Following the war with Hybern, Nesta Archeron has devoted herself to one nights stands, spending her sister’s money, and driving away everyone who cares about her with her barbed tongue. Upon being given a fantastic bill after a night’s revelry, Nesta’s sister Feyre, the High Lady of the Night Court, and brother-in-law Rhysand, the High Lord, decide enough is enough. Nesta is sent to the House of Wind where she spends her mornings training in how to fight with Cassian and afternoons working in a library run by priestesses.
Nesta has faced a lot in her short life. She was born human, but turned to High Fae through an ancient cauldron whose power she took. Always having a will of steel and the tongue of a viper, Nesta is forced to face the Illyrian warrior Cassian, the one who despite all her attempts to push him away still burns with a fire for her that matches her own. But as Nesta finds her way to learning to be more than a sharp tongue, old enemies are busy searching for old powers to enact their vengeance.
I have been waiting for this book since the novelette a court of Frost and Starlight came out and included a teaser. ACSF is a self contained arc. Reading the earlier books in the series will give you all the details, but enough information is given as the story progresses a new reader shouldn’t be lost. The first three novels are a complete arc of Feyre’s story, and the novelette ties that arc into this one. While I like Feyre and Rhys, I feel their story is complete, and am content to see them become background characters. ACSF is Nesta and Cassian’s story.
The character of Nesta has evolved from evil sister to so proud she is willing to starve to spite her father. She stares down enemies that leave proud warriors quaking in fear and took power from the cauldron itself. When frightened, Nesta strikes like a Black Mamba, knowing exactly where to go for the kill. Unfortunately the people she hurts are often those she loves.
Cassian understands Nesta best. When you see in Nesta’s head and understand she is trying to escape trauma, and is falling back on patterns of behavior she doesn’t know how to change, she is made sympathetic. When Cassian sees past her words, he understands that as well. I loved the female camaraderie Nesta finds as she trains with Gwyn, a priestess and Emerie, an ILllyrian. The training scenes left me nostalgic for my taekwondo days. This definitely passes the Bechdel test. While part of Nesta’s arc is to mature and not lash out at the people she cares about when hurt, I am glad there is no attempt to turn her into the sweet nice protagonist.
There are steamy Cassian and Nesta scenes. (Warning: this book is for older teens). They have some filthy bedroom talk, which fits both characters. I am torn between what I want as a fan and think is good craft. Fan me wants more Nesta and Cassian scenes, while craft me is saying it’s a little too much. There is one beautiful romantic love scene, but a bunch of earlier scenes I feel could be merged.
In my opinion, the author is improving her craft. This book doesn’t have the two tropes I found annoying in her earlier books- an ultra powered female who suddenly becomes badass and a bi character who wants everyone attractive in a threesome. Nesta has power, but spends the novel keeping it in check. She has so little control I buy it when her power floods out during extreme situations. Nesta becomes a warrior through hard training. You could argue it would take years rather than weeks or months to get as good as she is, but I am willing to buy it because we see her working hard step by step. It really feels like the payoff is earned.
As someone who has identified as Celtic Polytheist, the cauldron being the source of evil rubs me the wrong way. This is a fantasy world with fae that seems inspired by lore but is its own made up world, but many of the names are taken from fairy lore. I think I wouldn’t mind the cauldron so much if it was something primal that created both good and evil. There are hints of that, but its power is only used for good at the end, and that is part of a bargain that isn’t altruistic.
From a plot hole perspective, this story contradicts what is said about the mate bond between Feyre and Rhys. There are examples in the series of couples refusing to accept the mating bond, or not really being compatible with each other, but then there are examples of Feyre and Rhys who once they accept the bond can’t keep away from each other. Cassian and Nesta are intimate long before Nesta accepts the mating bond, when in previous books the bond snapped into place when they became intimate. So it confuses me as to the mating bond is supposed to be a destined to be together/soul mates or a random happening.
I hope this book is the start of a new arc. I would love to see the book of either the story of Elaine, Nesta’s other sister, and Lucien. Or the story of Azriel, Cassian’s brother-in-arms. There are hints of who Azriel will end up with, and I hope I am right. The series has been filled with action, but ultimately at its heart is all about romance. The next entry can’t come soon enough.