For some unknown reason I suddenly started seeing a lot of junky AI images, reels, and posts about the ACOTAR series, likely something to do with the recent announcement of two more books to the series. I have never read this series. I figured I pick up the first one to see. Verdict: I can see how-why the series might get addictive, but I also am not planning to continue with it.
A Court of Thorns and Roses is basic fantasy, and romance, with some basis in fairy tale and folk lore. There are even a couple of scenes where it’s pretty obvious which fairy tale, and that it’s the Disney version, at least until about the half way point. Then, definitely not Disney, but not, in this particular case, for the smut, actually surprisingly little of that. That kind of shift in tone might pass for the story maturing or seeming more interesting; there is banter, there is the basic isekai shenanigans, and some good support characters. It all adds up to some potential.
HOWEVER, if you even start to think about what’s going on and who is involved in any little depth, it gets problematic. Problem one: the MC, Feyre (that name isn’t even a little bit foreshadowy, nope, not at all). Has no one in this world ever met or seen a spunky girl, who turns out to be quite pretty once no longer fighting for basic survival? There is no clear reason why everyone suddenly likes and is nice to her. Plus, even if it looks like the Fey aren’t as bad as reputed, why must she eternally go against all safety advice, get into trouble, and require rescuing? I hate that. Problem 2: romantic set ups (yes, plural because of course). Guy 1: nice but damaged, wants to be seen as himself, not his title. Guy 2: dangerous, but actually decent, who has tragic past of some sort. Didn’t need to see any spoilers from later books to guess what happens/will happen there. But still, either one of these guys with a girl who falls for whoever is nice to her doesn’t bode well, since seeing “guy as himself not as he presents” with “girl who just wants guy who is decent to her” is not a terribly convincing reason for the level of romantic connection that is supposedly happening. Problem 3: plot twists are convenient and sudden. The one borrowed from Disney is almost eye-roll worthy. Problem 4: plot holes. Why certain major hints and events must happen the way they must is never really explained well, or for a very flimsy reason.
I don’t feel the need to go further with this series. I also hope the social media AI junk goes away; I didn’t even click on anything to start it. That alone is almost reason enough to quit.
