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|| 3.5 stars ||

Warning: there will be SPOILERS in this review!!

Honestly, there was no way for me to truly experience this book the way I should have because I already know who Feyre will end up with in the end. It definitely ruined a big part of my reading experience since the majority of this book focused on the romance between Tamlin and Feyre. And instead of being able to fall for this relationship, as I was supposed to, it already felt wrong to me from the beginning. It felt forced and as if it wasn’t true love; I couldn’t possibly love them as a couple, because I know that Feyre is going to choose someone else anyway.
Of course, I know that this is not the book’s fault in any way, but it’s impossible for me to remove my prior knowledge, and thus it certainly had an effect on my personal enjoyment. I don’t know what I would have felt if I had read it when it came out or before its massive popularity led me to know the endgame couple, but I do know it would have been different. Now, I mostly just felt sadness for Tamlin because he seems like a nice guy, and I know he’s not going to get the girl.

That said, there is a certain point in the book, pretty much from the moment Feyre arrives Under the Mountain, that I would have also known myself (without prior knowledge) that Tamlin would not end up with Feyre. Their relationship was already very simple, bland and boring, which might have clued me in sooner, but after Feyre arrived to save Tamlin it became obvious that Tamlin would not be the hero of this story. He just�� sat there. He did nothing. He was so irrelevant and Rhysand completely took over the front stage. Rhysand fought for Feyre, he was the one who helped her, he was the one who actually stood by her in these horrific months (not always in a nice way or with selfless intentions, but still, at least he was there). Opposingly, Tamlin just let it all happen, as if he was a passive bystander, while Rhysand fully inserted himself into Feyre’s battles. There is no way any author will let their heroine end up with a love interest who doesn’t do anything to defend and save her; thus, Tamlin would have been ruled out from this point forward.
Besides, I know enough about these types of books to know that the arrogant, rude arsehole will eventually get the girl, and it was clear that that’s what Rhysand was supposed to be: the anti-hero we’re all meant to swoon over. Well, I’m certainly not swooning yet, although the end of this book at least redeemed him and his intentions. I’m going to need him to work really hard for Feyre’s affections though, because if he is going to be an arrogant bastard who treats her like trash until the end, then I know I’m not going to like him. We’ll see.

'A Court of Thorns and Roses' series:
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses - 3.5 stars
2. A Court of Mist and Fury - 3.0 stars
3. A Court of Wings and Ruin - 4.0 stars
4. A Court of Silver Flames - 3.5 stars

Novella:
3.5. A Court of Frost and Starlight - 3.5 stars

Other Sarah J. Maas books:
‘Throne of Glass�� series - var. ratings
‘Crescent City�� series - var. ratings
Catwoman: Soulstealer - 4.0 stars