Jaclyn’s Review: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses #4)
written by Sarah J. Maas
published by Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021

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Did I enjoy this book? I am completely invested in this entire series and will promptly buy and read every book that is written in this world. That being said, Nesta is my least favorite character in the entire series. I even liked the villains better than her. I read this book because I wanted to go back to the Night Court and I wanted to know what everyone else was doing. I did like that we learned more about the priestesses living within the library and more about Cassian’s background. The book hinted about the remaining unrest with the mortal queens after the war ended in book 3, which I thought was important for continuity.

There are many things I didn’t like about this book. Earlier in the series, Feyre wanted to train to fight with the Illyrian soldiers in the war, and Cassian told her it would take decades of training to even consider it. Somehow, Nesta and two other females with absolutely no background in fighting or even basic physical fitness are able to do it within weeks. They are not only able to fight against multiple Illyrian soldiers at once, but they are able to pass a grueling physical test that only three warriors have passed in all of their history. Completely unbelievable. At the beginning of the book, Nesta is established as a raging alcoholic, yet when she is forced to quit cold turkey, she has absolutely no symptoms of withdrawal. The author tries to elicit sympathy for Nesta because of some deep-seated trauma–except when this trauma is finally revealed, it’s just years of grumpiness that she can’t seem to overcome.

Overall, I loved returning to this world even if I had to suffer through Nesta’s point of view to get there. I am eagerly awaiting the next book and hope that it is from a less hateful character’s perspective.

Would I recommend it? Obviously, this is not a standalone book. I love the series, and I love the characters. I hate Nesta, so this book is my least favorite of the series. But if you are going to read the series, you have to read this book.
 

 
About the book – from Goodreads: Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can’t seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre’s Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta’s orbit. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other’s arms.

 

 
 

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** This post first appeared on Every Free Chance Books (everyfreechance.com) on March 3, 2021.