Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas. I don’t know why I left it so long to pick this book up. I’m not sure if it was the utter tragedy of finishing A Court of Wings and Ruin, or if it was more that I felt that the original ACOTAR series had already been wrapped up nicely. 🤷🏻‍♀️ However, after sinking my teeth into all 784 pages of this tome, I now realise how much I needed this Nesta / Cassian instalment in my life! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

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Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Sarah J. Maas’s sexy, richly imagined series continues with the journey of Feyre’s fiery sister, Nesta.

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.

My Musings

First and foremost, Sarah J Maas was the writer I found after coming out of my major “Harry Potter is over” reading slump. I love all of her books and she is pretty much at the top of my auto-buy authors list. At the time A Court of Silver Flames was published, I didn’t fully see the need for a whole 780-odd pages on Nesta’s character… this was where I was incredibly wrong!! The character arc that Nesta goes through is one of epic proportions and it has taken me this fourth instalment of the ACOTAR series to finally see that. I have unequivocally fallen in love with her through reading this book (watch out Aelin 😂)!

As a character, Nesta goes through (pretty much) every emotion imaginable. There is rage, aggression, despair, self-loathing, denial, perseverance, compassion, respect, resilience, love – the list is a whole rainbow of feelings! I really admire the way that she faced up to herself and her own fears throughout the plot of this book. It was interesting to see the good, the bad and the ugly of her innermost thoughts, but also to witness her develop and grow into her own personality traits. Again, Nesta’s journey is one of self-acceptance – and once that has been established, other relationships can be built up or healed.

I loved the introduction of Gwyn and Emerie. There was such a need within this tale to incorporate new characters rather than just rely on the ones we have already come across in the previous four novels. Whilst Emerie and Gwyn can be seen as plot devices in Nesta’s redemption arc, they also bring their own backstories which add freshness and contribute to the overarching plot of this tale. In addition to this, they emphasise the theme of how women are treated with negativity and how we can rise up against those which oppress us.

The magical house and Made items were the plot drivers which I enjoyed the most. The house is almost a character in itself with all the sentient sass it hands out to those who visit. The extension of the storyline with the Cauldron since A Court of Wings and Ruin ended, seamlessly weaves a new narrative for us to follow without feeling like too much of a main series spin-off. And with that cliffhanger ending… I’m eagerly anticipating where the next ACOTAR novel will take us!

One thing that almost had me holding back from giving this the full five stars was the smut. This may need an ‘unpopular opinion warning’ on it but parts of the ‘romance’ in here was so graphic and cringe that I’m not sure I’d even call it romance! Whilst it seems that every SJM novel gets chunkier and chunkier (I like big books and I cannot lie 😉), I just pray that we don’t end up with them becoming hornier and pornier as time goes on – I loved seeing Nesta’s relationship blossom in this book, however I’m not really liking the fifty shades of fae vibes of it all… Am I a total prude? Anyone else feel like that or is it just me?

All in all, I am on tenterhooks now to find out what is going to happen to these characters next. I’m desperate for more knowledge of Elain / Azriel / Tamlin / Lucien and what the hell is going on there! With Crescent City 3 still sitting on my TBR bookshelf, I’m also desperate to know how this is factoring in to the whole Maasverse fae-quation! I’d better hurry off to the House of Flame and Shadow pretty sharpish!

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Find out more about this book here:

Amazon | Waterstones | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | Author Website

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