I thought you’d be interested in my most recent Substack post concerning Utah’s statewide ban of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Below, I’m excerpting the part of that post discussing this topic. I also always discuss the week’s library and banned/challenged book news there. Please subscribe if these are topics of interest at: Be a Cactus

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Last week I mentioned that Utah was banning thirteen titles in schools statewide and provided a list of those titles. Six of them are from one fantasy series—Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses. I hadn’t read any of them, but, of course, I became curious. I saw quotes from reviews, some of which deemed the book “sexy.” Its target reader is thirteen years old and up. 

I decided I would listen to the audiobook of the first novel in the series this week and find out what was up. I’m following with some info about it. Please understand that this isn’t a book review. It’s a sixteen-hour audiobook and, often, I was listening at double speed, not the best way to follow subplots, systems of magic, or evil faerie machinations. I just wanted to find out (within a week/in a hurry) why nearly half of the first group of books to be banned in Utah schools statewide were from this series.  Add to this that I read fantasy when I want books to recommend to teens, but not often otherwise. So—I’m not always your go-to for fantasy recommendations. 1

Thorns in brief

So—A Court of Thorns and Roses is about 19-year-old human Feyre. (Her age is important—she’s an adult.) She hunts for her family, who would starve without her skills.  When she kills a wolf, a beast arrives to demand retribution and takes her to faerie land. As it turns out that creature is actually Tamlin, stunningly gorgeous/ripped immortal faerie lord. The two quickly grow passionate about one another. Trouble brews and Feyre tries to sort out what the danger is. Things are magically hidden from her and, despite her being told otherwise, she learns that the fae can lie. Feyre is in constant danger and Tamlin is trying to battle epic evil in his world. The larger question is whether they and their love for one another can save them and all who depend on them in two worlds. 

The novel feels like a mashup of The Hunger Games, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast. The reason it is banned is not because it’s pornographic. It’s because the protagonist teen is a sexual being. 

Teens as sexual beings

Feyre fantasizes about Tamlin. While she hopes to keep some of these fantasies to herself, through magic, a evil faerie knows her thoughts and presents them to others: she wouldn’t mind Tamlin’s hand between her thighs; she wonders what it would feel like if he were to bite her nipple the same way he has bitten her shoulder. 

There’s not a whole lot of this relative to the length of the book, but it’s there. Plus Feyre and Tamlin have sexual intercourse, which is briefly described. It’s definitely on the mature end for YA fiction. Does that mean it should be banned?

People could save a lot of time and money if they took my advice: banning books about girls wishing they had hot sex with faeries or humans is not going to stop teen girls from wanting to have hot sex. They are curious about it and reading Feyre’s fantasies probably assures teens that their own fantasies are right in there with normal behaviors. 

The only thing I’d want to discuss with teens about the novel is one incident where Tamlin bites Feyre’s shoulder. It’s during a particular cultural festival where he, as faerie lord, has all his intellect stripped away and is to seek a woman to mate with. This ritual mating will replenish/make their lands fertile for the following year. Tamlin tells Feyre to hide in her room all night, but, as she never pays attention to what she is told, he catches her in the hall and bites her shoulder. She makes an escape and is later both angry and turned on. So, the attack takes place under a circumstance where Tamlin has no control over his behavior. I don’t like scenes where males have no responsibility for their sexual behavior toward women. This isn’t a reason to ban the book, but I hope the society of the novel moves forward to eliminate any thought that this is okay.

Footnote

1 I have read and enjoyed some fantasy. I needed to dip into the popular genre as a school librarian. Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House and Hell Bent as well as Shadow and Bone; Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor; Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl; A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan; Wither by Lauren DeStefano; Graceling by Kristin Cashore; a lot of the Ranger’s Apprentice series and many more (search ‘fantasy’ on this website and all the titles/reviews will pop up).

I’ve loved, loved one fantasy: The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro 

I don’t want to get you the idea that I’m totally unfamiliar with fantasy. But I have a hard time with it when it’s too long, too repetitive. It reminds me of being told a story by Uncle Colm in Derry Girls.