A Court of Thorns and Roses

Meh. It’s a book about fairy sex. Maybe I didn’t read the description correctly but this book seems appropriate for teenagers. The story isn’t very good, the story telling marginally better. I bought the first two books as part of the audiobooks deal bc I’m into fantasy, and I always force myself to listen to my purchased books.... so I’ll listen to the second book. It’s not bad, but it’s definitely not good, either. Fairy sex. A teenaged-level book about fairy sex.

This book is ridiculous.... I feel like a 13 year old wrote this. Horrible characters. Definitely wasted a credit. I've forced myself to listen to about 4 hours of it but I can't anymore. These characters stress me out. DO NOT BOTHER.

Have read this series multiple times so had to get it on audio book!

A delightful retelling of Beauty And The Beast. The fae lore is darker than most, and the description of fae courts is imaginative. There's romance, but it's not too smutty. This is a lovely, entertaining listen.

I just have to say - this is not a fairy sex book - based on a previous review I saw on this book. The story may start a little slow, but it picks up towards the last 3rd of the book. It is like a damsel in distress who becomes a savior. It builds into a story that I absolutely love. The narrator is my absolute FAVORITE! Her impressions and voices of the characters don't make me cringe like some others do. I think she fits the main character well.

I enjoyed this series very much. A fantastical reprieve from the daily grind.

I love this series so much. I have read the books 4 times and just listened to the audio book for when I'm driving to and from work and loved every minute of it all over again. Sarah J. Maas is a genius and brilliant author. I recommend her to everyone.

Great book. Caught my attention from beginning to end. Really like the series and already on book 3 and love how the stories connect to each other from book to book. Interesting details and always leaves you wanting more. Highly recommend it!!

Definitely aimed more toward teenagers, but a good story and great storytelling. Lots of twists and turns, I am hooked and about to start the second. I also thought the narrator did a very good job telling the story.

Such a great book!

Absolutely love these books!

Fascinating

Love the narration and story

I loved everything about this book!

Definitely didn’t have the experience that the “fairy sex” reviewers on here claim. There are spicy scenes, but barley any and it’s much story based than they imply. The book was very good, character development was great. The first chunk is a bit slow moving but towards the end the story improves x100 and it was so hard to stop listening. I’ve already started the second book and am enjoying it as well!

Sarah J Mass is so good and these are absolutely not teen books.

This book is great! Not sure why some comments say otherwise I enjoyed this book so much I finished it within a day and a half! I will say the narrator could’ve done a little better with the different voices otherwise great book.

fav book ever

The characters in the first book aren’t nearly who they seem, so don’t be fooled. Love this book, and the series so far. The books get more serious the more you read, and the characters develop a lot. The adult parts are not too juicy for the first book, or overly detailed so it was a comfortable read. Love how the story unravels. Just gonna say, if you need a reason to read the second book, screw Tamlin.

This book was amazing! I’m not sure why anyone thought it was about fairy sex. It wasn’t at all and whole the storyline loosely started with Beauty and the Beast vibes, it definitely ended much differently. I was on the edge of my seat and listened to the whole thing in a couple days. Great book.

excellent book

Yes, it’s a little cheesy but I love it! Good story and enjoyable. Can’t wait to read the others! Everyone said it seemed like a young teen book but I disagree.

Loved this book and the narrator has been my favorite across audiobooks thus far

was a wonder slow burn.

Amazing can't wait to listen to more

Loved the book and the narrator was very good and her voice very soothing. I just had an eye operation and couldnt see for a while so listening to the book made the time fly by.

Sigh, such a disappointing book for me. I am a huge fan of the medieval ballad of Tamlin, and have read masterful reinterpretations that did justice both to the resilient heroine who takes on the fairy queen to rescue her true love and to the powerful queen herself. This version disempowers both characters and changes the nature of the story so much I wonder why the beloved even needed to be named Tamlin anymore. The author’s concept is indeed intriguing; a mash up of Beauty and the Beast and the ballad of Tamlin. Unfortunately she rolls it up needlessly into stereotypical and overly secualized romance novel tropes that harm the original source material, uses crass 21st century language that doesn’t fit and then adds some completely unnecessary Game of Thrones level violence which obliterates the originals’ battle of mental strength and moral integrity. I just… sigh, hate a stupid heroine. In order to artificially drive the romance novel trope of “huffy heroine can’t recognize how wonderful the man is for chapters and chapters”, Feyre is maddeningly unable to see what the reader is clearly told from the beginning: Tamlin is a good man. Oh, and in this version of Tamlin, he’s not a human man but a fairy himself - which totally skews the narrative into a direction that makes it too hard for the author to connect well with the original stories she’s borrowed from. It drives an ending that, for me, was pointless; an unsatisfying resolution. But back to the stupidity… how often can a heroine ignore all the good advice and warnings and care others take of her before she becomes so tedious that you begin to hate her? I hated her through the first 2/3 of the story, the Beauty and the Beast part, as she wilfully ignores all common sense and guidance . The last chunk of the book moves into the Tamlin retelling. And while the story gets more interesting, not only is the “Tamlin” heroine not wise enough to take good counsel and see truth through deception, but the fairy queen is no longer the all-powerful, natural ruler of her realm but, instead, in this version she’s no more than a vicious military usurper in a fairy world that apparently is rightfully ruled by males. How did a medieval story of empowered women turn into this backwards muck? No, this one does not do the women justice. For well written, romantically satisfying retellings of the wonderful Tamlin story, I still prefer Elizabeth Pope’s Tudor-era version, The Perilous Gard, and Diana Wynne Jones’ contemporary masterpiece, Fire and Hemlock. Both of these keep the heroine smart, as well as brave and determined, and the fairies are still frightening and “Tamlin”’s plight still deadly.

Just a terribly written story. Complete waste of time. I would have not finished it had it not been for the narrator.

The love story was a lot but it kind of made sense in the end. Not just fae sex as I saw in one review. The fae stuff is pretty dark. It wraps up decently with just a few lingering questions which I’m sure will be answered in the next series. I enjoyed it.

Ooof. I gave this a fair chance for 9 hours but I just can’t keep going. Overrated IMO and childish. SPOILERS…. Ok how did they go so fast from hating her for killing one of them to letting her hang out with them all the time? She’s essentially a prisoner so why is she getting one-on-one meals and so much time with the High Lord and his buddy? I just can’t wrap my head around that. She literally can’t follow a single simple instruction. If she’s ends up being some kind of special mate (I think that was the hint being made?) then it’s taking wayyyy to long to make that point. Also, who is this marketed to? YA would be probably a bit much on the sex, although maybe that’s different than the YA I was reading 15 years ago. If it’s for adults… I’ll stick with Anita Blake for the good smut. Sad I can’t get the credit back for this one!

Ok plot but sooo long winded. Some passages just dragging on and on so repetitively.

Terribly written. Constant recycling of phrases. Characters are not believable. Story is bland and shallow. No world-building. Fantasy is my favorite genre and this book was recommended by my best friend, and after reading the reviews I was expecting something exhilarating. This book did not match the hype at all!

Excellent narration- one could actually visualise the scenery and characters and feel poignancy of the emotions. Well done

I really enjoyed this book, it felt so indulgent and fantastical

Ok do I chose this because I read the Crescent City books from the author which I loved. I am on Chapter 20 and I can barely tell anyone what this book is about. I find myself having to go back to hear the parts again because this is so boring I am zoning out. Her other series had me captivated with the story. I fell in love with Bryce Quinlan and the other characters. This series has more books and I thought I would give it a chance. I don’t know if it gets better later in the book but so far nothing in 20 chapters has captivated me enough. I will keep going and see if it gets interesting as we go on.

Dope book

Great escapism and I loved the vivid descriptions of this other world! Beautifully read.

I really wantted to like this iIf there was hope the narration killed it for me. I'm struggling to hear what they are saying half the time. I could only make it through 2 chapters. JR

Personally I enjoyed this book very much. Liked the writing and the narrator. I cannot wait to listen to the second book.

This book is exhilarating and so much fun. It had unexpected twists and romantic tensions between characters. I’m on the second book now and it’s even better than the first!

excellent story

This was very juvenile writing. It’s basically a “my crush kidnapped me and I fell in love with him” trope you find on Wattpad. Very cringe and the narrator sounds really old to be reading in the voice of a 18 year old girl.

I fell in love with this series!! So great

I already knew the book and loved it and I’m really happy with the narrator!

amazing book. can't wait to pick up the second one

Fantasy story where the sensual and sexual references and descriptions tend to be too prominent in the narration. Not my genre.

It's your basic beauty and the beast story. It was meh.

Took several chapters before I found it started to get more interesting. Listened to the book because there were so many great reviews but didn't find it to be that good for myself personally.

I hoped it would get better as it went on but I found it a bit boring. The narrator is also not my favorite. She does a good job but she narrates a lot of the books I listen to and her voice gets annoying book after book.

enjoyable easy listening

Such a good story line, I enjoyed listening to every single chapter and I am already listening the 2 book hehe

loved the book

Great book

Great narrator.

Started out a lot like Beauty and the Beast. Girl doesn’t fit in and falls in love with a “Beast”. But then it takes a fairy turn. Not a bad listen to pass the time. Definitely geared more towards young adults

Easy listen... the main character did annoy me at times, I literally caught myself yelling at her, but I thoroughly enjoyed it the story. I finished the listen in 3 days time.

Great first book in the series. Slow build up and many twists, but finishing it was really worth it.

This is my one of my favorite fantasy series of all time!

Loved most of the characters except the lead, she had potential especially at the start with her fiery attitude and killer instinct and she seemed clever but just wound up being whiny, not a strong female lead, and kept doing dumb frustrating things. definitely liked some of the other masculine characters though. I would still recommend this book however the main character will probably put me off reading the other books in the series, I just don’t find her to my taste. Still love this author though.

Enjoyed the book. Very much enjoyed the narrator. Light reading/listening, story is interesting, keeps you curious. Will listen to book 2. Teens interested in fantasy and fairies should love it

awesome great

Loved this first book, can’t wait to continue the series

Audience for ages maybe 15 to 25. Interesting and light read. Character's skills and drive are admirable but lack of self confidence is a little tedious and over the top. Fairy characters are most interesting aspect of the book.

Not a bad listen and interesting enough to keep listening. Kind of juvenile. Narrator was very good

very good book series and the narrator takes a bet to get use to but dose ok.

I liked it. It is an interesting listen. Have I heard better...... sure. If your really into mistical fantasy fiction that comes from generations of D&D proto-types, you'll like this new spin. Miss Sara L..... if you don't get it, don't bash it. This is a female teen perspective twist. Kudos, Miss Maas... my daughter and I like it and have become your fans.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! There was enough of the beauty and the beast motifs to recognize the traits of the famous story but the author did an excellent job of making it her own! I had little expectation when I first started but relatively quickly I found that I couldn’t stop listening to it. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys romantic adventure with strong female characters and excellent descriptive story telling! The narrator also excelled which was plus in my book!

A fantastic book. well written and will nerrated. Kept me on the edge of my seat and had a very exciting climax.

Enjoyable Listen! Characters are interesting and fun, story pace is good no real slow moments. Just enough murder, mystery and live to keep things interesting

Im only a couple hours in. So far, it's a light, easy, entertaining listen.

Well narrated, took a little to get me in but enjoyed the ride.

It is even more mesmerizing than the first one!

IT was OK. The main character comes of a bit weak, and ignorant. She annoys me. But the story was catching. Light entertainment.

Really enjoyed this book. Caught up in the story until the very last word.

Amazing book!

The book was amazing.

Loved it! Best romance/action packed book I've ever read! ?? Sarah J. Maas you are my queen!