81 pages • 2 hours read
Sarah J. MaasA Court of Wings and Ruin
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2017A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of graphic violence, sexual content, gender and transgender discrimination, antigay bias, and racism.
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. A Court of Wings and Ruin is the third book in Sarah J. Mass’s Court of Thorns and Roses series. Have you read A Court of Thorns and Roses or A Court of Mist and Fury, the first and second books in this series? Did A Court of Wings and Ruin continue Feyre’s story in a satisfying way consistent with these earlier installments of her story? What surprised you about this part of Feyre’s story, if anything?
2. This book was originally planned to act as the series finale. Did you find the ending satisfying enough to act as the ending to an entire series? Why or why not?
3. Sarah J. Maas has written many YA fantasy romance novels. Before she wrote the Court of Thrones and Roses series, she wrote the Throne of Glass series. Have you read any of the novels in this earlier series (The Assassin’s Blade, Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, and Kingdom of Ash)? How would you compare the characters, events, settings, and themes of one series to the other?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. The idea of “found family” is central to this novel. Do you agree that people often form stronger and longer-lasting bonds with the people they choose to have in their lives, as opposed to the people in their families of origin? Should they?
2. A Court of Wings and Ruin is a “steamy” romance with many sex scenes, as is typical of the subgenre. How would you sum up the messages about sex that these scenes convey? Do you agree or disagree with Mass’s portrayal of sexuality?
3. Many of the characters in the novel make significant sacrifices on behalf of others. Do you think any of these sacrifices go too far? Which of these sacrifices can you imagine making yourself?
4. In your opinion, does the novel glorify war and violence? Do you find it problematic if it does?
5. Which of the characters have suffered serious trauma? How do they recover—or fail to recover? Based on your own experiences and observations, how realistic is the novel’s depiction of trauma and recovery?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. Maas’s earlier books have been criticized for reinforcing gender norms and exclusively centering straight, white, cis characters. Where do you see A Court of Wings and Ruin responding to this criticism? Does this narrative create respectful, credible, and nuanced portraits of traditionally marginalized characters? Does it center them, or are they peripheral characters?
2. Fantasy novels, by definition, take place in alternate worlds. Is the society in A Court of Wings and Ruin relevant in any way to our own society? Why or why not?
3. What is the basis of the ongoing dispute between humans and faeries in this novel? At the end of the novel, how much hope is there for a lasting resolution to this dispute? Do you see conflicts like this reflected in the real world around you? Do you have hope that these conflicts can be resolved?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. The novel’s dialogue includes many aphorisms. Are these aphorisms original and fresh, or do they sometimes become clichéd? How does the use of so many aphorisms contribute to characterization and tone?
2. A Court of Wings and Ruin has been compared to both the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale and to an old Scottish ballad called “The Ballad of Tam Lin.” Which of these comparisons seems most apt to you, and why? How does Maas adapt these influences to suit her own thematic purposes?
3. How do Feyre’s imaginary paintings function as both a narrative device and a symbolic motif? How do they develop characterization, clarify motivations, and advance thematic arguments?
4. How does the Cauldron function as a symbol? Could an argument be made that it stands in for a kind of god-like force? What significance does this have to the novel’s characterizations and themes?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. If you were in charge of casting a film version of this book, whom would you choose to play Feyre? What about Rhys, Nesta, Tamlin, and the members of the Court of Dreams? Why would these actors be good representations of these characters?
2. Imagine you are creating a graphic novel version of A Court of Wings and Ruin. Where would you choose to feature close-ups of characters’ faces? Why are these moments so important? What symbolic objects, colors, etc. would you make sure to emphasize? What style of art would be most in keeping with the novel’s tone? How would you handle Feyre’s imaginary paintings?
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