Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark magic, gore, sex, faeries in mature romantic fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 40 parent reviews
Parents say that while the book is well-received for its captivating fantasy elements and strong characters, it contains mature themes and explicit content that may not be suitable for younger readers. Many reviews suggest that it is better suited for teenagers 15 years and older, highlighting concerns over graphic sexual content, issues with consent, and violence that are more pronounced in later books in the series.
- mature themes
- explicit content
- parental guidance
- age recommendations
- consent issues
Summarized with AI
Based on 184 kid reviews
Kids say that this book offers a captivating blend of fantasy and romance, appealing likely to mature teens; however, it also contains significant mature themes, including graphic violence and sexual content, which might be overwhelming for younger readers. Many reviewers emphasize the importance of maturity when considering if the book is suitable for younger audiences, as experiences and individual comfort levels greatly differ.
- fantasy romance
- mature themes
- graphic content
- parental discretion
- individual maturity
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES is set in a vaguely ancient-Celtic world where faeries and humans have centuries of history together but currently live on opposite sides of a wall. The faeries regularly war with one another, engage in back-stabbing intrigue, and massacre hapless victims of all species, while humans struggle to survive on the tiny bit of territory the faeries have left them. Nineteen-year-old Feyre, the youngest child in a merchant family that's lost all its money, keeps her father and sisters alive by hunting in the woods, but one day in the dead of winter, when they're all about to starve, she kills a strange-looking wolf. Before long, a ferocious beast comes from the faerie world to take revenge for the death of one of their kind and drags Feyre off to his kingdom. Once there, her shape-shifting captor drops his disguise, revealing himself as Tamlin, a High Fae and, it turns out, not a terrible host, despite the mask that never leaves his face. Having her eyes opened to beauty and kindness in his Spring Court, Feyre soon begins to fall in love with Tamlin—and to learn more about the terrible curse that hangs over him and his people.
Is It Any Good?
Both bodices and bodies are ripped to shreds early and often in this sexy, violent, magic-steeped page-turner. A Court of Thorns and Roses' narrator/protagonist Feyre sometimes bogs things down in internal hand-wringing, and an occasional anachronistic howler creeps into the dialogue, but there's plenty to like here. As the dark, romantic, Beauty and the Beast-based saga unfolds, bestselling author Sarah J. Maas reveals complex characters, puts them in impossible situations, and sets up plenty of developments in future volumes.
Along the way, there's a lot of sexual tension and release, with plenty of overheated description, such as: "Heat pounded between my legs, and as he ground his body against me, against every aching spot, a moan slipped past my lips." Along with the realistic nature of the violence and gore, this fantasy romance is aimed at more mature readers than the usual YA audience. But those who step into its kingdom will likely fall quickly under its spell.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how A Court of Thorns and Roses reinvents Beauty and the Beast. Did you notice the similarities? Can you think of other stories based on old tales? How do they compare?
How do you feel about stories where the main character is forced to choose among various options, all of them bad? Have you or someone you know ever been in that position? What did you or they do? What becomes the "right" decision in situations like that?
How do characters show courage, perseverance, and empathy? Why are these important character strengths? Can you think of times you've shown any of them in your own life?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Adventures
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury USA
- Publication date : May 11, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 432
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : July 21, 2026
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