Feyre has changed greatly over the course of the series. In A Court of Thrones and Roses, she was strong, but docile, then life Under the Mountain changed her forever. She survived torture and death to be reborn as a strong and powerful high fae, but in the process, became a broken soul. A Court of Mist and Fury is about her healing, about her slowly realizing the world she once lived in is a cage, about her discovering that she is a powerful force to be reckoned with. In this final installment, Feyre holds nothing back. Despite the trials and tribulations thrown at her, Feyre’s resolve and will holds strong. She puts her heart and soul on the line to save the people she cares about.
A Court of Wings and Ruins is an amazing read with some flaws. The book’s pacing is schizophrenic. The book starts off with high tension but an uncharacteristically slow pacing. This pacing oscillates between fast and slow until Rhysand is reintroduced and the pacing the plot significantly. All of the pacing irregularities are understandable in context (Feyre’s time in the Spring Court requires methodical planning and spying while Rhysand’s introduction brings the fragile but healing sisters who desperately need the slow-pacing), but irritating and awkward nonetheless. The pacing changes become even more jarring when Feyre and Rhys decide to participate in some R-rated activities (that are done with remarkable frequency) despite the chaos around them. Eventually, the pacing stabilizes at the expected fast pace but only extremely late in the story. Although the pacing tends to fluctuate, the rising tension remains constant. Hybern is continuously amassing strength, and each battle only shows how outmatched the Pyrathian faeries are when divided. In addition to planning a war, each character must put away their blood feuds and cooperate in order to stand a chance. All of the characters must make sacrifices toward the war effort and the strain clearly weighs on them. Friendly banter quickly turns to arguing, chipping away at the book’s light-heartedness and replacing it with a more somber scenery. Sarah J. Maas makes no attempt to glorify war and does a decent job of showing the strain it can bring to individual. The death surrounding the protagonists wears on their souls. They are all pushed to their physical and emotional breaking points, but grow stronger because of it. The characters arcs are well-crafted and it is extremely refreshing to see an author give a large supporting cast the attention and development they deserve. When combined with her artful way of exploring the last bits of Pyrathian and tying everyone for the emotional finale, it is clear that Sarah J. Maas is a great author, even if she does tend to exaggerate when writing. No Sarah J. Maas novel would be complete without her characteristic sarcasm. Keeping the atmosphere light, the witty banter between characters is as entertaining as it was in previous books. I give this 699 page book 5 stars.