SPOILERS AHEAD – Beware, unless you enjoy surprises being ruined by a sassy review!

I have to confess, I was super skeptical about diving into this series. Everyone and their fae dog seemed to be labeling it “faerie porn,” and honestly, I wasn’t even sure I’d vibe with the whole fantasy thing. My comfort zone was more along the lines of Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games – you know, where things don’t feel like they require a whole Wikipedia deep-dive to follow. The idea of starting an “adult-tailored” fantasy novel that was somehow so spicy it was borderline porn? Seemed daunting, and frankly, not exactly my cup of tea (unless that tea was spiked with something truly magical).

But thankfully, my curiosity eventually trumped my apprehension, and I finally decided to dip a timid toe into these glittering Romantasy waters. And boy, am I glad I did!

The Slow Burn (And Slightly Annoying Family)

From pretty much every review I’d seen, the consensus was clear: “Book one? Slow, a bit of a slog, but trust us, it gets SO much better.” And let me tell you, MAN, were those people right!We kick off with our leading lady, Feyre, and her delightful family: the perpetually sighing Elain, the frosty Nesta, and their utterly useless father. Seriously, the first few chapters had me side-eyeing them so hard my eyeballs cramped. They pretty much hung Feyre out to dry, dumping all their burdens squarely on her scrawny shoulders. I get it, this whole “Feyre-the-sole-provider” thing fuels her hunt for dinner (and incidentally, for trouble) that leads to killing a certain fae wolf. But even then, she wasn’t exactly the strong, take-no-guff FMC I’d been promised. More like “frazzled girl who needs a nap and a sandwich.”

Welcome to the (Really Pretty) Jail!

After our girl shoots said wolf (who, surprise! turns out to be Tamlin, the very dashing and very High Fae Lord of the Spring Court), her family basically performs the world’s most impressive disappearing act. They barely lift a finger to save her, despite her being their literal lifeline for years. “A life for a life” is the ancient fae treaty, and Feyre, being the only one with a working brain cell in that house, accepts her fate rather than let them get hurt (bless her heart, they definitely wouldn’t have returned the favor).

And it’s right here, my friends, that the story starts giving off some serious “Beauty and the Beast” vibes. Like, if Beauty also had to hunt squirrels for her family’s supper.

Spring Court Shenanigans & Blighted Mysteries

Once we’re whisked away to the Spring Court, things really start to unfurl (like a magical, slightly-creepy flower). Feyre’s “adjustment” to her ridiculously elegant jail cell is pretty amusing. I mean, who wouldn’t want a gilded cage, right? We meet the wonderfully sarcastic Lucien (my kind of fae!), and the surprisingly kind Alis, who help Feyre navigate this wild new world.

And oh, the education! From learning to read and write (who knew our huntress was illiterate?!) to getting the lowdown on the mysterious “Blight” that’s basically turning the Spring Court into a magical wilting plant. Of course, because we’re following that familiar fairytale blueprint, Feyre eventually sees past Tamlin’s beastly exterior to the gentle, artistic soul underneath. She starts to actually care for her handsome captor (plot twist!) and even wants to help save his people from the increasingly aggressive Blight.What she quickly figures out is that not every creature beyond the human border is just a snack waiting to be hunted. Some are seriously powerful, and some are just… plain cursed.

My Verdict So Far…

So far, this book has been a delightful slow burn with a familiar, comforting plotline that’s just starting to get its claws into me. I’m crossing my fingers (and toes!) that this really does blossom into the epic, lovable series everyone raves about.

Stay tuned for more of my chaotic thoughts on the rest of this first book in the series! What do you think will happen next?!