WARNING: THE SECOND PART OF THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR BOTH BOOKS. YOU MAY READ THE FIRST PART SPOILER-FREE AND THE SECOND PART WILL BE LABELLED. 
 Wow... just wow. I'm not sure how I'm going to review this book, how I'm going to sum up everything that happened and all of my emotions with it in some hundred words. Especially after that ending. 
 Well, maybe I should start with the ending then. The ending of this book literally wrecked me. I don't say this lightly at all. I hardly rate books five stars (or 4.5 in this case, darn you Goodreads and your lack of half stars), and every one that I do has had a killer ending, last pages that utterly ruined and destroyed me. And this was no different with ACoMaF. 
 The ending practically made up for everything that I didn't like about this book (which wasn't very much, mind you). If you're reluctant to read this book, or have tried but failed, I urge you to pick it up (again) just for the end alone. It is packed full with action, anticipation, excitement, apprehension, nerves (coming from me, not the book, though the characters were certainly nervy inside, no matter how stoic they seem), suspense, tension, conflict and high stakes. Shit hit the proverbial fan and, though I was sceptical how Maas could pull off such a heartrending ending in so few pages, she did. 
 Just... so so much stuff happens at the end, that the journey to get there was so definitely worth it. I was flailing; panicking at the thought at what could happen to the beloved characters I had fallen in love with along the way. Sometimes you know none of the characters are going to die, but with the way things were going down, I didn't know if they were all going to make it out alive. I thought I was going to cry (and I never cry at books) when it got really emotional and tense, and I realised that I was just about to finish the book and would have to wait seven agonising months for the next book (thank God I only finished this book now instead of when it was released, or I would have had to wait ONE WHOLE YEAR for the next one). 
 AND THAT IS THE END OF THE SPOILER-FREE PART OF THIS REVIEW. EVERYTHING FROM HERE ON OUT WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS SO IF YOU HAVEN'T READ BOTH BOOKS YET, I WOULD ADVISE FROM READING THE REST OF THIS REVIEW. 
 Now, I want to talk about that part. Yes, all of you who have read ACoMaF will know exactly which part I'm talking about. I'm talking about that really emotional scene before shit gets real at the end where Rhys spills his heart out and reveals SO MANY THINGS. I can't believe so many people were right about the bond between Feyre and Rhys. I was sceptical, but it doesn't surprise me that much when I look back on it. I have to hand it to Maas though, how she managed to write this scene so well and convey exactly how everything fit together, explaining so well how and why Rhys was there at Calanmai in the last book, at the Spring Court, at Under the Mountain and why he helped Feyre, is beyond me (how Maas wrote and thought up this part is beyond me not why Rhys helped Feyre, just clarifying). If I wasn't invested in Feyre and Rhys' relationship before that point (which I was), let me tell you, I would have become invested in it. 
 Again, throughout the story, Maas has managed to conjure up a world like no other, with magic so beautifully and powerfully described, with such vivid descriptions. A lot of things are revealed in this book, and both books' plot and backstory entwine so well. Maas really plots her books so well, I can vouch for that. The writing was again, so beautiful and lyrical, and it sucked me in right from the beginning. There were so many quoteworthy sentences! I do have to say that at times, I skimmed some of the longer descriptive paragraphs, but this was probably because I had a limited amount of time to read (my fault) and wanted to just get to the dialogue (let's be honest, that's where the exciting stuff happens). 
 That brings me to the dialogue. This was so on point and well-written. I really really enjoyed the banter and flirtation (which did get a bit too much at times) between Feyre and Rhys. It was so fun to read and kept things from getting way too dark. 
 Which also now brings me to this point: I was extremely pro-Tamlin and anti-Rhysand at the end of the first book and start of the second. I really liked Tamlin's character in the first book (though I can see his flaws now) and actually sort of disliked Rhys in the first book. I do admit I did not like how Tamlin waited until it was almost too late to do anything and how he just watched as Feyre was tortured Under the Mountain, all for him and I didn't like the fact that when he at last got a moment alone with her, he didn't try to help her or soothe her but instead just wanted to touch her. At the same time though, and I didn't see this in many reviews for the first book, I disagreed with the way Rhys handled Feyre at times Under the Mountain. I understand he had to make her hate him to keep her safe (and to a larger extent everyone else of Prythian) but I still think he need not have been as rough and cruel as he was. 
 Also, I saw many reviews of ACoMaF when it came out in May, saying how much everyone now loved Rhys and had ditched Tamlin (which I do understand why now) and I just felt rather defensive and sorry for Tamlin, so I did feel prejudiced against Rhys going in. 
 I don't think I was ever going to say this (as I have explained above), but I really do like Rhys now. Since this book basically has Rhys on every other page after the beginning and almost no Tamlin, there is plenty of time for the author to develop him and make me fall in love with his character. I got to know Rhys so much better in this book (since in the last he only appears a couple of times) and understand all of his actions and feelings better. I sympathised with him and could see actually how selfless he was. I won't say why, but it really blew me away how he did what he did, and for good reasons too. His chemistry with Feyre was off the charts, and I think it was halfway through the book when I realised I had officially started shipping them together. Actually shipping them together. 
 And Feyre? Well, she was developed so much in this book as well! You saw how she grew through all 600+ pages and really come into her own, really know herself and believe in who and what she was and had become now. I liked reading about her training, both physically and magically. However, I did get annoyed at her occasionally. 
 Now, to Tamlin; he was not in this book very much at all. Like hardly at all. I was expecting more, but if I was being honest with myself, I knew where this book was going. I do have to say, even though I can safely write off Tamlin as a love interest anymore, I still feel betrayed as a reader by the author. In the first book, I was heavily invested in Feyre and Tamlin together, and knowing that they had been used as a plot point felt a little disheartening. I know there are reasons, and Tamlin was far from perfect, but I didn't appreciate how Maas made Tamlin out as the villain (not the main one, of course) in this book. She could have toned it down a little, but she had to get rid of Tamlin as a love interest one way or another and purge Feyre's guilt so that she could move happily on with Rhys. Feyre does feel guilt over this but not for long. And Lucien as well! He was made out as the villain, and of course I do see where he and Tamlin went wrong, but I don't think I'm the only one when I say a lot of us really liked Lucien as a secondary character? 
 As well, I think there was too much romantic pairing going on. So, okay, we have Feyre and Rhys, obviously, but then we have Mor and Azriel (not quite yet, but hopefully), Cassian and Nesta, and Lucien and Elain. Don't get me wrong, I liked most of these characters and the possibility of more romantic pairs, but I did think it was starting to become too much, and a bit unrealistic. 
 This brings me to the cast of secondary characters: Rhys' Inner Circle. These were some of my favourite characters in the novel and they were fleshed out really well. I was invested in all of them and their stories (some of which were horrific!). Mor, Rhys' third in command, is his cousin. She's super vivacious, cheery but powerful and has a darker side to her. Azriel, Rhys' 'spymaster', who is an expert at stealth and gathering information, was a very intriguing character. I immediately liked him from his first introduction and I hope Mor sees how much he loves her in the next book. Cassian, general of Rhys' armies, is your typical smartass, sarcastic guy, but he definitely knew how to be serious when it counted. And finally, Amrem; second in command to Rhys, not Fae nor human, who has great power and even though she seemed dangerous, I immediately liked her like I did with Azriel. The group's banter was fun to read and their close bond was something to be admired and respected. They worked so well together, and when the time came to welcome Feyre to their Circle, they did and she deserved it. They became Feyre's family (her words, not mine) and I could really see that. They are great people, even though a lot of them inside may not think so. All of these characters sacrificed so much in the past and in this book to save their people and it was so beautiful to read about. 
 I will say that the character I disliked the most was Ianthe, not even the King of Hybern or the mortal queens. It was hinted at in the first book, but all is revealed in this one, and all I could think when we find out in the story, was what a b*tch she was. 
 Nesta and Elain, Feyre's sisters, are again in this book, and they play a more significant role this time around. To be honest, I didn't really care for them that much, but at the end, I did like Nesta a little more than previously (I really disliked her starting this book). I feel more neutral towards Elain, because as a character, she is actually really boring; she hardly has a personality in my opinion. 
 Which is why I do not ship Cassian and Nesta and Lucien and Elain at all, though I know it's coming in the third book. Cassian could do so much better, and did the author really have to have that whole mating thing between Lucien and Elain at the end? It just seemed to be another plot device so that certain things can happen in the next book. 
 I did really enjoy how there was so many new characters with important roles in this book (don't worry, I promise they're all fleshed out) and the way everything was expanded upon. We got to know more about the lands and experience them through Feyre's eyes. I loved the descriptions of Velaris and could understand how Feyre fell in love with it. I understood why there was such a negative image of the Night Court and what Rhys had sacrificed (the truth) to keep the people of Velaris (and everyone else to an extent) safe and also why he had to appear cruel and dark, when he really wasn't. I never thought I would like the Night Court and its High Lord, but I definitely do now. 
 I have a last few couple things to say. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I do think, to an extent, Feyre may suffer from a bit of special snowflake syndrome; not because of her attitude but just simply because she is the only one who has a remote chance of saving Prythian and will be so overpowered when she gets control and practice of all her magic powers, because she has a lot. She does have to rely on other people, of course, but at times, I didn't like that her only weakness was her mental/psychological ones and her stubbornness/temper (which were still quite a lot, so maybe I'm not really sure where I'm going with this?). I could just be jealous of her powers? Because they are pretty kickass and awesome. 
 As always, the characters are badass and there is some action involved. Not as much as I would have hoped, but I'm sure there is time for more of that in the next book. I really loved the concept of 'winnowing'. It seemed and sounded really cool, and I wish I could do that in real life. I was also waiting for a character to melt/become the darkness/air (I'm bad at explaining things, so you'll have to forgive me) and Rhys and Feyre did a lot of that. It was also really cool. The Illyrian-wings thing and the way it affected Rhys, Cassian and Azriel was very interesting as well. And I also want to mention all of the made-up words in this book sounded pretty darn impressive and appropriate to the Fae world. 
 The pacing is a tad slow throughout the book until the end. I felt this especially at the beginning for some reason. I had to reread the first 100 pages twice on different occasions before I finally got into the book. However, the pacing definitely can't be that bad, as I finished this book in less than a day. I had to since I needed to return it to the library but I know if it was too slow I wouldn't have been able to finish it anyway despite wanting to. I actually read this book in two and a bit huge sittings, for like 4 hours each time to get through it, so I think I was pretty engaged throughout anyway. 
 Lastly, I want to address this book's genre categorisation. I do agree with a lot of reviewers; this book definitely seems more NA fantasy than YA. There are some quite explicit sex scenes and a lot of sexual references. There was a chapter where multiple bouts of sex were referenced, and at that point, I felt like it bordered on unnecessary. I'm not normally grossed out by such scenes, but I did start getting tired of reading about them. There was just too many for my taste and I was becoming more and more desensitised and even repulsed by then, when I shouldn't have been. Also, I thought Feyre was nineteen at the start of the series, and all the characters act very mature and are older, so I think categorising the series as NA would have been more suitable (doesn't make me love it any less though!). 
 Anyone who got to the end of this review deserves a medal. So if you made it to the end, congratulations. *hands over virtual medal* I think I'm going to be left with a long book hangover after this (well at least for the rest of the day), and this is just as I was about to recover from one I had in October last year too. *sigh* I suppose a book hangover says it all; I really loved A Court of Mist and Fury, even with its shortcomings, and I can say I absolutely can't wait for the third book in this enthralling, romantic, magic-filled series! 
 4.5 stars