combat. So no, that's not my definition of war .

I honestly never saw Mor and Az together. But her not being straight was so out of nowhere. Suddenly everyone is gay. It was too forced, I appreciate Maas trying but if it isn't something she wants to do in her books but only because of the fans and editors, then don't. Look how bad it turned out. Rhys had no right to bring Eris to the meeting with her father but she was acting like a spoiled kid in this book. Like seriously, I thought you were strong, get over it already. Where's my badass girl? She's so scared and acts like an immature child.

Truthfully, I don't hate Eris. I wouldn't mind reading his story and I wish his father would die. Although I disliked how Rhys made Mor meet him, I want to know what really happened from his pov. Not only with Mor but Lucien as well.

I hope we'll see more of the high lords in later installments and I'm sure we will because Sarah introduced a large set of characters in this book. Although I can't forget how her sisters treated her, I'm interested in reading Cassian and Nesta's story. Lucien's too, naturally, I want him to have his own book but maybe somehow he'll find someone other than Elain? Yeah, I'm matchmaking because there's nothing left in the upcoming books besides that. I wanted a book about Amren.
I thought her home was something far and not just like gods or something. I wanted a book about her journey there... I'm still interested in knowing more about her past but we knew enough in this book so I don't care as much anymore. Therefore, the third can be about anyone, I don't care. I know I will read them but just as something fun, nothing more. I think there are 3 more books? I'm not sure and too lazy to check but if there are, then it's stupid. I hate when authors add unnecessary books to their original story.

It saddens me to say that I think this was the worst book in this trilogy. Everything was forced and nothing was magically flowing like in ACOMAF. Yeah, I said I need to do a reread but I'm not as blind to not notice how much this book lacked in comparison with the others. I can only hope that the novellas will be good although I would have preferred to read a 1000 pages book and not another novella. I want Maas to write other series since I love the worlds she creates.

Sorry for this short review. I still have more things to rant about but I think this is enough. If I saw that many of you share my feelings, I wouldn't have complained so much. But I feel like I need to explain my unpopular opinion. I think most of the fans will like it since they'll get the HEA. Now I can only hope that the installment in ToG won't be so disastrous. I won't be surprised if turned out bad since I had my ups and downs with that series. But ACOTAR is another story. I loved the characters, the story, the world, and it hurts to have it end in the worst way possible.