The Bookworm's Feast

 Release Date: May 2015
 Publisher: Bloomsbury
 Genre: Fantasy, New Adult, Romance
 Page Count: 432
 Format Read: Kindle Edition
 Goodreads Page
 Rating: ★★★★★ 

OK, I think I loved this book more the second time around – maybe just as I know what’s coming.

We start with seeing Feyre, the central character, hunting in the woods – her family is all but destitute and on the brink of starvation, and only she does anything about it. Following on from some events, shortly into the book we meet Tamlin – a member of the Fae, who breaks in, claims Feyre in front of her family, and takes her back to live with him.

This tale is Beauty and the Beast – just with more violence and smut. This is definitely NOT a child friendly story.

How Tam is described makes me think of the Prince at the end of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, like down to a T except the colour of his eyes. Although he can change form at will to that of a wolfish beast, there’s all the mystery, gruffness, and just plain awkwardness that make up the Beast.

“You look … better than before.”

Was that a compliment? I could have sworn Lucien gave Tamlin an encouraging nod.

“And your hair is … clean.”

Sarah J Mass, A Court of Thorns and Roses

Feyre is the fierce heroine – who due to the circumstances of her upbringing isn’t one to back down much and can handle herself pretty well in a fight. Although she is definitely a lot different from Belle, she follows the same overall patterns – taken to a castle against her will, falls for the guy, sees her home again, goes back to save the guy.

If I’d had the strength, I would have leaped on him and ripped him apart. “You’re a disgusting bastard.”

“I’ll have to ask Tamlin if this kind of flattery won his heart.”

Sarah J Mass, A Court of Thorns and Roses

I would like to see a bit more explanation of the Courts in this one, that doesn’t come until later in the series and even then I can’t recall there’s a whole heap. We see bits of the Spring Court, the one to which Tam belongs to, and not a lot else. It’s pretty limited on what it lets slip about the world. And to be honest, I forgot how graphic this book is at times – I’m not a massive fan of Maas’ sex scenes.

I have to admit, I’m struggling to say much of what I loved about this book – I keep remembering I think it’s the weakest, the second is by far my favourite, but I just love it. Maybe as the story is along such a similar structure to my beloved fairy-tale. There’s not a lot of action or anything – but it does do a very good job of setting up the series. We see the plight this world faces, and hints at the larger one to come, and I caught so many details that lead up points later.

Maas is masterful in how she manipulates how you view her characters. I think that has got to be the thing I love the most about all her work. She can get you to flip your feelings towards them so well, and without it feeling like a change in character – only that you didn’t have all the details, they’re still the same. She builds up their multifaceted personalities and motives so well.

All I can say to end with, is that I NEED to read the next one now! If I had to pick a character I wish I could be out of all the books I’ve read, it’d probably be Feyre. I need more of this series in my life.