(Note: This review only applies to the first three novels plus the Frost and Starlight novella.)
There isn't anything wrong with pure escapist fiction; I mean, that's why I read it in the first place. That being said A Court of Thorns and Roses isn't exactly the best one out there.
It's got similiar problems to Maas' previous work, Throne of Glass, such as narmy character moments, annoyingly stereotypical writing, undercutting her own worldbuilding in order to pair up her characters, etc. Despite these problems, I'd still recommend this over Throne of Glass if only for one simple reason: it tells its main story within three books instead of seven. ToG had a big problem with bloat in its later half and while ACoTaR has its own difficulties with pacing, it's still better paced than ToG.
While I can't give this series a hearty recommendation, I still think its worth a read.
Literature A Popcorn Escapist Fantasy
(Note: This review only applies to the first three novels plus the Frost and Starlight novella.)
There isn't anything wrong with pure escapist fiction; I mean, that's why I read it in the first place. That being said A Court of Thorns and Roses isn't exactly the best one out there.
It's got similiar problems to Maas' previous work, Throne of Glass, such as narmy character moments, annoyingly stereotypical writing, undercutting her own worldbuilding in order to pair up her characters, etc. Despite these problems, I'd still recommend this over Throne of Glass if only for one simple reason: it tells its main story within three books instead of seven. ToG had a big problem with bloat in its later half and while ACoTaR has its own difficulties with pacing, it's still better paced than ToG.
While I can't give this series a hearty recommendation, I still think its worth a read.