A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses #4) by Sarah J. Maas
“Gwyn whispered, “I am the rock against which the surf crashes.” Nesta straightened at the words, as if they were a prayer and a summons. Gwyn lifted the blade. “Nothing can break me.”
A very moving and beautiful look into the thoughts of Nesta and Cassian
Sarah J. Maas does it again. Her writing style is so magical. I have absolutely no idea how she does it, but she does. I absolutely loved following Nesta and Cassian in A Court of Silver Flames. The storyline was sometimes what this book was almost entirely about Nesta and Cassian and their friendship. The end went a little too fast and I am left with a lot of questions. Still, I’m really happy with this book because these characters certainly deserved their own.
Synopsis (spoilers for the previous books in this series)
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.
I really enjoyed this book, although I wouldn’t call it an all-time favourite of mine. I really enjoyed taking a peek into the minds of both Nesta and Cassian. A Court of Silver Flames is therefore written from the perspective of Cassian and Nesta. The plot is a bit strange. The war is over, but in this book we learn that Beron works together with the (former) human queen Briallyn. This is occasionally mentioned in the book and we read some scenes about how Rhysand, Cassian and Azriel are preparing. But it kind of stops there. A Court of Silver Flames is really about Nesta and Cassian and their friendship / relationship. I personally had no problems with this, I liked the characters a lot anyway so I couldn’t help but like a book about these two.
The character development was perfect. You can see Nesta grow little by little and that was very nice to see. I’ve always found Nesta very intriguing. She had such hatred and anger in her heart, which was actually because of her guilt. Nesta always seemed to be a person who thought she was better than the rest, but in A Court of Silver Flames we learn that she regrets many things and is trying to live with a lot of guilt. She is so strong, both physical as in her personality. Nesta Archeron is definitely one of my favorite characters after this book.
But of course, all the characters in A Court of Silver Flames were amazing. I really hope we get to see more Emerie and Gwyn in the next book. I thought the trio they and Nesta formed, was so cool. Three badass women who no longer want to be dependent of others.
I thought the end of A Court of Silver Flames flew by. I blinked and I had finished the book. In the last few chapters, a lot happens and a fight takes place. I feel like J. Maas could have taken a little more time to make that fight a bit longer. Afterwards you are left with a lot of questions, which is a good thing because you really want to read the next book but also a bit negative because you don’t know what just happened and might need to reread it to fully understand everything.
I don’t think the next book will be written from Nesta’s and Cassian’s point of views. I feel like their story is complete. I hope they still play an important role in the next books, but I don’t think there is really another book that follows them around.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, especially if you are a fan of the series. Mind you, this is not a book to read in public.
I really enjoyed it and want to get the sequel as soon as possible!
Trigger warnings
Abuse, alcohol abuse, assault, death (including relatives), depression, miscarriage (mentioned), PTSD, rape (mentioned), sex, smut (graphic), war (mentioned)
Representation
?
Genre
Fantasy (new adult)
Pages
757
Publication date
16th February 2021
Publisher
Bloomsbury Publishing
About the author
Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses series, as well as a USA Today and international bestselling author. Sarah wrote the first incarnation of the Throne of Glass series when she was just sixteen, and it has now sold in thirty-five languages. A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog. Empire of Storms, the fifth Throne of Glass novel,is available now.
She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Religious Studies.
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