A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses) Paperback – June 2, 2020

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas**Rating: 5/5 stars**I have no words. I just finished ACOWAR and I am emotionally destroyed in the most satisfying way possible. This book didn't just meet expectations—it obliterated them and left me staring at the ceiling wondering how I'm supposed to function as a normal person after experiencing this level of literary devastation.From the opening pages, this book refused to let me breathe. Feyre's choices throughout are bold, morally complex, and had me alternating between cheering her on and yelling "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" at my book. The line between strategy and revenge blurs constantly, and watching the consequences unfold was both thrilling and heartbreaking. When certain characters finally confronted the chaos she'd unleashed, the explosive emotions and brutal honesty of those scenes had me completely riveted.And then there's Eris. Listen, I know we're supposed to be suspicious of Beron's son. I know the smart thing is to side-eye everything he does. But this sly Autumn prince stepped onto the page with all that swagger and intrigue, and I was immediately invested. There are layers to this character that we're only glimpsing, and I'm convinced there's a much longer game being played here. The complexity lurking beneath his carefully crafted facade has me completely hooked.The war sequences are masterfully crafted emotional warfare. There were moments where I had to physically put the book down because the tension was unbearable, scenes that left me crying actual tears over fictional characters, revelations that made me gasp out loud. Maas doesn't pull her punches—the heartbreak hits as hard as the triumph, and the cost of victory feels real and devastating.But what makes this book exceptional isn't just the epic fantasy elements—it's how the character development weaves through everything. Feyre's growth into someone who fully owns her power, flaws and all, feels earned. Her partnership with Rhysand continues to be one of the best relationship dynamics in fantasy romance—built on mutual respect, shared strength, and the kind of banter that makes you believe in fictional soulmates.The found family aspects absolutely destroyed me in the best way. Watching the Night Court and the Archeron sisters become this unstoppable force, seeing bonds form between characters who started as strangers or enemies—it's the kind of character work that makes you emotionally invested in everyone's survival.Every character gets moments to shine here. People I was lukewarm about stepped up and completely changed my opinion. Others had me questioning everything I thought I knew about their motivations. The character arcs feel purposeful and satisfying, even when they break your heart.The political maneuvering and magical worldbuilding reach new heights without becoming overwhelming. The stakes feel genuinely massive, but it never loses sight of the personal relationships that make you care about the outcome.By the final pages, I was emotionally feral and completely drained. This book is 500+ pages of trauma, magic, political intrigue, and raw emotional honesty, and I'm grateful for every devastating moment. It's the kind of conclusion that makes you want to immediately start the series over just to experience the journey again with new context.ACOWAR is epic fantasy at its finest—ruthless, romantic, and utterly unforgettable. It's a worthy conclusion to this trilogy that somehow manages to feel both satisfying and like the beginning of something even bigger.If you need me, I'll be processing this emotional devastation and probably starting my inevitable reread. This series has completely ruined me for other fantasy romance, and I'm not even mad about it.