A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas Review + Elain's Solstice Cookies

SPOILERS! Also, this will be a short and cute little review for a short and cute little book! And keep an eye out at the end for my take on Elain's heart-shaped Solstice cookies!

I still felt it, that hollow-ness in my chest where the bond had been, where he had been. Even now, with that bond again flowing between us like a river of star-flecked night, the echo of its vanishing lingered. Drew me from sleep; drew me from a conversation, a painting, a meal.

After surviving the war against Hybern, Prythian is temporarily at peace. However, the trauma of war is long-lasting and it is time for our heroes to pick up the pieces of themselves that they scattered along the way. But as the Solstice inches closer, happiness is easier to desire than to achieve.

"What sort of things do you paint?" My question was soft as the snow falling past us. Ressina smiled slightly. "The things that need telling."

REVIEW

I was very, very curious what this book could possibly contain after the plot resolved itself in A Court of Wings and Ruin. When I noticed it was only roughly 200 pages as opposed to Maas's usual 600+, I had my quick answer: the wrapping up of loose ends. I also quickly learned that we have more to see from these characters-- or at least I sure HOPE we do. There are still a lot of unanswered questions, but to be honest, my biggest concern is obviously: NESSIAN??? I could dedicate an entire post to Cassian and Nesta's tense relationship but I don't know that I have the time to obsess over it, and obsess I would. I need to know what his present contained and I need Nesta to be happy. She's so broken and it's devastating to watch, I can only imagine what Cassian is going through witnessing her sink lower and lower. Also, I really got into this series thinking Rhys would be my favorite. But uh oh, here I go again favoring the main hottie's snarky best friend. SJM has said that a Nessian book will be coming someday but honestly, I think we all need it immediately.

Cassian shut out the words. Shut out the image that chased him from his dreams, night after night: not Nesta holding up the King of Hybern's head like a trophy; not the way her father's neck had twisted in Hybern's hands. But the image of her leaning over him, covering Cassian's body with her own, ready to take the full brunt of the king's power for him. To die for him-- with him. That slender, beautiful body, arching over him, shaking in terror, willing to face that end. He hadn't seen a glimpse of that person in months. Had not seen her smile or laugh.

I talked about Tamlin in my last post, but I feel as though I have more to say. I think I've already established that I am bad at holding grudges against characters when they probably deserve it, but man, I really do feel bad for him. He did awful things by holding his feelings and rage and everything in, and yes he nearly destroyed Feyre mentally by locking her up-- but seeing what he's become makes me pity him. He's living alone in the darkness and not eating or sleeping. He doesn't have any sort of protection over his house and seems like he's waiting and potentially hoping for somebody to kill him. He doesn't deserve Feyre's forgiveness, but he also doesn't deserve to waste away in a depression. I was pretty frustrated when Rhys showed up at the Spring Court to kick him while he was down-- it wasn't productive by any means. So when he went back again at the end of the novel to try and get Tamlin to eat, it made me happy.

As for the whole Elain + Lucien + Azriel situation, I think the RIGHT answer is quite clear. Lucien was a bystander to Tamlin's emotional abuse and even HELPED to make that alliance with Hybern to get Feyre back, resulting in Elain's turning. He's made mistakes and now he's dealing with the consequences. It actually makes me pretty mad, though, that everyone forgave Lucien immediately but still loathed Tamlin. Lucien didn't do anything to help Feyre until he realized her sister was his mate, suddenly giving him a personal stake in the situation. Should I feel bad for him because Elain wants nothing to do with one of the men responsible for destroying her life??? NO. And certainly not when precious Azriel is so lovely and perfectly sweet to her. I can't imagine how anyone could disagree with me on this.

The tower bells of Velaris sang twelve before I stopped. Before I lowered my brush and stared at what I'd created. Stared at what gazed back. Me. Or how I'd been in the Ouroboros, that beast of scale and claw and darkness; rage and joy and cold. All of me. What lurked beneath my skin. I had not run from it. And I did not run from it now. Yes-- the first stitch to close a wound. That's how it felt.

I thought this novel (although I'd consider it more of a short story) was very sweet and helped me understand where everyone was mentally. I'm really excited to see what spin-offs and little moments come out of the end of this series. I'm also very grateful to have discovered some new all-time favorite characters of mine (Amren and Cassian, I'm looking at you). I'd recommend this series to all looking for some intensely romantic, fantastical, and stunningly thought-out faerie content. If you're not interested in that, at least read it for this final quote that makes me cry:

Before I could elbow him, Rhys kissed me again, breathless and swift. To the stars who listen, Feyre. I brushed a hand over his cheek to wipe away the last of his tears, his skin warm and soft, and we turned down the street that would lead us home. Toward our future--and all that waited within it. To the dreams that are answered, Rhys.

ELAIN'S SOLSTICE COOKIES

Elain met me halfway to the kitchen, bearing a tray of jam tarts toward the table in the dining room. Where an assortment of baked goods had already begun to take form... "Those look pretty," I told her by way of greeting, nodding toward the heart-shaped cookies on her tray. All of it looked pretty.

Obviously, we know Elain bakes a lot of goodies! But I figured with V-day coming up and since I haven't made any cookies on here yet, that it was the perfect time to make some cute heart-shaped cookies. I also threw in some other fun shapes as well (stars and wings).

Here's how mine came out:

They're a very simple sugar cookie dough with marbled icing on top. SUPER easy to make, I definitely recommend trying them out. And they look gorgeous, too! I tried to go for a bit of a galaxy look to honor the Night Court. Enjoy!

Cookie and Icing Recipe: https://beyondfrosting.com/valentines-day-sugar-cookies/

If you didn't know, I bake something from a book every week and post live updates on my Instagram. Tune in to @picklesandpages on Wednesdays to check it out!

NEXT READ: The Assassin's Blade by Sara J. Maas