After reading A Court of Thorns and Roses and I got to know that there is a sequel to it, I was surprised to say the least. You see, I wondered what the sequel would bring to the reader. I mean, I got the happy ending, the hero and heroine were together and if at times I felt like I would have loved to know more about certain characters, that’ s just part of the charm of the story right?
But then I read A Court of Mist and Fury and oh god was I hooked! A Court of Mist and Fury is not about the fairy tale. We got that in the previous book. This is about what comes after — the dose of reality. It is so easy to fall in love but what happens after that? Have we ever wondered what happened to the heroine after she got her hero? Well, this book answers that query.
When Feyre was forced to rescue her lover Tamlin from the clutches of Amarantha, she had never anticipated what the cost would be for her actions. Faced with her death and subsequent rebirth with the help of the seven High Lords, in return for her freeing everyone from Amarantha, we see Feyre being happy and grateful to be alive though still reeling from certain actions she had to do to save everyone — the classic case of survivor’s guilt. However, when she was reborn, she did so not as a human but as High Fae — equal to those who had tortured her before. Also making her nervous is the bargain she struck with none other than Rhysand — High Lord of Night Court, known to all as “Amarantha’s whore” in a moment of weakness. The bargain was this — to spend a week with him every month after she gets out. In order to bind the debt, Feyre gets magically tattooed in her left hand which creates a bond with Rhysand.
Three months later — Feyre is back at Spring Court, Tamlin has proposed to her and they are to be wed soon. All seems well at first look but Rhysand has not called in his debt and Feyre is not entirely happy with her life. Tamlin, who was forced to watch helplessly while Amarantha killed his love, is plagued by a sense of protectiveness that after a point seems more like obsession. Feyre is broken and often woken up by nightmares. She believes she’s not worthy of the title of “saviour” that she’s been given. So she allows herself to be coddled, not deigning to face life itself.
Tamlin’s childhood friend Ianthe — one of the twelve High Priestesses of the land — has come to bless their wedding, and Feyre usually relies on her and Tamlin to navigate the court life. Faced with this life that is almost one of a prisoner, Feyre begins to feel suffocated and asks Tamlin to take her across the wall to a nearby village where restorations are going on after Amarantha’s rule. But Tamlin not only refuses her, he appoints guards to monitor her. The day of the weeding, she is apprehensive of starting a future with Tamlin without even a mating bond* and panics at the middle of the aisle.
Shockingly, Rhysand arrives and calls in his bargain — to spend a week with him and whisks her away to Night Court. Apparently, Rhys had heard Feyre saying “no” in her mind repeatedly and had come to rescue her, wreathed in shadows and endless light — in typical night court fashion. Feyre however is enraged at having been kidnapped. On her first day at Night Court, Rhysand asks her to learn to read as well as to protect her mind, since daemati (people like Rhys who can read minds) could easily manipulate her mind. She decides to follow his advice but mostly spends time alone. She also meets Morrigan, a lovely woman and cousin to Rhysand at Night Court. Morrigan seems warm and friendly but Feyre is not yet of mind to talk to anyone.
When Feyre is taken to Night Court she learns that because she was Made by all the seven High Lords, she may possess magical powers tied to all of them, making her a unique power in the coming war. She begs Tamlin to let her have some freedom and Tamlin agrees reluctantly (after losing his temper so spectacularly that Feyre was forced to shield herself, might I add) but when she’s taken again next month and returned after a week Tamlin has yet again become cruel and controlling. (Great work alienating your lover, Tamlin *sarcastic slow claps*)
When Feyre decides to go after Tamlin when he and Lucien goes out to inspect the lands, Tamlin does the unthinkable. He locks her in his mansion and Feyre who is already faced with PTSD after being imprisoned at Under The Mountain, breaks down completely becoming mad with fear. Morrigan (also called Mor) rescues her as Rhysand cannot according to the terms of the bargain. When she reaches Night Court this time, she decides to stay and work with them.
The story then follows that the King of Hybern has been searching for The Cauldron — a magical object that is said to have begun all life on their lands — to invade Prythian and conquer the lands. Because The Cauldron brought everything to life, destroying it would mean the end of life too. But putting such a powerful object in one person’s hands is also risky so it was hidden long ago, along with the Book of Breathings which can nullify the Cauldron’s power. Rhys is searching for a way to stop Hybern and Feyre agrees to help him find the book as it seems only she can.
Along the way she finds out more about the Inner Circle of Night Court* — Amren, Mor, Cassian and Azriel — Rhysand’s closest friends. The idea of cold and calculating Rhysand having friends first seems absurd to Feyre but slowly she realizes that what Rhysand behaved like Under The Mountain was just a mask he wore to protect his loved ones and his home Velaris — the City of Starlight. Feyre is finally recovering from her nightmares and beginning to enjoy life, also while training with Cassian and Azriel who are Illyrian warriors*. As Feyre gets closer to these people she also begins to fall for Rhysand.
As readers, even we get to actually know Rhysand and what exactly he was forced to become to be called as a “whore” by everyone but still he persisted in doing what he thought was right. (The moment when Rhys actually began to reveal his actual self, I fell for him and I will love this character forever and ever. He’s right up there with Mr. Darcy!) The one thing that makes this person just so real is his ability to be so human in everything — right from giving Feyre choice is every little thing she does, to treating his subjects as real people instead of lording over them, to sacrificing himself for his family, Rhysand is someone who we should all strive to be.
Burned by love once, she is reluctant to give in to her feelings again, until Rhysand confesses that Feyre is his mate. Shocked by his revelation about how difficult it was for him to let her go once, Feyre accepts the bond nonetheless, recognizing his love.
But the story is not yet over. Will they find the Book of Breathings and manage to stop Hybern from invading? Is Tamlin truly over Feyre leaving him or is he cooking up a jealous plan to take her back? What happens to Feyre’s human family — her father and sisters Nesta and Elain? This makes for such an exciting story that the book literally becomes un-put-down-able. Don’t even get me started on the cliff-hanger at the end. If I was wondering what the story would be after ACOTAR, after reading ACOMAF, I could not wait to continue the story in the third book in the series, A Court of Wings and Ruin.
ACOMAF is about what comes after the supposed happy ending. SJM is a realist enough to say that sometimes first love is not forever. Sometimes love can become poisonous. Often, it is easy to do heroic things but difficult to face the aftermath. It is human to feel guilty about surviving a tragedy. Always, it is better to love someone who is willing to say “it is your choice” rather than being someone’s plaything. Always, it is better to be a survivor than to be protected. And gentlemen, every time you feel a little obsessed and entitled to “protect” us women, maybe you could remember that we’re people too, with the ability to decide for ourselves.
Footnote: I will leave you saying this one thing: It is always better to love a Rhysand than a Tamlin. Turns out, Rhysand was always the hero!!! (I so love it when I get to read about a layered character like Rhysand).
P.S: Interested enough in the story yet? Read the book to know all the spoilers that I haven’t revealed here! Also, wait for my review of the third book in the series, A Court of Wings and Ruin!
*Note:
- A mating bond : A magical bond between two soul mates, often said to create a mental link between the two.
- Illyrian warriors: A kind of Fae group who have wings and train to be warriors in the armies of Night Court. They are led by Cassian.
- The Inner Circle of Night Court: Consists of Rhysand — the Hight Lord, Amren — his Second and advisor, Morrigan — his Third who runs the Court affairs, Cassian — his army commander and Azriel —Shadowsinger and his Spymaster.
