Have you ever wondered if storytelling could save the world?
Before you roll your eyes at me for the absurd thing I say, I must tell you they can. But you’re right, stories might not change everything on their own; they’re just a good start. Where do you think money came from? Trees? Last I checked, a sheet of paper is worth less than a dollar.
That’s right, money started off as a story, not an objective reality.
Welcome to my odd review series, where I categorize how much novels question our beliefs about life, and how much they merely take them for granted.
W H A T I S A C O U RT OF F R O S T A N D S T A R L I G H T ?
After the war, much needs to be healed. Lands are devastated, loved ones are forever gone, and traditions are what holds the morale of citizens in Velaris. Everyone needs a break to recover, a break to celebrate a holiday… and to buy presents for Christmas, it seems.
***
This is the end of the first ACOTAR saga starring the first main characters, so if you’re lost here, I would suggest you go read my first three reviews here, here, and here. It might make it a little simpler to understand what happens in this review. Just a little.
Now back to the review.
I read this novella to put an end to Feyre and Rhysand. Though the action part of their stories had ended, there needed to be a much calmer conclusion of it somehow. This was it. I don’t regret I’ve read it, but frankly, there is not much to say about this novella in the end.
Also, I wanted to say my farewells to the series; I have gotten what I needed from it, and I can say I’ve read a significant portion of ACOTAR to say it’s not my cup of tea.
Then again, I’m happy for the fans who get to have three more books… or whatever many they end up being.
With this, I say my goodbye.
F U N
I hate to say this, but, this novella was not fun.
To put it simply, nothing happens. Nothing. Nothing. NOTHING.
Though the novella tries to set the stage for the next three books, not much of the next three books is said, except a vague paragraph that never gets talked about at all. Nothing about the threat Mor found and ignored shamelessly. Maybe a few things about Illyrians, but why though? We don’t know.
If I would say anything about this book, it would be that it was basically a slice of life starring Feyre and Rhysand doing, you guessed it, nothing. Hence, my non-existent interest in writing this bit.
As a much more engaging exercise, try to count how many ‘nothings’ I wrote in this review.
So far, seven too many for a fun section, I’d say.
Verdict? N O T F O R M E
W E L L W R I T T E N
If you ignore the fact there is a lack of plot, this could be classified as good writing.
At least nothing happens out of thin air, there are no events to foreshadow satisfyingly, no villains are written as black and white, and no pacing is off…
However, if you think about it hard enough, there was none of that because—
I won’t repeat myself anymore, it’s getting old.
…But you heard the next words in your head.
Verdict? N O T F O R M E
T H O U G T - P R O V O K I N G T H E M E S
Given that there was no theme besides grief, I’d say thinking about grief would be what should be explored here. Strangely enough though, the only ones experiencing grief were the townsfolk in Velaris. Not Feyre, not Rhysand, not Mor, or the rest.
The sisters lost their father, yet it seems the only one feeling it was Nesta.
And Nesta is hardly there to guide the theme.
So no, I am trying to find synonyms for the word I can’t stop thinking over.
There is no theme exploration, nothing linking character’s stories at all, and ugh—
I said nothing again. Twice.
Verdict? N O T F O R M E
C R I T I C A L C O M M E N T A R Y
Okay, I won’t abuse the n-word here, keep calm.
Turns out, there is something that piqued my interest here.
I thought it was compelling to try and show trauma for what it was, how people got devastated by the war, and how people managed to survive despite great loss. But there was depth missing in the exploration. Mass was only able to scratch the surface.
Yes, art can be a great medium to express grief and comfort those who’ve gone through so much but mix it all with a dose of Christmas presents and it all goes down the drain.
Am I the only one thinking about how people can hardly get the money for presents when they don’t even have a roof over their heads?
Is the solution to grief buying stuff you can’t afford?
Sigh.
Verdict? N O T F O R M E
P R O P O S E S A L T E R N A T I V E S
It’s the same old right here.
Proposing a way to overcome grief apart from consuming is not explored.
That is what we are taught in our society, and, apparently, in Fae society too.
Can I sigh once more?
Verdict? N O T F O R M E
To make a long story short, this book got:
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