★★★☆☆

At this point in the series, you know what to expect: sweeping battles, intricate world-building, and big emotions. But where A Court of Mist and Fury leaned heavily on romance and trauma recovery, A Court of Wings and Ruin shifts gear into a tighter, action-packed story full of alliances, betrayals, and political intrigue. Hell hath no fury like a fae man scorned, especially when his heartbreak comes with genocidal tendencies.

With its faster pacing, stronger focus on plot, and Feyre finally stepping into her power, this book is the culmination of everything the series has been building towards. But while the setup is engaging, the resolution stumbles, with a finale that somehow feels both rushed and drawn out.

The TL;DR

What’s it about?

Feyre, now a full-fledged badass, acts as a double agent in the Spring Court before rejoining her Night Court found family to prepare for war against Hybern. Cue espionage, political scheming, and battle sequences as Prythian braces for war.

Should you care?

If you’ve made it this far in the series, you’re probably here for the drama and winged men. If you’re hoping Rhysand’s banter will suddenly become sexy, keep dreaming.

Spice Level:

While there’s more heat than its predecessors, the execution feels more performative than passionate.

Tropes:

• Found Family: Stronger than ever ✓
• Grumpy/Sunshine: Cassian and Nesta holding down the fort ✓
• Unrequited Love: Azriel’s entire existence ✓

Archetypes:

• Feyre: The Confident Warrior Who Still Needs a Better Hobby. Feyre’s growth continues to shine here, though her random artistic reflections still interrupt the story’s flow like a commercial break.
• Rhysand: The Perfect Boyfriend Who Tries Too Hard to Be Sexy. While Rhys continues to be supportive and heroic, his lack of flaws make him less like a person and more like a Pinterest board of “ideal alpha male.”
• Nesta: The Ice Queen Who Cares (but will never admit it). Nesta’s dynamic with Cassian is one of the book’s highlights, even if she remains emotionally distant for most of the story.
• Elain: The Fantasy Equivalent of a Victorian Ghost. Elain floats through the book with cryptic visions and little else, though her quiet strength hints at greater potential.
• Cassian: The Buff, Unproblematic Himbo. Cassian is still a beacon of comic relief and emotional stability, balancing the story’s darker tones.
• Azriel: The Silent Shadow With No Personality. Azriel’s role remains largely reactive, with his internal struggles hinted at but never fully explored, making him a narrative placeholder.
• Mor: The Plot Device I Wish Had Depth. Mor’s big reveal (you know the one) is undeniably dramatic, but it doesn’t add much depth to her arc, leaving her static.
• Amren: The Enigmatic Powerhouse with Questionable Depth. Amren is positioned as the group’s wildcard and has all the ingredients to be a standout character, but she’s more of a shadow looming in the background.
• Lucien: The Series MVP Who Deserves Better. Lucien continues to be the most nuanced character in the series, with a tragic backstory and a struggle for belonging that’s heartbreakingly relatable.
• Tamlin: The Sad, Irrelevant Ex Who Still Somehow Makes the Plot Worse. Tamlin said, “If I can’t have Feyre, no one can” and then proceeded to make it everyone else’s problem.
• The Other High Lords: Political Plot Devices and Colourful Drama Queens. Their appearance during pivotal moments brings much-needed tension and personality to the wider story.

Reading Timeline

• Mood: Engaging throughout, disappointed at the uneven pacing of the ending.
• Dates: December 4-15, 2024

Main Review

The Good: Where the Stakes (and Characters) Finally Deliver

ACOWAR doesn’t waste time. The book drops us right into the action, with Feyre acting as a double agent in the Spring Court. This immediate tension is a refreshing change from the slower build-ups of the previous books. Feyre’s confidence as a character is compelling, and watching her manipulate Tamlin and Hybern is satisfying, finally giving her the agency we’ve been waiting for.

Lucien, once again, steals the show as the most complex and nuanced character in the series. His tragic backstory and torn loyalties add emotional weight, but it’s his restraint with Elain that truly sets him apart. His outsider status across multiple courts only add layers to his character, making him endlessly fascinating.

Nesta and Cassian’s dynamic also delivers the grumpy/sunshine trope. While Nesta remains emotionally guarded, Cassian’s patience and humour balance her sharp edges, creating simmering tension and moments of genuine connection.

The Bad: Rhysand’s Flat Arc and Feyre’s Paintbrush

Rhysand’s only flaw is that he cares too much. Seriously. He’s perfect to a fault; endlessly understanding, morally righteous, and frustratingly predictable. While this might seem admirable, it leaves him feeling one-dimensional, especially now that his arc revolves solely around supporting Feyre.

His flirtation, meanwhile, is cringey at best. Lines that are clearly meant to be seductive come off as try-hard and laughable, leaning too heavily on alpha male tropes and exaggerated innuendo. At 500+ years old, you’d think Rhys would have a little more finesse. Instead, his banter feels like he’s the hot new bombshell entering the Love Island: Prythian Edition villa: “Wings out, claws ready, this High Lord is here to steal your girl.”

Feyre’s artist identity also deserves a critique. While her reflections on scenes she’d like to paint are meant to add depth, they feel forced. In the middle of high-stakes moments, Feyre will randomly think, “I’d title this painting ‘Despair at Dawn.’” These moments feel so out of place, pulling readers out of the tension.

The WTF: Euphemisms, Overused Gestures, and Azriel’s Lack of Personality

First, let’s address the sex scenes. The vague anatomical descriptions make it hard to stay immersed that it’s impossible to take them seriously. Instead of being intimate or character-driven, these scenes scream fan service, dragging for pages without adding anything meaningful to the story.

Then there’s Azriel. If you’re waiting for him to develop a personality beyond being the quiet guy in the corner, don’t hold your breath. His silence seems less like a character choice and more like an excuse to avoid writing him altogether. At this point, he’s less of a person and more a shadow with abs.

Finally, the overuse of “vulgar gesture” deserves its own callout. Are they all just flipping each other off constantly? Or is this Maas’s version of the bras d’honneur? Either way, it’s repetitive and unintentionally hilarious.

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Read This

Read this if…

• You’re here for the battles, politics, and alliances.
• Grumpy/sunshine dynamics like Nesta and Cassian give you life.
• You’ve made it this far in the series and need to see how it all plays out.

Skip it if…

• Love triangles and emotional miscommunication drives you nuts.
• Euphemism-heavy, over-the-top sex scenes make you cringe more than swoon.
• You’re tired of flawless, predictable heroes who never make meaningful mistakes.

Final Take: An Ambitious Climax That Stumbles in the Execution

ACOWAR tries to deliver an epic, emotionally charged finale, but the pacing falters when it matters most. The war is both rushed and drawn out, a strange combination that highlights the book’s uneven focus. While the build-up is long and full of intricate alliances and scheming, the actual battle resolution is compressed. Some pivotal moments like sacrifices, victories, and reconciliations are resolved too quickly and rely heavily on convenient plot devices.

At the same time, the narrative lingers on unnecessary details, like repetitive battle descriptions and drawn-out interpersonal drama, making the war bloated without adding depth. With so many subplots and characters to juggle, neither the action nor the emotional stakes get the focuses they need to fully land. Instead of focusing deeply on a few elements, the narrative tries to cover everything.

This imbalance ultimately leaves ACOWAR feeling like it’s trying to do too much while not spending enough time on the parts that matter most.

⅗ Stars: A thrilling ride, but the finale falters under its own ambition.