WTF is A Court of Thorns and Roses? 🌹

what i learned about faeries, who i’d fuck/marry/kill in ACOTAR, and the number 1 dealbreaker for me about this book. spoilers start at 10:04. special thanks to Sierra (The Book Dragon Reads) for sending me the series, Noria (Noria Reads) for buddy reading with me, Jordan (Jordan Harvey) and Kat (paperbackdreams) for being my salty support group, and the Velaris group chat (Trey, Katie, Halee, Lysandra, Abby) for your unabashed love for this series. whether you hate or love ACOTAR, i’m delighted to be chaotic neutral as always.
SOCIAL LINKS
🐦 twitter: / readwithcindy
📖 goodreads: / readwithcindy
📸 instagram: / readwithcindy
🎨 tumblr: / readwithcindy
🐱 curiouscat: curiouscat.me/...
CREDITS
music: we sink - chvrches
intro art: moimoiie
outro art: cocochoon
BUSINESS INQUIRIES
💌 [e-mail]

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

Well... my volume was at full blast and my dad was sitting beside me and all you hear is “I CaN HaNDLE BiG DiCkS”

[@ducklingugly6850]

Jay G Rip.. I will pray for you

[@brittanylindo]

SAME

[@withcindy]

just the way i intended

[@emilyb4812]

Lmao nooooo

[@Liv-ii9zo]

I WAS JUST COMING TO SAY THIS BUT IN MY LIVING ROOM WITH MY MOM 😂 but she was unphased

[@aisha9079]

"Pain barked through my bones." "I released a breath I didn't know I was holding." "And the world turned black." "The world fell into darkness." You can't be a NY times best-selling author without this phrase in your book at least once.

[@nunyabusiness776]

10 year old wattpad me is *shook*

[@God_3712]

@@nunyabusiness776 fucking true man

[@Salma-qx3te]

LMAOOOO

[@SocksWithSandalsEnjoyer]

the first one is a fucking pun-- *bruh*

[@beomgyusmcnugget1055]

“aNd i cOulD hAve swOrN”

[@GDChans]

"I took a gasping breath, not realizing I had been holding it" *stares into the distance as Sound of Silence plays* I am CRYING

[@withcindy]

hello darkness my old friend

[@b.vardeva7090]

GDChans I honestly tried to take a gasping breath, not realizing I was holding it. It doesn’t work, I nearly fucking suffocated

[@XIIconstNvChr]

Feyre sounds like it should be pronounced like 'Fairy'.... A fairy girl in a fairy world named fairy. I'm tired.

[@adrianamaximo2660]

🎵I'm a fairy girl,in a fairy world🎵

[@meredits388]

@@adrianamaximo2660 😃

[@angelicaamora11]

😂😂😂😂💀💀💀💀

[@nobodynowhere6942]

I just pronounce it Fayer

[@aditikataria2146]

@@adrianamaximo2660 life in Velaris , all I need's a kiss ( idk if it sounds nice lol)

[@dearartms]

Nobody: Pain: * barks *

[@johanflock_art]

Lmfao

[@booksattack]

assdfhaksdkan too good

[@Mira_Blackthorn]

*barks ----- *

[@withcindy]

BAD PAIN, BAD! SIT

[@hhh-bu3qj]

PAIN GET OFF THE COUCH

[@autumnoconnor9641]

I think the hardest part for me to believe was when she realized the answer to the riddle while being killed. Like how was her brain able to come up with fully formed thoughts and able to remember that long ass riddle when she was in so much pain???

[@DRogers-t6y]

How’d she remember EVERY overheard conversation and put two and two together concerning Tamlin’s heart while she was under such intense pressure?

[@bigtubby56]

I'm a simple person. I see Cindy salty about SJM I click.

[@withcindy]

i was pretty blase about the book mostly until that ONE PART at the end ...

[@Pawprints3569]

Me: *after watching video* : *releases gasping breath that i didnt know i was holding*

[@withcindy]

don't--

[@renee.c2732]

Fuck: Marry: Kill: Lucien, Tamlin, Rhysand

[@withcindy]

the correct answer

[@whateve3r]

Yess

[@mia-rh3xp]

anyways y’all seen Azriel tho 👀

[@thugkittenix2633]

@@mia-rh3xp I need a book about him

[@yuvywho]

@@thugkittenix2633 wattpad lol

[@lolly6395]

It's the fact that I figured out the answer to the riddle almost immediately and was like 'no that's too cliche and cheesy' and I expected it to be something marvelous and then she went 'love' and i almost threw the book

[@chasespace682]

no bc this is exactly my thought process

[@Luna_Hyuga]

Haha omg😂😂 same!!! I was like: ehh... it's love right? Sounds like love... No way that's way to easy and so boring and for sure she could write something better for love it's not even fitting perfectly. And then it was actually love🤡

[@elle-kb6ji]

Ok so I'm in an online class rn and the teacher asked us what some of our favorite books aND THIS GIRL DEAD ASS SAID A COURT OF THORNES AND ROSES IS REALLY GOOD AND I BURST OUT LAUGHING

[@elle-kb6ji]

then I ran to this video

[@tiramisuanimations6652]

Oh this is gold!

[@kaytamurray]

I heard that in my class too like ffs

[@alexeerising2458]

I mean the first book was not that bad.. It’s far from a favorite book, but when I read it, I was expecting it to suck, but I gave it 3.5 stars. That’s a bit mean laughing about that.

[@adeleaslan8182]

How’d she react

[@LizzaRob160]

I refer to it as “quality trash”

[@LizzaRob160]

So it’s shit but I can’t stop reading

[@withcindy]

u do u boo

[@haggisa]

Elizabeth Robson Perfect descriptor!!! 🙌🏼 I couldn’t finish ACOTAR, but I felt that way while reading ACOMAF; the prose was bloated and pretentious, the structure shaky, the pacing uneven, the style overdramatic and immature, yet I couldn’t. Stop. Reading. Wtf, Maas?

[@juri3678]

haggisa sis it’s like fast food U know it’s trash But its kinda cool And keeps you full for some time

[@haggisa]

Judith Lopera Yup.

[@aryak9564]

*changes my bio to “high on faerie crack”*

[@withcindy]

thats the whole ACOTAR fandom tbh

[@bookishimpala5764]

I lost it at" the pain barked through my bones" part! ( Sorry for any injuries that happened though)

[@withcindy]

that took too many takes for me to get right

[@birchbarks550]

14:38 that was such a genuen throw,like i could hear the spine crack and the paper fold,that was a good ole frustrated chuck

[@belenhernandoscocchi649]

10:50 "neopets would never" what do you think was in those potions

[@freddougman58]

so true about the not being attracted to really attractive people because they’re on a different level lmaoo

[@starofthesea22562]

i remember reading this. he's like "you can go wherever you want in the realm, you can totally leave the house" and she's like "wow i can't believe i'm on house arrest". that just annoyed me so much

[@HeortirtheWoodwarden]

Amarantha's trials walked so that Squid Game could run

[@therumorsfrominez3453]

'this isn't going to be a series review.' HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@Phantom_Fireside]

That riddle was also super easy.. I guessed it in 5 minutes... cheesy as line though it was

[@thelittleprince7072]

pain barked through my bones????😐😐😐😐😐

[@paolotorres4037]

Your deadpan delivery of “The only thing we can do is pray for her” made me laugh way too long.

[@findAplaceToCallHome]

I wish Sarah J Maas watched this 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@BB-qr7fz]

Thank you for putting the ad break in between the quotes I think we needed that 😞😞

[@lecciciapires2166]

When you’re laughing out loud in the middle of the night like a maniac, 17 seconds into the video. This is why I love this channel.

[@astcrace]

My friend recommended this book to me when I was 10 for some reason...

[@habibamostafa8238]

Ok honestly best book i read in a while and I LOVED IT

[@juniperberryyyy]

Cindy's reaction to the ending was like: "My expectations were low but holy fuck"

[@geekgirl_luv4262]

I’m mad about how much I genuinely like some of the worldbuilding and aesthetics of this book. Beauty and the Beast combined with Eros and Psyche but with faeries? Cool. All the faerie history? Awesome. Masquerade masks stuck to all their faces? Fuck yeah. This book could’ve been so good if the premise was given to someone with more writing talent and less horniness.

[@midsummernights8550]

"Pain barked through my bones" sounds like an overused phrase. Kind of how a Wattpad book is only a true Wattpad book if the character pops the "p" in "nope"

[@muskaan3711]

I hated Rhys! I get why he did what he did but he's so problematic like 🤢 the only character I liked was Lucien. I was neutral towards Tamlin as every SJM fan says don't get attached to him.

[@siriuslyconfused1]

I actually had to pause the video, as I took a gasp of breath I did not realize I had been holding, at the first line read out from this book, holy hell, that is... a work of art. Like... woah.

[@abigailkingston6555]

this is why you always put on headphones before clicking one of Cindy’s videos

[@withcindy]

or put it on full blast u coward

[@BrytteM]

I can put every Cindy video on blast 'cause I'm pretty much the only one who speaks English XD

[@wellwell6096]

Now i know... thank god no one here knows English

[@lifeabomination8050]

readwithcindy Fucking bet

[@Juupitrr]

that pinned comment though omfg

[@Frostlifting]

Another thing that bugs me about books like this. Why does a teenager with no skills think she can solve problems immortal dudes with magic can't and WHY IS SHE RIGHT??

[@t.h.1492]

I want to read a book where the main character has a can-do attitude but has no real expectation of success and they’re only successful because they approach the problem differently because they’re too dumb to go about it the proper way. Basically, they work hard but they mad stupid but the hard work pays off

[@ImperialFister]

@@t.h.1492 Yo dude, someone write this!

[@ww.DuzaFizz]

@@t.h.1492 So the working out it wrong, but the answer is somehow still right? Brb, I'm writing this

[@t.h.1492]

@@ww.DuzaFizz Share it with us when you’re done! I’d be really interested in reading this but I don’t think I could write it!

[@jules7125]

Honestly 😆 Im trying to break YA stereotypes for my future werecat supernatural. Let's see how this goesss 😅

[@XCatherine]

Tips to become a NY Times Bestselling author: 1. Pointy ears 2. Overly sexual main characters. 3. “Pain barked through my bones.”

[@sp-iw5hk]

I was thinking, if someone breaks their bone, what sound would it make? Howling? _Pain howled through both sides of my broken bone_

[@withcindy]

pain barked through my pointy ears

[@sierraf96]

You forgot "releasing a breath I didn't realize I was holding" 🤣😂

[@shethewriter]

You made me laugh for real

[@haggisa]

“Pain barked through my bones. ‘Was it time to get a dog’, I wondered.” “Anxiety meowed through my mind. Then, with uncertainty mooing through my muscles, I stood up, even as fear quacked under my skin. Working at a zoo-farm was a tough gig, I thought.”

[@dearartms]

"i became aware of every pore in my body when his tongue entered my mouth" sjsjdkdkk this is exactly reason why I don't want to be ever in relationship lol

[@faithalways8537]

Fr like eww tf

[@withcindy]

im pretty sure relationships dont go like that

[@aitanacruz9882]

Trypophobia triggered

[@mimisaur5000]

eugh. no. ew.

[@AryaBeltaine]

trust me when i say its not like that omfgfdhjsd i have no idea what she's talking about

[@mimiwey9014]

"But at least his not abusive" The bar was this low 💀💀💀😂😂😂

[@dandoan5214]

E

[@soulanime5421]

Hahaha just wait child 😂 the bar may be low but they shall not qualify for long :3

[@mintycokies8057]

F

[@amelia4384]

The bar is on the fuckin ground

[@fishythefish7984]

he's* sorry had to but yeah lol

[@ffflustered9qr]

"I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding" is a cursed phrase in YA that needs to G O A W A Y

[@Rivenlore99]

Kelsey Robinson So True! It’s literally happened once for me? But what else are these characters focusing on?

[@tinniesealjiji]

Amen ❤️

[@whitneymouse]

100%

[@lizzzyyslife5729]

I’m waiting for them to release a breath that they actually knew they were holding

[@kelsd161]

This one was even worse because a « gasping » breath means you take air in.

[@jenp726]

I'd like to add that the author used the tragic phrase "my bowels turned watery" THREE TIMES in this book

[@ImperialFister]

Oh no.

[@withthesehands5799]

Oh my god! By the 3rd time I was just like "why"? Why girl why? Can you not express fear any other way than diarrhea? Then do i need to imagine this character shitting herself? What is this? Take it back! LMAOOOOO

[@nicolaberry9550]

A comment has never terrified me so much in my life.

[@DD-gl3gx]

I think I need to read the book for the sole reason of seeing the context for this quote. Did she get diarrhea three times? Does she have IBS? I NEED TO KNOW

[@withthesehands5799]

@@DD-gl3gx unfortunately there was no context to make this quote make sense. It was simply a terrible way of saying "I was really afraid" she doesn't use a bathroom once in the whole damn story so why the author chose to use this quote multiple times is beyond me!

[@TheLPSWarriors]

The fact Tamlin remembered the entire goddamn curse is the most unrealistic part of this goddamn book

[@nimaxo806]

ikr

[@God_3712]

Lol

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

No, what didn't make sense to me is that they needed Feyre alive to lift the curse, but Lucien sends her off into the forest in hopes that she'll be killed 😂😂

[@ms.baepsae6794]

what i didnt get is they literally sacrificed their friend to be killed 😔👌

[@jilliansadler5165]

Amarantha probably wanted him to remember the curse to think about his actions. He said something very offensive to Amarantha about her sisters death so I'm sure she wanted him to remember the curse to know why he should suffer.

[@alyssa.h]

"but at least he's not abusive" mmMMHHHhhMmmmm...

[@withcindy]

ummmmmmm *remains willfully ignorant*

[@alyssa.h]

@@withcindy haha lol x can't wait for you to read ACOMAF!

[@TheAquamarine4]

Foreshadowing much....

[@ememem2952]

not yetttttttt

[@KaiInMotion]

readwithcindy honey you've got a big storm coming

[@maximk9964]

Literaly, when you said "The answer... to the riddle... is... ", my first thought was "Love? Nah, can't be, that's way too chee... oh it is... well damn"

[@eleanorlewis4527]

Same omg 😭

[@rileslord1082]

I thought it was luck at first but turns out it was love hmmmzmmmmmmmm

[@irisribeiro9369]

HAHAHAHAHAHA yesss

[@fs6082]

I thought it was time💀💀

[@goodnight-moon564]

I though it would have been Friendship. Friendship would have been a better answer

[@kuhteen]

The answer to the riddle is like how friendship is always the answer in anime.

[@withcindy]

omg youre right

[@r1ddle0frevenge]

or like how love is always the most important thing in harry potter, like we get it, shut up, think of something new (i love harry potter anyway the whole love thing just pisses me off)

[@barbararab6390]

@@r1ddle0frevenge love vs knife

[@khfan4life365]

Yet somehow, anime plays that trope better than this garbage.

[@oddeyes9413]

FairyTail?

[@dwightschruteassistanttoth7490]

I read this too because of the hype, and it left me nothing but a barking pain in my bones.

[@withcindy]

woof woof

[@FunSoSoToTo]

U made me LAUGH SO HARD 😂😂😂😂

[@happyjellycatsquid]

Jim shoulda put your copy in jelly before you could read it, it would have save you time to farm more beets.

[@alymarie3512]

I’m crying

[@irinakermong1217]

If the answer to the riddle was "your mom" I would have rated this book 5 stars and written to Tolkien's estate that their rule on fantasy is over by the grace of Fae shlong

[@selenophile5256]

This is my favourite comment on the entire site

[@CPSPD]

oh my goodness

[@writegirl422]

Underrated comment

[@MercurialMoon]

this is one hell of a comment damn

[@mimirants7935]

"I'd kill Lucien, because he is a wet blanket side character and marry Tamlin because Tamlin is a perfectly nice guy, he seemed decent to me." The universe: *man oh man*

[@sofievaldmanova5283]

Gabi Pessoa she mentioned in an interview that she always intended for Feysand to be endgame

[@corelei]

@@sofievaldmanova5283 she said it in an interview? then it must be true

[@anhhuynhkimnguyen6793]

Cookie Lord She could’ve just said that so people don’t think the unpopular opinion tm lmao, because that was totally her intention.

[@misssteak1290]

@Gabi Pessoa when your writing is so shitty that the only way to make a character likable is to make the others worse

[@Maya_hee]

@Gabi Pessoa I actually really liked Tamlin and for a long while i was salty that SJM ruined his character and constantly wished they'd end up together again until Feyre was revealed to be Rhysand's mate.

[@ToriTheDormouse]

Someone tell Feyre that "I like to paint" is not a personalty trait. Take a shot everytime she mentions "I wanted to paint it" or "I would never dare to paint that" or "The flowers I painted on the cottage"... You get the gist. This would kill people.

[@rockhistoria2537]

As an artist I can say with confidence that we are a lot more picky with what we draw or paint rather than looking at some birdie having a stroke and thinking "pretty, must replicate", like where the fuck do you think artist block comes from, the easter bunny???

[@mystii8134]

@@rockhistoria2537 not to mention how horrible birds are as a reference. Like omg stop flying away, I really wanted to draw this one crow but it just kept running away halfway through my drawing and so I wrote poetry about the bird being mean it was one of those afternoons when you discover your muse and are overflowing with creativity

[@adeleaslan8182]

One of the earliest characters I tried to write was an artist protagonist because they seemed so popular but it was so stupid I had to stop

[@eurekareads9112]

Lmaooooo YES

[@ninabailey8694]

Reminds me of clary

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Omg stop. I actually cackled with the reenactment of the pain barking through you.

[@sparklegirl1006]

I love your channel 💕

[@withcindy]

woof woof

[@TheresASoupInMyRat]

readwithcindy Bork

[@poofer3878]

"when you can't even be attracted to someone bc they're on a whole other level" bruh I felt that spiritually

[@birchbarks550]

I think everyone watching felt that,almost enough for the pain to bark in our bones

[@jun_kage]

I felt it too💀

[@ananyag5750]

My bones barked so much in pain that I had to use a pacifier to calm them🥲

[@ShakespeareandSuch]

A Court of Thorns and Roses: Neopets would never.

[@JeanetHenning]

I actually did a find search in the hopes that someone would've commented on the "Neopets would never", I'm so glad someone did.

[@Salma-qx3te]

AHAHAHHAHAH

[@jeremychan910]

"Pain barked through my bones" ... and pleasure meowed between my legs.

[@elianaw.1811]

Omfg

[@vay5540]

*No. I refuse*

[@selenophile410]

I can’t like , look at that number

[@thelastwish558]

🤣

[@Heynowwtf7413]

I choked on toothpaste

[@Ilvaaaaaaaa]

Tamlins character development through the series is what happens when an author decides midway through writing that they’d rather the protagonist end up with the mysterious bad boy than the original love interest.

[@poppy1999]

As I read in a comment, it seems like Sarah based Tamlin on her boyfriend of time broke up and decided to make him the biggest asshole for revenge. Not accurate, but it really seems plausible

[@atanaZion]

Ikr

[@darkmatter9651]

nah man she realised tamlin was too fucking boring and then switched to writing Rhysand for the last part of the book and realised it was too fun to keep tamlin the main love interest in ACOMAF

[@catherinelempke8451]

I have just finished the first book, and let me tell you, I think it happened right before the finale. As soon as buddy boy came for his little peek behind the mask therapy session, the course had changed.

[@mercuryy94]

Same thing that happened with the shatter me series

[@ayeshaishaq9325]

Why I read the series: 1. Faeries❌ 2. Women empowerment ❌ 3. Cool name ✔

[@sernoddicusthegallant6986]

I cant even get behind that any more now that the "An X of Y and Z" title format is so overused these days

[@kosmic100]

@@sernoddicusthegallant6986 true *cough* George r.r. Martin *cough*

[@sernoddicusthegallant6986]

@@kosmic100 Nah I'l defend George in this context since he started ASoIaF in the 90s before the format became overused af

[@imacastaway543]

Why is this me-

[@uraniaclover1828]

@@sernoddicusthegallant6986 I read it because the cover looks good and need a decoration😋

[@Samg-ary]

The fact that Sarah J Maas turns Tamlin into a bad person to build up Rhysand and didn't actually try and have Tamlin deal with the PTSD he clearly was suffering from is in poor taste in my opinion and I couldn't finish the series

[@innerblight]

She very clearly shows how someones enduring pain can make them treat others like shit, and that going through something so horrible does not excuse how terrible you treat others. Like... so many people want to see Tamlin redeemed but good god the dude was a warped white knight style savior from the beginning!!

[@amerehuman6791]

@@innerblight that is because.....that is how the author wants them. She can actually write it just like the prev comment said.. Or just doesn't change him at all. But, then, Rhysand sadly won't have a chance or the series won't even have resources to continue. So, Tamlin is actually a victim to fuel the plot.

[@GoddessLuna23]

Have you ever dated someone from the military with PTSD? In the world she created, it didn't seem like she showed any type of therapist? Half his family was killed so he didn't have anyone to really turn to. He wasn't raised like Rhy to be a High Lord, more of a warrior. Tam didn't really seem unrealistic to me, he reminded me of an ex.

[@giovanalaurence]

EXACLY!

[@Khalooloo]

@@innerblight Yes I actually felt like Tamlins character is very relatable! Especially how his dynamic shifts with feyre. Most people who do shitty things have been through shitty things.

[@everlark4ever]

”the bar is so low, i expected nothing and i’m still let down.” oh this is a huge mood for these books i got to the 2nd one and just couldn’t do it anymorec, to me it’s the sexier scenes in the 2nd one that are so cringy that i literally wish i could erase it from my memory

[@withcindy]

LOOOOL the 2nd book should be... interesting

[@KC-vs7wp]

Was the same for me. About have way into the 2nd book I just couldn’t do it anymore, it was so cringey

[@elenaapostoliou]

My whole existence cringed with that 2nd book

[@mollybennett3291]

oliviareads I don’t even I got threw the first one.

[@izzybluebell8399]

*INHALE* ok. First off, I will respect your opinion, but I SWEAR- what ever, we all have different opinions. But let me just say... I really love the book. lol okay that is all the anger I will release at you

[@nyx3958]

So, fun fact: There is a Celtic folktale about a fairy named Tam Lin (seeing any connections yet?) who lives in a forest and demands gifts from any young maiden that happens to walk through the forest he lives in, if they don’t have a gift (like a gemstone or some shit), he takes… (drumroll please) *their virginity.* So yeah. I love knowing these myths. It’s great.

[@JaxzDoesBundles]

But what if they weren't a virgin, what would he take then?

[@jezza_belle4867]

@@JaxzDoesBundles the breath they didn't realize they were holding

[@nicolersands]

@@JaxzDoesBundles The story’s actually a lot sweeter and romantic. Janet (the main character) hears this story, and intentionally goes into the forest to pick roses without a gift because she WANTS to have sex with the hot fairy boy. Turns out he’s actually really nice, and used to be a mortal who was kidnapped by the fairy queen and kept unwillingly as her consort because she thought she was hot. Janet agrees to help save him, and the climax of the story is basically a test of character where she has to prove to the fairy queen that she’s not afraid of Tam Lin’s wild nature and will be there for him no matter what trauma he goes through; while he has to prove to HER that even when in the throws of trauma-even at his worst-he will never hurt her, and she is in control. Seriously, look up Overly Sarcastic Production’s summary of the Tam Lin myth, and listen to The Ballad of Tam Lin (Anais Mitchell version). I love the story so much.

[@miyakofoodling7727]

@@nicolersands And this would have been a great base for the first book, but from the looks of it she did not do agreat jobb.

[@Deadflower019]

@@nicolersands OSP DID A VIDEO ON THAT??

[@kibstar1]

"at least hes not abusive" "lucien's background seemed interesting" man i forgot how different the first book was

[@Brendanstop]

This is Cindy, adding "ho" to book titles since 2018

[@withcindy]

it's my spin-off

[@sercemwksiazkach]

"If I took a shot every time I saw an em dash on any single page, I would be dead by now. But you know what? It's fine, because sometimes you just wanna die"

[@Sam-0827]

I cackled

[@MsJordanElaine]

I’m still laughing at this.

[@mochiyeosang1908]

When em dashes are your comfort grammar ;-;

[@idontneedaname318]

@@mochiyeosang1908 same

[@summerghost6551]

It bugged me too since probably every word connected to the em dash is a complex word and my kindle dictionary couldn't detect and define the word for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@yapdog]

_"It ain't that deep."_ is turning into one of your catch phrases :^)

[@withcindy]

new merch idea

[@haggisa]

Put it on coffee mugs for an added double entendre.

[@TheAquamarine4]

readwithcindy I’d buy

[@catcreme]

if Cindy ever starts her own merch, I want that on a mug.

[@sawwmin]

This book literally was a combination of "beauty and the beast" + "twilight" + and some creativity

[@nataliereyes7283]

She literally says that in an interview. That her main inspo was the story of Tam Lin and beauty and the beast because they’re her favorites

[@moringsdaughter]

I thought it was more Beauty and the Beast crossed with Hunger Games and Fairies. Twilight works too.

[@meganlange6254]

"I would kill Lucien" immediate dislike he's literally the only good character in the entire series.

[@books_and_waistcoats7154]

Strongly agree

[@glorim22]

honestly!! SJM did him so dirty he deserves so much better :(

[@lovelyicy6395]

This is me to the T!!! Lucien is the only thing keeping me together through this series. I had about lost so many brain cells reading the second book (worst book in the trilogy IMO) and the surprise about Lucien's identity is what makes me hopeful that he's going to get his own book or novella. I literally dgaf about any other character and I'm not here for a court of silver flames because Nesta is a person I absolutely cannot stand but I'm reading it because I'm curious to know if SJM will reveal Lucien finally finding out who he is related to. Other than that I could care less.

[@youraveragemusicperson2176]

He's literally the only thing that kept me going through the first book, I wanted to stop reading so many times but I only cared about him

[@rachellilein]

Omg yes, I totally agree on that

[@snowingonolympus8588]

Two fun facts that not many people know about: - ACOTAR's first book is more based on the Tam Lin tale from Ireland than it is Beauty and the Beast, but because it's not a common American tale, it was marketed at a Beauty and The Beast Retelling. That's why Amarantha is such a mess; she's based on the faerie queen from the Tam Lin; the trials come from that tale. - SJM's depiction of Fae isn't very accurate; Holly Black and Cassie Clare do it best. As someone who loves mythical creatures, SJM's Fae honestly read more like elves than fae. But I also read a lot of high fantasy so that might be why I make that relation. Faeries are meant to be creatures who cannot lie so they find cunning ways to say things; they're manipulative and have an all-powerful ruler, and usually, all live in a different dimension. They can have powers, but not necessarily always. Their realms also have magic foods that are lethal to mortals as well. Elves are creatures with pointy ears that usually carry magic powers in their race. Also I thought the answer to the riddle was the ocean I felt like a dumb bitch. ACOMAF (the second book) actually saved my life and helped to pull me from a dark place where I was going to end my own life, and I think that's why I'm partial to liking the series. I just read it at the right time. It has so many issues but so does every other YA book I've ever read. Thanks for your honest review!

[@withcindy]

im so glad ACOMAF was a positive impact for you!!

[@snowingonolympus8588]

@@withcindy

[@xcacoethes4622]

snowingonolympus i can relate with the second book i read that one when i was in a dark place and wow i just have no words

[@perimortem5241]

I was in such a bad space when I read ACOMAF, and I can relate so much to your words. It was one of those moments where I NEEDED to hear some of the things the characters said. It's obviously not perfect, but when re-read it and I get to some of those quotes it reminds me of how far ive come. I'm glad it also helped you through your bad moments

[@zaraleemcauliffe1126]

I love the second book. Thought the first one was boring AF. It’s funny because I never liked Tamlin, not because he was bad, but because I though he was a boring love interest, honestly I was so happy when she ditched him. But also this is notme angry, I was just laughing at the statement “SJM depiction of face isn’t very accurate.” Ummm accurate to what? It’s a fantasy novel. It’s fiction. Idk. Her version of fae could have been talking dog people and it could still be considered accurate to her world. It’s just not the standard Modern 21st century understanding of fae from historical literature. Also, 3rd book. Alright I seemed to have liked it more than most people, the ending fake out (was 100% not believable)... I enjoyed it, reread it, it’s fun (definitely better than book 1 at least).

[@LadyMoonNugz184]

The book series that started Cindy's spiral into insanity.

[@ariahazelwood3842]

Yeah I'm revisiting this for my sadistic viewer's amusement 😆

[@oh.worm.]

Maybe the real plot was the friends we made along the way

[@twiggyjali]

Amarantha sounds like a lawyer that failed the bar and dropped out. She basically invented fairie terms and conditions lmfao

[@klatskyn]

"The bar was so low. I expected nothing, and I was still let down." Girl. I could not have described my experience of this book any better.

[@alisonseareads1199]

You should read ACOMAF for the wingspan jokes alone. For you it was the pointy ears, for me it was the wings.

[@perrinupshaw8352]

sarah j maas classics: - he ground out - two sides of the same coin - sucking/sucked on my teeth - everyone roaring with laughter at things that are not funny at all

[@butterfeilds]

The roaring laughter lmfao

[@Emma.Lou1]

Don't forget: "he **action** once. Twice."

[@ab.4507]

Its been like centuries since I read the first book, the quotes are SO CRINGY I lost it at "pain barked through my bones"

[@withcindy]

still waiting to hear what it means

[@ab.4507]

@@withcindy Granny's sitting next to me and is extremely confused as to why I am giggling like an idiot

[@jazzy8834]

I was actually enjoying the series till the final arc : Rhysand drugging Feyre making her act like a ho in these weird ass parties and also him torturing her on the cell and finally that "THE ANSWER IS LOVE" scene made me just stop taking the series seriously. The second book is actually better but i wouldnt really say that I am a huge fan.

[@katiemadlem9970]

The ending was so weird but my lonely self still fell in love with rhysand

[@GenievaWalter]

I was triggered horribly by the end so I read a spoiler cause usually that helps me get through the worse points and that just made it worse because I find out she left a nice, happy, consensual(at that time, I have no clue what happens in the books after) relationship for someone who did this to her.

[@lexinicole98]

@@katiemadlem9970 for real. I liked Rhysand the whole time. I have issues with men 😂

[@lucyk8935]

I've never read this book. He WHAT????

[@lexinicole98]

@@lucyk8935 there was a part where this guy Rhys got Feyre, the main character, drunk and had her dance and stuff 🧐

[@larissam610]

"But at least he's not abusive" .... The autor: OH YEAH?? HOLD MY SEQUEL

[@dearartms]

"i CaN haNdlE biG DiCkS" has same energy as "what are you dreaming about?!!" and I can't stop laughing

[@CtinaLoves2Read]

lol dont ya just love cindy lol i know i do lol she's a trip and i noticed that too

[@withcindy]

HOW DARE YOU

[@VeelouC]

Rhysand can choke. Him twisting her broken arm I can never look past, no matter the excuse.

[@faithalways8537]

It's like the author fantasizes with abusive, over sexual relationships. It's like I was learning something about the author I'd rather not know.

[@ruchikacalton2424]

@Volatile Violets & Raging Roses He could have just healed her. That was an option. That's what lucien did. And he didn't need the bargain talk to her in her mind and to help her cheat...so no he did not in fact have a reason to do it. They could have made a pact with her as equals, since he can brainwash anyone and we're lead to believe he is the only one who can read her mind. So no.

[@ruchikacalton2424]

@Volatile Violets & Raging Roses Yes, he did know they were mates. Since that weird Fire Night festival, it's in ACOMAF during his speech. Even before in fact, from his dreams. In his speech he doesn't say it was for anyone else or for the good of all, but specifically said it was to protect her. And sorry, in an otherwise impossible situation with war and decades of more oppression ahead--- Feyre comes in, has to complete 3 trials or solve a riddle and free everyone --- she *is* very special right now. I get your thought process but I dont agree with it. Amarantha knew everyone hated her so it would not give anyone in particular away, and of course as a gleaming hope of freedom that Feyre represented, I'm surprised not more people tried to help her. As for Rhysand, for all his power and all his sneakyness, he could have hatched a plan together. Amarantha would have assigned him to find the person who healed Feyre - knowing he was her loyal henchmen and since she did not know they were mates - and lead her astray, making himself a smarter and more likable character and showing his compatibility with Feyre and his willingness to include her in his plans ----- Or do something that was clever and smart like we are lead to believe he is, instead of jumping at the prospect of physically hurting those he loved to make them agree to whatever he thinks is best for them, since after all it was for their own good....like a classical abuser. I'm glad you pointed out his 'image' he has to hold up. His image as an abuser that he has earned. His 'act' was very real to the people he killed, abused and tortured - including to Feyre.

[@ruchikacalton2424]

@Volatile Violets & Raging Roses To each their own I guess. We can keep bickering since these book are filled with contradictions and flawed logic, mostly because SJM wants to write something and ends up writing something else. Regardless, I don't care for these books enough to go to war over them. The only thing I can't stand is when people make Rhysand out to be some perfect saintly babe. So as long as we agreed on that I'm cool. And judging from the last paragraph, it seems we are in agreement.

[@ev6564]

​@Volatile Violets & Raging Roses I feel like it's not even YA authors but just many romance authors in general. New adult is what I think tends to be the most abusive.

[@riyamars641]

The plot would've been more intriguing and plausible if Amarantha *were* a game show host. 😂😂😂

[@nyx6879]

Dude.... DUDE!😂💯

[@taylorrobinson1146]

I'm still laughing about Tamlin being on Faerie crack lol

[@withcindy]

Was he?? Or did I completely forget lmao

[@taylorrobinson1146]

@@withcindy he most certainly was, it made him horny as shit too if I can remember correctly

[@superkamiguru4615]

Taylor Robinson omg yes!! 😂😂 I totally forgot about that. He hits that line and goes tearing after the main character and it almost turns into a whole different book but of course he’s perfect and stops himself from assaulting her 🤔🤔

[@ayeshaishaq9325]

Sarah made Tamlin a bad person just to make Rhys a good one. Look at the internal devices for an example. Tessa gets Will and Jem both,

[@ettaetta439]

3 years and this comment is yet to be updated

[@mishelly]

Now that you mention the “attractiveness “ of the characters it occurs to me I wasn’t left with a real impression of what Tamlin or Lucian looks like. So I have no idea if I personally would find them attractive. I imagine Tamlin a bit of a brute and Lucian smaller (idk about his junk haha ) I can’t even remember their hair color I’m assuming blonde cuz I guess blond is translation for hawt hahah

[@Rivenlore99]

Mishellyloves Books Yeah, that annoys me when the characters are described as “beautiful” or something, but there are NO physical descriptions otherwise. Just a vague humanoid human...?

[@mishelly]

Riven Lore right and said in such a way that there’s no argument beautiful is a general prescribed look, vs the characters idea of beautiful. Welp that maybe different than my idea or your idea, etc.

[@green4ever626]

There were plenty of descriptions of Lucien due to his "unnatural" hair color (aka a red head) and his jacked up eye. I mean PLENTY. As for Tamlin, I just imagined him as Rowan from ATOG but less attractive.

[@oliviaw6415]

Fr for Tamlin the main description was a strong nose, full lips, arched brows and grass green eyes... that sounds pretty basic ngl

[@jerrpie]

Neopets would never. That's basically how we should describe the series from now on lolol

[@withcindy]

imagine reading this book thinking u were gonna get neopets

[@posermatt1293]

me realizing fayre is just the word fairy + sarah and now i realize this may be a watt pad story that got published

[@shamusteneyck-johnson2818]

Holy FUCK

[@ajreads7350]

it gets better with the second book and then gets worse again with the third and then absolute dumpster fire with the novella 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@withcindy]

why does this all sound like a hot mess

[@jessicamota8031]

Even the diehard fans seems to hate the novella. My friend adores this series and she hated it so much lol

[@haggisa]

Jéssica Mota Oooh, really? What’s wrong with it? I read the synopsis and it sounded rather sweet and cute...after reading multiple spoilerific reviews for the third book and realising what a hot mess it is, I thought the novella was like a consolation prize for the faithful fans, so now I’m really curious!

[@amn384]

Completely agree! I recommend reading the second and stopping after that.

[@julianamendes8802]

That is the absolute truth about this series!!👌🏽🙌🏽

[@Sam-0827]

To be honest the one thing I really hated was feyre's sisters. In the first book, both nesta and elaine were lazy as hell and feyre had to provide for everyone. Then as the series continued nesta was still rude and elaine incapable of doing anything for herself. If anything, the only reason I like feyre, was because of her self sufficient mindset.

[@atanaZion]

And they are literally older than her

[@darleneforte9479]

I finally realize this was the reason why I thought The Darkling was in ACOTAR. I was so confused when I saw the Darkling in Shadow and Bone and was like, "Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be with Feyre? Oh wait-no that's Rhysand."

[@passionfruitandbooks4689]

I wonder where I could find a mug that says, "it ain't that deep."

[@lowqualityk5816]

*"The answer to this riddle is...lOvE"* Me: *pretends to be shocked*

[@withcindy]

pikachu shocked face

[@temtem8110]

The answer to the riddle could easily be manipulation, gaslighting, deception, being an imposter. Betrayal, backstabbing, dishonesty, for what I know But no, it had to be fucking love, I’m done, y’all

[@ICaughtTheSnitch26]

You know you're a 90s child when you totally get the neopets reference

[@withcindy]

YEEEEEES

[@SuperHappyNotMerry]

I personally love this series but I'm angry about it. I _know_ it's hot garbage but its so fun and tropey I just can't stop. I even pre-ordered the third book and the novella, that's how much I wanted to get my hands on those books. I know they aren't good but I don't caaaare. Also I'm reading for a couple that appears in the second book to finally get together.

[@Ayyyyyyymanduh]

I feel literally the same way! Reading it, I knew it was total trash. The writing, the sex, the tropes.... and I did. Not. Care. I finished the whole series in 3 days. #guiltypleasure 😂 I’m glad I’m not the only one.

[@xcacoethes4622]

SAME i love the book most of its trash but i’m so roped in. it’s like when i was younger reading shitty wattpad novels.

[@wrinkleintime4257]

I see it as the reality show of literature (not literally like in concept?) like I know it’s bad but it’s too much fun to not indulge in it a little hehehe ;D (And let myself be angry about something fun and harmless)

[@BlackCampariBlue]

It's bad, but so very entertaining.

[@varshashankar9902]

i feel the same way about the selection. like it’s bad writing, but it’s still really addicting

[@caffeineandmemes]

When I read the first book, I thought the love triangle was going to be between Tamlin and Lucien. I legit shipped Feyre and Lucien. I'm tired of myself too, guys

[@pirateninjaunicorn666]

They had a great dynamic!

[@dearartms]

those mini scenes of role playing this book are 100% better than upcoming movie lol

[@withcindy]

there's... there's a movie ?

[@dearartms]

@@withcindy bwahahaha yes and it can´t be good

[@nootnewt9323]

@Emma SeasonStylishh speaking of which have we heard ANYTHING about that movie? Or the ToG Hulu show? We hear about the Grishaverse Netflix series all the time and development seems to be going well. What’s happening with the SJM’s adaptions

[@emmyrose77]

"pain barked through my bones" is a lyric from an indie band.

[@withcindy]

a band i would not listen to

[@EspaALSC]

The biggest turn off for me about this series and the main reason i dont wanna read them is that i was told Tamlin turns into a jerk in the books. That kinda bothered me bc the Scottish fairy tale of Tam Lin is my favorite fairy tale and his romance with Bonnie Janet is a beautiful message of true love setting you free. Once i heard they took inspiration from the legend i was really excited to read the books to see this character in a different setting, but then you tell me he's gonna turn into a villain? Nu uh, I don't want it, which is a pity bc it sounds like the type of book i like. But after this review it also didn't seem like a very good story. Great video btw!

[@chiozoe]

I kept saying “please don’t, please don’t, please don’t let ‘love’ be the answer” and it was. And I just couldn’t deal. I only read the rest because most people said it got way better. It did to me.

[@VannahSavage]

Bruh that Neopets reference just falcon punched me all the way back to 2002

[@scipio764]

Every once in a while, I revisit this gem for a good laugh.

[@Meimoons]

Same! Especially for 14:28, makes me smile every time

[@Amouna128]

Same

[@victoriaegeberg4718]

I feel so bad for her. She still thinks that Tamlin is a decent guy. If only she knew how wrong she was. 😔

[@choocli]

I JUST FINISHED THE FIRST BOOK AND IMMA READ THE 2ND I LOVE TAMLIN SO MUCH I CANNOT BELIEVE HE WILL EVER BE A BAD GUY

[@Aziexxx]

@@choocli omg tell us when u've read it i need to commiserate w someone he rlly is a dick

[@KK-ex9uc]

@@choocli Sooooo... what do you think now?

[@RenaDeles]

@@KK-ex9uc sjm is a bad writer, who dealt with a love triangle worse then Twilight did.

[@KK-ex9uc]

@@RenaDeles Bruh she didn't even make it a love triangle, she just flip flopped one love interest from a good homie to a cartoon villain and forgot all about him except using him as plot device to make Rhys look good by making Tam bad.

[@easilydistractedauthor]

In my experience, people who say the second book is better are Rhysand fangirls who hate Tamlin. 🤷‍♀️

[@withcindy]

ooooh tea

[@easilydistractedauthor]

@@withcindy Served piping hot!

[@booksattack]

lmao i 2nd this cause im one of those people

[@shierubea]

I am the latter yes lol

[@KaiInMotion]

I feel exposed

[@malyciousapple]

readwithcindy: "I also don't really like 100% perfectly handsome characters. It just feels very unrealistic to me. I can't do any wish-fulfillment when I read a story like that because they're *way* out of my league... Like, you see someone who is so hot and so attractive that you can't even be *attracted* to them..." me, nodding: like any of henry cavill's characters

[@maddog6041]

What’s really funny is that the part you red from the book is most definitely something I’ve read word from word on wattpad

[@withcindy]

wow wattpad's got a lot of potential to be bestselling authors then!!

[@amn384]

I think Maas actually started on Wattpad with Throne of Glass. 😂