I Dream of Stars and Wings and Paint

"To the people who look at the stars and wish...
To the stars who listen— and the dreams that are answered."

--Sarah J Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's

Pages: 624

Publication Date: May 3rd, 2016

Source: Bought

Previous Books in Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Find on: Goodreads | Amazon

My Thoughts

*Some plot spoilers ahead. If you have not read, you have been warned* 

The Belle
I really don't know where to start with my feelings on this book. It really is rare I have a legitimate book hangover that makes it almost impossible to think let alone actually pick up another book. A Court of Mist and Fury is one of those special books to me. I went in with no expectations because I had legit no idea where the plot would go. I felt that ACOTAR was such a great story that came full circle in the end (albeit a few secrets left unspoken) that I was just excited to see where Sarah took the story. I was ready for anything and everything and I got all of that...and so much more.



Last week I listed my reasons for why I love ACOTAR and this book just solidified my love affair with Feyre. Feyre is...someone amazing. Her growth in this book was on another level. She has matured and been through so much during the events of ACOTAR and since coming back from Under the Mountain, that she is not the same person. I can't even describe how much I felt for her while I was reading. Her state of mind is not in a great place, she feels suffocated, unable to be herself or life her life on her terms. I actually felt shortness of breath in sympathy with her. The claustrophobic feeling of being caged and unable to make your own decisions and feeling like you're screaming into the void in a room full of people that can't hear you. I felt it. I felt that sense of desperation and loneliness and reaching for any scrap of help to get out of the situation. I can...relate to that feeling of claustrophobia.

Throughout the book Feyre's journey to sense of self is beyond beautiful. She grows. She sees where she makes mistakes. She sees how she allowed people to take advantage of her and treat her. She comes to understand she does not want to be and is not the person she once was. I looooooooove this more than words can say. I think it's something we can all relate to--hopefully--and it's something I could definitely relate to. I loved seeing her learn more about Pythian, it's history, it's people, and making her own judgements and not relying on or taking other people's opinions as her own. Love love love.

ACOMAF introduces us to some new players on the scene. We meet Rhy's Inner Circle of friends and they are AMAZING! Strong, fierce, smart, and about a billion other things, these people brought a fun and lighthearted vibe to an otherwise serious plot. They care so deeply about one another and truly value their time together and they know how to have a good time! We also meet the Bone Carver and the Weaver and dayum!! I want some more info on these people! The new scenes we get in the Night Court specifically were my favorite! Like...it is on another level how this court and this world stayed with me when I wasn't reading it. Everything about the Night Court and a certain location spoke to me and made me feel just...magical. The other courts also felt so much more real to me while I was reading as well as the history of this magical land. I loved reading about Pythian's history and who pissed off who and who fought beside who and everything we learned was on another level of amazing to me.

As I said above, I had zero expectation as to where this plot would go and holy fucking hell does it go places I never thought it would. Rarely have I yelled and gasped and screamed and cried and laughed so much while reading a book. I felt like I was getting emotional whiplash because so much happens and it's all amazing and weaves together in perfect complement to one another. I will say nothing more about the plot because you deserve to have everything fresh to you! But know I loved everything. 

I cannot talk about ACOMAF without talking about Rhysand. I do not say this lightly when I say that Rhysand is officially my favorite man of Sarah J Mass' harem of hotties. I can't decide who I love more, Feyre or Rhysand because Rhys is my MAN! He is my PERSON! Like...if I was a man or Rhys was a woman we would switch places. Without giving too much away, I just want to say not all is as it appears with Rhys and the Night Court. There is a quote I saw once that made me think of myself that I think also applies perfectly to Rhys and it's "I am an asshole but I'm your asshole." Rhys keeps his Inner Circle to himself and protects them at all costs and to hell with everyone else. I feel I'm similar in this sense that I don't have a lot of people I trust but the ones I do know I would walk through fire for them or light something on fire on their behalf. Rhys is the same. His relationships with his friends and their dynamic was tied for my favorite part of the book. They are funny and kind and caring and open-minded and fierce as all fuck. An invitation into the Inner Circle is up there with my Hogwarts letter and entrance into Caldwell. Seriously.

With that said, the relationship aspect of ACOMAF was...wow. No words. My chest hurt with who much I was feeling. My heart felt so full and I was inspired by the love in this story. It was 10 alarm fire hot at points but more than that the emotions along with it was on another level for me. The tension, the banter, the flirting, the everything!  I felt so uplifted while reading this love unfold and I almost got sad that I don't have something similar in my life! It's that emotional and inspirational to me. It's just...it's so pure and deep and real and selfless. It's...something beautiful and truly unique in it's essence. I have rarely read a story with so much...I don't know, I can't describe it! It's got its own special je ne sais quoi. I have actually no words to describe how much I felt while reading this book and how much I loved it. It just is!

With that said,  I anticipate people being upset by the direction of this but that's because I think a lot of times people get caught up in what they expected to happen and when that doesn't align with what actually happens, people get pissed. I can't help but think if you dislike the direction this book goes then you need to check to see if you left your soul at the door. That is how beautiful I find the elements of this book and this story. I don't think Sarah tells the story you want to read, she tells the story that needs to be told. And that is one of understanding, forgiveness, growth, love, and most of all, perspective.

I loved beyond words how this story gave us perspective and explored how differing perspectives can vastly change your opinion and your truth of a situation which I think is so relevant to our society today. It's easy to understand how your opinions are influenced by your surroundings and who you surround yourself with but this book...THIS BOOK gave us the other side of the story and history of how some situations went down in Pythian. We are able to see how situations are seen from another person's POV and how believing one side makes you lose out on the truth or a great person because you were conditioned to believe the worst in somebody. When people are raised in hate and prejudice it just breeds more hate but when we let ourselves see the world from another person's POV we see things differently and more objectively and subjectively at the same time. You just never know somebody else's life circumstances and past and what they've been through. I feel like this book helped open readers eyes to the idea that we shouldn't be so quick to judge people. We should learn from them first before we have an opinion. I just feel so strongly that this book has the power to open up peoples' minds to understand other people in a more caring and kind manner and not to judge people before knowing them.

I love this book. This book had me daydreaming and night dreaming about stars and wings and paint and dark princes who turn out to be your knight in shining armor but how sometimes that darkness is not only what you need but what you want. It's your choice and decision and your truth to accept who you are and accept those around you who treat you like you should be treated. Sarah J Maas is hands down one of my all-time favorite authors. She writes books that need to be told about heroines who find strength within themselves and fight their own battles. Her writing and her characters are an inspiration to me and can be to everyone out there. But really her books and writing just speak to me. I would go Under the Mountain, to the Glass Castle, and face Hybern and Maeve combined for these characters and these books. I love them that much! 

VIP
If you love strong heroines, dark heroes, and love...pure, beautiful, bright love...this book is for you.