A Court of Wings and Ruin closes out the series' first arc with a fantastic opening as Feyre dismantles the Spring Court, backed by strong villain work from King Hybern and the beautifully written Feyre-Rhys relationship. Flat battle scenes and the Fae's regenerative abilities strip away any real sense of danger, making the war's outcome feel predictable rather than tense.
A Court of Wings and Ruin is the third book in the series and the culmination of the first major storyline. It can feel confusing because the series has five books in total and a sixth one is clearly coming, but this book closes the arc that started in the first two books. Before I go on, I should mention that this review may contain spoilers.
The book opens with Feyre back in the Spring Court after the incredible ending of A Court of Mist and Fury, which is still, in my opinion, the best book in the entire series. That has not changed after finishing all five. The opening of Wings and Ruin is one of my favorite parts of the whole book. Watching Feyre plot, manipulate, and slowly tear apart the Spring Court from the inside was incredibly satisfying. She is far more confident, more in control of her powers, and more familiar with the politics of the courts. Seeing her cunning side fully unleashed was a highlight for me.
We also see the state of the Spring Court, which is basically non existent at this point. Tamlin is still trapped in his trauma and refuses to accept that Feyre left him willingly. He convinces himself that she must have been forced or manipulated. This made me dislike him even more, which I think is exactly what the author wants. Sarah J. Maas clearly intends for Tamlin to be a tragic but deeply flawed figure, and in that sense she is successful.
King Hybern, the main villain of the last two books, is one of the stronger aspects of the story. He is ruthless and calculated, which is a huge improvement compared to the absurd villain of the first book. Hybern feels believable. I can easily imagine an old ruler clinging to the glory of a lost kingdom, wanting to reclaim lands he thinks should have remained his, and viewing humans as inferior beings. It is the kind of mindset we unfortunately see in the real world as well, which makes him unsettling and realistic.
The side characters are strong again, just like in the second book. However, Elain really got on my nerves. I do not think she is well written at all and I often felt that the book would have been stronger without her. Compared to the depth of the other characters, she feels flat and out of place.
The worldbuilding in this book is not as extensive as the first two, but it is still handled correctly. Maas never overwhelms the reader with unnecessary information and expands the world naturally through character interaction and the progress of the war. Even though the focus here is more on conflict than exploration, the world still feels alive.
Now for the negatives, because there are a few things that bothered me. The battle scenes are the biggest issue. They never drew me in and I do not think they were written in a convincing way. For such a massive war, the pacing and execution felt strangely flat. Another problem is how convenient everything becomes once Feyre gains the support of the higher, god like beings. It felt like an Avengers assemble moment and it did not fit the tone of the story at all.
This book also suffers from a recurring problem in Sarah J. Maas novels. Because the Fae have regenerative abilities, I never once felt like the characters were in real danger. No matter what happened, I kept thinking they would be fine, and that removes all tension. The only character who dies is human, which makes the outcome predictable. The moment I saw that character, I knew he would die. When you can predict the death before it happens, the emotional weight disappears. Maybe this is just a me thing. Some people like the reassurance that the main cast is safe. I do not. Maybe it is because I prefer dark fantasy and grimdark stories, but I want to feel the danger. When that tension is missing, the story loses some of its impact.
The dialogue also felt a bit off at times, especially anything involving Elain. Her lines felt strange and unnatural, which made her chapters difficult to enjoy.
On the positive side, the relationship between Feyre and Rhys is beautifully written. It is exactly what you look for in a romantasy book. Their loyalty, their communication, and their companionship feel real and earned. The inner circle of the Night Court also continues to shine. Their loyalty to each other gives the story a genuine sense of warmth and community, and I enjoyed every moment with them.
Overall, A Court of Wings and Ruin is a good book with some strong highs, but also some noticeable flaws. The opening is fantastic and Feyre’s growth is wonderful to read, but the battle scenes, predictability, and lack of real danger weakened the impact. My rating is 3 out of 5.