Feyre, uma caçadora de dezanove anos, mata um lobo na floresta. Como consequência, uma criatura monstruosa aparece em busca de vingança e arrasta-a para uma terra encantada conhecida apenas através de lendas. Ali, porém, a sua prisão é um palácio magnífico e o seu carcereiro não é um monstro. Tamlin, o Grande Senhor da Corte da Primavera, trata-a como uma princesa.
Durante a convivência forçada com ele, os sentimentos de Feyre passam de fria hostilidade a uma paixão que será vivida apesar das advertências. Mas há um mal antigo a corroer aquele reino e a espalhar-se para o dos mortais. Feyre terá de arranjar forma de o deter ou Tamlin e o seu mundo estarão condenados para sempre.
I felt obligated to give this a read since it's on the Utah banned book list, and I wanted to reward the airport shop for having banned books, but the writing doesn't grab me. YA first-person narration can be quite good (Hunger Games, Poppy Wars?) but sometimes it just sounds like a teenager complaining about her day. The world-building is intriguing, as is often the case I perked up when the non-humans showed up, after a few chapters dropped it off at the neighborhood Little Free Library where it might find a more appreciative reader.
This wasn't anything to write home about. I get why it might have broad appeal but I've definitely read better romantacy books--and worse. I have some general criticisms on why I didn't enjoy this more. First, the protagonist started off very interesting and then got very un-interesting. I liked learning about her and her world and how she saw things, but as the story wore on, she became flatter and more of a trope than a unique person.
Secondly, the writing is just overly dramatic at several points. To the point where it grated (though sometimes it looped back around and just flat out became funny.) Some of the things Feyre says are so overwrought, which only further contributes to my previous point.
She also seems to suffer from holding the Idiot Ball several times. I couldn't tell if we were supposed to think she was clever or not. Sometimes …
This wasn't anything to write home about. I get why it might have broad appeal but I've definitely read better romantacy books--and worse. I have some general criticisms on why I didn't enjoy this more. First, the protagonist started off very interesting and then got very un-interesting. I liked learning about her and her world and how she saw things, but as the story wore on, she became flatter and more of a trope than a unique person.
Secondly, the writing is just overly dramatic at several points. To the point where it grated (though sometimes it looped back around and just flat out became funny.) Some of the things Feyre says are so overwrought, which only further contributes to my previous point.
She also seems to suffer from holding the Idiot Ball several times. I couldn't tell if we were supposed to think she was clever or not. Sometimes she was, and sometimes she wasn't, and it always whatever was most convenient to the plot at the time.
Finally, I really didn't care for the set up of a love triangle. Having an anti-hero in the mix is fine--I tend to like those characters--but holding up a neon sign that says "Secondary Love Interest" just diminished what would have otherwise been an interesting character.
This book was long! It felt like the author painted themselves in a corner and then decided to take the circuitous route out. It's a unique world, kinda standard fantasy/magic story, lots of unexpected complications. Good book, but it's a lot. Planning on reading the next one in a year or so.
