Book Review: A Court of Frost and Starlight
After tearing through A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, and A Court of Wings and Ruin in the matter of weeks, of course I picked up A Court of Frost and Starlight as soon as I finished Wings and Ruin. I was warned that it was “boring” and “cheesy,” but I’m a sucker for cheesy and after the heaviness of war, navigating personal struggles, and tense court politics, I was ready for a reprieve for our favorite characters. Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I enjoyed A Court of Frost and Starlight.
Set during Winter Solstice and Feyre’s birthday, A Court of Frost and Starlight follows Feyre, Rhysand, and the Inner Circle as they try to find moments of joy and celebration in the midst of rebuilding the Night Court and recovering from the trials and heartaches of war. Feyre is learning to be a High Lady, Rhys is attempting to maintain the fragile peace settled over the lands, Nesta and Elain are navigating their new world, and the rest of the Inner Circle have trials of their own. Told from several points of view, we are allowed more insight into the characters and how they are coping post war.
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The bulk of the book focuses on Feyre as she juggles the demands on her time as High Lady with a desire to help both her court and the people she loves heal. She goes on a healing journey unique to her as she slowly but surely finds her way back to painting. Rhysand is in full High Lord mode, navigating politics and trying to stabilize the realms which includes making a few uncomfortable visits to a broken Tamlin. Despite their personal and professional challenges, Feyre and Rhys remain devoted to one another – and to finding one another the perfect Solstice gifts.
Another storyline I enjoyed in A Court of Frost and Starlight was Mor’s. We know a lot about Mor from learning about her story alongside Feyre in earlier books, but in this installment, we get to see some of her inner thoughts, what drives her, and some of her hopes for the future. We also get to know Azriel and Cassian a bit more, particularly Cassian who has a tender moment in remembrance of his mother.
I do agree with the reviews that say A Court of Frost and Starlight doesn’t add much to the overall storyline. It is very much a moment in time for these characters, an outtake of their “normal” lives. There are storylines propped up for the final book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, but not in a way that makes the book a necessary read. If you’re reading this series, you can skip this book, but I wouldn’t recommend it – let it be the palate cleanser it is meant to be. Enjoy a light, quick, sexy read, and then prepare yourself to dive into the 700+ pages of the final book in the series, A Court of Silver Flames.
Four out of five stars.
