A ​Court of Silver Flames

3 stars

I think my first mistake was jumping right into this book after the epic final 200 pages of book three. I needed at least a wee k or two to sit an appreciate the ending we got for the first major arc of this series.

I knew to expect new POVs with this book, but I don't think I was mentally prepared for it to read like the first book in a series (which typically rank at the bottom for me when it comes to characters). I don't necessarily dislike Nesta, and I think it was interesting to explore the trauma response of self destruction, but after dealing with one and a half books already waiting on the first FMC to get to the good part of character growth, having to then go through it again with Nesta felt a bit tedious. Although I do like the friendship arc she went through.

I do felt like I was suspending a little too much belief with them achieving slicing the ribbon and becoming proficient enough to wield blades, but mostly because Maas decided to mention multiple times how long the both the winged cultures they're emulating take to train (it's years on years btw). This was a little disappointing, because while the magic of this world is definitely on the loosey-goosey side, I usually feel like there's been at least a moderately adequate explanation for power levels of various characters.

I don't entirely mind using a pregnancy to explain keeping Feyre out of the way for Nesta's intro book, but the pregnancy complication trope to keep Rhys out of the way too? That felt lazy. Like really? Really? And then to double down with it as an excuse for taking away the bulk of Nesta's power? It's giving “I made my character too powerful, oops.” Like cool moment for Nesta, but a large reason I got invested in her was the promise of her potential future arcs being a badass but also struggling with that insane power. And yeah, I can see the seeds for certain things with because all is not what it seems, but it's just annoying to have the full scope dangled in front of your for a full book to then say “just kidding”. ALSO, hiding it from Feyre? Why do we insist on infantilizing this poor woman yet again?

The main reason I did not find myself itching to pick up and finish this book like the other three before it is the villain, the Queen, is boring. I get she's supposed to be a single book villain to then set up the death god guy Koschie (I know this is not the right spelling, but until I have a reason to care about the conflict of this next main arc, I will not be bothering to learn the correct spelling.) for this next main arc, but at least with Amarantha, fearing her was believable and fun because there emotional connections to the atrocities she committed. There's stories far and wide of her cruelty. Her presence is felt even before you know her name. The Queen feels so absent from this book, the seen with the harp just felt like “oh, there you are, I've been waiting on you”, and not in the fun vein of our (until recently favorite) bat boy. I fear the Trove, not her. The final (and really first) run in with her feels unearned. Which makes it unrewarding. Which makes it unfun to read. Also what's with using the ladies as a appetizer villain for the BBG? The first time it didn't really bother me because honestly, Amarantha was a bigger villain than the king, but doing it again is very meh to me.

The reason I gave this a three is because I see Maas making more of an effort to plant seeds for a later pay off which is an element the first three books largely lack when I compare them to other major fantasy series. Outside of the details regarding the trove covered in this book, I feel like she's gotten more subtle rather than openly telegraphing her plot hints like she does in the first three books. While contianing a lot of things I didn't care for, this books like she's trying to shift into a more ambitious attempt of completing this story than how it feels starting out. Also, I simply enjoy the world despite how little we get to see of it.

I am on the fence on whether I'd like to the next book occur in tandem with this one. On the one hand, I'd actually get to see all the characters I'm actually interested in, and likely a new continent with new cultures. On the other hand, I am desperate to leave this book arc behind. The things I want to see most are:
- find out finally whether one of the sisters is the Mother reincarnated
- literally anything with Mor. I am on my knees begging.
- characters that are not high fae or ancient beings
- for the disparity of treatment between the citizens of Velaris and the Hewn City to be addressed and even better if there's some repercussions
- it's been two whole books now and it's seeming more like there will not be an repercussions for the magic pulse connecting from connecting the two halves of the Book. I was told it would awake unfathomable beings from the depths of Cauldron knows where, GIVE THEM TO ME

I'll still be excited for the next book once it's announced and released, but it needs to be a 180 from this book. I can read through a slog (Wheel of Time fans get me), but book 4 is WAY too early for a slog to be starting. Anyway, this review probably sounds more heated than I feel about this book. I just had so much fun with the first three and a half books, it really sucked to then be let down like this.