Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin - Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Wings and Ruin
Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3
Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads 

I can't tell if I'm overwhelmed writing this review because I haven't written one in so long (lol sorry I'm trash) or because this book was just a lot. I'm gonna go with the latter???

I just...have so many feelings??? Most of them are spoilery feelings, though, so, even with my ability to drag a two page paper into seven pages, this should be more concise than usual.

I'm going to start with some general conclusions and work my way into whatever specifics I can:

• I liked ACOMAF better, but that doesn't mean I didn't like ACOWAR!! Like, I liked ACOMAF a lot. I'm pretty I just sat there hyperventilating after I read it, rocking back and forth like I had nothing left to live for. Those were really high expectations to ask ACOWAR to surpass and just because it didn't doesn't mean it wasn't still a great book.
• It took me a while to read -- the pacing was very slow. The very beginning was tense and captivating but then the book settled into a rhythm of ~planning~ with not much happening for like half the book. While I understand that it's a book about war and the scenes were necessary, they made the book drag a lil and it took me a while to get through it. This wasn't actually entirely the book's fault, though, because if I'm really into a book and it's ~slow~ I'll still push through and read it fairly quickly, but my summer classes have been a time suck and I spent a lot of time away from the book. Anyway, my point here is: until things started happening, I wasn't sure I'd be into it but once it started picking up, boy did it pick up. 
• What ACOWAR lacked in pacing, it made up for in characterization. I think giving heart to characters is Sarah J. Maas's strong suit because the moments I found myself audibly laughing or crying were less because of the plot moving along and more because of little things the characters would do. Honestly, all I really want in my life is a TV show in the style of The Office written by Sarah J. Maas chronicling the lives of these characters as they go about their day to day business. Some highlights:
• NESTA. I can't believe how far Nesta has come???? Like, when she was introduced in ACOTAR, I was like "Who is this deadweight sister???" and assumed she would be collateral damage by the end of the first book because she was just so ANNOYING. And she was a little better in ACOMAF, but MAN, she really SOLD this book for me. Like, her entire arc just made this book so COMPELLING and INTRIGUING and I don't know if the future books about Prythian will have these same characters but if they do I hope my girl Nesta is one of them. 
• all the Old Gods and stuff!! In the last two books, characters like the Bone Carver and the Suriel and company were always fun to read, but definitely just gave Feyre/the audience exposition. I liked that they were in more of the book this time. I love characters who are Unknown and Fascinating (like Amren). Also, did not think I would ever cry real tears over ~plot device characters~ and yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 
• Lucien. He is my sad son and I love him.
• The whole inner circle TBH. I cried inside every time Azriel or Cassian did anything or said anything or breathed and I'm always cryin every time Rhys's name is mentioned even when it's not in a book so. Also highkey in love with MOR and AMREN. Basically I love my children. 
• (I have more but they're #spoilers so...bye)
• cool as HECK battle scenes
• by cool I mean DEVASTATING 
• Okay honestly I know I already talked about characters but some of the specific ACTIONS of the characters I am just not OVER like...wild...they did that
• There was some awkward dialogue/narration but like there were so many more amazing parts that it doesn't make me like the book less. I also feel like, in this book, while I was reading it really grated on me that SJM has a tendency to use certain phrases repeatedly but that's really a personal problem and honestly it didn't like ~take away from my reading experience~ or anything, so I won't dwell too much on it. 

Okay, I think that's all I can say without accidentally crying about some major plot point or something. To recap: 1. This book was DELIGHTFUL. 2. My favorite aspect was Nesta and her arc involving the cauldron. 3. Once the ~set up~ part was complete, it was a thrill ride. 4. I would die for all these characters. Okay, SORRY if this was all ramble and no content but I am STILL a Mess. Until next time, friends!!

What fictional characters would be in your inner circle?
Let us know in the comments!