In a world where the human realm and the land of the Fae (Prythian) are divided by hatred stemming from a brutal war 500 years ago, A Court of Thorns and Roses introduces us to Feyre, a young huntress. After losing her mother and their estate, Feyre struggles to provide for her father and two sisters. Her drive to protect her family sends her to hunt in the woods, where she unknowingly kills a Fae wolf. This hunt sets off a chain of events that changes her life forever.

Prior to this book, I hadn’t voluntarily read since 2nd grade. I finished the 448 page novel in three days as a full time student. If you are in a reading slump and enjoy fictional work, this is the book for you.

A Court of Thorns and Roses, written by Sarah J. Maas, is set in olden times; although it is never specifically mentioned, the book is set in the 18th to 19th century. Feyre, a 19-year-old human girl, lives in poverty with her dad and two sisters. None of them work to support the family, so Feyre has to step up and gain hunting knowledge to put food on the table. Feyre hated the Fae for all of the old stories and tales told about them. One day she is out, hunting in the woods, when a wolf from the fae world appears. Unknowing of the fact that the wolf is a Fae, she kills him. She skins him and sells his remains to the town market. When she comes back to have dinner with her family, her home is bombarded by another large wolf, Tamlin who gives her the ultimatum of killing her family or taking her to the Faerie realm as punishment for killing his friend.

Feyre is left with no choice but to be taken to live with him. As they approach Tamlin’s Manor he shape shifts back into his normal, almost human-like body. She is stricken by the beauty of not only his home, but the spring land surrounding them. Tamlin provides her with a room, a wardrobe and her own bathroom. Regardless of this, she can’t fathom living with Tamlin and his emissary Lucien because of her prejudice towards them. However, as she spends more time with them she begins to form a friendship with Lucien and a growing love for Tamlin. Feyre begins to accept the nature and complexities of their realm.

As Feyre starts to become more fond of the two Fae, she learns that there are secrets about their world that they aren’t sharing with her; secrets dark enough to put everyone’s life at risk.
Tamlin tries his best to hide her from the darkness that lurks in Prythian but Feyre’s curiosity leads her to life or death. As she learns about a cruel, powerful woman who has taken over Prythian and left warnings for Tamlin and Lucien, Feyre tries to save them from her which puts all of their lives at risk.

This book explores themes of romance, action and fairytale, which all balance each other out perfectly. A Court of Thorns and Roses is the first book of a captivating series. The ending of the book leaves you on a cliffhanger, anticipating reading A Court of Mist and Fury, the second book of the series.