10 harsh realities of reading the first Court of Thorns and Roses book, 9 years later

It’s been almost a decade since Sarah J. Maas’ A yard of thorns and roses Hit the bookstore shelves, and some aspects of the first novel haven’t aged. A distinct weakness (or welcome subversion) of this installment is that it mostly sets up the events of its sequels. A yard of thorns and roses Depicting the events that lead to Fayre being pulled into the intricacies of the fae land of Prithian, Fall in love with a high lord, and become fae yourself.

Some of the issues with the first novel in Maas’ sophomore series affect the rest of the story, Presenting several challenges for the A yard of thorns and roses TV show. Meanwhile, Tamlin’s characterization in the first book is a harsh reality for the show to contend with as the story heads toward Feyre ending up with Rhys. A yard of thorns and roses Introduced readers to a new alluring fairy world, but it is not without its flaws.

10

Feyre & Tamlin’s relationship feels destined to fail

There are several red flags in Feyre & Tamlin’s relationship, even in book one

A yard of thorns and roses Committed to the Beauty and the Beast Again, portrays Fire falling in love with Tamlin and breaking the curse that plagues him and his people. Their relationship then crumbles in the second book, causing Four to flee the Spring Court for the Night Court. But, while The first A yard of thorns and roses Book works as a standaloneIt is clear that the relationship between Pierre and Tomlin has been steadily deteriorating.

Tamlin demonstrates a lot of red flag behaviors in the first book Which become more extreme and cause fire to leave him in the second. He is controlling, possessive, and sometimes violent, based on the excuse that he cannot control his fae instincts. Readers may have noticed these things but dismissed them based on genre conventions until they became unforgivable in A court of fog and fury – When they should not have been allowed to begin.

9

Feyre’s family is terrible, which is resolved quickly later

Feyre quickly forgives her sister and her father in the book

A yard of thorns and roses Begins with a harmful dynamic between Feyre and her family, Something else taken directly from these Beauty and the Beast Source material. Fire’s father makes little effort to provide for them; Her eldest sister Nesta does not want to help out of hatred for their father; Middle sister Elain is clueless as to how she can contribute. This leaves Fire, the youngest sister, with the majority of the work, they should not starve.

The problems of the family are solved with a few apologies in later books, and nothing else. ironic, Nesta’s negligence is probably handled the best because the books at least dive into her psychology without condoning her. – Still himself offers more of a genuine expression of regret. However, the quick turn of the sisters to become likable characters is shocking when revisiting the first book.

8

The world-building in a lot of thorns and roses could be better

A lot of thorns and roses gloss over some of the Magic system

in retrospect, A yard of thorns and roses’ World-building is a bit strange. All this takes place on one island, where there are seven fae territories governed by different seasonal magic and one sliver of human-inhabited lands. There are other massive countries in the world, but the story keeps its focus on this one strange island. The reasons for Prithian exist as it is not fully explained.

The hierarchy of magical powers is also not fully delved into. The High Lords are supposed to be the most powerful characters in A yard of thorns and rosesBut other feats that can outmatch them exist with vaguely defined magic. The first book promises a rich world around Prithian, But even the further explanation on him in the sequels is not entirely satisfactory. Other supernatural beings just randomly crop up as Maas continues to extend the series beyond her original vision.

7

A lot of thorns and roses don’t know what to do with Lucien

Lucien cannot be the love interest because of the demands of the story

Lucien inhabits an uncertain place in the first book, and given the later dynamic between him, Feyre, and Tamlin, his relationship with the budding romance is manipulative. Lucien actually adheres to more of the typical romantic love interest tropes, as a witty and sarcastic noble entertaining himself by verbally sparring with Feyre. however, Both Lucien and Tamlin understand that Fire must fall in love with Tamlin in order for the curse to be broken. That’s how he behaves.

Lucien is an extra character in the basic framework of the first novel’s plot, Which comes to life in Spring Court and contributes to Tomlin’s otherwise bland characterization. He goes off on unseen, unspecified missions so Feyre and Tamlin can be alone. Also, Lucien won’t be any help when Tamlin gets more abused in the next book, so his reasons for being there are worthless.

6

Rhysand is the most interesting character in a lot of thorns and roses

Rhys distracts from the people who are supposed to be important in the book

A yard of thorns and roses Maybe including Lucien for the sake of a more interesting supporting character, but Rhys dominates the story. Rhys’ role in the first book makes more sense in retrospect As it lays the groundwork for his and Feyre’s romance. However, without that context, he’s an extremely distracting supporting character who underscores that Feyre and Tamlin are kind of boring.

Rhys’ aesthetic is all dark and dramatic; He is characterized as intensely alluring and charismatic; And He’s clearly playing a much more complicated game with Amarantha than Tamlin and Lucien are remotely capable of. Ultimately, Rhys overshadows what is supposed to be the main storyline of the first book. While readers at least get more time with him in subsequent novels, he emphasizes that the first one didn’t have much going for him.

5

A Yard of Thorns and Roses title does not age well

“A Court of Thorns and Roses” condemns roses for one more book

The title of A yard of thorns and roses refers to the simultaneously beautiful and dangerous setting of the Spring Court, Which is characterized by an overwhelming number of roses. The title also became the catchy acronym “Akotar,” Which works as a casual term for the entire series. However, the title of the first book does not really work for the series as a whole, a common problem with long fantasy book series referred to by the name of the first book.

Pretty much within 100 pages of A court of fog and furyThe story is no longer about the Spring Court. The overall aesthetic of the series is now about soothing darkness and glittering stars, while Roses and the sickly sweet smell of the spring yard are painted as disgusting. Ironically, everyone still calls the series with a title associated with these things.

4

A lot of thorns and roses do not need to be so toxic

The tall fae are terrible in a lot of thorns and roses

A yard of thorns and roses’ Fae are terrible, upholding a deeply patriarchal and even violent social hierarchy. In the isolated setting of the cut-throat spring court in the first book, it doesn’t go too far—it’s not like Tomlin and Lucien are going to suddenly stop talking to tell Pyrrha, whom they’re trying to win over, about how they treat women like Secondary citizens. however, It gives several examples of this, with Alys telling how she ran away from her home And mentioned about the treatment of “smaller” Ferries.

This setting is in service of the storyline of women’s empowerment, where Feyre becomes Prithian’s first High Lady. However, going back to the first book, some may be inclined to question how much of this is really necessary. Elements like a non-optional mating ritual and Feyre being sexually threatened within minutes of going to the Kalanmai celebration just so Rhys can save her aren’t entirely needed.

3

Feyre & Rhys under the mountain

Later books move past Rhys’ actions under the mountain

Rhys reaps the benefits of being immensely preferred to Tamlin, but his actions in the first book also don’t paint a picture of a completely consensual relationship. Feyre and Rhys find themselves in the highly volatile situation of surviving Amarantha’s court, Where Rhys (allegedly) has to make it look like he’s tormenting Feyre, so Amarantha won’t suspect a genuine bond. This includes forcing her to dress in scraps, getting her drunk on furry wine, and having her lounge on his lap all night.

Rhys’ later explanation was that he thought it would be easier if Feyre didn’t remember much of what happened. Furthermore, to cover up that Feyre and Tamlin almost had sex in the corridors of the mountain, Rhys forcefully kisses Feyre to explain to Amarantha why she looks disheveled. Even if Feyre and the reader accept his explanation of trying to keep her alive, the main couple’s first kiss is not consensual.

2

A lot of thorns and roses has a lot of downtime (it’s all a placeholder)

The first book is established, just like Throne of Glass and Crescent City

A yard of thorns and roses moves slowly because, essentially, The whole novel is a placeholder until the reader comes to the fire, which becomes part of the nighttime in the second book. This is something of a standard for Maas’ writing as she spends two books confirming these Throne of Glass series before Aelin sets out on her quest to reclaim her throne. However, these are still not the best Throne of Glass Books and are arguably better than the first A yard of thorns and roses.

when The first book is mostly about Fayre and Tamlin sitting around Spring Court getting to know each other, It has to keep coming up with threats and action to catch the trend. This includes Feyre going after the Surreal, monsters arriving at the manor, and Rhys crashing a meeting in characteristically dramatic fashion to threaten them all. The latter is more essential to the plot, but it is clear that the book had to think about ways to fill pages.

1

Amarantha’s puzzle was too easy

All fans of A Lot of Thorns and Roses have guessed the answer to the riddle

“The puzzle was so easy” is a running joke for those A yard of thorns and roses Fandom. Amarantha challenges Feyre with surviving three tasks spaced over three months, but also presents her with a winner-take-all puzzle To get over the whole thing. The obvious answer to the puzzle that also plays with Beauty and the Beast Themes is “Love.” If Feyre gets this riddle right, all the High Lords instantly get their powers back:

“There are those who seek my life but never meet me,

And those whom I kiss but who crush me under ungrateful feet.

At times I like to favor the wise and the beautiful,

But I bless all those who are brave enough to dare.

By and large, my ministries are soft and sweet,

But scorned, I became a difficult animal to defeat.

For though each of my strikes is a mighty blow,

When I kill, I do it slowly…”

Part of the immersion technique is that Fire doesn’t know she’s in an I.A. novel, the context of which makes the answer even more blatant. However, Amarantha’s obsession with Tamlin and manipulating people’s emotions may have clued her in. Because Feyre misses it or doesn’t want to risk getting it wrong, She and everyone else endure three more months of Amarantha’s regime. Of all the harsh realities about the first A yard of thorns and rosesThis is the one that has become the most of an unfortunate running gag.