A Court of Wings and Ruin

By: Sarah J. Maas

Narrated by: Amanda Leigh Cobb

Length: 25 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Looming war threatens all Feyre holds dear in the third volume of the number-one New York Times best-selling A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court determined to gather information on Tamlin's maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so, she must play a deadly game of deceit - and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust among the dazzling and lethal High Lords - and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

In this thrilling third book in the number-one New York Times best-selling series from Sarah J. Maas, the earth will be painted red as mighty armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy them all.

©2017 Sarah J. Maas (P)2017 Recorded Books

Loved it, despite new narrator (give her a chance)

I'll admit, I had a difficult time getting into this one (but loved it none-the-less). The new narration was just so different from Jennifer Ikeda -- for Feyre and Rhysand particularly. However, about a quarter of the way through, I was over it and just enjoying the story itself. Cobb did a really amazing job with the thrilling last half of the book in particular. Knowing that we have some character-focused novellas and novels coming up in the series, I know she'll do a great job with them (she nailed Cassian, Nesta, Amren, and Mor, I thought). looking forward to more Maas books narrated by Cobb (or Ikeda should she come back to the series). The fandom should definitely not fear this one. It's a great listen!

Not that bad!!

After seeing these reviews, I was really scared to listen to this. I loved the first 2 books SO MUCH! Jennifer Ikeda ruled. Why the switch!? I wish she had kept going, and I don't know why they chose someone new, but honestly? Once I got over being pissed off, it wasn't that bad! I mean, Amanda is no Jennifer, but I think she did her best. The characters were good. Lucien's brothers were fantastically evil. I just miss the overall tone of Jennifer as Feyre. I felt like I got to know her, and now it was like a completely different person.

And since this book is over 25 hours long, how were people writing reviews THE FIRST DAY IT CAME OUT!? I don't think half those people even gave the new narrator a chance. They couldn't have had the time to listen to it. So. I admit, it took a while for her to find her stride, I think, but once I got past my initial shock and dismay, and I started listening to the story itself? I was still interested, and I was still moved.

Chapter 44 - with all the high lords? And that scene with the cliff? Oh - and Lord Grayson scene with Elaine???? Come on. It was good. Admit it. Of course, you have to listen that far.

It probably sucks to step into such a popular series, so I say job well done -- even if I wish Jennifer was still doing it....

Narrator Change Didn't Ruin It

I loved the first two books in the series and was looking forward to this one when I noticed that the narrator was different. I generally hate when there is a narrator change in a series told from the same perspective, especially if you are binge listening. It tends to be so distracting that it can ruin it. Luckily this narrator sounded almost identical to the previous one and did an equally excellent job. I might not have even known they were different narrators. That being said, it was a great end to a great series, well worth the listen!

Lovely conclusion

I was apprehensive when I first bought this book as all the reviews rated the narrator low and it seemed everyone complained about her. My question for all of those people is… why? Amanda Leigh Cobb’s performance was great! Was it a little different than the previous narrator? A little, but certainly not as much as the reviews would lead one to believe.

As for the story itself, I found it to be a good conclusion to the trilogy—and even better, I feel Ms. Maas did a wonderful job of leaving little things and trails of potential plot lines for future books in this world. Personally, I really enjoyed the fact that not all the minor storylines were tied up like perfect little bows—not only does it lend a good sense of realism, but it also opens the doors to other books, whether they’re standalone novellas about certain characters or an extension series building off this one. It’s a brilliant move by a strong author.

Thanks for a great series, Sarah J. Maas. And Amanda Leigh Cobb: ignore the haters; you did a wonderful job.

could not stop listening

from the first book til the last I was gripped, with the tail of Farah and her family.

Whyyyyyyyyyyyy did you change the narrator 🙄🤦🏾‍♀️

You just don't do that. Jessica and i have been through two books already. Shame on the author or Jessica or whoever for not showing consistency 😞 it was hard to listen to. Just Not the same... characters.. just not the same...

Not the original narrator...disappointed!!

I was really really disappointed that the narrator for the first two books did not do this one. Personally I really prefer the original narrator. The second one was okay but I had already gotten used to the characters and their voices in the way that the first narrator portrayed them. I felt she was more authentic and she made them come alive.

The second narrator did not. At least not for me.

amazing book.

Was not let down. Can't wait for the next three books, even if they're not about the inner circle or if they are, even better!

The narrator is just fine!

Would you listen to A Court of Wings and Ruin again? Why?

I would, under the right circumstances..

Any additional comments?

The narrator is just fine. After listening for a few hours I adjusted to her voice and didn't mind the slight differences. A lot of the voices are quite similar, and I didn't mind where they were changed. I think it takes a fair bit of skill to mimic a previous narrator's voices as well as Cobb did.

I have no idea if there will be other books in this series or other books outside of the series written in this world, but I'm not sure I can emotionally take any more of Rhys' willing suffering and sacrifice. People like that deserve a break and some time to just be happy and whole (centuries of it, in his case). And frankly, Rhys is clearly the type of person to risk it all, or sacrifice it all because he thinks it's the right thing to do in that moment to help or save others. Any other book with Rhys in it will be just as painful to listen to.


SPOILER-ish (tried to make it vague):
This is actually a criticism I have of the book-- Rhys' behavior *especially* near the end. No single person could be placed in so many situations where they have to give up more and more in service to others and remain as Rhys has. That level & extent of loss & suffering changes people in negative ways. No single person could survive 500 years of intermittent, but regular, misery, suffering, sacrifice, and loss, and then be willing to give up all that remains in a brief moment when that's the easiest and simplest solution to a problem that is described in merely two or three sentences, and doesn't sound like an imminent threat, but one that could be explored for 10 or so minutes, so a better, less self-sacrificing plan could be tried.

It made me simultaneously angry with the character and devastated. Five centuries of life apparently never taught Rhys patience and thoughtfulness in the face of a dilemma when his own ability to sacrifice could quickly solve the problem. What makes me so angry is that he now has someone else to think of, who he's supposed to be so bonded with it transcends other romantic relationships, and he *still* willingly sacrifices everything without discussing it with her. He made a decision to sacrifice, without adequately thinking about how it impacted *her*. He shirked that responsibility. I quite honestly can't square it --what he did, that choice he made unilaterally.

That is a terminal character flaw. One that makes me fear for the main character Feyre, because a man like that isn't long for the world. That decision turned him -- in my view-- from a good & noble leader willing to do what it takes to save & protect his people -- to a martyr. Fayre deserves better than a guy with a death wish. Maybe that's, in fact, the change that five centuries of Rhys' mostly miserable life wrought in him. If that's the case, any further books about that character would be even less pleasant than this one.
/SPOILER


Decent series of books. The first was cringe-worthy at times but the series straightened out by the second in my mind, and this 3rd book was finally classified correctly. This is adult romance-fantasy, not for tweens.

Just as beautiful as the others

After the adjustment of a new narrator it flowed just as beautifully as her other books. I actually think she did a wonderful job and it didn’t take anything away from the story. I loved the way the story and characters kept growing, expanding, and weaving a new chapter in this series.