the people of velaris are rebuilding their homes post-war, meanwhile feyre is building her real estate portfolio and after complaining throughout the book about how cramped she is in her TWO houses, she gets a third. what's next, in ACOSF does she become a landlord? ( )

This is basically a "holiday special" book. We're done with the previous book's war and are now in a peaceful, contemplative, rebuilding phase, in which Feyre gets to angst about all the people who didn't survive and the friends and family they left behind. Maas remembers that Feyre likes to paint (although I realized that she's never specified what kind of paint Feyre uses - I assume acrylics?), there's some fretting over Winter Solstice gift buying, and we get updates on both Nesta (who's doing terribly) and Elain (who's doing ok, although her almost-marriage and Lucien are still sore spots).

There are tiny hints of what might be going on in the next book, but overall, this really could have and should have been an anthology of short stories, or a bonus story at the end of the previous book. I'm guessing Maas isn't really comfortable writing short stories, though.

Overall, this was ok for what it was, but it didn't feel like a truly necessary entry in the series.

I continue to be reminded of Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy. At some point, I need to reread those books and see if they're actually better than these or if it's just nostalgia coloring my memories.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.) ( )

Synopsis: 'Feyre, Rhysand, and their friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly altered world beyond, recovering from the war that changed everything. But Winter Solstice is finally approaching, and with it, the joy of a hard-earned reprieve.

Yet even the festive atmosphere can't keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, her concern for those dearest to her deepens. They have more wounds than she anticipated-scars that will have a far-reaching impact on the future of their court.' From Fandom

Review: Feyre's family is a bit of a pain. All of the characters are damaged to a greater or lesser extent. The author does a good job of pointing out how people who are 'different' get bullied. This is the only book in the series (so far) that I'm not enamored of. ( )

i have gone on and on for years about how i wish media existed that only had the happy and cozy moments. no climax, no drama, no issues. just pure cozy moments and that’s exactly what this is! i am obsessed and i am so unbelievably grateful that of all series in the world this one has just that! i can already say that this will be a book i read over and over again when im just wanting something to pick up. the acotar series is truly something i never knew i needed until i had it and the book hangover in going to have after finishing the next book is going to brutal! sarah j. maas deserves all the praise for this wonderful series ☺️☺️ ( )

There really was no need for this book. Maybe as a short story ebook type thing if you cut the page count in half but even as a shorter novel there wasn't enough here. Pretty typical of SJM honestly. She tends to put more extra words in than she needs and forgets about the plot. I loved seeing the gang all together and this little glimpse of their "normal" lives but nothing happened in this story. Rhys and Feyre were pretty annoying too? Was that just me? Were they always like that and I just missed it? ( )