Someone told me to give it a second chance—and I’m so glad I did.

A Court of Thorns and Roses & A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Someone told me to give it a second chance and I’m so glad I did.

I’ve mentioned on other platforms that A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR), the first book in Sarah J. Maas’s popular fantasy series, wasn’t exactly my favorite. It took me quite a while to finish. It wasn’t a bad book, but it didn’t really pull me in until the very end. Like many readers, I picked it up because of the massive praise it still gets after all these years. But as I was reading, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it reminded me way too much of Beauty and the Beast which wouldn’t have been a big deal, except I was working at my local theatre at the time… on a Beauty and the Beast musical. So between rehearsals and reading, I felt like I was living in a tale as old as time. Needless to say, I was a little over it.

The ending of ACOTAR did pique my interest, but not enough to make me eager for book two. That is, until I was backstage one day chatting with one of the cast members Babette, to be exact and she brought up the series. I shared my lukewarm opinion of the first book, and she insisted, “Just read the second one. Trust me your opinion will change.” So I did.

Enter A Court of Mist and Fury.

Now this book pulled me in completely. The characters became more dynamic, the world expanded, and the writing just felt richer. Honestly, Rhysand already stood out to me in the first book he was one of the main reasons I kept reading but he really came alive in book two. Tamlin, on the other hand? Ugh. He was already annoying me in ACOTAR, but Mist and Fury confirmed that my instincts about him were spot on. (Sorry not sorry Tampon, anyone?)

Feyre also grew on me a lot more in the second book. I felt for her in ACOTAR, especially during the scenes where she was struggling emotionally and felt so defeated even over something as simple as not being able to read. You could just feel her heartache and exhaustion. But in book two, being surrounded by the right people in the right place, she became so much stronger. Watching her journey unfold was genuinely powerful.

Looking back, I actually appreciate A Court of Thorns and Roses more now after reading Mist and Fury. Seeing how the characters evolved especially Feyre and Rhysand gave new meaning to parts of the first book that didn’t hit as hard the first time around.

As a newcomer to this series, I’m now fully invested. I just started A Court of Wings and Ruin, and I have a feeling it’s going to be another wild ride. I’m glad I listened to the advice and gave the series another shot because now, I’m hooked.