If I start a new series and I love book 1, I am often wary of book 2. So often, authors really didn’t plan out their characters or their world well enough to make the second book as good or better than the first. Oftentimes, the second book feels like filler as we wait for the ‘rest of the story’ told in book three. I read and deeply adored Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses, the first book in a series of the same name. I hoped for the best with book two, and I can honestly say that the second book of this series is better than the first. Much, much better.

A Court of Mist and Fury takes up the story almost immediately after the events in the first book. In that first book, Feyre faced and defeated Amarantha, a cruel power-hungry fae woman who had brought the rest of the land of the fae to its knees. Her victory deeply changed Feyre. Now, back in the Spring Court with Tamlin, she should be happily readying herself for her wedding. Instead her spirit is broken, and she has trouble caring about anyone or anything. Just as she’s ready to walk down the aisle to wed Tamlin, Rhysand, Lord of the Night Court, arrives and takes her away. The event may be the start of a war between the Spring Court and the Night Court, but it also may mean salvation for Feyre.

This book deepened the mythology of the series, and more clearly defined the characters. Feyre is not the same person she was in the first book, and I enjoyed that the author allowed her to change and grow. Tamlin and Rhysand’s true characters are revealed, and we are introduced to a number of delightful new characters. By the end of the book, we are given an event that will change the story yet again, one that will again allow, I think, Feyre and the others to grow and adapt. The story felt fresh, with just the right mix of action and character development. This book will appeal to fans of Maas’ previous books, but also should appeal to fans of Kresley Cole, Nalini Singh, and Gena Showalter. This series is an adult series, as some of the relationships are graphic in nature.
Annette G.