BOOK REVIEW | 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas
‘A Court of Thorns and Roses' is the first in the trilogy of novels by New York Times bestselling, author Sarah J. Maas.
A loose retelling of 'Beauty and the Beast'. The novel (written in 2009, but not published until 2015) follows nineteen year-old huntress Feyre who, upon killing a wolf in the woods, must then escape from a beast-like creature seeking retribution.
Dragged into the treacherous and magical land she only knew from legends, Feyre discovers that captor is not an animal. In fact, he is Tamlin - one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world. As Feyre dwells on Tamlin's estate, her feelings for him begin to change. But soon an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the land, and Feyre must find a way to stop it before Tamlin and his world are doomed forever. If you grew up with Disney animations as a child, you'll be familiar with the plot that Maas revisits here. Despite its 416-page length - and Maas' novels becoming lengthier with each new release - it's no surprise that 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' moves at a pace that's rather slow for some, and has little emotional impact like that of the Disney film or the 1740 original tale.
Though enjoyable in its familiarity and simplicity, this novel could very much be considered soft-core erotica, with its intimate scenes not exactly for the feint of heart. Maas has certainly taken a departure from her previous well known work in 'Throne of Glass' (now being developed into a television show by Hulu). Despite these scenes between protagonist Feyre and beast Tamlin, there appears to be very little believable chemistry or realistic challenge in their relationship. Their love for one another reads as instantaneous and lacking in authenticity. Simply put, it seems as though Maas couldn't think of a clever way to make a woman and a beast fall in love, so reverted to the immediate ‘spark’ instead. Readers may find themselves wondering, why should we continue to find the story of 'Beauty and the Beast' compelling in its romantic retelling? Maas' version - although with an interesting faerie twist - is hardly one that's pulled off, though there is no doubt about her talent as a writer, twisting an old classic into a modern fantasy.
Maas is a writer known for her ability to convey action better than most, and yet there was far too little action in ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses'. It is hard not to make comparison to 'Throne of Glass' but what made that story so compelling was its balance of beautiful scenic descriptions matched with a pounding action of the world that coaxed its audience into immersing themselves in. While 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' leaned far into overloading the novel with beautiful scenic descriptions, it also packed it full of unnecessary Greek god-like characters that hardly struck fear into its protagonist. 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' isn't a bad novel - it's just a retelling that could've been so much more, and is in dire need of adjustment. Slow-paced novels can work well if there's enough there to keep the audience reading; and unfortunately, it is clear in the copious amounts of sex described throughout that it may just have the stamina to hold up for Maas' loyal fan base. Others readers, however, may find it repetitive and boring, desiring the adventure that Maas is really known for. 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' is out now at your local bookstores and newsagents.
