A Court of Thorn and Roses (A Court of Thorn and Roses #1) by Sarah J. Maas
Summary: A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.
As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.
Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!
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Source: I purchased a hardcover.
Review:
I absolutely loved A Court of Thorn and Roses. It was magnificent, as well written as the Throne of Glass series, and in some ways, even better. It was a mixture of fantasy and fairy tale. Not only did it involve Faery legends, it was somewhat of a Beauty and the Beast retelling at the same time. I loved that it combined various aspects, making it a unique and tantalizing novel.
I admired Feyre and loved her as a character. She was ruthless and cunning, but she was out of her element in beyond the gate in the world of the Fae. There was so much she didn't know about it. The legends and her life on the other side did not prepare her well for the types of people and creatures she met.
I really liked Tamlin and Lucien. As each bit of information about them was uncovered, it was like peeling layers back. Tamlin was a multidimensional character with problems of his own. He was unable to express those problems to Feyre for multiple reasons. I wasn't expecting the story to follow the arc that it did. Other fairy tale retellings would have stopped with a happily ever after once the heroine discovered she had feelings for the beast, but A Court of Thorn and Roses did not take that route. And that is what puts it above and beyond other retellings!
As I said, the novel is unique and full of various aspects. The story took an unexpected turn. Things became dangerous, complicated, and terrible for the characters. I loved the twist and I enjoyed being to able to see Feyre fight for everything she believed in against all odds, further molding her into a complex person and favorite character. She was awesome.
However, I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel now. I am terrified of the sequel and what will happen. I have no idea if the author will turn things into something I don't want to see happen... but at the same time, I'm trying to be open to the idea. Sarah J. Maas is an awesome author who has created a roller coaster of emotions for me with this series as well as the Throne of Glass novels, so I have faith that the series will continue to be awesome.
I highly recommend A Court of Thorn and Roses, especially if you're a fan of Throne of Glass because Sarah J. Maas writes awesome books. I think it's different enough to not really compete with it. In some ways, it's better because I felt like there was more romantic tension, but obviously there are things I prefer about Throne of Glass. This is definitely a must read whether you like fantasy, Fae legends, or fairy tale retellings because it combines them all into one awesome story! I can't wait for the sequel. 
