SYNOPSIS

Feyre is the head of her family. The one who hunts and trades for money. She promised her mother she would take care of her father and sisters and keep the family together when her mom died. Her family are poor after losing everything.

One day when out hunting, Feyre sees a deer and a wolf. Or at least it looks like a wolf, but deep down she wonders if it’s a Fae. Fae used to rule the land they live on and keep humans as slaves. She kills the wolf anyway, thinking of the money and food that could come from this kill.

Later, a Fae breaks into her home and demands the killer of the wolf, who was actually a Fae, to step forward. Though scared, Feyre steps forward to protect her family and admits with pride what she’s done. She is either to be taken to the Fae’s land to live forever or she’s to be killed on the spot. She’s urged to go and live by her family and not to come back by her father because he says she can live a good life without them. What can possibly happen?

MY RECAP AND REVIEW

Tik Tok (and one of my favorite podcasters) persuaded me into reading this book and I am honestly so mad and amused that I gave in. I had no idea what it was about, because I go into most books blind, and even while reading it felt like there was no real plot until the end.

This book gave Beauty and the Beast vibes. She’s taken prisoner by someone she sees as a monster and grows to understand him better and love him. In this case he isn’t horrible but why can’t the prisoner not fall for the person imprisoning them.

The Fae that takes Feyre is Tamlin. There’s this weird energy between him and Feyre in the beginning that makes it obvious the author intends for them to fall in love by the end of the book. I wouldn’t say they have chemistry, but there is supposed to be sexual tension.

Tamlin keeps her in his mansion because of some alleged treaty but wants her to enjoy herself while she’s there. He protects her when she’s in harms way and tries to make her feel comfortable. As a prisoner, Feyre’s situation could honestly be way worse but she is continuously thinking about her family who she lowkey resents. It just doesn’t make sense to me how much she clings to her family and leaving where she is solely because she’s supposed to have an adventurous spirit, is somewhere new, and honestly doesn’t even like her family. If it was any other character I would understand.

In human form, the Fae wear masks because of a curse that ravages the land. They can’t take them off. There’s a huge secret surrounding this threat that I won’t spoil, but Feyre spends her time trying to figure it out because no one will tell her the full extent of what’s going on. This threat is sending more monsters, for lack of a better word, into their territory that need to be fought against. It’s weakening the power of the Fae, including Tamlin who is a high Fae and is supposed to be ultra powerful. Feyre cares because if they can’t end the problem, it could spread to the human part of the world.

I liked this book enough to give it two stars instead of one, but I don’t think it was well done. It starts off pretty slow. I also don’t like Feyre as a character. I don’t think she’s well thought out. She’s supposed to be “not like the other humans.” It’s a trope that I don’t like in most cases because you really have to show what makes them stand out and this author doesn’t, in my opinion. Her successes weren’t impressive to me. I felt like she got lucky and survived. She’s not really wise or strong. There’s only one fair demonstration of this and that’s near the very end. It’s giving Bella from Twlight.

When Feyre makes it to the Fae’s land, she has all this animosity towards Tamlin who is nice to her but tries to befriend Lucien who is not nice to her. She doesn’t listen to any warnings. She thinks she can outsmart them. She won’t accept help with learning to read. To a point, I get it because don’t trust the people imprisoning you. But also, if they wanted her dead she would be and Tamlin really just wanted to make her feel comfortable in this book. I’ve only read this one and I’m only referring to this one.

SPOILERS AHEAD

I thought that the climax and the explanation were fine. It was definitely horrible that Tamlin had to send out his men to be killed by a human. It can be considered manipulative that he forces the first human who succeeds to come live with him to see if she falls in love with him. Feyre doesn’t know about the curse until after, so I’m not sure if it’s fair to say she was manipulated. However, the idea of it is convoluted and fitted for the villain.

Feyre has to pass three tasks or solve the riddle to free everyone from the curse. I thought her first task was hard and exciting and her last two tasks were less exciting though high stakes. I get the second task is challenging because she can’t read, but Rhysand, who gets reintroduced, helps her. The last task wasn’t as interesting to me but I think that’s because there was a disconnect somewhere. It didn’t feel like a challenge for her. She succeeds, but misses a technicality and ends up close to death. She ends up solving the riddle she is tasked with as she dies. The riddle was whatever. I hated that she they turned her into a Fae to save her life. Because of course they did!

SPOILERS OVER

In this book I don’t like Rhysand as a character and I don’t understand why he takes a liking to her. It felt like he was introduced to create tension between her and Tamlin. I think it’s weird he would drug her up and parade her. I think most of what includes him was gross honestly.

OVERALL

Overall, this book is good in the way The CW shows like Riverdale are good. So like is it actually good? No. It’s horrible. Did I enjoy it? It had its moments but still, no not really. I kind of hate read it and complained to my brother the entire time. That’s why I gave it 2 stars out of 5, instead of 1. It was a mess and I love trash.

I don’t like Feyre or Rhysand or how things played out. The idea of the world was interesting and I wish it mattered more. This whole book felt like set up. Even her becoming a Fae feels like set up.

It is up in the air if I will continue with the series. I heard the second one is the best one and there’s a twist in how certain things play out, which I have sort of been spoiled for. So we will see.