Un palais d'épines et de roses

Die erste Hälfte liest sich gut weg, danach schwächet die Erzählung für einen Moment und man fragt sich wo das hinführen soll, doch nach einem kurzen Höhepunkt konnte ich das Buch dann im letzten Drittel einfach nicht mehr weglegen. Das Buch dreht sich viel um Beziehungen zwischen den Charakteren, was mir sehr gut gefällt aber hier doch ein wenig zu sehr im Vordergrund stand. Nichtsdestotrotz eine absolute Leseempfehlung, da mir das Buch sehr viel Spaß gemacht. Wer allerdings Sex in Büchern nicht mag oder überflüssig findet, wird hier einige Seiten überspringen müssen. Ich hingegen werde das nächste Buch auf jeden Fall demnächst lesen.

Easy to read in the first half, has a slow part after that but I couldn't put away the last third. The book has intrigues within intrigues and many different layers. Most things aren't what they seem to be and there is character development. I really enjoyed reading this. There is quite a bit of sex, so if that turns you off, you might want to skip those parts. I will definitely pick up the next book as soon as I can.

This wasn't anything to write home about. I get why it might have broad appeal but I've definitely read better romantacy books--and worse. I have some general criticisms on why I didn't enjoy this more. First, the protagonist started off very interesting and then got very un-interesting. I liked learning about her and her world and how she saw things, but as the story wore on, she became flatter and more of a trope than a unique person.

Secondly, the writing is just overly dramatic at several points. To the point where it grated (though sometimes it looped back around and just flat out became funny.) Some of the things Feyre says are so overwrought, which only further contributes to my previous point.

She also seems to suffer from holding the Idiot Ball several times. I couldn't tell if we were supposed to think she was clever or not. Sometimes she was, and sometimes she wasn't, and it always whatever was most convenient to the plot at the time.

Finally, I really didn't care for the set up of a love triangle. Having an anti-hero in the mix is fine--I tend to like those characters--but holding up a neon sign that says "Secondary Love Interest" just diminished what would have otherwise been an interesting character.