I need you to understand the context of this read: I was heavily pregnant, chasing a toddler, living in an RV while we built our house during tornado season. I needed ESCAPE and this book gave it to me. This is the book that made me want to start a BookTok account. That matters.
Is it slow? Yes. But I was brand new to this world and I love descriptive writing, so I didn't mind it. The worldbuilding, the magic, the Beauty and the Beast retelling — it all felt so *magical*, and the fact that it was ADULT fantasy? With actual mature content? I was eating it up.
Now let's talk Tamlin. Yes, I loved him. SUE ME. TamTam was my first book boyfriend and I will always have a soft spot for him. Unpopular opinion? I don't care. If a man kidnapped me, fed me, gave me unlimited clothes, and financially supported all my thousands of hobbies? SIGN ME UP. We love a man who provides. 💅
Feyre was great, but I struggled to connect with her early on — she's 19 and whiny about it. But watching her evolution across the series made it worth it. She grew into someone I genuinely rooted for.
As for Rhysand — BookTok had dropped enough hints that I knew *something* was coming, but my first impression of him was: asshole, abusive, arrogant. He changed my mind eventually, but it took me MUCH longer than everyone else. The moment I started to crack on Tamlin? Under the Mountain. He didn't check on her. Didn't ask if she was okay. Didn't say "why are you here, stupid girl?" or "you're so brave." No — the first time they were alone, his priority was hooking up. Dick. Move.
Meanwhile LUCIEN was right there being my absolute BABE. I wanted him and Feyre to have a whole affair before Rhys was even in the picture. The scene where she used Lucien to make Tamlin jealous? *Chef's kiss.*
Would I recommend this book? 100%. Yes it's slow, yes the rest are better, but you NEED this for the lore, the backstory, and THE DRAMA. Push through book one. Trust me. What's waiting on the other side is worth it.
🌹 3/5 stars. Slow burn in every sense, but the spark that lit the whole fire.