So I just read the first book in the Sarah J Maas ACOTAR series after having it on my TBR for the past few years. And I was…underwhelmed? Or just whelmed? Even though I inhaled the book in like two days hoping it would get better and excite me, I was definitely not overwhelmed.
I read some books in the throne of glass series when I was like 13 (back when Waterstones had it in the Teenage fiction section right out off the press lol) and didn’t mind her writing, though I was defs too young for the subject matter at the time. I believed the hype on the ACOTAR series and was super excited as I’ve been in the mood for a fantasy romance since finishing Fourth Wing.
The issue I found with ACOTAR is that there just wasn’t much depth to it?? I desperately want to stan Feyre and Tamlin, but the only thing I like about Feyre is that we share a similar name, but Tamlin just doesn’t seem as fleshed out as I need him to be to be fully invested in his character. I feel like they have potential and it’s just not coming through for me. If anything, the only ones I’ve any interest in currently are Lucien and Rhys, but even then I’m hanging on by my fingernails.
I’ve heard that the rest of the series is better, but I’m debating even buying the second book. Did anyone else find it hard to warm up to? For an author who has been praised for her world building and character arcs, I’m really not seeing that shine through in this first installation.
So please, fantasy romance lovers (and haters) of Reddit. Tell me if it’s worth it, what you thought of the first book in comparison to the others. Alternatively, tell me I’m wasting my time and need to find a better fantasy romance with equal levels of spice and world building to actually get my teeth into. I want to know if the pretty pastel colours of the ACOTAR book covers are worth the investment to sit on my shelf.
Go!
by caffeinated_hardback