Review of ACOMAF by S.J. Maas

 Release Date: May 3, 2016

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's

Page Count: 640

Format: Hardcover

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.
With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights. 

 Those of you who know me know that I see Sarah J. Maas as sort of a literary god, no matter what she writes she can do no harm and I compare many of the books I read with hers. All of her books from Throne of Glass to ACOTAR all have one specific thing in common (other than being amazing), destroying your emotions (in a good and bad way at the same time). When I picked up ACOMAF I thought I was prepared to read it, I really thought I was. That couldn't have been further from the truth, ACOMAF was simply the most amazing book I've read so far in 2016 and it killed me over and over again.

Since ACOMAF is a S.J. Maas book I already knew the settings and world-building would be amazing but I still want to touch on a few of my favorite scenes. The whole book was skillfully written but it was the Night Court that stood out the most, both the dream and nightmare parts of it. Getting to see other courts and parts of the ACOTAR world was also a highly enjoyable experience and part of the reason why I couldn't put this book down. I don't want to go too in-depth because spoilers but I can say with full certainty that Sarah J. Maas continues her trend of weaving together words to create beautiful worlds.

While ACOMAF had the same amazing world-building as all other S.J. Maas books, it was the characters that helped it stand out and partake in the killing I mentioned earlier. Feyre, Tamlin, and Rhysand are all here from ACOTAR but we also get new people like Cassien, Mor, Amlen, the mortal queens, and so many others! My favorite of the new characters would have to be Rhysand's inner circle and reading and learning about their past experiences (I had goosebumps when they described how they joined Rhysand and basically fought everyone in their way) and how it all connects to the present. The mortal queens were a question left over from the first book that I'm happy got answered because I was really really curious about them and wanted to know more. I won't mention all the new characters here but each and every one of them helped make ACOMAF what it is.

Now the part you've all been waiting for, the ships! ACOMAF is one of the few books (maybe even the first one) that made me change the ships I had for its book characters. Let's just say that I started hating someone who I liked in ACOTAR and started liking someone I was neutral on (once again I would say who but spoilers). The fae mating bonds played a big part (at least in my opinion) in ACOMAF and altered some of the events of the book, especially towards the end. If I didn't want spoilers in this review this whole section would be much longer but since people who haven't read the book yet might read this review I'll just have to leave you with a promise that the characters in ACOMAF will destroy your emotions, fix them, and then destroy them again.

By the time I was halfway through ACOMAF I knew it was my favorite book of 2016 and by the time I finished it I knew it was one of my favorite books of all time (I refuse to pick just one favorite books so this is the closest any book will get to that) and the best S.J. Maas book yet. If it were up to me I would be writing this review in caps and gifs but since I want to maintain some "semblance" of professionalism I will leave the caps on Twitter where I posted my reaction to finishing ACOMAF.

@NeverEndingBks I CANT HANDLE THESE FEELINGS RN, SOMEONE HELP ME 😭

— Bayram @ NEB (@NeverEndingBks) May 26, 2016

My review doesn't do justice to just how much I loved ACOMAF and just how amazing it was but if I ever decide to make a list of my favorite books one day, ACOMAF may very well end up taking the first spot. The third book of this series comes out in one year and with the cliffhanger ending ACOMAF had, each day I wait will be full of torture and pain (I'm exaggerating but it will still be really hard). No matter who you are what types of books you read you should 100000% read ACOTAR and then ACOMAF! This isn't just a book, it's art.

5/5 - One of the most AMAZING books I've read in my life