The ACOTAR Series by Sarah J. Maas

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Romantasy (Romance, Fantasy)
Publication Date: 2015 - 2021
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (Out of 5) (4.3/5 stars)

Introduction

I chose to start reading this series because it had taken the world by storm. It piqued my interest due to the overwhelmingly positive reviews it was getting from sources I trusted to know a good book when they see one. This series has shot to the top of the charts and, in my humble opinion, is an instant cult classic. The fans of these books are die-hard, they are ruthless in their defense of this series, and today we’re going to dive into why, exactly, no one can escape the pull.

ACOTAR’s premise is simple, in terms of plot. A young woman, struggling to keep her previously well-off family from starving to death, sets out on a hunting trip that will forever change the trajectory of her life, as well as the lives of everyone around her. When she is brought into the magical world, she quickly realizes that her rough exterior might be the only thing to keep her alive… or it could be the thing that gets her killed. The entire series is a battle of wits; Reader against main character, reader against the author, reader against their own presumptions. This series will make you question what you think you know, what you don’t know, and what’s to come.

Synopsis

The setting takes place across several Courts within the continent of Prythian. The building of each Court is no small feat, each holding their own secrets, their own powers, and their own characters that drive the plot forward. I never stopped reading in wide-eyed wonder at the landscapes and descriptions of each place that Feyre must venture in order to save herself, and those she loves, from sure peril. Each setting brings with it it’s own challenges, but all are equally as beautifully built as the last. Feyre must constantly decide between what is shown to her, and what truly is. The struggles she faces are nothing short of extraordinary, each one leaving you thinking, “There’s no way she survives this.” Each book takes you deeper into the world that Sarah J. Maas has built, and I promise you’ll never want to leave.

Review

Writing Style

The writing style is intrinsically simple, as Feyre is not a highly educated character. Coming from that perspective, the simpler language didn’t bother me and Sarah J. Maas did an incredible job of being able to describe the emotions, surroundings, and inner workings of Feyre’s mind without being cumbersome.

Plot

At first, I felt like some parts of this series did tend to drag on. However (and this is a big however), I do feel like the sections dedicated to back story, dedicated to observing those around Feyre and her surroundings lead to a well-formulated series. I understand that descriptions are not everyone’s cup of tea, but for this series, the descriptions of people and their body languages are half of the details! Sarah J. Maas uses every single word carefully, and no detail is unimportant. Pay attention or you might miss a lot of foreshadowing and the trail of hints she leaves for you to follow.

Throughout the series, there are many plot twists I didn’t see coming. Many I did, as well, but I think the majority of the surprises from this series comes from the character development, which I actually kind of… like? It’s hard to write something that’s never been done before in terms of plot points, right? For example, we all know the enemies-to-lovers trope, the best-friend-turned-villain trope… it’s all been said and done, but what I find so different about this book is that the CHARACTERS are the ones that are unpredictable. You never know what you’re going to get, and for me, that keeps it exciting. I love seeing the characters’ different personalities and thought processes come to life when figuring out how to approach a problem. There are so many twists and turns in this series that I still don’t think I’ve fully recovered.

Characters

All of the characters are vastly different personalities, but somehow they all mesh perfectly with one another. My favorite parts of these books were how relatable all of the relationships are whether that be romantic or platonic, it gives the feeling of being amongst friends. The character development in this series is the perfect combination of “tell me now” and the slow-burn of realizing you don’t know anyone. Not all the way, anyway. And as for Nesta? Well, let’s just say that eventually all things come to light. Do not judge a book (or a sister) by the cover.

Themes and Messages

In my humble, well-read opinion, I think this series does one of the most beautiful jobs of exploring the different paths people take to finding themselves. The self-exploration of each character, whether they know who they are at their core or not, is truly a sight to behold. Each individual person discovers more things about themselves in each book. I think the message from this series could be simplified to, “If he wanted to, he would… and if you wanted to, you would.” It takes two to tango and I truly believe Sarah J. Maas laid the groundwork for us to find ourselves through this series. I cannot express the amount of times I was upset with a character only to realize that I was staring at a mirror of myself.

Emotional Impact

I have very few highlights on my beloved kindle through this series because I felt that snipping individual moments would not only spoil it for those who haven’t read it, but also because I felt that removing one moment from the series for dissection would be cruel. I know, I know, excerpts are excerpts for a reason. Something just kept holding me back. However, I did have ONE that made me pause because it caught me like a slap upside the head. It made me feel both deeply seen, and deeply misunderstood at the same time. It mirrored my own journey from self-loathing to self-acceptance. The best example I have is as follows:

“And when my shaking stopped, I studied it. All of those wretched things. The pride and the hypocrisy and the shame. The rage and the cowardice and the hurt. Then I began to see other things. More important things—more vital. “And what I saw,” I said quietly to him as the Carver raised a hand. “I think—I think I loved it. Forgave it—me. All of it.”

I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from the emotions that this series brought out in me. It’s one that I wish I could read for the first time, again. I wish I’d known what I was getting into when it came to the impact these would have on me both as a writer and a reader. I am forever changed.

Pros and Cons

Pros

The series is easy to read, builds characters according to plot lines, and comes with all of the twists and turns you could hope for! It’s great at world-building and making you fall in love with every aspect of it.

Cons

It can be cumbersome to take on a FIVE book series (with more on the way… Sarah????), and the answers you’re looking for might not come to the surface until later in the series. It’s a practice in patience.

Overall Thoughts

I cannot recommend this series more as an introduction to the Romantasy scene. There’s a reason it’s so popular (and that I read them all in under a month). I think anyone who loves battles and romance and a healthy dose of fear and loathing would devour this series. It’s well worth the time and effort it takes to finish it, and will leave you craving more. I give Sarah J. Maas’s ACOTAR series a whopping FIVE out of five stars, may they shine like the heavens in the Night Court.

Your Thoughts

Let me know if you liked ACOTAR in the comments, if this review was helpful, and to all of you out there just starting this journey… godspeed. You will need it.