Sarah J. Maas's fantasy is a must read for all

     If you’re a fan of new adult or fantasy books, then you’ve probably heard of Sarah J. Maas or her Throne of Glass book series. However, her other fantasy series A Court of Thorns and Roses has just as large of a fanbase and is critically acclaimed by many. This retelling of Beauty and the Beast, set in a world where faeries exist, follows one girl as she tries to survive in a world that is sometimes cruel and unfair.
     Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price. Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.
     I’m genuinely so mad at myself for not reading this book sooner because I became so obsessed with it that it’s probably not healthy… It was magical, entertaining, adventurous, and so enthralling to imagine a world where faeries and humans coexist (though not peacefully) and what happens when they cross over territory lines.
     This book is heavy with world-building and setting the tone for the latter half of the novel; however, the descriptions and Feyre’s narration keeps the plot engaging and will have you turning the pages to see what will happen next. 
     I loved the bits of fairy tales elements woven into the plot. It made this Beauty and the Beast retelling live up to that description without seeming like a cliché. While you can draw connections between the popular story and Feyre’s journey, the plot takes liberties that only heighten the reader’s investment in the story. Not only that, but the characters are all so complex and interesting that you can’t help but love and hate all of them. The lines of right and wrong get a bit blurred as promises and moral obligations plague the characters as they try to survive and thrive, yet how far they will go for self-preservation is continuously put to the test.
     I laughed, I teared up, and I wanted to throw my book across the room. Now I’m furiously telling everyone I know that they have to read this book if they haven’t already because it’s so mind-blowing and fantastic! All book lovers should read this book at some point in their lives! So don’t mind me as I sulk in a corner waiting for the sequel to come in the mail...

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