Review: A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
“Stars flickered around us, sweet darkness sweeping in. As if we were the only souls in a galaxy.”
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The Basics
Title: A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.5)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Published: 2019 (first published 2018)
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA — Bloomsbury
Pages: 229
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Fantasy, High fantasy, Romance, Fantasy romance, New adult, Holiday
Book Synopsis
With the war against Hybern over, Feyre and Rhysand have returned to Velaris with their family and friends to prepare for the upcoming Winter Solstice festivities. In between making arrangements for the holiday and helping to rebuild their beloved city, everyone is trying to come to terms with what they experienced during the war. Most are coping fairly well, but some, particularly Nesta, are unable to move forward with their lives. The events in this novella set the stage for the soon-to-be-released sequel, A Court of Silver Flames.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: Not the most exciting book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series but an enjoyable read nonetheless.
A Court of Frost and Starlight is essentially an extended epilogue to A Court of Wings and Ruin that shows how Feyre and her inner circle are faring after the war’s conclusion. With minimal action, it also serves as a breather before the inevitably fast-paced, action-filled sequel, A Court of Silver Flames. While this book is not as engrossing as the preceding three books, I still enjoyed it for the glimpse into the characters’ everyday lives that it provided.
This book also lays the groundwork for the next book, hinting at a number of storylines that could be featured in it. The most intriguing of these potential plots relates to Cassian and Nesta. The events in A Court of Frost and Starlight make it clear that the two still have feelings for one another, and I imagine their relationship will be one of the prominent storylines in A Court of Silver Flames. Another possible subplot that piqued my interest is a Lucien, Azriel, and Elain love triangle. There seems to be something between Elain and Azriel, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the sequel addresses this conflict between who Elain is attracted to vs. who her mate is.
Another notable characteristic of A Court of Frost and Starlight is its narrative style. Whereas the previous books were written from the perspective of Feyre, A Court of Frost and Starlight has alternating points of view. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character, including Feyre, Rhysand, Cassian, Nesta, and Mor. On the one hand, this narrative style allows us to gain insight into each of the characters’ states of mind, and through these insights, we are able to surmise what their subplot will revolve around in the next book. On the other hand, it detracts from the overall flow of the book.
The not so good
Apart from the shifting point of view, I was not crazy about Nesta’s character. In this book, she has lost the likability she gained in A Court of Wings and Ruin and has become self-destructive and unfeeling toward those around her. That said, I imagine this change in personality will play out and be reversed to some degree in A Court of Silver Flames.
Overall
A Court of Frost and Starlight is a respite between the action-packed, full-length novels. It allows you a peak into the character’s regular lives when they aren’t off fighting wars or saving the realm by some other means. It also builds anticipation for the next book in the series. In fact, it does such a good job generating excitement for A Court of Silver Flames that I’d recommend waiting to read this book until it’s closer to the release date of A Court of Silver Flames. Otherwise, like me, you’ll be left hanging for several months.
