This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of A Court of Mist and Fury and A Court of Wings and Ruin now.
I have no idea why it is taking me so long to get through this series, especially because I was reading and buying them as they were released way back in the day. This felt like it was supposed to be a cute little filler Christmas episode in a sense -- no major plot points really came to light, but rather it was used as a stepping stool to introduce the ideas that would become the focuses of A Court of Silver Flames.
Getting more perspectives in this novella was a treat, I will say. We did get a hit of Rhys in the previous book, but I was more excited to see Cassian and Azriel's perspectives -- Mor's perspective gave exactly what I expected from her, so it was not too enticing, and Nesta's short perspective had me agitated for the sole reason that I still have not forgiven her for the way she treated Feyre. And from the bulk of the novella's focus, it was clearly obvious that we would be dealing with a lot more Nesta in the future, which did not leave me thrilled.
There was so much "Oh Nesta is all by herself" and "Nesta lives in a run-down apartment" and "Oh Nesta won't come to dinner" commentary that I thought I was going to lose my mind. I understand that this novella was basically setting up for A Court of Silver Flames, but if I read this before knowing that Nesta would be getting the next book in the series, it would be driving me crazier than it already was. Nesta literally drives me up a wall -- I never liked her in the original trilogy and this novella is not helping her case at all for me. In all honesty, it makes me less inclined to read the next book, only because I know that I will have to force myself to read it because her character infuriates me.
I enjoyed the way that Rhys had some internal reflection going on, especially when it came to understanding his closest friends, but I was definitely surprised at the way he viewed Tamlin at the end -- he still cannot and most likely will not forgive him for what he put Feyre through, but it was nice to see Rhys have that olive branch moment, even if I hate Tamlin just as much as Rhys does. His relationship with Azriel and Cassian was also nice to see from their perspectives as well, since we only have received an outsider's eyes on their bond and centuries of knowing each other.
My beef with Elain and Nesta still runs pretty strong, and the way that Lucien and Cassian show clear signs of aggravation and rejection from them does not hold them in high regard in my eyes. However, the boys should not just get to be with the girls because of circumstance, so I will let that play out as it will. Elain was definitely testing me with the way she is treating the Inner Circle, and I hope she gains some sense with all that sight she now has and gets her act together.
Maas continues to expand on her characters with this winter special as she sets up to continue the series, and fans will get just a taste of normalcy for these characters because they tackle the aftermath of the war and consequences that A Court of Wings and Ruin left in its path. This novella was sweet, but nothing that had me on the edge of my seat or giggling and kicking my feet. It will probably take me another six months to decide if I want to read Nesta's book, and that will probably be from peer pressure, not desire.
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