My favorite so far has been ACOMAF, but this damn near unseated it!

🛑🛑 mild spoilers ahead, I tried to hide them but you have been warned 🛑🛑

I hated Nesta going into ACOSF. As an older sister myself, if something were to happen to our parents I would do anything to make sure my younger sister had as much support as she needed. However, it's important to remember she is a product of her upbringing. Her mother favored her, and essentially brushed off her sisters, especially Feyre. Growing up into that mentality, she basically never learned to love Feyre. So the only thing that mattered to her once their mother died and their father was crippled was Elaine, however her hatred for Feyre was stronger so Nesta never lifted a finger to help her hunt or support the family. It takes a really strong person to accept help and actively work on bettering the negative aspects of their personality - and I think Nesta's redemption arc is amazing because of it. We really get to see in to her mind and finally get to see why she has hated Feyre so much. She was taught to be indifferent towards her, and basically used that hatred as an outlet once they were destitute. Although not quite the same situation, it reminds me a lot of me and my younger sister and how our relationship got exponentially better once we grew up and I moved away from home.

Cassian - I am so f*cking happy to finally have my Nessian. SJM dangled their potential since just about ACOMAF and it was so worth the wait! I'm glad she didn't make us wait as long for them to get freaky like she did with ACOMAF - I don't think I can wait almost an entire book for the love interests to shack up again. I think their personalities compliment each other really well and I very much enjoyed their banter as their relationship grew. I also liked how their sex was like an intimate manifestation of the progress of their relationship. The closer Nesta & Cassian got with each other and therefore the mating bond, the steamier their sex gets. And the sex was good. I'm so glad SJM stepped up and over the YA/NA of her early books in this series and we finally get full on, unadulterated, explicit spicy scenes.

My only criticism is the main enemy of this book was slain in one battle, and everyone survived. Which seems to be a common theme for ACOTAR (not sure about her other works, barely finished the first Throne of Glass about a week ago). Not that I want anyone to die, I'm very thankful they've all survived thus far, but it's unrealistic for a world set in war. They seem to have very good luck during battle and being able to slay their enemies. This book is mostly build up and focusing on Nesta's redemption arc, I wish there was more time spent about the old queen & what the other queens are up to after Hybern has been killed. They really didn't seem like a big threat as most of the book was spent on Nesta's training then she gets thrust into the Blood Rite, fights the Queen's mind-controlled cronies, then decimates the queen herself. The only real hinderance was the fact that Nesta was exhausted after spending a week heading up Ramiel then had to fight this major battle essentially by herself. I would have been devastated if either she or Cassian had been killed in that battle, but that is the price (and reality) of war. I'm so happy for them and their future, but it didn't feel like much of a challenge.

I hope SJM doesn't take too long with the next book bc I need Elaine's POV NOW! I need to know how Feyre, Rhys, (view spoiler) are doing. I need to know how Nesta & Cassian are doing post accepting of the mating bond and having their ceremony (although I wish we got a first hand account of the ceremony and not just told it happened). I just need more!!

Would I re-read? YES!! and I don't say that about any book. I rarely reread books but I have grown so fond of this series that I am actually looking forward to a reread.
Will I continue this series? YES!! assuming she will keep writing books for ACOTAR (which she has confirmed she is but I will believe it when it's announced). I will also be reading the rest of her series as well