Title: A Court of Thorns and
Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: 2021
Number of pages: 419
Geographic Setting: The novel is set in Prythian. The first setting is in the
mortal lands in Feyre’s cottage, and most of the book takes place in Tamlin’s
Estate in the Spring Court.
Period: 1700-1800s
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses Series-Book One
Plot Summary:
Feyre’s family is starving, so she hunts and secures food for her sisters
and father. She sees a deer and a large-sized
wolf hunting it. She takes her ash wood
core and kills the large wolf. Bringing the deer and the wolf meat back home,
she returns to her family’s cabin. But, little does she know the wolf is high fae,
and she has to leave home and live in the Fairie World from now on. Tamlin collects her, and she goes to the
Spring Court to live out her days. At
first, Feyre worries about her family and doesn’t want to break the promise she
made to her mother to take care of her sisters and her father. She doesn’t
realize at first that Tamlin told them she went to a rich aunt and would be
away for a time, and he took care of her family. At the Spring Court, she learns of the
curse. The fairies in the Spring Court
have masks stuck to their faces, and their magic is wonky due to a curse placed
on the Spring Court. We learn the person
who caused the curse is Amarantha. She
wants Tamlin’s love, and the curse is that a woman who hates the fairies falls
in love with Tamlin, and all they have to say is I love you. Feyre’s relationship with Tamlin develops,
but before she can say I love you, she is told to return to the mortal realm.
Will Feyre save Tamlin and the fairies in time, and can she save herself from Amarantha's
dark magic?
Subject Headings: Fairies, Young Adult Book, Young Adult Fantasy, magic, curses
Appeal: One appeal factor is the age of the
heroine in the book. Young adult books feature teenage protagonists in middle
school and high school. Feyre is a young adult trying to figure out the world
and who she is. This leads to the second appeal factor: the book is a coming-of-age
story. Teens decide who they want to become in the world. It is their first step into the world. In contrast, new adults also have coming-of-age
stories, but they become who they want to be or not (Brookover et al.,
2014). Another appeal factor is characterization. Usually, young adult novels have a likable
main character and a character they can support. Feyre is a likable character
who would do anything for her family, even to her detriment. As she figures out the fairy world, the reader
cheers her on.
Storyline: The pace of this young adult book is fast. The plot drives it along. The book focuses on what happens to Feyre’s life as she navigates fairyland and her relationship with Tamlin and the other fairies. The other characters in the book drive the pace, too! Mainly because we learn about the curse as we read the book. As the story goes along, the book contains violence toward the fairies and the humans as we struggle to find out who is evil and who is not.
Three terms that best
describe this book: Dangerous, magical creatures, and
romance
Similar Authors and
Works (Why are they similar?)
3 Relevant fiction
works and authors
1.
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson. Both books are fast-paced and go through an
epic adventure. Both fall in love with
their captor.
2.
Hunted by Meagan Spooner. Both are
Beauty and the Beast retellings. Both have extensive world-building.
3.
The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Francis Long. Both books have a
heroine trying to survive Fae politics they don’t understand. Both use their wits to survive and their love
interest.
3 Relevant non-fiction works and authors
1. 21 Songs to listen to while you read A Court of Thorns and Roses
by S. Wingo. Music plays a part in the plot in several areas in the book. For instance, when Feyre and Tamlin drink fairies’
wine and dance the night away.
2. Beauty and the Beast and Classic Fairy Tales by Various Authors.
Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses retells this classic fairy tale. Tamlin's
mask covers most of his face, and Feyre has to fall in love without seeing his
face.
3. A Court of Thorns and Roses Coloring book by Sarah J. Maas.
Feyre is a budding artist. She painted her cabin when she was in the human
world and later in the fairie world. https://tinyurl.com/5j2babz2
References
Brookover,
S., Burns, E., & Jensen, K. (2014). What’s New About New Adult? Horn
Book Magazine, 90(1),
41–45.000000
Wingo, S. (2022, November 22). Twenty-one
songs to listen to while you read “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” Bookstr.
https://bookstr.com/article/21-songs-to-listen-to-while-you-read-a-court-of-thorns-and-roses/
I have heard so much about this series. I find it interesting that you classified it as a young adult book. I find this series to be one that toes the line between YA and NA which can make it hard to classify.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to do this book for our romance annotation, but when I asked Professor Cataldi, she classified it as a young adult. But, I understand how it skirts the lines between young adult and new adult which is a good point.
ReplyDeleteThis book is everywhere! We can't keep it on the shelves at work because it is so popular. It seem like the kind of book I would enjoy, but I've seen so much about it and so many spoilers that I don't know if I could actually get into it. Sarah J Maas is definitely having a moment right now!
ReplyDeleteExcellent job. Especially on the summary and appeals! This title is so hot right now!
ReplyDelete