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Throne of Glass #7
Kingdom of Ash
Goodreads Choice Award
Winner for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2018)Together they will rise. Or together they will fall.
Aelin Galathynius has vowed to save her people-but at a tremendous cost. Locked in an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. The knowledge that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, but her resolve unravels with each passing day.
With Aelin captured, her friends and allies have scattered. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever. But as destinies weave together at last, all must stand together if Erilea is to have any hope of salvation.
Sarah J. Maas's #1 New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series draws to an explosive conclusion as Aelin fights for her life, her people, and the promise of a better world.
Aelin Galathynius has vowed to save her people-but at a tremendous cost. Locked in an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. The knowledge that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, but her resolve unravels with each passing day.
With Aelin captured, her friends and allies have scattered. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever. But as destinies weave together at last, all must stand together if Erilea is to have any hope of salvation.
Sarah J. Maas's #1 New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series draws to an explosive conclusion as Aelin fights for her life, her people, and the promise of a better world.
988 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2018
About the author
Sarah J. Maas
110 books470k followersSarah J. Maas is the #1 bestselling author of the Throne of Glass, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series. Her books have sold millions of copies and are published in thirty-eight languages. She lives in New York City with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78,189 reviews
June 12, 2024
all the ⭐ in the Universe (because, hell, why not? It only seems fair that way)
Full review on my Blog: The Dacian She-Wolf 🐺
If I am the only weirdo that reads the dedication at the beginning of a book and rates it too in her own head then okay, fine, weirdo I’ll be, but I have to start this review by saying this.
Sarah J. Maas dedicated this book to her parents. It is one of the most beautiful dedications I’ve ever read at the beginning of a book.
It says: “For my parents – who taught me to believe that girls can save the world.”
How beautiful and inspirational and worth of all of our respect is this?
Once upon a time, not too long ago, my life ended brutally. The cause of my abrupt death was simple: Throne of Glass series has ended; the final blow – Kingdom of Ash .
Barely 5 chapters in and I was already crying. In that moment I realised that I had a storm of tears ahead of me and there was no way in hell I might elude it. It felt like I was about to be hit by it. And hard. AND GUESS WHAT. I was.
This book was everything to me.
I have never in my life declared that I might have a favourite book, simply because I haven’t found the one yet and I thought it won’t be fair for the rest of the great books out there. Now I am going to make a statement I’ve never made in my life: until further information, Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas is my favourite book ever.
I cannot understand how, but this book just crept deep, into the core of my soul, ripped it apart, ruined my sense of life and left me aching both of devastating pain and of speechless joy. It felt complete and at ease with the Universe and I am grateful that there is a book that can destroy me but still find a way to mend me.
Not even the best review I could ever come up with can cover all the awesomeness of this book. But I'll try. As good as I can. But keep in mind: everything I state here is not even half as good as the book itself. It’s like trying to explain colour to someone who’s never seen the light of the day. Hopeful, but utterly impossible.
“(…) to have the power of eternity in the palm of your hand.”
There was a line from this Romanian book I once read that says: the time run out of patience. When there might seem like there is an infinite amount of time that no one can take away from you, keep in mind that maybe the time itself decides when it might want to leave.
In Kingdom of Ash, the time felt like its own god and indeed, it felt like it run out of patience.
Everything felt desperate, hopeless. Nothing went according to any plan. There were no gods above, no demons below. There was nothing. And the characters and the action itself seemed to feel that too – the anarchy. They were rushed but reduced to silent fight. They were pressed and oppressed. They ran out of hope but still kept looking for it. It was devastating. Throughout and beyond.
The world-building was still absolutely fabulous. Plus, the insides of an actual, super scary, dark war were a super addition.
“Let’s make this fight worthy of a song.”
In this book, the characters are the ones who make the action. They were the most important tool in the destruction of me. So, I don’t even have the faintest idea what to tell you about them.
I can give my heart, soul, both kidneys, half a lung and one eye to protect them all.
They are precious babies. My precious babies.
I fell in love with all of those fantastic characters. Like truly in love. They made me ache all over and they made me feel part of their lives. I laughed and cried with them, I fought and won. I suffered and I loved. That is the most precious thing a book can soothe you with. To make you feel included. Hollow and whole.
I wish I could say more about all this. I really do. But I can’t. It doesn’t feel complete. By this book, I am forever undone.
“Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom.”
Full review on my Blog: The Dacian She-Wolf 🐺
If I am the only weirdo that reads the dedication at the beginning of a book and rates it too in her own head then okay, fine, weirdo I’ll be, but I have to start this review by saying this.
Sarah J. Maas dedicated this book to her parents. It is one of the most beautiful dedications I’ve ever read at the beginning of a book.
It says: “For my parents – who taught me to believe that girls can save the world.”
How beautiful and inspirational and worth of all of our respect is this?
Once upon a time, not too long ago, my life ended brutally. The cause of my abrupt death was simple: Throne of Glass series has ended; the final blow – Kingdom of Ash .
Barely 5 chapters in and I was already crying. In that moment I realised that I had a storm of tears ahead of me and there was no way in hell I might elude it. It felt like I was about to be hit by it. And hard. AND GUESS WHAT. I was.
This book was everything to me.
I have never in my life declared that I might have a favourite book, simply because I haven’t found the one yet and I thought it won’t be fair for the rest of the great books out there. Now I am going to make a statement I’ve never made in my life: until further information, Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas is my favourite book ever.
I cannot understand how, but this book just crept deep, into the core of my soul, ripped it apart, ruined my sense of life and left me aching both of devastating pain and of speechless joy. It felt complete and at ease with the Universe and I am grateful that there is a book that can destroy me but still find a way to mend me.
Not even the best review I could ever come up with can cover all the awesomeness of this book. But I'll try. As good as I can. But keep in mind: everything I state here is not even half as good as the book itself. It’s like trying to explain colour to someone who’s never seen the light of the day. Hopeful, but utterly impossible.
“(…) to have the power of eternity in the palm of your hand.”
There was a line from this Romanian book I once read that says: the time run out of patience. When there might seem like there is an infinite amount of time that no one can take away from you, keep in mind that maybe the time itself decides when it might want to leave.
In Kingdom of Ash, the time felt like its own god and indeed, it felt like it run out of patience.
Everything felt desperate, hopeless. Nothing went according to any plan. There were no gods above, no demons below. There was nothing. And the characters and the action itself seemed to feel that too – the anarchy. They were rushed but reduced to silent fight. They were pressed and oppressed. They ran out of hope but still kept looking for it. It was devastating. Throughout and beyond.
The world-building was still absolutely fabulous. Plus, the insides of an actual, super scary, dark war were a super addition.
“Let’s make this fight worthy of a song.”
In this book, the characters are the ones who make the action. They were the most important tool in the destruction of me. So, I don’t even have the faintest idea what to tell you about them.
I can give my heart, soul, both kidneys, half a lung and one eye to protect them all.
They are precious babies. My precious babies.
I fell in love with all of those fantastic characters. Like truly in love. They made me ache all over and they made me feel part of their lives. I laughed and cried with them, I fought and won. I suffered and I loved. That is the most precious thing a book can soothe you with. To make you feel included. Hollow and whole.
I wish I could say more about all this. I really do. But I can’t. It doesn’t feel complete. By this book, I am forever undone.
“Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom.”
July 7, 2019
Here is my updated shelf!
Here's my big boxed set with poster. And below it is my shelf with the goodies!
11-1-18 Got my UK Edition with the beautiful art cards inside!
If you want to see pictures of my wall art then just scroll all the way down past the other pictures. This is how much I love this series. Also, let it be known (that I'm crazy) that I have the hardback, audible, kindle, special paperback on its way and then ordered the complete hardback box set! Yeah!
THIS. BOOK. WAS. EVERYTHING.... TO ME!
I loved this last installment so much. All of the characters I love were in it. There was torture, sadness, war, happiness and so much more. I cried <-- I mean of course I did, that's what I do!
I'm not giving out any spoilers, I just wanted to say it's perfect for me. I really wish it never came to an end but there are only certain things you can do in certain series without messing it up. At least, that's my take on it.
I really have no words peeps. I'm going to leave it here because there are so many that are going to be talking about this, I really wish I had a real life friend that read books that I do so we could talk on the phone about it.
Anyhoo, enjoy my pictures. I have some funko's I'm making slowly and changing the ones I have made. I am working on a couple of walls that I have dedicated to book art and my photography! I hated removing those book shelves but I'm loving my art. (Will do a wall and new bookshelf tour later on)
This first pic is just a couple of things. Later on I will do the whole shelf tour when more things arrive and get made.
My wall art of Aelin & Rowan
And the beautiful, Manon!
More to come my lovelies ... xoxo
Mel ♥
BLOG
AMAZON
Here's my big boxed set with poster. And below it is my shelf with the goodies!
11-1-18 Got my UK Edition with the beautiful art cards inside!
If you want to see pictures of my wall art then just scroll all the way down past the other pictures. This is how much I love this series. Also, let it be known (that I'm crazy) that I have the hardback, audible, kindle, special paperback on its way and then ordered the complete hardback box set! Yeah!
THIS. BOOK. WAS. EVERYTHING.... TO ME!
I loved this last installment so much. All of the characters I love were in it. There was torture, sadness, war, happiness and so much more. I cried <-- I mean of course I did, that's what I do!
I'm not giving out any spoilers, I just wanted to say it's perfect for me. I really wish it never came to an end but there are only certain things you can do in certain series without messing it up. At least, that's my take on it.
I really have no words peeps. I'm going to leave it here because there are so many that are going to be talking about this, I really wish I had a real life friend that read books that I do so we could talk on the phone about it.
Anyhoo, enjoy my pictures. I have some funko's I'm making slowly and changing the ones I have made. I am working on a couple of walls that I have dedicated to book art and my photography! I hated removing those book shelves but I'm loving my art. (Will do a wall and new bookshelf tour later on)
This first pic is just a couple of things. Later on I will do the whole shelf tour when more things arrive and get made.
My wall art of Aelin & Rowan
And the beautiful, Manon!
More to come my lovelies ... xoxo
Mel ♥
BLOG
AMAZON
December 19, 2022
Rereading this was both an immense joy and a mistake. Everything hurts but I’m so happy right now.
——————————————
I mean, I’d be happy to swear a blood-oath to Sarah J Maas.
So many thoughts were running through my mind whilst I was reading this, but now that I have reached the ending of this book, I’m just a mess of tears and emotions and I don't know how to express how much it all means to me.
I think I can safely say that this is my favourite book of all time. It was transcending.
Sarah J Maas is a Dreamer, and I don’t think any book has fulfilled my dreamer’s heart as much as this book. It satisfied me to no end.
All my hopes and dreams were placed in these characters and their world and for the cause they fought for. It hit me deep and it has carved itself into me and gratitude alone does not cover the feeling I have in my heart right now.
You write and read stories and dream up better worlds, so you can find some hope in time’s of bleakness, to get by, to will yourself to live another day, and look towards a future that is better than what you’ve experienced and are living. Hope emanated throughout my course of reading these books and what I was left with.
All of their lives intertwined so beautifully, kindness being repaid with infinite kindness and I was being taught over and over again that goodness outshines and outlives everything.
And then the acknowledgements happened... I’m just done with my emotions getting trampled all over.
I such an awesome time reading this with Azrah! The support was needed. 😆😘
I’m going to go onto my mourning phase now, which’ll last for... let’s not even go there.
——————————————
Pre-reading ramblings:
WE HAVE AN EXTRACT!
“I will find you.” 😶😭😭😭😭
https://www.waterstones.com/blog/sara...
RIP, folks!
I can't believe this series is ending.
These characters have absolutely become ingrained within me and every year these books were the ones I would look forward to the most.
Sigh... my heart is already starting to hurt and I'm welling up. Fuck knows how I'll survive reading this.
——————————————————
THE EDIT IS CLOSE TO A 1000 PAGES.
I REPEAT:
THE EDIT IS CLOSE TO A 1000 PAGES!!!!!!
😭😭😭
——————————————————
Title and blurb in one day? I feel spoiled.
As for the title... I love it.
But there's a sense of doom I can't shake off now.
Ash?
ASH?!!!
I ain't gonna be able to make it. 😖
------------------------------
THE FUCKIN SYNOPSIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MY EMOTIONS!
——————————————
I mean, I’d be happy to swear a blood-oath to Sarah J Maas.
So many thoughts were running through my mind whilst I was reading this, but now that I have reached the ending of this book, I’m just a mess of tears and emotions and I don't know how to express how much it all means to me.
I think I can safely say that this is my favourite book of all time. It was transcending.
Sarah J Maas is a Dreamer, and I don’t think any book has fulfilled my dreamer’s heart as much as this book. It satisfied me to no end.
All my hopes and dreams were placed in these characters and their world and for the cause they fought for. It hit me deep and it has carved itself into me and gratitude alone does not cover the feeling I have in my heart right now.
You write and read stories and dream up better worlds, so you can find some hope in time’s of bleakness, to get by, to will yourself to live another day, and look towards a future that is better than what you’ve experienced and are living. Hope emanated throughout my course of reading these books and what I was left with.
All of their lives intertwined so beautifully, kindness being repaid with infinite kindness and I was being taught over and over again that goodness outshines and outlives everything.
And then the acknowledgements happened... I’m just done with my emotions getting trampled all over.
I such an awesome time reading this with Azrah! The support was needed. 😆😘
I’m going to go onto my mourning phase now, which’ll last for... let’s not even go there.
——————————————
Pre-reading ramblings:
WE HAVE AN EXTRACT!
“I will find you.” 😶😭😭😭😭
https://www.waterstones.com/blog/sara...
RIP, folks!
I can't believe this series is ending.
These characters have absolutely become ingrained within me and every year these books were the ones I would look forward to the most.
Sigh... my heart is already starting to hurt and I'm welling up. Fuck knows how I'll survive reading this.
——————————————————
THE EDIT IS CLOSE TO A 1000 PAGES.
I REPEAT:
THE EDIT IS CLOSE TO A 1000 PAGES!!!!!!
😭😭😭
——————————————————
Title and blurb in one day? I feel spoiled.
As for the title... I love it.
But there's a sense of doom I can't shake off now.
Ash?
ASH?!!!
I ain't gonna be able to make it. 😖
------------------------------
THE FUCKIN SYNOPSIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MY EMOTIONS!
November 2, 2018
“Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom …”
I MADE IT!! And if I never hear a woman’s vagina described as her “heated silk” again, that will be just fine by me!
Honestly, though, I have to give it to her: Maas showed a lot of restraint in this book. It was a good 350 pages before Rowan’s magical penis made an appearance 😬. Sorry, I just can't resist. Overall, I liked it enough to give it three stars. I mean, I read all of the bajillion pages, which is saying something.
It's been a long ride. Emphasis on the long. I'm still perplexed as to why these books got so long in the end. Kingdom of Ash has some really strong moments, but there's so much filler and repetition that you have to fight through the boring parts to get to them. This is, at most, a 500-page story, extended with long, slow stretches of the characters journeying from one place to another, and repetitive scenes of battle. Also: Chaol and Yrene are so dull.
The first 100 pages and last 150 pages were the most gripping, for me. The conclusion is suitably dramatic and the beginning details the horrific torture Aelin suffers at the hands of Cairn-- it's not a book for the squeamish. The disgusting scenes of torture also become a little repetitive after a while, but it starts very tense. How will Aelin get out of this?? The answer is really quite satisfying, too.
I do feel like this is a very long epilogue. There's battle scene after battle scene but not much of a plot. Dorian has an interesting part to play in this with his newfound abilities, which is one of the stronger aspects , but very little happens for an almost 1000-page novel. It's mostly about wrapping things up, tying up any loose ends and neatly establishing Aelin's awesomeness. The way each of the main characters has to be perfectly settled into a het pairing is a little forced, too, but oh well.
Well, I'm glad I read it to the end, and I do feel a little sad that it's over. I've been reading these books for more than five years and I can't believe how much my own life has changed since I started. Maas might not be my favourite writer, but any author who can keep you reading for more than 4,000 pages must have something good going on.
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October 28, 2018
Perfection. I am in awe and weeping, my remnants of a heart full.
I was scared that this last book, through whatever course it took, might diminish my love for the whole series -- but gods, was I wrong. It was a thing of beauty, satisfying and heartbreaking in all the right ways. Bittersweet.
I cried and sobbed, I gasped, I screamed, I smiled, I felt my heart beating out of my chest, I shivered, I swooned. I don't think I'll ever be able to write a proper review, but I still feel the need to highlight some elements that marked me (slightly spoilerish gibberish ahead).
Fenrys & Aelin's silent language. Aelin not knowing what's real and what's not. Aedion hurting and being an ass because of it. Lysandra battling without stopping. Elide sprinting towards death for love. Ansel's soldiers. Aelin's scars. Rowan's vision. Dorian's lack of self-worth and perpetual need to sacrifice. Aelin crying when seeing her second love walk. Aelin realising little gifts pay off greatly. Aelin grinning and swaggering. Chaol running towards his King. Dorian thinking about Sorscha. Manon and the three Matrons. A Queen of Witches with a crown of stars. Aedion thinking about dying like his childhood heroes. Abraxos. The Little Folk. Petrah Blueblood. Gavin. Kaltain. Manon stopping herself from thinking about Dorian. The Thirteen, the Thirteen, the Thirteen. A tribute to the fallen. Dorian adoring his best friend's wife. Dorian as an uncle. The gods. Nameless is my price. Elena's soul. Mala's gift. The fall through worlds and the help received along the journey. A lion and his cub, together. Yrene Towers being amazing every step of the way. A queen defending the walls. Evangeline melting an old man's heart. Cousins finding one another, two faces of the same coin. A letter from a mother. The original trio and their incredible love for one another. A broken curse. Brothers by choice. Saying hello from time to time. A prince becoming a lord. A warrior becoming a lord. A field of blooming flowers. Looking forward to tomorrow. A better world.
No, I'm not crying, you're crying. All these things above broke me in different ways, ripped me apart, some mending my heart back together. I am so in love with this story, so grateful for this fictional world and these characters, that I cannot quite believe it is over. It should be illegal to attach so deeply to imaginary beings, because it goddamn hurts when reality seeps in and they're no longer around you. My favorite series, without a doubt, one that I’ll cherish forever.
Thank you, Sarah J. Maas, for sharing them with us. It has been a joy.
P.S.: Shoutout to my faves -- Dorian and Manon, I love you to the moon and back.
P.P.S: Where the hell is Nox?
I was scared that this last book, through whatever course it took, might diminish my love for the whole series -- but gods, was I wrong. It was a thing of beauty, satisfying and heartbreaking in all the right ways. Bittersweet.
I cried and sobbed, I gasped, I screamed, I smiled, I felt my heart beating out of my chest, I shivered, I swooned. I don't think I'll ever be able to write a proper review, but I still feel the need to highlight some elements that marked me (slightly spoilerish gibberish ahead).
Fenrys & Aelin's silent language. Aelin not knowing what's real and what's not. Aedion hurting and being an ass because of it. Lysandra battling without stopping. Elide sprinting towards death for love. Ansel's soldiers. Aelin's scars. Rowan's vision. Dorian's lack of self-worth and perpetual need to sacrifice. Aelin crying when seeing her second love walk. Aelin realising little gifts pay off greatly. Aelin grinning and swaggering. Chaol running towards his King. Dorian thinking about Sorscha. Manon and the three Matrons. A Queen of Witches with a crown of stars. Aedion thinking about dying like his childhood heroes. Abraxos. The Little Folk. Petrah Blueblood. Gavin. Kaltain. Manon stopping herself from thinking about Dorian. The Thirteen, the Thirteen, the Thirteen. A tribute to the fallen. Dorian adoring his best friend's wife. Dorian as an uncle. The gods. Nameless is my price. Elena's soul. Mala's gift. The fall through worlds and the help received along the journey. A lion and his cub, together. Yrene Towers being amazing every step of the way. A queen defending the walls. Evangeline melting an old man's heart. Cousins finding one another, two faces of the same coin. A letter from a mother. The original trio and their incredible love for one another. A broken curse. Brothers by choice. Saying hello from time to time. A prince becoming a lord. A warrior becoming a lord. A field of blooming flowers. Looking forward to tomorrow. A better world.
No, I'm not crying, you're crying. All these things above broke me in different ways, ripped me apart, some mending my heart back together. I am so in love with this story, so grateful for this fictional world and these characters, that I cannot quite believe it is over. It should be illegal to attach so deeply to imaginary beings, because it goddamn hurts when reality seeps in and they're no longer around you. My favorite series, without a doubt, one that I’ll cherish forever.
Thank you, Sarah J. Maas, for sharing them with us. It has been a joy.
P.S.: Shoutout to my faves -- Dorian and Manon, I love you to the moon and back.
P.P.S: Where the hell is Nox?
Read
November 2, 20241.) Throne of Glass ★★
2.) Crown of Midnight ★★★★
.5) The Assassin's Blade ★★★
3.) Heir of Fire ★★★★
4.) Queen of Shadows ★★★★
5.) Empire of Storms ★★★★
6.) Tower of Dawn ★★★★
[2024 reread] prepping to read soon
[2018 first read] ★★★
(Thank you so much, Alex, for this tour edition! I love you!)
♡ old review on my blog
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
1.) A Court of Thorns and Roses ★★★★
2.) A Court of Mist and Fury ★★★
3.) A Court of Wings and Ruin ★★★
3.1) A Court of Frost and Starlight ★★★
4) A Court of Silver Flames ★★★★
1.) House of Earth and Blood ★★★
2.) House of Sky and Breath ★★★
3.) House of Flame and Shadow ★★★
2.) Crown of Midnight ★★★★
.5) The Assassin's Blade ★★★
3.) Heir of Fire ★★★★
4.) Queen of Shadows ★★★★
5.) Empire of Storms ★★★★
6.) Tower of Dawn ★★★★
[2024 reread] prepping to read soon
[2018 first read] ★★★
(Thank you so much, Alex, for this tour edition! I love you!)
♡ old review on my blog
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
1.) A Court of Thorns and Roses ★★★★
2.) A Court of Mist and Fury ★★★
3.) A Court of Wings and Ruin ★★★
3.1) A Court of Frost and Starlight ★★★
4) A Court of Silver Flames ★★★★
1.) House of Earth and Blood ★★★
2.) House of Sky and Breath ★★★
3.) House of Flame and Shadow ★★★
December 1, 2024
I had impossibly high hopes for this book. I make no secret that this is my favourite book series. Yet somehow, every book just seemed to get better than the last. Could SJM possibly do it again. Yes, she can, and she did. Wow, what an epic finale.
The book is a perfect length, though close to a thousand pages, not a single line is wasted. Every possible loose end is tied up. Every hint or hidden story leads to this masterpiece.
The story is awesome. The character development and use are unreal. Every characters' moderation and reasoning is spot on. Every character has something to contribute. However, we still know who the hero of the series is.
Action, adventure, suspense, and such intense emotion evoking writing. This could not have been done better. As mad as I was for having to wait an extra couple of years for this book to come out, it was worth the wait. I can not find a single negative thing to say about this book. Except the series is over. Though I think almost any surviving characters are good enough to have their own book (hint/begging).
Aelin/Celaena is my favourite female character of all time. Strong, deadly, intelligent, and most of all, she "will not yield." I love that quote, and I honestly do not think it can be applied better to any other character.
This is an awesome finale to the most awesome series after reading that all other games of thrones are secondary. "The Queen that was promised" delivers big time.
The book is a perfect length, though close to a thousand pages, not a single line is wasted. Every possible loose end is tied up. Every hint or hidden story leads to this masterpiece.
The story is awesome. The character development and use are unreal. Every characters' moderation and reasoning is spot on. Every character has something to contribute. However, we still know who the hero of the series is.
Action, adventure, suspense, and such intense emotion evoking writing. This could not have been done better. As mad as I was for having to wait an extra couple of years for this book to come out, it was worth the wait. I can not find a single negative thing to say about this book. Except the series is over. Though I think almost any surviving characters are good enough to have their own book (hint/begging).
Aelin/Celaena is my favourite female character of all time. Strong, deadly, intelligent, and most of all, she "will not yield." I love that quote, and I honestly do not think it can be applied better to any other character.
This is an awesome finale to the most awesome series after reading that all other games of thrones are secondary. "The Queen that was promised" delivers big time.
December 8, 2020
rereading this series has been one of the better things to happen in 2020, tbh.
__________________________
‘once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom very much…’
5 special novellas, 7 powerful books, 10 beloved characters, 572 heavy chapters, and 4856 necessary pages have all lead up to this moment, the conclusion of one incredible story.
aelin ashryver whitethorn galathynius, adarlans assassin, the kings champion, queen of terrasen, the queen who was promised, the queen who walked between worlds, the faeirie queen of the west, fireheart - it has been a pleasure and an honour to read your story. may you forever live in our hearts, always inspiring us. <3
↠ 5 stars
__________________________
‘once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom very much…’
5 special novellas, 7 powerful books, 10 beloved characters, 572 heavy chapters, and 4856 necessary pages have all lead up to this moment, the conclusion of one incredible story.
aelin ashryver whitethorn galathynius, adarlans assassin, the kings champion, queen of terrasen, the queen who was promised, the queen who walked between worlds, the faeirie queen of the west, fireheart - it has been a pleasure and an honour to read your story. may you forever live in our hearts, always inspiring us. <3
↠ 5 stars
November 21, 2018
I tried to write something longer but I believe that only one word is enough so:
- To this series which made me dream and live in a world of magic, friendship, love and sacrifices
- To Dorian, Aelin, Chaol, Manon, Rowan and every single character that made me laugh, cry andfangirl feel with them
- To everything Sarah J. Mass has done for us, no matter how frustrating it turned out to be or how we didn’t agree sometimes with it
THANK YOU to this series which will stay forever in my heart <3
I'm going to miss you guys
- To this series which made me dream and live in a world of magic, friendship, love and sacrifices
- To Dorian, Aelin, Chaol, Manon, Rowan and every single character that made me laugh, cry and
- To everything Sarah J. Mass has done for us, no matter how frustrating it turned out to be or how we didn’t agree sometimes with it
THANK YOU to this series which will stay forever in my heart <3
I'm going to miss you guys
April 26, 2024
Wow. NEVER have I cried like this while reading a book. Such a testament to how SJM brings her characters to life and how connected I became to them. This entire series was an amazing tribute to the kinds of love that exist beyond romantic love (but it also gave me exactly what I needed in terms of romance and for that I am thankful.) I am genuinely devastated to be done this series. Though nothing could ever fill the ACOTAR shaped hole in my heart, I now have a TOG shaped hole to match
June 1, 2020
I have no words. Brilliant, powerful, amazing. Thank you Sarah J.Maas, thank you!
January 23, 2019
AHH this finale was on such a grand scale! SO ENJOYABLE, SO EPIC. Just filmed my booktalk and it will be up sometime in the next week on my channel (polandbananasbooks).
April 6, 2024
Full review in my Throne of Glass reading vlog. Just posted it on YouTube!
March 24, 2021
I bet you thought you'd never see a new announcement in here! *lol*
But I actually have two things to say:
1.) I'm on BookTube now! =)
2.) Even more important: I finally finished writing this review! After TWO years you can read it in it's full 5.500+ words glory! Unfortunately not on GR because it would blow up the word limit but if you really want to read it you can do it over: here! ;-P
Thank you all for waiting so long! I hope it was worth the wait! *lol*
Okay, I think I'll faint now that it's done!
Bye! XD
________________________
How is it possible that my heart is so full of love but feels so empty at the same time?
This book broke me in the worst and best way possible and I’m so happy and sad…
I have no words except of:
This world and those characters will stay with me forever… <333
My heart is aching and bleeding and hurting so damn much. T_T
I just can’t write anything coherent right now because I’m drowning in an endless sea of feels.
Full RTC once I’m emotionally stable again…
I dunno if this is ever going to happen though…
I.
AM.
HEARTBROKEN!
___________________________
PEOPLE!!!! Buckle up!!
This is no drill!
THIS IS FINALLY HAPPENING!!!!
Over this next month my precious Gem and I will read the hell out of this book! <333
I can't wait to see all my amazing babies in one book!!
Sarah, you better don't kill my faves! I mean it! *glares*
I'mnot ready for this torture... well, as ready as I'll ever be!
So hit me and destroy me with everything you have!
"My name is Virginia and I will not be afraid!" ;-P
____________________________
OMG!!
That cover!!!
I LOVE IT!!!
Gosh I can't wait for this to hit the stores!!!
First things first though!
"Empire of Storms" and "Tower of Dawn" I'm looking forward to read you babies!!!
October, I still have plenty of time to finish those two books before the last one comes out!
I can do this!
I CAN DO THIS!!!
I CAN DO THIS!!!
YAY!!! *runs around hyper*
P.S: YES!!!! I love the Bloomsbury Publishing PLC cover! I want this so badly!!! <333
But I actually have two things to say:
1.) I'm on BookTube now! =)
2.) Even more important: I finally finished writing this review! After TWO years you can read it in it's full 5.500+ words glory! Unfortunately not on GR because it would blow up the word limit but if you really want to read it you can do it over: here! ;-P
Thank you all for waiting so long! I hope it was worth the wait! *lol*
Okay, I think I'll faint now that it's done!
Bye! XD
________________________
How is it possible that my heart is so full of love but feels so empty at the same time?
This book broke me in the worst and best way possible and I’m so happy and sad…
I have no words except of:
This world and those characters will stay with me forever… <333
My heart is aching and bleeding and hurting so damn much. T_T
I just can’t write anything coherent right now because I’m drowning in an endless sea of feels.
Full RTC once I’m emotionally stable again…
I dunno if this is ever going to happen though…
I.
AM.
HEARTBROKEN!
___________________________
PEOPLE!!!! Buckle up!!
This is no drill!
THIS IS FINALLY HAPPENING!!!!
Over this next month my precious Gem and I will read the hell out of this book! <333
I can't wait to see all my amazing babies in one book!!
Sarah, you better don't kill my faves! I mean it! *glares*
I'm
So hit me and destroy me with everything you have!
"My name is Virginia and I will not be afraid!" ;-P
____________________________
OMG!!
That cover!!!
I LOVE IT!!!
Gosh I can't wait for this to hit the stores!!!
First things first though!
"Empire of Storms" and "Tower of Dawn" I'm looking forward to read you babies!!!
October, I still have plenty of time to finish those two books before the last one comes out!
I can do this!
I CAN DO THIS!!!
I CAN DO THIS!!!
YAY!!! *runs around hyper*
P.S: YES!!!! I love the Bloomsbury Publishing PLC cover! I want this so badly!!! <333
February 21, 2019
And it was all for a new world. A better world.
November 20, 2023
I feel like I’m missing a limb now that I have finished this series. Seriously. How am I supposed to move on with my life after this. Such a long book, but the detail made it so worth it.
The ending. Wow.
YRENE???? Girl was pregnant. And beat the shit out of Erawan.
Chaol: ok sir you’ve grown on my I like you now that you’re married
LORD LORCAN LOCHAN. I want to give you a hug you extremely large dipshit
Gavriel: Not the ending I wanted or was expecting. I really wish you and aedion could have had that time together or atleast a little closure. But all in all what a great dad.
Aedion: im still fucking pissed off at the whole throwing lyssandra in the snow but it all worked out.
Lyssandra: A POWERFUL ASS WOMAN. Seriously???? So fucking iconic
Dorian: SWEET DORIAN. I think we would be good friends. I’m obsessed with you character and the fucking character development from you throughout this series has probably been my favorite character development ever
Manon: pls come back marry Dorian and tie his life to yours ok thx luv u
The thirteen: still crying
Fenrsy: you deserve all the happiness in the world and a gigantic hug. I loved getting to see more of this character.
Rowan ashryver gallithenius WHITETHORN: in love with you nbd. Rowan is so perfect for Aelin I can not.
AELIN ashryver gallithinius WHITETHORN: m’y absolute favorite. Looking back to the first book to now is mind blowing. Character development insane but once a bad bitch always a bad bitch. I think having a previous assassian for a queen is a power move she can hold it down
The ending. Wow.
YRENE???? Girl was pregnant. And beat the shit out of Erawan.
Chaol: ok sir you’ve grown on my I like you now that you’re married
LORD LORCAN LOCHAN. I want to give you a hug you extremely large dipshit
Gavriel: Not the ending I wanted or was expecting. I really wish you and aedion could have had that time together or atleast a little closure. But all in all what a great dad.
Aedion: im still fucking pissed off at the whole throwing lyssandra in the snow but it all worked out.
Lyssandra: A POWERFUL ASS WOMAN. Seriously???? So fucking iconic
Dorian: SWEET DORIAN. I think we would be good friends. I’m obsessed with you character and the fucking character development from you throughout this series has probably been my favorite character development ever
Manon: pls come back marry Dorian and tie his life to yours ok thx luv u
The thirteen: still crying
Fenrsy: you deserve all the happiness in the world and a gigantic hug. I loved getting to see more of this character.
Rowan ashryver gallithenius WHITETHORN: in love with you nbd. Rowan is so perfect for Aelin I can not.
AELIN ashryver gallithinius WHITETHORN: m’y absolute favorite. Looking back to the first book to now is mind blowing. Character development insane but once a bad bitch always a bad bitch. I think having a previous assassian for a queen is a power move she can hold it down
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2023
2nd Read, but this time with the prequel, 2023:
The Assassin’s Blade:
DON’T GET ATTACHED…DON’T GET ATTACHED…DON’T GET—
Books 1-7: I see now that my life will be spent crying over this perfect series.
————————————————————————
1st Read, OG Review, 2018:
Let me tell you about my journey through the Throne of Glass series. I fell head over heels in love with the ACOTAR series earlier this year, so I decided to give ToG a shot, for clearly the author who created Rhysand and Velaris can do no wrong.
————————————————————————
Throne of Glass: Okay, so, clearly the author who created Rhysand and Velaris CAN do wrong. What the hell is this?
————————————————————————
Crown of Midnight : SERIOUSLY. WHAT THE HELL IS THIS. AND WHY THE HELL DO I SEE THESE AELIN/ROWAN PEOPLE ALL OVER TUMBLR BUT THEY DON’T EXIST IN HERE? I’m abandoning this. Just....no.
————————————————————————
Heir of Fire : I’m bored and need something new to—WAIT. THERE’S ROWAN. He bit her neck. You have my attention.
————————————————————————
Queen of Shadows : “Hello, princeling.” “Hello, witchling.” Someone pass me a cocktail. I’m onboard.
————————————————————————
Empire of Storms : I’VE HAD 6 DRINKS ON THE MANORIAN SHIP AND NOW I’M DRUNK LEAPING ONTO THE ELIDE/LORCAN CRUISE.
————————————————————————
Tower of Dawn : CHAOL, YOU’RE A REAL DICK TO NESRYN AND I HATE—oh. Hellooooooo, Sartaq. Alright. Proceed.
————————————————————————
Kingdom of Ash : I’m no longer a human. Just the heavy breathing cat.
The Assassin’s Blade:
DON’T GET ATTACHED…DON’T GET ATTACHED…DON’T GET—
Books 1-7: I see now that my life will be spent crying over this perfect series.
————————————————————————
1st Read, OG Review, 2018:
Let me tell you about my journey through the Throne of Glass series. I fell head over heels in love with the ACOTAR series earlier this year, so I decided to give ToG a shot, for clearly the author who created Rhysand and Velaris can do no wrong.
————————————————————————
Throne of Glass: Okay, so, clearly the author who created Rhysand and Velaris CAN do wrong. What the hell is this?
————————————————————————
Crown of Midnight : SERIOUSLY. WHAT THE HELL IS THIS. AND WHY THE HELL DO I SEE THESE AELIN/ROWAN PEOPLE ALL OVER TUMBLR BUT THEY DON’T EXIST IN HERE? I’m abandoning this. Just....no.
————————————————————————
Heir of Fire : I’m bored and need something new to—WAIT. THERE’S ROWAN. He bit her neck. You have my attention.
————————————————————————
Queen of Shadows : “Hello, princeling.” “Hello, witchling.” Someone pass me a cocktail. I’m onboard.
————————————————————————
Empire of Storms : I’VE HAD 6 DRINKS ON THE MANORIAN SHIP AND NOW I’M DRUNK LEAPING ONTO THE ELIDE/LORCAN CRUISE.
————————————————————————
Tower of Dawn : CHAOL, YOU’RE A REAL DICK TO NESRYN AND I HATE—oh. Hellooooooo, Sartaq. Alright. Proceed.
————————————————————————
Kingdom of Ash : I’m no longer a human. Just the heavy breathing cat.
March 25, 2015
Well. Now I can properly plan my funeral.
July 24, 2021
"The crow-that-did-not-smell-like-a-crow"
And that's it! Seven books, each getting longer, complex, but most importantly, better than the last, every time. Now, Maas has given a near perfect conclusion to this lengthy series with Kingdom of Ash.
"It's too late for speeches."
By now, there is little new to tell about writing style, character development, and the flow of story. Each of these things are considerably improved to where we started with the first book. The author has come a long way, and done a remarkable job with this last installment to give the series a thorough ending. Given how complex the plot is, and the number of loose ends by the end of last two books, I'm surprised how well she brought everything together, handling each thread perfectly.
"Let's make this a fight worthy of a song."
As the events in fifth and sixth books took place in the same (parallel) timeframe, first third of Kingdom of Ash deals with bringing the dispersed characters to two main plot-lines. What follows is absolute chaos, each group fighting their own battles, until we reach the concluding war. Even with a number of defeats, I liked Aedion's side of the battles more, which seemed more dramatic and emotional at the same time.
"We are the Thirteen from now until the Darkness claims us."
"What was stolen has been restored; what was lost has come home again. I hail thee, Manon Crochan, Queen of Witches."
All my favorite characters in this series came from third book onwards, starting with Manon (and the Thirteen), then Rowan, Elide, Nesryn until we met rest of the cadre, Yrene, Borte and many others. But from the original trio, I only came to admire Dorian, and not Aelin and Chaol. It was touch and go for a while, but I'm glad the direction Dorian was assigned at last, allowing him to redeem himself. I didn't hate Chaol by any means but lost interest somewhere along the way, so he didn't made it to my favorites. As for Aelin, even though her character had gotten somewhat better in time, she still had a number of inconsistencies in my opinion. But the other characters held the story together for me... until now. I knew the author would have to get rid of some good guys eventually when the wars took place, but I guess I wasn't ready for the losses. They were heartbreaking, and it has been one emotional roller-coaster ride with this last book. I certainly understand the necessity to kill some characters to make things seem more real, but it's never easy. Still, I cannot help but commend the way Maas handled everything towards the end, even doing justice to those who were lost.
"Don't burden yourself with the what-ifs."
Kingdom of Ash gave one of the most complete endings I've come across in a while. The author did not leave a singe loose end, and brought everything together perfectly, and very patiently. I guess it shows how much Maas cares for this series.
"A loyal friend is a rare thing indeed."
I'm not going to say it has been a smooth ride with Throne of Glass. Especially not with the underwhelming first book, and a below average second. But Maas recovered quite well as the series progressed. The third and the fourth made revolutionary jumps in my opinion, where as rest maintained evolutionary improvements. Now that I've finished the series, I feel like the seven books belongs to three sub-series, consisting of one trilogy, and two duologies: first two books as an introductory duology, third and fourth books along with the sixth as a build-up trilogy, and fifth book and the seventh to conclude everything. I know this entire series has been praised by many as a good romantic fantasy series, but I was never able to get in to that part here. I still don't understand why Maas decided to take things to adult (or new adult) by focusing on romance aspects a lot, but I guess it's just me. But in the end, I really enjoyed this series. Towards the second and third books, I was certain I would never re-read this but considering how good it was towards the end, I might just re-read this someday. Special thanks to Miche, Baba and Danielle for convincing me not to give up from the outset. Had I given up because of first two books, I would've missed out on an amazing adventure.
"The threads of fate weave together in strange ways."
"I hope you found peace, my brother. And in the Afterworld, I hope you find her again."
October 30, 2018
"What if we go on, only to more pain and despair?"
"Then it is not the end."
I've never cried so much over a book. Never. There were points were I had to stop reading because I couldn't see the page through my tears.
This was a journey, and I don't just mean this book. This whole series has such a special place in my heart, and what I think a lot of people don't realise is that the Throne of Glass series, like the Harry Potter series, was designed to age with its readers. The teenagers who started reading this series at the release of Throne of Glass are now adults, and this series was written for us: to grow with us into our adulthood, to walk with us from our frantic teens to the endless possibilities of our twenties, to change and adapt as our priorities in life naturally do.
I started following this story, of Celaena in a glass castle, solving mysteries and fighting duels, when I was 19. Now, at 24, I've turned the last page of Aelin's story, but it doesn't hurt to say goodbye. It feels full, like a beautiful finished painting, a tapestry with every thread neatly tucked away. If there was a better way to end this, I can't think of what that might be.
This series has meant a lot to me, and while it has its flaws, it's one of those stories that I'll come back to again. Because the themes are timeless, of bravery and love and healing, of family and redemption and hope, hope, hope. All of the books, but this one in particular, is at its heart about the power of never giving up, and of standing up for what you believe in against impossible odds. The wins and the losses - terrible losses that made me openly sob - were sore but meaningful, and that's the greatest triumph of this excellent last chapter. That it all meant something, and that even the small ones, the most unlikely of heroes, the ones that no one saw coming, left their mark.
I've gained and lost a lot of possessions in my life, but my books are important to me. My books have travelled with me across seas, across continents, across great and sometimes painful frontiers in my life. This series is the reason why my books mean so much to me. Because they're transformative, evergreen, a truly powerful form of art. And wherever I end up, wherever that might be, I'll take these ones with me.
"Then it is not the end."
I've never cried so much over a book. Never. There were points were I had to stop reading because I couldn't see the page through my tears.
This was a journey, and I don't just mean this book. This whole series has such a special place in my heart, and what I think a lot of people don't realise is that the Throne of Glass series, like the Harry Potter series, was designed to age with its readers. The teenagers who started reading this series at the release of Throne of Glass are now adults, and this series was written for us: to grow with us into our adulthood, to walk with us from our frantic teens to the endless possibilities of our twenties, to change and adapt as our priorities in life naturally do.
I started following this story, of Celaena in a glass castle, solving mysteries and fighting duels, when I was 19. Now, at 24, I've turned the last page of Aelin's story, but it doesn't hurt to say goodbye. It feels full, like a beautiful finished painting, a tapestry with every thread neatly tucked away. If there was a better way to end this, I can't think of what that might be.
This series has meant a lot to me, and while it has its flaws, it's one of those stories that I'll come back to again. Because the themes are timeless, of bravery and love and healing, of family and redemption and hope, hope, hope. All of the books, but this one in particular, is at its heart about the power of never giving up, and of standing up for what you believe in against impossible odds. The wins and the losses - terrible losses that made me openly sob - were sore but meaningful, and that's the greatest triumph of this excellent last chapter. That it all meant something, and that even the small ones, the most unlikely of heroes, the ones that no one saw coming, left their mark.
I've gained and lost a lot of possessions in my life, but my books are important to me. My books have travelled with me across seas, across continents, across great and sometimes painful frontiers in my life. This series is the reason why my books mean so much to me. Because they're transformative, evergreen, a truly powerful form of art. And wherever I end up, wherever that might be, I'll take these ones with me.
Want to read
August 1, 2018I'm already counting down for this one...
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November 1, 2018
full breakdown review posted
*clears throat*
WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THIS AND WHY IN THE HELL DID IT END
Thank you, that is all.
Yeah right, that’s not even NEAR all the word-vomiting i have to do to express what this series is to me. There isn’t going to be any outward spoilers however i never said anything about it being a coherent well-presented review 🤗🤗🤗
let me just start off by saying that this book made me cry a RIDICULOUS amount of times. when the characters were hurt: tears. when they were happy: weeping. when they cracked a joke: S O B B I N G
Aelin described my current state best when she said, ”“I’m going to have a terrible headache from all this crying, and you’re not helping.”
im not even joking, my eyes were so red and puffy and I think my tear ducts expanded and I got dehydrated from all the crying I endured.
THERE WAS SO MUCH HEARTBREAK AND PAIN IN THIS BOOK GAHHHH
as you can clearly see, all the evidence points towards sarah j maas being the one who has ruined my lifemrs. I’d like to sincerely thank you for that
OKAY LET’S GET ON WITH THE CHARACTERS OR ELSE WE’RE GOING TO BE HERE ALL NIGHT
*aelin*
- my baby, my sweet, my child
- I know a lot of people are generally //opposed// to aelin bc of her ‘arrogance’ and ‘selfishness’ but y’all SHES 19 GIVE HER A BREAK
- also she’s hilarious and who the heck doesn’t want to have their queen a witty little bish
- but in this book she broke me
- she was so tortured and hurt and betrayed and yet she KEPT ON GOING FOR THE SOLE HOPE THAT SHE WOULD GIVE HER PEOPLE ANOTHER CHANCE IM EMOTIONAL
- excuse me while I rock myself back to sleep
- also when she told [spoiler]: “…and please do rot in hell.” I KNEW I CHOSE THE RIGHT CHARACTER TO STAN
- THE BLINKING 😭😭😭😭
*rowan*
- OKAY mayyyyybe rowan uses the word ‘mate’ (cringe) a liiiiiittle too often but gUYS he’s TRYING HIS BEST
- I really loved rowan in this book, he’s precious and sad and loyal and I don’t care if hes like actually a 500 year old warrior, hes my baby
- I love love loved seeing him with the cadre and how his unconditional love for aelin took him so FAR and he still was willing to RISK IT ALL
*chaol & yrene*
- if I cant marry chaol then the next best choice is yrene
- honestly I LOVE this pairing so much, since tower of dawn we got to see them face such hardships whether it was personal issues or saving their world but THEY COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER SO NICELY
- I love wholesome, fierce, soft ships
- Yrene was really a star in this book
- Her character, her powers, her personality they were so wonderful and powerful and strong, shes SUCH a strong character
*aedion*
- I adore aedion with all my heart but this BOI WAS A REAL PIECE OF WORK IN THIS BOOK (read in disappointed mom voice)
- he was under a TON of pressure and it really got to him so yes he did act like a little bish and did and said awful and horrible thing to the people he loved and I COULDN’T FORGIVE HIM FOR IT RIGHT AWAY but towards the end we were all weepy mush
- aedion’s fierce unconditional love for his cousin is the reason why I still cry myself to sleep
- AEDION’S DAD MOMENT FJKLAJFLKAJFLKAJ
*lysandra & evangeline*
- what would this book be without lysandra
- honestly her ferocious ability to keep fighting and fighting no matter how hurt or distraught or challenged she was
- an honest to goodness queen
- HER RELATIONSHIP WITH AEDION BROKE ME SO MANY TIMES
- i love how she came so far, from the first scenes where she was introduced and had this petty fight with aelin to see her now becoming one of her closest friends
- that’s character development right there
- AND THE WAY SHE MOMS EVANGELINE
- SO SWEET SO CUTE SO PRECIOUS
- I love this smol little family they’ve built for themselves fjkldasjflkja
- “Win me back my kingdom, Evangeline.”
*dorian*
- if you asked me like 10 days ago, I would have told you this book would have been better without dorian
- BUT HEY SJM TWISTING MY EMOTIONS ONCE AGAIN WHAT ELSE IS NEW
- Dorian DID SUCH A GOOD JOB
- he was such an annoying brat in the previous books but HE REALLY TOOK CHARGE and built himself not only a personality but also a kingdom worthy of fighting for
- love me some character development
*manon*
- oh goodness where do I start
- during the beginning of the book, I was worried that manon would be overshadowed by the other characters are their intense plots
- but damn this girl doesn’t let you forget about her
- I LOVE MANON BLACKBEAK AND I WANT TO GIVE HER HOT CHOCOLATE AND TUCK HER IN BED
- She was like this fiery queen that would actually stab a bi*ch but is intensely loyal and trustworthy once you take the time to earn her trust and respect
- That’s to say, she is my whole world
- AND SHE DESERVED SO MUCH BETTER
- Her close knit relationship with the 13, absolutely stellar. To see the way they live and defend each other, no matter the cost, fricken hell im weak
*elide & lorcan*
- Elide is like this smol-barely-5-foot-girl and lorcan is a huge-500-year-old-fae-warrior and everytime he breathes near her she’s like nO and he turns into a wounded puppy
- THAT IS TO SAY,,,,,,,THEY ARE PRECIOUS
- Their relationship REALLY went through a lot and if there’s any ship that progressed in THE SLOWEST WAY POSSIBLE it’s probably theres (which yes, makes it more realistic but it only hurts me)
- elide proved herself time and time again how her disability DOES NOT define her and how she is so strong and capable and she doesn’t need saving
- I thought their relationship had a lot of depth and was very real and raw and I love them sm
- AND THE WAY THEY ENDED THEIR STORY 😭😭😭😭 WHY ARE ALL MY BABIES SO SOFT
*the cadre*
- SO CLEARLY FENRYS IS THE BEST
- ONE OF MY ABSOLUTELY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS EVER
- HE. IS. SO. HURT.
- This boy, I want to protect my gosh I literally cried so much over his storyline and the horrors he faced
- THE. BLINKING.
- Oh my god im going to cry again
- Gavriel is a close second
- His love for his son is unmatched, it was so beautiful to watch how he would do anything just to make his son proud and happy
- I LOVE healthy (okay that’s a stretch but theyre all trying) PARENT-CHILDREN relationships
- :’) wow here come the tears again
- I just wish we got to see more of them
- I feel like throughout the entire book, beautiful scenes were cut short due to the page constraint (ikr, 1000 pages and still not enough)
THESE CHARACTERS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A PART OF ME AND IM SO SAD THAT ITS ALL OVER AND THEIR STORIES HAVE FINISHED AND I FEEL LIKE I CAN ONLY PUT A FRACTION OF WHAT I FEEL INTO WORDS
How am I expected to go on like this :( :( :( :( :(
Im going to shut up now but I just wish I could revisit this world back from the start and see these dear characters and see them happy and joking and living their best lives while staying hydrated and eating their veggies and drinking their juice boxes
This has truly been an experience.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
buddy read with basically the entire goodreads but mainly with jia, marami, & amy
*clears throat*
WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THIS AND WHY IN THE HELL DID IT END
Thank you, that is all.
Yeah right, that’s not even NEAR all the word-vomiting i have to do to express what this series is to me. There isn’t going to be any outward spoilers however i never said anything about it being a coherent well-presented review 🤗🤗🤗
Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young
princess who loved her kingdom …
let me just start off by saying that this book made me cry a RIDICULOUS amount of times. when the characters were hurt: tears. when they were happy: weeping. when they cracked a joke: S O B B I N G
Aelin described my current state best when she said, ”“I’m going to have a terrible headache from all this crying, and you’re not helping.”
im not even joking, my eyes were so red and puffy and I think my tear ducts expanded and I got dehydrated from all the crying I endured.
THERE WAS SO MUCH HEARTBREAK AND PAIN IN THIS BOOK GAHHHH
as you can clearly see, all the evidence points towards sarah j maas being the one who has ruined my life
OKAY LET’S GET ON WITH THE CHARACTERS OR ELSE WE’RE GOING TO BE HERE ALL NIGHT
*aelin*
"The words were a gentle brush down her cheek. Fireheart, why do you cry? And from far away, deep within her, Aelin whispered toward that ray of memory, Because I am lost. And I do not know the way"
- my baby, my sweet, my child
- I know a lot of people are generally //opposed// to aelin bc of her ‘arrogance’ and ‘selfishness’ but y’all SHES 19 GIVE HER A BREAK
- also she’s hilarious and who the heck doesn’t want to have their queen a witty little bish
- but in this book she broke me
- she was so tortured and hurt and betrayed and yet she KEPT ON GOING FOR THE SOLE HOPE THAT SHE WOULD GIVE HER PEOPLE ANOTHER CHANCE IM EMOTIONAL
- excuse me while I rock myself back to sleep
- also when she told [spoiler]: “…and please do rot in hell.” I KNEW I CHOSE THE RIGHT CHARACTER TO STAN
- THE BLINKING 😭😭😭😭
*rowan*
"They’d walked this dark path together back to the light. He would not let the road end here."
- OKAY mayyyyybe rowan uses the word ‘mate’ (cringe) a liiiiiittle too often but gUYS he’s TRYING HIS BEST
- I really loved rowan in this book, he’s precious and sad and loyal and I don’t care if hes like actually a 500 year old warrior, hes my baby
- I love love loved seeing him with the cadre and how his unconditional love for aelin took him so FAR and he still was willing to RISK IT ALL
*chaol & yrene*
"Chaol Westfall has not failed them."
- if I cant marry chaol then the next best choice is yrene
- honestly I LOVE this pairing so much, since tower of dawn we got to see them face such hardships whether it was personal issues or saving their world but THEY COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER SO NICELY
- I love wholesome, fierce, soft ships
- Yrene was really a star in this book
- Her character, her powers, her personality they were so wonderful and powerful and strong, shes SUCH a strong character
*aedion*
“Let’s make this a fight worthy of a song”
- I adore aedion with all my heart but this BOI WAS A REAL PIECE OF WORK IN THIS BOOK (read in disappointed mom voice)
- he was under a TON of pressure and it really got to him so yes he did act like a little bish and did and said awful and horrible thing to the people he loved and I COULDN’T FORGIVE HIM FOR IT RIGHT AWAY but towards the end we were all weepy mush
- aedion’s fierce unconditional love for his cousin is the reason why I still cry myself to sleep
- AEDION’S DAD MOMENT FJKLAJFLKAJFLKAJ
*lysandra & evangeline*
“Evangeline is my heir”
- what would this book be without lysandra
- honestly her ferocious ability to keep fighting and fighting no matter how hurt or distraught or challenged she was
- an honest to goodness queen
- HER RELATIONSHIP WITH AEDION BROKE ME SO MANY TIMES
- i love how she came so far, from the first scenes where she was introduced and had this petty fight with aelin to see her now becoming one of her closest friends
- that’s character development right there
- AND THE WAY SHE MOMS EVANGELINE
- SO SWEET SO CUTE SO PRECIOUS
- I love this smol little family they’ve built for themselves fjkldasjflkja
- “Win me back my kingdom, Evangeline.”
*dorian*
“So Dorian kept fighting, his brother in soul and in arms beside him.”
- if you asked me like 10 days ago, I would have told you this book would have been better without dorian
- BUT HEY SJM TWISTING MY EMOTIONS ONCE AGAIN WHAT ELSE IS NEW
- Dorian DID SUCH A GOOD JOB
- he was such an annoying brat in the previous books but HE REALLY TOOK CHARGE and built himself not only a personality but also a kingdom worthy of fighting for
- love me some character development
*manon*
“Be the bridge, be the light. When iron melts, when flowers spring from fields of blood—let the land be witness, and return home.”
- oh goodness where do I start
- during the beginning of the book, I was worried that manon would be overshadowed by the other characters are their intense plots
- but damn this girl doesn’t let you forget about her
- I LOVE MANON BLACKBEAK AND I WANT TO GIVE HER HOT CHOCOLATE AND TUCK HER IN BED
- She was like this fiery queen that would actually stab a bi*ch but is intensely loyal and trustworthy once you take the time to earn her trust and respect
- That’s to say, she is my whole world
- AND SHE DESERVED SO MUCH BETTER
- Her close knit relationship with the 13, absolutely stellar. To see the way they live and defend each other, no matter the cost, fricken hell im weak
*elide & lorcan*
“For however long we have.”
- Elide is like this smol-barely-5-foot-girl and lorcan is a huge-500-year-old-fae-warrior and everytime he breathes near her she’s like nO and he turns into a wounded puppy
- THAT IS TO SAY,,,,,,,THEY ARE PRECIOUS
- Their relationship REALLY went through a lot and if there’s any ship that progressed in THE SLOWEST WAY POSSIBLE it’s probably theres (which yes, makes it more realistic but it only hurts me)
- elide proved herself time and time again how her disability DOES NOT define her and how she is so strong and capable and she doesn’t need saving
- I thought their relationship had a lot of depth and was very real and raw and I love them sm
- AND THE WAY THEY ENDED THEIR STORY 😭😭😭😭 WHY ARE ALL MY BABIES SO SOFT
*the cadre*
“ And together, they would do so, cadre once more.
They would fight for this kingdom—their new court. Their new home.”
- SO CLEARLY FENRYS IS THE BEST
- ONE OF MY ABSOLUTELY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS EVER
- HE. IS. SO. HURT.
- This boy, I want to protect my gosh I literally cried so much over his storyline and the horrors he faced
- THE. BLINKING.
- Oh my god im going to cry again
- Gavriel is a close second
- His love for his son is unmatched, it was so beautiful to watch how he would do anything just to make his son proud and happy
- I LOVE healthy (okay that’s a stretch but theyre all trying) PARENT-CHILDREN relationships
- :’) wow here come the tears again
- I just wish we got to see more of them
- I feel like throughout the entire book, beautiful scenes were cut short due to the page constraint (ikr, 1000 pages and still not enough)
THESE CHARACTERS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A PART OF ME AND IM SO SAD THAT ITS ALL OVER AND THEIR STORIES HAVE FINISHED AND I FEEL LIKE I CAN ONLY PUT A FRACTION OF WHAT I FEEL INTO WORDS
How am I expected to go on like this :( :( :( :( :(
Im going to shut up now but I just wish I could revisit this world back from the start and see these dear characters and see them happy and joking and living their best lives while staying hydrated and eating their veggies and drinking their juice boxes
This has truly been an experience.
“We came to honor a promise made to Aelin Galathynius. To fight for what she promised us.”
“And what was that?”
“A better world.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
buddy read with basically the entire goodreads but mainly with jia, marami, & amy
November 14, 2018
I did it.
I survived this hellscape. I don't know how. I might have shaved off about 15 years of my life getting through 980 pages in about a week and a half so I could get the book back to the library, but I did it.
But, my God, at what cost.
I'm not even sure where to start with this steaming pile of garbage. It was nearly 1,000 pages, and hardly anything of note really happened. It was filled with filler nonsense and ridiculous internal feuds that were not only pointless, but made absolutely no sense to even exist, especially with this world ending war on, just to fill pages. And anything of note that did happen was so sloppily handled that I wanted to scream.
So where will I start? With the basics I suppose. I shall show you what basically set the tone for the book for me, and how I knew that every single page would be searing agony to get through.
The very first page opens with these two lines:
SJMaas could not make it two lines into this book without saying the word "mate." This is what I mean when I say it set the tone for the book, because if you have read this far in her books, you know what I mean when I say that this entire book is filled with her heavy handed, badly written garbage.
So, let's delve into the thick of it. I'm gonna try to be as organized as I can, but forgive me if things start to get a bit chaotic. It's hard to keep these raging feelings of absolute fury at bay.
POVs:
I have to start with the very first, glaring sin this book committed. The one that stood out as I got a mere twelve chapters into the book: the exceedingly unnecessary amount of POVs.
Guess how many there were, dear reader. Guess, before I type it out.
Did you do it? Did you guess?
Drum roll please.
There were fifteen whole POVs in this book. No, I am not kidding. Fifteen. Eleven of which, I believe, had been utilized by chapter twelve.
Still don't believe me? I'm gonna give you each of them now.
Yes, dear reader. This is what I suffered through. This outrageously ridiculous number of POVs, each one giving me Their Take on things going on, even if they are in the same vicinity as a character whose POV I just read. It was painful. So incredibly painful. The fact that Maas could not tell this story, could not express these characters' emotions without inserting us into their heads, is a testament to just how mediocre of a writer she is.
And therein lies another issue with this unconscionable amount of POVS: none of them were distinguishable without her telling us whose head we are in.
They all blurred together. There were times we would swap POVs and I would assume we were in Dorian's head, when we were in fact in Manon's. Or I would think we were in Rowan's head, when were in fact in Lorcan's. These characters are all so similar, all so boringly bland and indistinct, that the dozen of POVs we are subjected to all just wind up meshing together until Maas clarifies whose head we are in. That is just... so sloppy. So lazy that I cannot even fathom how this book was allowed to be published and made to be this long.
There was no reason for every single main character introduced throughout the books to be given a POV. Absolutely none. Especially if you aren't even going to take that extra, necessary step to ensure that your characters aren't all just a carbon copy of each other.
Vocabulary:
Someone, anyone, please get this woman a thesaurus. I am begging you. If I never see the words mate, ancient, crone, decimated (Used incorrectly, I might add!!! Every single time!!!!), thrice (please, for the love of God, never say that word to me ever), snows (I still don't know why she pluralized it every single time), sang, and a whole slew of other words that I just could not be bothered to write down, it will be too soon.
I don't know, but as an aspiring writer myself, I'm always looking up words and their synonyms. Looking for different ways to describe things, different words to get my point across. Maas has apparently never heard of a thesaurus. I am certain of this, as the word "thrice" did not start appearing in her books until Tower of Dawn where she took every single opportunity to just sprinkle it throughout her prose. A trend which unfortunately extended into Kingdom of Ash. It was like someone told her this was a word that existed, and she completely forgot that you can say "three times" or just straight up not specify that it was done more than twice. For the love of god.
But, anyway, enough of my ranting about that cursed word. Back to the matter at hand: any object or person more than fifty years old was "ancient." Every woman over 60 was a "crone" (an incredibly derogatory word for old women, its overuse continuing from where it began in Tower of Dawn). I still don't know why snow was described as "snows," as I have never seen that extra "S" added to the end of the word before now. Everything was "decimated," despite its actual meaning pertaining to "kill one out of ten of a group of soldiers as punishment" thereby not really causing a lot of destruction.
Oh, and everything "sang" to these characters. Their blood, the wind, their weapons, their magic. You name it, it sang to them.
Please, Maas, for the love of god, just keep google open as you write and type in "[word] synonym." It'll be enlightening. I swear it.
Listen, I know all writers have words and phrases they fall back on in their styles, Lord knows I am one of them, but that's what editors are for! To point these things out to the writer so they can be fixed!!! Where are her editors!!!!! Where are they!!!
Character Mutilation:
I don't mean this in the sense of extreme violence. Well, not in the literal, physical sense, at least. I mean that none of these characters are who they started out as—and not in the good "character development" way.
For example, Manon. The badass, remorseless wingleader of a coven of bloody-thirsty witches. Evil, maybe even swinging toward morally gray, she was one of the most interesting characters. With teeth of iron and nails to match, she bowed to no one except her grandmother, and ruled over her Thirteen with an iron fist, letting everyone know who was in charge.
Well, since Empire of Storms she's been thoroughly declawed. She's just like everyone single one of these boring as hell characters. Completely good, despite a lifetime of being taught to hate and kill. Conditioning like that cannot be cured in a few short months, Maas. No matter the revelations.
And please do not get me started on how she wound up basically begging Dorian to not go to Morath alone. On her knees before him, offering him marriage if it meant him staying.
Manon Blackbeak of the Ironteeth, cowed before a man, offering to shackle herself to him.
Maas truly is the queen of ruining her own characters. It would be impressive if it wasn't an affront to the written word that her series are so damned popular.
Dorian, too, is a shell of his former self. I don't know how to tell Maas this, but suffering from a traumatic experience doesn't suddenly make you a cold, boring bastard who's into BDSM. It was a weird shift that was literally just so that she could write yet another male character who falls into the only mold that she knows how to write.
And there is also Lorcan, who was the one Fae character I liked. He was turned into a carbon copy of Rowan. The reason I had liked him was because he was a bastard! A bastard that maybe felt something for the human in his care! And there is nothing I love more than an immortal who hates everything, falling for one mortal and damning everything else in their path.
But, nah, he's totally good now, too. Don't worry about it.
I could go through each character and point out the various ways that Maas completely destroyed everything that made them interesting (here's lookin' at you, Chaol Westfall, my former favorite character in this series), but I won't, because I do have a character limit that is dwindling fast. So let's move on.
Specific Grievances:
I suppose I can attempt to tackle this now.
I'm gonna be real, I didn't start diligently taking notes until I was about halfway through the book, maybe slightly less, so the first half is a bit of a muddled blur.
So I'm just gonna dive right into everything that ground against my very soul. I'm gonna be bouncing around a lot, and will likely not even touch on everything, but I'm gonna try. My God, I'm gonna try.
First and foremost: OP Dorian's magic being able to take literally whatever form he wishes—including shapeshifting. (He is able to keep his clothes on because he is just So Good at it, unlike Lysandra, a born shifter, who is naked every time she shifts back into her human form. Is it bad writing or sexism? Who knows!)
After a few days of practicing, Dorian is basically a master shifter. That's not even the real problem I have! The problem I have is what Maas decided to do with it.
In order to practice this, Dorian turned himself into a woman, a Crochan witch to be exact as he and Manon are living amongst them. So I had to read Maas describe Dorian describe what it was like to be in a woman's body. What the boobs felt like, how he had to learn how to walk like a woman (women walk a certain way??? We walk, Maas. We walk like every other human being. You are a woman. You should know this.), and then he used his ~invisible hands~ to caress Manon while in that form after she found him out.
It was an insult, honestly. That entire scene was an absolute travesty that amounted to nothing in the end other than showing how great Dorian is. I want to have a word with Maas over that scene alone.
Going off of that basic idea of Dorian being all powerful, for the love of God is Maas able to write one (1) ordinary person? Every single character in this book is touched by a god, blessed with power of catastrophic levels, fated to be something great, or the descendent of some long forgotten dead royal line.
Manon is the last Crochan queen, Elide had some god who I cannot even remember who they are looming over her shoulders, Yrene is blessed by the god of healing and is the Best Healer Ever, Chaol is tethered to that greatest healer ever, Dorian is OP as all hell, Rowan and every single Fae is powerful and perfect, Nesryn has become a ruk rider who is going to become empress, Lorcan had the god of death following him, Lysandra is a shifter, Aedion is part fae and the best soldier ever.
And then there is perfect Aelin. I'm sure I don't have to go through her merits. God, she makes me sick she is so ridiculously overpowered, even after Maas attempts to nerf her.
Throughout my entire journey reading this book, Syndrome from the movie The Incredibles rang in my head:
"When everyone's super, no one will be."
Which is basically what this book came down to. Everyone was important! Everyone had some sort of fate/destiny thing going on with them! Not one person was ordinary!! Do you know how boring that makes a plot? Even with the cartoonishly evil Erawan and Maeve with their stupidly big army, nothing felt like a threat to these people! Someone always came along to help them, because they had so many Super Friends. I was never once afraid for any main character's life. A shame about all of those faceless grunts, though. They never stood a chance in this plot.
I've been saying this for awhile now, but I'll say it again, Maas needs to learn how to keep her stakes small. She escalates the stakes in her books to these laughable heights, that there's no fear of loss or failure anymore. I didn't fear the villain who barely had any page time. I didn't fear Maeve, whose real identity reveal was little more than one of Maas' infamous retcons so she could pat herself on the back for being such a genius writer. I didn't fear Morath's army or the witches. Nothing made me care about the fate of any of these characters, because I knew they would all be fine, I knew they would beat Erawan and Maeve.
I always said that the big bad should have been Arobynn. He was infinitely more interesting than any other bad guy she threw our way. And guess why:
Because the stakes with him were small, personal. He was a very real source of agony in Aelin's life. Before the retconning that happened in Empire of Storms, it was no fated meeting. He was just an arrogant, self serving man who used an orphaned girl to his advantage and molded her into a weapon for his use. Defeating him, taking down the Assassin's Guild, would have been a much more interesting plot.
But she basically turned him and the Assassin's Guild into a foot note, choosing instead to have this stupid, apocalyptic plot instead. Sacrificing emotion and feeling for blockbuster proportions of writing.
And yet this book has a 4.71 rating on here right now. A fact that actually hurts the depths of my soul.
Anyway, speaking of SJMess retconning, she's at it again, folks! And you'll never guess how.
So, she never named the King of Adarlan. Could never be bothered to. That's just classic SJMess, not naming her villains (shoutout to the A Court of Thorns and Roses series with yet another cartoonish villain whose name is still not clear). But guess what! That's actually Erawan's fault! He wiped the King of Adarlan's name from his memory, from history to ensure he was completely in his thrall. So, never fear, readers! Maas has an answer for everything! Even her pisspoor writing and world building.
Oh, and it's later revealed that the king's name was Dorian. That he remembered his name for but a moment, when he first held Dorian in his arms, and bestowed his name upon him. Because Maas is so lazy that she couldn't even come up with a different name for the man. Jesus Christ.
I really need to address Maas' idea of military strategy next, because as someone who has read countless books, both fiction and nonfiction, about war and battles and actual military maneuvers, this book ground against every single nerve in my body.
For whatever reason, Maas thinks battles happen for hours straight at a time, ending at sundown on the dot, and not picking up again until sunrise.
First and foremost, [John Mulaney voice] no.
Night is the best time for fighting! That is strategically the best time to launch a counter-offensive! Your enemy is tired, any sentries they have dozing, and the bulk of their forces are exhausted beyond measure. That is the perfect time for your ground forces to sneak in and launch a surprise attack! Doubly so if your army is made up of demons who supposedly dwelled in the darkness in their home world!
And so much of war and battle is waiting. Waiting for the enemy to strike. Waiting for your superiors to make a decision. Waiting for who will make the next move. The fact that Maas' war was so structured, that Morath's armies were so polite to give their opponents clockwork attack patterns, is infuriating. The way this war was fought, the counter-force should have won despite the numbers against them. Attack at night, you absolute idiots!!!!!!!!
And then there were the specific military maneuvers!!! Okay, so, you may remember these "witch towers" that produced an attack power of Biblical proportions. Or perhaps not. I sure didn't. There is too much going on in these books. Anyway, there were witch towers pitted against Orynth. They started out well against them once they realized they were in play, and dug a trap to take them out, and successfully destroyed three out of four of them. Good job, guys! Proper counter-offensive!
But, they only disabled one of them. That's fine. You can deal with that later after you push back the army. Except they didn't. They completely forgot about it. Even after Manon and her Crochans showed up and the Morath army was so shocked that they pulled back for the night, they didn't plan to take out the tower!! They completely forgot about it until it took out a whole chunk of their aerial legion!!!
Proper military strategy would have had the aerial troops scrambling to take out the witch tower first. They would have had squads running defense, drawing fire, and entering dog fights while a main squad went for the witch tower to take it out. They supposedly spent an entire night strategizing, and no one thought to bring up the veritable nuclear bomb on the field? The fact that everyone just Forgot about the temporarily disabled witch tower and now it's not only functional, but prepped and ready to blow apart their army and city just shows how little SJMess even looked into actual warfare. Or maybe her characters are just this stupid. I don't know anymore, but I'm tired of knowing more than this best selling author. All I know is she needed a Dramatic way to give Manon more angst by making the Thirteen sacrifice themselves to bring down the tower. Because she's like the Joss Whedon of books.
Okay, I'm running out of room so I'm gonna aim at the last two things that made me want to blow my brains out:
1) Out of the main characters, no one died. The only semi-main character death count were Gavriel and the Thirteen, both of which chose to die to help the army. No one's death was out of their control. No one just had a bad case of wrong place at the wrong time. What kind of war is this? What the actual hell, Maas? Do you know how many people die in war despite the fact that they were highly trained and skilled specialists? I cannot stand this woman and her writing.
2) She couldn't help herself. She just couldn't do it. She just had to put Rhysand and Feyre in this book. Sure, it was barely half a page of a cameo, but she just couldn't help herself. She just couldn't resist the opportunity to jack off directly in my face. If I hadn't already been over halfway through the book, I would have stopped reading right there. It was the most nauseating thing I had ever seen, and if I ever have the chance, I will absolutely say that directly to her face.
I didn't even scratch the surface with this review. I have an entire google doc filled with every single thing that pissed me off, and it's at least three pages long. It's apparently bad to suppress a magic wielder's magic, as Aelin found out after two months of it, and yet the entire country of Adarlan suppressed magic for a decade and absolutely no magic wielders had any ill effects. Aelin's magic was drained to the dregs to forge the Lock, and yet she was able to fight Erawan and Maeve with her "limited" power the entire time and never once actually ran out. I can keep going! I could go on and on! But goodreads has decided that this is enough, as I am down to just a few hundred characters.
Bottom line: This series was garbage. I started out liking this series and Maas' writing, but as I've discovered, Maas' talent doesn't lie in writing, but in brutally mutilating her own creations until they are unrecognizable husks of what had once made them even the slightest bit interesting.
I am grateful to be done with this series. I'm grateful to be rid of SJMaas.
And no, I don't recommend these books to anyone. Save yourself and just go read Holly Black's books if you want actual faerie content.
I survived this hellscape. I don't know how. I might have shaved off about 15 years of my life getting through 980 pages in about a week and a half so I could get the book back to the library, but I did it.
But, my God, at what cost.
I'm not even sure where to start with this steaming pile of garbage. It was nearly 1,000 pages, and hardly anything of note really happened. It was filled with filler nonsense and ridiculous internal feuds that were not only pointless, but made absolutely no sense to even exist, especially with this world ending war on, just to fill pages. And anything of note that did happen was so sloppily handled that I wanted to scream.
So where will I start? With the basics I suppose. I shall show you what basically set the tone for the book for me, and how I knew that every single page would be searing agony to get through.
The very first page opens with these two lines:
He had been hunting for her since the moment she was taken from him.
His mate.
SJMaas could not make it two lines into this book without saying the word "mate." This is what I mean when I say it set the tone for the book, because if you have read this far in her books, you know what I mean when I say that this entire book is filled with her heavy handed, badly written garbage.
So, let's delve into the thick of it. I'm gonna try to be as organized as I can, but forgive me if things start to get a bit chaotic. It's hard to keep these raging feelings of absolute fury at bay.
POVs:
I have to start with the very first, glaring sin this book committed. The one that stood out as I got a mere twelve chapters into the book: the exceedingly unnecessary amount of POVs.
Guess how many there were, dear reader. Guess, before I type it out.
Did you do it? Did you guess?
Drum roll please.
There were fifteen whole POVs in this book. No, I am not kidding. Fifteen. Eleven of which, I believe, had been utilized by chapter twelve.
Still don't believe me? I'm gonna give you each of them now.
Aedion
Elide
Aelin
Manon
Dorian
Lorcan
Rowan
Chaol
Nesryn
Yrene
Lysandra
Fenrys
Random unnamed soldier for like a page???
third person omniscient POV at random points in the book
Evangeline
Yes, dear reader. This is what I suffered through. This outrageously ridiculous number of POVs, each one giving me Their Take on things going on, even if they are in the same vicinity as a character whose POV I just read. It was painful. So incredibly painful. The fact that Maas could not tell this story, could not express these characters' emotions without inserting us into their heads, is a testament to just how mediocre of a writer she is.
And therein lies another issue with this unconscionable amount of POVS: none of them were distinguishable without her telling us whose head we are in.
They all blurred together. There were times we would swap POVs and I would assume we were in Dorian's head, when we were in fact in Manon's. Or I would think we were in Rowan's head, when were in fact in Lorcan's. These characters are all so similar, all so boringly bland and indistinct, that the dozen of POVs we are subjected to all just wind up meshing together until Maas clarifies whose head we are in. That is just... so sloppy. So lazy that I cannot even fathom how this book was allowed to be published and made to be this long.
There was no reason for every single main character introduced throughout the books to be given a POV. Absolutely none. Especially if you aren't even going to take that extra, necessary step to ensure that your characters aren't all just a carbon copy of each other.
Vocabulary:
Someone, anyone, please get this woman a thesaurus. I am begging you. If I never see the words mate, ancient, crone, decimated (Used incorrectly, I might add!!! Every single time!!!!), thrice (please, for the love of God, never say that word to me ever), snows (I still don't know why she pluralized it every single time), sang, and a whole slew of other words that I just could not be bothered to write down, it will be too soon.
I don't know, but as an aspiring writer myself, I'm always looking up words and their synonyms. Looking for different ways to describe things, different words to get my point across. Maas has apparently never heard of a thesaurus. I am certain of this, as the word "thrice" did not start appearing in her books until Tower of Dawn where she took every single opportunity to just sprinkle it throughout her prose. A trend which unfortunately extended into Kingdom of Ash. It was like someone told her this was a word that existed, and she completely forgot that you can say "three times" or just straight up not specify that it was done more than twice. For the love of god.
But, anyway, enough of my ranting about that cursed word. Back to the matter at hand: any object or person more than fifty years old was "ancient." Every woman over 60 was a "crone" (an incredibly derogatory word for old women, its overuse continuing from where it began in Tower of Dawn). I still don't know why snow was described as "snows," as I have never seen that extra "S" added to the end of the word before now. Everything was "decimated," despite its actual meaning pertaining to "kill one out of ten of a group of soldiers as punishment" thereby not really causing a lot of destruction.
Oh, and everything "sang" to these characters. Their blood, the wind, their weapons, their magic. You name it, it sang to them.
Please, Maas, for the love of god, just keep google open as you write and type in "[word] synonym." It'll be enlightening. I swear it.
Listen, I know all writers have words and phrases they fall back on in their styles, Lord knows I am one of them, but that's what editors are for! To point these things out to the writer so they can be fixed!!! Where are her editors!!!!! Where are they!!!
Character Mutilation:
I don't mean this in the sense of extreme violence. Well, not in the literal, physical sense, at least. I mean that none of these characters are who they started out as—and not in the good "character development" way.
For example, Manon. The badass, remorseless wingleader of a coven of bloody-thirsty witches. Evil, maybe even swinging toward morally gray, she was one of the most interesting characters. With teeth of iron and nails to match, she bowed to no one except her grandmother, and ruled over her Thirteen with an iron fist, letting everyone know who was in charge.
Well, since Empire of Storms she's been thoroughly declawed. She's just like everyone single one of these boring as hell characters. Completely good, despite a lifetime of being taught to hate and kill. Conditioning like that cannot be cured in a few short months, Maas. No matter the revelations.
And please do not get me started on how she wound up basically begging Dorian to not go to Morath alone. On her knees before him, offering him marriage if it meant him staying.
Manon Blackbeak of the Ironteeth, cowed before a man, offering to shackle herself to him.
Maas truly is the queen of ruining her own characters. It would be impressive if it wasn't an affront to the written word that her series are so damned popular.
Dorian, too, is a shell of his former self. I don't know how to tell Maas this, but suffering from a traumatic experience doesn't suddenly make you a cold, boring bastard who's into BDSM. It was a weird shift that was literally just so that she could write yet another male character who falls into the only mold that she knows how to write.
And there is also Lorcan, who was the one Fae character I liked. He was turned into a carbon copy of Rowan. The reason I had liked him was because he was a bastard! A bastard that maybe felt something for the human in his care! And there is nothing I love more than an immortal who hates everything, falling for one mortal and damning everything else in their path.
But, nah, he's totally good now, too. Don't worry about it.
I could go through each character and point out the various ways that Maas completely destroyed everything that made them interesting (here's lookin' at you, Chaol Westfall, my former favorite character in this series), but I won't, because I do have a character limit that is dwindling fast. So let's move on.
Specific Grievances:
I suppose I can attempt to tackle this now.
I'm gonna be real, I didn't start diligently taking notes until I was about halfway through the book, maybe slightly less, so the first half is a bit of a muddled blur.
So I'm just gonna dive right into everything that ground against my very soul. I'm gonna be bouncing around a lot, and will likely not even touch on everything, but I'm gonna try. My God, I'm gonna try.
First and foremost: OP Dorian's magic being able to take literally whatever form he wishes—including shapeshifting. (He is able to keep his clothes on because he is just So Good at it, unlike Lysandra, a born shifter, who is naked every time she shifts back into her human form. Is it bad writing or sexism? Who knows!)
After a few days of practicing, Dorian is basically a master shifter. That's not even the real problem I have! The problem I have is what Maas decided to do with it.
In order to practice this, Dorian turned himself into a woman, a Crochan witch to be exact as he and Manon are living amongst them. So I had to read Maas describe Dorian describe what it was like to be in a woman's body. What the boobs felt like, how he had to learn how to walk like a woman (women walk a certain way??? We walk, Maas. We walk like every other human being. You are a woman. You should know this.), and then he used his ~invisible hands~ to caress Manon while in that form after she found him out.
It was an insult, honestly. That entire scene was an absolute travesty that amounted to nothing in the end other than showing how great Dorian is. I want to have a word with Maas over that scene alone.
Going off of that basic idea of Dorian being all powerful, for the love of God is Maas able to write one (1) ordinary person? Every single character in this book is touched by a god, blessed with power of catastrophic levels, fated to be something great, or the descendent of some long forgotten dead royal line.
Manon is the last Crochan queen, Elide had some god who I cannot even remember who they are looming over her shoulders, Yrene is blessed by the god of healing and is the Best Healer Ever, Chaol is tethered to that greatest healer ever, Dorian is OP as all hell, Rowan and every single Fae is powerful and perfect, Nesryn has become a ruk rider who is going to become empress, Lorcan had the god of death following him, Lysandra is a shifter, Aedion is part fae and the best soldier ever.
And then there is perfect Aelin. I'm sure I don't have to go through her merits. God, she makes me sick she is so ridiculously overpowered, even after Maas attempts to nerf her.
Throughout my entire journey reading this book, Syndrome from the movie The Incredibles rang in my head:
"When everyone's super, no one will be."
Which is basically what this book came down to. Everyone was important! Everyone had some sort of fate/destiny thing going on with them! Not one person was ordinary!! Do you know how boring that makes a plot? Even with the cartoonishly evil Erawan and Maeve with their stupidly big army, nothing felt like a threat to these people! Someone always came along to help them, because they had so many Super Friends. I was never once afraid for any main character's life. A shame about all of those faceless grunts, though. They never stood a chance in this plot.
I've been saying this for awhile now, but I'll say it again, Maas needs to learn how to keep her stakes small. She escalates the stakes in her books to these laughable heights, that there's no fear of loss or failure anymore. I didn't fear the villain who barely had any page time. I didn't fear Maeve, whose real identity reveal was little more than one of Maas' infamous retcons so she could pat herself on the back for being such a genius writer. I didn't fear Morath's army or the witches. Nothing made me care about the fate of any of these characters, because I knew they would all be fine, I knew they would beat Erawan and Maeve.
I always said that the big bad should have been Arobynn. He was infinitely more interesting than any other bad guy she threw our way. And guess why:
Because the stakes with him were small, personal. He was a very real source of agony in Aelin's life. Before the retconning that happened in Empire of Storms, it was no fated meeting. He was just an arrogant, self serving man who used an orphaned girl to his advantage and molded her into a weapon for his use. Defeating him, taking down the Assassin's Guild, would have been a much more interesting plot.
But she basically turned him and the Assassin's Guild into a foot note, choosing instead to have this stupid, apocalyptic plot instead. Sacrificing emotion and feeling for blockbuster proportions of writing.
And yet this book has a 4.71 rating on here right now. A fact that actually hurts the depths of my soul.
Anyway, speaking of SJMess retconning, she's at it again, folks! And you'll never guess how.
So, she never named the King of Adarlan. Could never be bothered to. That's just classic SJMess, not naming her villains (shoutout to the A Court of Thorns and Roses series with yet another cartoonish villain whose name is still not clear). But guess what! That's actually Erawan's fault! He wiped the King of Adarlan's name from his memory, from history to ensure he was completely in his thrall. So, never fear, readers! Maas has an answer for everything! Even her pisspoor writing and world building.
Oh, and it's later revealed that the king's name was Dorian. That he remembered his name for but a moment, when he first held Dorian in his arms, and bestowed his name upon him. Because Maas is so lazy that she couldn't even come up with a different name for the man. Jesus Christ.
I really need to address Maas' idea of military strategy next, because as someone who has read countless books, both fiction and nonfiction, about war and battles and actual military maneuvers, this book ground against every single nerve in my body.
For whatever reason, Maas thinks battles happen for hours straight at a time, ending at sundown on the dot, and not picking up again until sunrise.
First and foremost, [John Mulaney voice] no.
Night is the best time for fighting! That is strategically the best time to launch a counter-offensive! Your enemy is tired, any sentries they have dozing, and the bulk of their forces are exhausted beyond measure. That is the perfect time for your ground forces to sneak in and launch a surprise attack! Doubly so if your army is made up of demons who supposedly dwelled in the darkness in their home world!
And so much of war and battle is waiting. Waiting for the enemy to strike. Waiting for your superiors to make a decision. Waiting for who will make the next move. The fact that Maas' war was so structured, that Morath's armies were so polite to give their opponents clockwork attack patterns, is infuriating. The way this war was fought, the counter-force should have won despite the numbers against them. Attack at night, you absolute idiots!!!!!!!!
And then there were the specific military maneuvers!!! Okay, so, you may remember these "witch towers" that produced an attack power of Biblical proportions. Or perhaps not. I sure didn't. There is too much going on in these books. Anyway, there were witch towers pitted against Orynth. They started out well against them once they realized they were in play, and dug a trap to take them out, and successfully destroyed three out of four of them. Good job, guys! Proper counter-offensive!
But, they only disabled one of them. That's fine. You can deal with that later after you push back the army. Except they didn't. They completely forgot about it. Even after Manon and her Crochans showed up and the Morath army was so shocked that they pulled back for the night, they didn't plan to take out the tower!! They completely forgot about it until it took out a whole chunk of their aerial legion!!!
Proper military strategy would have had the aerial troops scrambling to take out the witch tower first. They would have had squads running defense, drawing fire, and entering dog fights while a main squad went for the witch tower to take it out. They supposedly spent an entire night strategizing, and no one thought to bring up the veritable nuclear bomb on the field? The fact that everyone just Forgot about the temporarily disabled witch tower and now it's not only functional, but prepped and ready to blow apart their army and city just shows how little SJMess even looked into actual warfare. Or maybe her characters are just this stupid. I don't know anymore, but I'm tired of knowing more than this best selling author. All I know is she needed a Dramatic way to give Manon more angst by making the Thirteen sacrifice themselves to bring down the tower. Because she's like the Joss Whedon of books.
Okay, I'm running out of room so I'm gonna aim at the last two things that made me want to blow my brains out:
1) Out of the main characters, no one died. The only semi-main character death count were Gavriel and the Thirteen, both of which chose to die to help the army. No one's death was out of their control. No one just had a bad case of wrong place at the wrong time. What kind of war is this? What the actual hell, Maas? Do you know how many people die in war despite the fact that they were highly trained and skilled specialists? I cannot stand this woman and her writing.
2) She couldn't help herself. She just couldn't do it. She just had to put Rhysand and Feyre in this book. Sure, it was barely half a page of a cameo, but she just couldn't help herself. She just couldn't resist the opportunity to jack off directly in my face. If I hadn't already been over halfway through the book, I would have stopped reading right there. It was the most nauseating thing I had ever seen, and if I ever have the chance, I will absolutely say that directly to her face.
I didn't even scratch the surface with this review. I have an entire google doc filled with every single thing that pissed me off, and it's at least three pages long. It's apparently bad to suppress a magic wielder's magic, as Aelin found out after two months of it, and yet the entire country of Adarlan suppressed magic for a decade and absolutely no magic wielders had any ill effects. Aelin's magic was drained to the dregs to forge the Lock, and yet she was able to fight Erawan and Maeve with her "limited" power the entire time and never once actually ran out. I can keep going! I could go on and on! But goodreads has decided that this is enough, as I am down to just a few hundred characters.
Bottom line: This series was garbage. I started out liking this series and Maas' writing, but as I've discovered, Maas' talent doesn't lie in writing, but in brutally mutilating her own creations until they are unrecognizable husks of what had once made them even the slightest bit interesting.
I am grateful to be done with this series. I'm grateful to be rid of SJMaas.
And no, I don't recommend these books to anyone. Save yourself and just go read Holly Black's books if you want actual faerie content.
March 14, 2017
Please tell me Aelin and Rowan die
November 9, 2022
Definitely one of the greatest series ever written. Full stop.
January 24, 2019
1. Throne of Glass ★★★★
2. Crown of Midnight ★★★★★
3. Heir of Fire ★★★½
4. Queen of Shadows ★★½
5. Empire of Storms ★★★★
6. Tower of Dawn ★★★
7. Kigndom of Ash ★★★
Reseña en español.
OH POR DIOS. Pensé que, al terminar de leer esta saga que me acompañó durante tantos años, sentiría mucha satisfacción. Tal vez un poco de tristeza. ¿Pero saben qué? No siento nada de eso. Solo siento... ¿indiferencia? Estoy feliz de haberla acabado porque VAYA, sí fueron muchos años y quería saber la conclusión de la historia de Celaena Sardothien, pero en general solo estoy feliz porque ya quería que se acabara.
Ahora, hablando de este libro en particular, pues estuvo bien. INNECESARIAMENTE LARGO, eso sí, pero bien. Se cerró todo lo que se tenía que cerrar y SJM se aseguró de que cada personaje tuviera su final, fuera cual fuera.
Hubo partes tan aburridas que de verdad me las quería saltar, todo lo de Aedion y Ren y Rolfe y Darrow (y todos esos personajes que ya ni siquiera recordaba) no podía interesarme en lo más mínimo; pero en general todo lo demás me mantuvo entretenida, y sí tuvo uno que otro momento cardiaco. Aunque, siendo sincera, jamás temí realmente por la vida de los protagonistas (me refiero a Aelin y a Rowan).
Sobre las parejas. Ay, pues qué les digo. Todas fueron muy heterosexuales, jajaja. Pero eso no es lo que más me frustra, lo que me frustra es que ¡¡¡TODOS TIENEN QUE TERMINAR CON PAREJA!!! Todos. Se me hace poco realista y muy forzado. Y obvio todos terminan siendo reinas y reyes de su respectivo territorio, ufff (pero eso ya se veía venir desde Empire of Storms).
Y hablando de las parejas... no me gustan Aedion y Lysandra. Este sujeto la trató de lo peor. La humilló y la denigró. PERO AHHH CLARO, el peligro de muerte llega y ya con eso todo queda perdonado. Nope, no lo creo. Y bueno, ya saben que no soy fan de Aelin y Rowan, pero en este libro estuvieron más aguantables, las escenas de sexo no fueron tan inoportunas.
¿Lo que más odié? La obsesión de SJM con el vínculo "mate". BASTA. Y o sea, ¡es la palabra que más se repite en el libro! My mate, my mate, mate, my mate, mate, MY MATE. Yo ya no podía más, ya solo me quedaba poner los ojos en blanco cada vez que la leía (y fueron muchas veces).
¿Lo que más me gustó? Elide y Lorcan, los amo, quiero que sean felices para siempre. También me encantó el papel que jugó Yrene en el libro, creo que ella se merece todos los aplausos. OH, y no puede faltar mi adorado Dorian, todo lo que logró en este libro me hizo sentirme bien orgullosa, ¡ha crecido tanto y se ha hecho tan fuerte! Lo amo. También Manon es increíble (pero ella siempre ha sido increíble).
OHHH, también me encantó que SPOILER:
Ahora quiero hablar de los personajes, esta sección VA A TENER SPOILERS, quedan advertidos. NO LEAN MÁS SI NO QUIEREN SER SPOILEADOS.
Aelin: Celaena era una de mis protagonistas favoritas, la amaba y amaba leerla, pero desde que se volvió Aelin, cayó de mi gracia. Creo que en este libro pude entenderla un poco más y además pude empatizar con ella. Y si bien ya no es de mis favoritas, sí quería que las cosas salieran bien para ella. Con Aelin aplica mucho: "Look at where you are, look at where you started." Ella ha luchado con todo su ser durante este viaje y siempre mantuvo la esperanza. Estoy muy feliz por su felicidad.
Rowan: Este sí no podía importarme menos. Me caía bien en el tercer libro, amaba su amistad con Aelin, peeeero como interés romántico es de lo peor, y como personaje... pues meh. Si él moría no me hubiera importado, aunque sí me hubiera puesto triste por Aelin, que obviamente no podría vivir sin su adorado mate. En fin. Bye Rowan.
Dorian: ESTE BEBÉ HERMOSO. Jamás me gustó como interés amoroso para Aelin, pero como personaje siempre lo amé. Creo que a Dorian nunca le hicieron justicia en el amor, la tal Sorcha era súper irrelevante, siento que SJM solo la inventó para que no se quedara solo (y luego se dio cuenta de que a nadie le importaba y por eso la mató). Ahora, sí creo que Manon ha sido su mejor interés amoroso, y me gustan como pareja, pero no quiero enfocarme en eso, sino en el desarrollo del personaje. Dorian empezó siendo un simple príncipe engreído y se ha convertido en un rey digno y fuerte, ¡estoy muy orgullosa de él! Sin Dorian no hubieran podido reunir las tres llaves, y tampoco hubieran podido acabar con Erawan. Además el arco de su papá sí me conmovió. Ay, Dorian, eres el mejor.
Chaol: PUES Chaol, pobre bebé. Él era mi personaje favorito de la saga, pero en el cuarto libro SJM lo arruinó por completo y logró que hasta a mí me cayera mal. Luego en Tower of Dawn empecé a soportarlo otra vez y podría decirse que se redimió. Chaol me agrada, y también estoy orgullosa de hasta donde ha llegado. ¡Y estoy feliz por él! Me encanta que sea feliz al lado de Yrene, ellos dos me gustan mucho juntos.
Manon: REINA ABSOLUTA. FIN. No tengo mucho qué decir de Manon. Ella, sin duda, es mi personaje femenino favorito de esta saga. También recorrió un largo camino y aprendió mucho y no solo eso, ¡logró hasta lo imposible! Estoy muy orgullosa de ella. Bien por Manon (y Abraxos, el mejor, lo adoro).
The Thirteen: Las tenía qué mencionar porque AHHHHHH, su muerte fue lo que más me enfureció (y dolió) de este libro. Cuando lo estaba leyendo no lo podía creer. ¿TODAS, SJM, ES EN SERIO? UGH, ni siquiera pude llorar, solo estaba enojada. Sí, creo que su sacrificio fue muy importante, pero también sentí que SJM simplemente se deshizo de ellas. Pobre Asterin. Pobre Manon. No supero esta muerte.
Yrene: ¡Yrene salvó al mundo! Wow, creo que es el único personaje que de verdad me gustó en Tower of Dawn, y en este libro me deslumbró más. Me encanta la forma en la que enfrenta sus miedos. Me encanta que lo dé todo. Yrene para presidenta, pls.
Lorcan: BEBÉ OSCURO. LO AMO. Él sí que atravesó un viaje total en este libro, y me parece curioso que SJM logró que me encariñara con él en tan pocos libros (pero bueno, sí fueron muchas páginas, jajaja). Me gusta que, aunque Lorcan demostró que tiene corazón, sigue manteniendo su esencia oscura y malvada, pero al mismo tiempo puede ser súper soft con Elide.
Elide: ¡Reina también! Todos la subestimaban por su tobillo, pero ella demostró que es la mejor. Y fue otra pieza esencial para derrotar a Erawan. Además siempre se mantuvo firme en lo que quería y siempre mostró valentía. Al inicio de este libro me desesperó un poco por terca, pero en parte la entendía. Al final simplemente la amé.
Fenrys: Lobito bebé. Me encantó. Ojalá que sea feliz siempre.
Rhysand: Ya me habían dicho que había un momento en el que Feyre (embarazada ajá) y Rhys aparecían en el libro, y debo admitir que, cuando leí esa parte, me emocioné un poquito. Me gustó la forma en la que Rhys ayudó (?) a Aelin, creo que fue un buen toque.
Y ya, creo que son los únicos que valen la pena de mencionar para mí. Los demás personajes fueron meh.
Por último, iba a decir que el capítulo final me pareció muy bonito y poderoso y significativo, pero luego me enteré, por varias reseñas, que lo del Kingsflame (que fue lo que me encantó) parece una copia de El Señor de los Anillos, del Árbol Blanco de Gondor. Entonces estoy: decepcionada.
Pero fuera de eso, ¡pues AHHHH, al fin acabé esta saga!
2. Crown of Midnight ★★★★★
3. Heir of Fire ★★★½
4. Queen of Shadows ★★½
5. Empire of Storms ★★★★
6. Tower of Dawn ★★★
7. Kigndom of Ash ★★★
Reseña en español.
OH POR DIOS. Pensé que, al terminar de leer esta saga que me acompañó durante tantos años, sentiría mucha satisfacción. Tal vez un poco de tristeza. ¿Pero saben qué? No siento nada de eso. Solo siento... ¿indiferencia? Estoy feliz de haberla acabado porque VAYA, sí fueron muchos años y quería saber la conclusión de la historia de Celaena Sardothien, pero en general solo estoy feliz porque ya quería que se acabara.
Ahora, hablando de este libro en particular, pues estuvo bien. INNECESARIAMENTE LARGO, eso sí, pero bien. Se cerró todo lo que se tenía que cerrar y SJM se aseguró de que cada personaje tuviera su final, fuera cual fuera.
Hubo partes tan aburridas que de verdad me las quería saltar, todo lo de Aedion y Ren y Rolfe y Darrow (y todos esos personajes que ya ni siquiera recordaba) no podía interesarme en lo más mínimo; pero en general todo lo demás me mantuvo entretenida, y sí tuvo uno que otro momento cardiaco. Aunque, siendo sincera, jamás temí realmente por la vida de los protagonistas (me refiero a Aelin y a Rowan).
Sobre las parejas. Ay, pues qué les digo. Todas fueron muy heterosexuales, jajaja. Pero eso no es lo que más me frustra, lo que me frustra es que ¡¡¡TODOS TIENEN QUE TERMINAR CON PAREJA!!! Todos. Se me hace poco realista y muy forzado. Y obvio todos terminan siendo reinas y reyes de su respectivo territorio, ufff (pero eso ya se veía venir desde Empire of Storms).
Y hablando de las parejas... no me gustan Aedion y Lysandra. Este sujeto la trató de lo peor. La humilló y la denigró. PERO AHHH CLARO, el peligro de muerte llega y ya con eso todo queda perdonado. Nope, no lo creo. Y bueno, ya saben que no soy fan de Aelin y Rowan, pero en este libro estuvieron más aguantables, las escenas de sexo no fueron tan inoportunas.
¿Lo que más odié? La obsesión de SJM con el vínculo "mate". BASTA. Y o sea, ¡es la palabra que más se repite en el libro! My mate, my mate, mate, my mate, mate, MY MATE. Yo ya no podía más, ya solo me quedaba poner los ojos en blanco cada vez que la leía (y fueron muchas veces).
¿Lo que más me gustó? Elide y Lorcan, los amo, quiero que sean felices para siempre. También me encantó el papel que jugó Yrene en el libro, creo que ella se merece todos los aplausos. OH, y no puede faltar mi adorado Dorian, todo lo que logró en este libro me hizo sentirme bien orgullosa, ¡ha crecido tanto y se ha hecho tan fuerte! Lo amo. También Manon es increíble (pero ella siempre ha sido increíble).
OHHH, también me encantó que SPOILER:
Ahora quiero hablar de los personajes, esta sección VA A TENER SPOILERS, quedan advertidos. NO LEAN MÁS SI NO QUIEREN SER SPOILEADOS.
Aelin: Celaena era una de mis protagonistas favoritas, la amaba y amaba leerla, pero desde que se volvió Aelin, cayó de mi gracia. Creo que en este libro pude entenderla un poco más y además pude empatizar con ella. Y si bien ya no es de mis favoritas, sí quería que las cosas salieran bien para ella. Con Aelin aplica mucho: "Look at where you are, look at where you started." Ella ha luchado con todo su ser durante este viaje y siempre mantuvo la esperanza. Estoy muy feliz por su felicidad.
Rowan: Este sí no podía importarme menos. Me caía bien en el tercer libro, amaba su amistad con Aelin, peeeero como interés romántico es de lo peor, y como personaje... pues meh. Si él moría no me hubiera importado, aunque sí me hubiera puesto triste por Aelin, que obviamente no podría vivir sin su adorado mate. En fin. Bye Rowan.
Dorian: ESTE BEBÉ HERMOSO. Jamás me gustó como interés amoroso para Aelin, pero como personaje siempre lo amé. Creo que a Dorian nunca le hicieron justicia en el amor, la tal Sorcha era súper irrelevante, siento que SJM solo la inventó para que no se quedara solo (y luego se dio cuenta de que a nadie le importaba y por eso la mató). Ahora, sí creo que Manon ha sido su mejor interés amoroso, y me gustan como pareja, pero no quiero enfocarme en eso, sino en el desarrollo del personaje. Dorian empezó siendo un simple príncipe engreído y se ha convertido en un rey digno y fuerte, ¡estoy muy orgullosa de él! Sin Dorian no hubieran podido reunir las tres llaves, y tampoco hubieran podido acabar con Erawan. Además el arco de su papá sí me conmovió. Ay, Dorian, eres el mejor.
Chaol: PUES Chaol, pobre bebé. Él era mi personaje favorito de la saga, pero en el cuarto libro SJM lo arruinó por completo y logró que hasta a mí me cayera mal. Luego en Tower of Dawn empecé a soportarlo otra vez y podría decirse que se redimió. Chaol me agrada, y también estoy orgullosa de hasta donde ha llegado. ¡Y estoy feliz por él! Me encanta que sea feliz al lado de Yrene, ellos dos me gustan mucho juntos.
Manon: REINA ABSOLUTA. FIN. No tengo mucho qué decir de Manon. Ella, sin duda, es mi personaje femenino favorito de esta saga. También recorrió un largo camino y aprendió mucho y no solo eso, ¡logró hasta lo imposible! Estoy muy orgullosa de ella. Bien por Manon (y Abraxos, el mejor, lo adoro).
The Thirteen: Las tenía qué mencionar porque AHHHHHH, su muerte fue lo que más me enfureció (y dolió) de este libro. Cuando lo estaba leyendo no lo podía creer. ¿TODAS, SJM, ES EN SERIO? UGH, ni siquiera pude llorar, solo estaba enojada. Sí, creo que su sacrificio fue muy importante, pero también sentí que SJM simplemente se deshizo de ellas. Pobre Asterin. Pobre Manon. No supero esta muerte.
Yrene: ¡Yrene salvó al mundo! Wow, creo que es el único personaje que de verdad me gustó en Tower of Dawn, y en este libro me deslumbró más. Me encanta la forma en la que enfrenta sus miedos. Me encanta que lo dé todo. Yrene para presidenta, pls.
Lorcan: BEBÉ OSCURO. LO AMO. Él sí que atravesó un viaje total en este libro, y me parece curioso que SJM logró que me encariñara con él en tan pocos libros (pero bueno, sí fueron muchas páginas, jajaja). Me gusta que, aunque Lorcan demostró que tiene corazón, sigue manteniendo su esencia oscura y malvada, pero al mismo tiempo puede ser súper soft con Elide.
Elide: ¡Reina también! Todos la subestimaban por su tobillo, pero ella demostró que es la mejor. Y fue otra pieza esencial para derrotar a Erawan. Además siempre se mantuvo firme en lo que quería y siempre mostró valentía. Al inicio de este libro me desesperó un poco por terca, pero en parte la entendía. Al final simplemente la amé.
Fenrys: Lobito bebé. Me encantó. Ojalá que sea feliz siempre.
Rhysand: Ya me habían dicho que había un momento en el que Feyre (embarazada ajá) y Rhys aparecían en el libro, y debo admitir que, cuando leí esa parte, me emocioné un poquito. Me gustó la forma en la que Rhys ayudó (?) a Aelin, creo que fue un buen toque.
Y ya, creo que son los únicos que valen la pena de mencionar para mí. Los demás personajes fueron meh.
Por último, iba a decir que el capítulo final me pareció muy bonito y poderoso y significativo, pero luego me enteré, por varias reseñas, que lo del Kingsflame (que fue lo que me encantó) parece una copia de El Señor de los Anillos, del Árbol Blanco de Gondor. Entonces estoy: decepcionada.
Pero fuera de eso, ¡pues AHHHH, al fin acabé esta saga!
January 27, 2020
3.75 - 4 Stars
All things considered, I enjoyed this book and series a great deal.
As the conclusion to a pretty popular and lengthy series, it had a lot riding on its massive 980 page shoulders...and a LOT of uber-emotional fangirls and boys to avoid disappointing, let's be real.
Overall I thought Maas did a pretty decent job of it...
...even with all the filler, all the battles, ALL the traveling to and fro...all the unnecessary...
...until about page 770 or so.
This book was...long. Probably longer than it needed to be, quite frankly. I saw that some people had said that - and I didn't agree, at first. I was more than perfectly content, even at page 600-something, to relish these characters and the individual storylines that made for such an epic ending for as long as it lasted.
However, at about 770-800 pages, some events in the book made me...less than enthused. With all of the build-up regarding the final "showdown" and the closing of the Wyrdgate...I was bummed with the way it all went down.
Not gonna lie, since the time it was all explained, I have wondered about the Wyrdgate...and been a little confused by it all in a way. So many gods, blood debts, and other stuff involved. And when it finally came to "the moment," as it were, I was kind of a little miffed.
Especially when
Also, the whole part with Dorian...
And don't even get me started on the final showdown.
Le sigh.
It just felt drawn out and repetitive.
Again.
Also, I was kind of left a little blue-balled by how things ended between some of the characters. But I think by then, Maas realized she was encroaching on 1000 fucking pages. And, by then, there were just SO many damned story lines, it would have been almost a whole other book to properly ties up all the loose ends in regards to everyone's story, relationships, and future.
But, whatever.
All in all, I enjoyed the majority of this book. There were some REALLY poignant moments And in the end, I think the idea that you can have friendships and relationships you would be willing to sacrifice your life for? Always powerful.
All things considered, I enjoyed this book and series a great deal.
As the conclusion to a pretty popular and lengthy series, it had a lot riding on its massive 980 page shoulders...and a LOT of uber-emotional fangirls and boys to avoid disappointing, let's be real.
Overall I thought Maas did a pretty decent job of it...
...even with all the filler, all the battles, ALL the traveling to and fro...all the unnecessary...
...until about page 770 or so.
This book was...long. Probably longer than it needed to be, quite frankly. I saw that some people had said that - and I didn't agree, at first. I was more than perfectly content, even at page 600-something, to relish these characters and the individual storylines that made for such an epic ending for as long as it lasted.
However, at about 770-800 pages, some events in the book made me...less than enthused. With all of the build-up regarding the final "showdown" and the closing of the Wyrdgate...I was bummed with the way it all went down.
Not gonna lie, since the time it was all explained, I have wondered about the Wyrdgate...and been a little confused by it all in a way. So many gods, blood debts, and other stuff involved. And when it finally came to "the moment," as it were, I was kind of a little miffed.
Especially when
Also, the whole part with Dorian...
And don't even get me started on the final showdown.
Le sigh.
It just felt drawn out and repetitive.
Again.
Also, I was kind of left a little blue-balled by how things ended between some of the characters. But I think by then, Maas realized she was encroaching on 1000 fucking pages. And, by then, there were just SO many damned story lines, it would have been almost a whole other book to properly ties up all the loose ends in regards to everyone's story, relationships, and future.
But, whatever.
All in all, I enjoyed the majority of this book. There were some REALLY poignant moments And in the end, I think the idea that you can have friendships and relationships you would be willing to sacrifice your life for? Always powerful.
May 26, 2023
2nd Read
“I will be with you always.”
this series means the world to me, and no matter how many books I read in the future, I will never, ever forget it.
buddy read with caitlin! (I loved reading all of the reactions!)
the ending never fails to make me cry.
<><><><><><><><>
“Let’s make this a fight worthy of a song.”
I suppose I have to write this review now. I had to take a few hours to compose my thoughts because I was a mess once I finished this. I'll probably start crying while writing this review so if it gets chaotic, I'm sorry.
(also, this book sticks out like a sore thumb with the other books in this series. It's so bright)
And once again, it took me 2-3 days to read a 900+ page book in this series. They're addicting.
This series....I think it's become my favorite of all time. Even surpassing The Cruel Prince. These characters have buried themselves into my heart and they aren't ever leaving. I've grown to cherish and love them all and I was literally crying as I pushed myself through the final pages, not wanting to leave them. I would give anything to meet these characters and live in their world, no matter the wars that might be brewing in the book, or new villains who pop up.
When I finished this book, I felt empty. I sat on my bed and stared at the wall, taking deep breaths as I realized that I would never get to read about these characters for the first time. Even when I read The Assassin's Blade, it will be Celaena and Sam, and I won't get to see these characters (Rowan, Aelin, Elide, Manon, Dorian etc) ever again.
And that's sad.
The Plot
“Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom …”
I knew this book was going to make me cry. I knew right from before I even started this series that this book would kill me because I could already tell I was going to love this series and its characters. And indeed, that did in fact happen. This plot was absolutely insane and it literally destroyed me. I found myself holding my breath many times and I was so scared someone was going to die. With such a huge cast of characters, I was afraid for everyone.
There was intense battle scene after intense battle scene, and I was tense and not breathing through all of them, fearing the absolute worst. The different story lines that intertwined, the times when characters finally reunited, were absolute perfection. I honestly wouldn't change anything about this book .
The Characters
This is the hardest part. Having to leave these characters behind and say goodbye. To write about them one final time. Some may call me dramatic for all of these sentimental things I'm saying, but I've grown to love and adore these characters as if they were real people. Which is kind of concerning, but that doesn't matter. There are a LOT of characters in this series, so there are a lot of character overviews here.
Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius
“I am a god.”
One of my favorite protagonists of all time. Aelin is the definition of badass, snarky, arrogant, and yet she cares so deeply for the ones she loves that she was willing to sacrifice herself for the good of her people and her friends.
After the end of Empire of Storms, I was so scared as to what may happen to her. I didn't think Sarah J. Maas would kill off the main main character, but I mean you never know.
In all of her scenes where she was using her powers, I was grinning because Aelin was back and she was her normal sarcastic self.
I don't think any book protagonist can top Aelin as one of my favorites.
Manon Blackbeak
“We are the Thirteen,” she said. “From now until the Darkness claims us.”
Manon is another one of my favorite protagonists. She's incredible: cold yet still loving, especially towards the Thirteen and Abraxos . I was so sad for her throughout this, and especially when some things happened. But when she fought against Literal queen.
Manon is such a special character and I HIGHLY doubt any character will be like her.
Rowan Whitethorn
“To whatever end,” he whispered.”
My one true love. (Though I feel like the love has SLIGHTLY decreased since Heir of Fire but we don't talk about that.) Sometimes I wished he was real so badly that it hurt. Sometimes I wished I was Aelin so that Rowan would be in love with me but we also don't talk about that.
He went through so much in this book, his agony from being separated from Aelin was killing me. When Maeve made him have that vision of Aelin? I was tearing up so badly, the tears threatening to spill onto the book. The love he has for Aelin is incredible. I'm not jealous. I'm not-
Yes I am.
His love and respect for his Cadre is also one of my favorite things. I love how he gets along with them and how he actually cares for them.
Rowan is irreplaceable in my heart.
Dorian Havilliard
“Together,” Dorian breathed, shaking. “We’ll rebuild this world together.”
This scene gutted me and made me cry so hard.
I've loved Dorian since the very beginning. He was my favorite in the first book. I watched as he grew into the character he is right now through the series, as he grew into his powers, into his friendships and relationships. I adore Dorian with all of my heart. The stuff he had to go through in this book and series is awful, but so admirable, especially in this book.
Though I must admit, some of those things Dorian said while shifted into a woman were just NO.
He was willing to risk his own life for the sake of the kingdom. Willing to take Aelin's spot for the sake of the kingdom.
Dorian deserves everything.
Elide Lochan
“Life—life was pain. Pain, and joy. Joy because of the pain. He saw it in Elide’s face.”
I love Elide so much. Her character growth and her strengths are incredible. I love her growing friendship with Yrene and how she helped so many people. Her relationships with Aelin and Manon are forever some of my favorites as well.
Elide is so strong and courageous and she's certainly one of my favorite protagonists in this series.
Aedion Ashryver
“Together,” Aedion rasped.”
This. Scene.
Aedion is incredible. Sometimes. I hated how he treated Lysandra in this book. It did make sense as to why he was angry, but Lysandra and Aelin had come up with the plan, but he had no right to do what he did to her, and call her what he did in the fits of anger. When Lysandra called him out on them, it felt like a breath of fresh air.
But Aedion is still a really good character, once he realized his mistakes. He's strong and certainly cares for his cousin and friends. I felt so bad for him when a certain scene happened.
Lysandra
“Remember that we have something to fight for, and it will always triumph.”
I love her character. She's so sarcastic and fun, but yet so nice and loving. She isn't my favorite character in this series, but she's still such an amazing character and I love her.
Lorcan Salvaterre
“So Lorcan said softly, “I meant every word.”
I loved that scene. I still do love that scene.
Lorcan got off to a rough start in this series for me- at first I was indifferent towards him, unsure how to feel, but he has EASILY reached one of my favorites. He just seems so hard on the outside, but yet he is so sweet. The sacrifices he made and how he redeemed himself from the end of EoS which had been a COMPLETE misunderstanding made me love him even MORE.
I want a spin-off with him and please and thank you.
Chaol Westfall
“Be the bridge, be the light. When iron melts, when flowers spring from fields of blood—let the land be witness, and return home.”
I was surprised at how little Chaol was in this in the beginning, and even more surprised at how much I wanted to read his chapters. I shouldn't have been that surprised, considering I learned to love him in Tower of Dawn, but still. Chaol's leadership skills shone through in this book, and how much he cares for Yrene is amazing.
I know he's going to have a wonderful life.
Yrene Westfall
“For across every mountain, spread beneath the green canopy of Oakwald, carpeting the entire Plain of Theralis, the kingsflame was blooming.”
Yrene is in the top 5 of my favorite characters in this series. While I do prefer her in Tower of Dawn, mainly because she was actually a main character and focus in that book, she was still incredible in this book. She literally saved them all in more ways than one.
If I forgot any characters, apologies, because I can't think of them all. Here are a few notes on other characters:
Fenrys: I always will adore Fenrys. I was terrified for him throughout this book, especially in the beginning.
Nesryn: A natural born leader. I loved how she was with Sartaq and all of that army, and how she fought alongside Aelin. I love her character.
I don't want to leave these characters.
The Relationships
I think the relationships in this series are one of the best parts. They all have such good chemistry, and because I don't want to spoil people, I'm gonna have to put most of them in spoiler tags.
Rowan and Aelin
“To whatever end?” she breathed. Rowan followed her, as he had his entire life, long before they had ever met, before their souls had sparked into existence. “To whatever end, Fireheart.”
I will always and forever shout about my eternal love for these two. I've shipped them since I found out about them, before I even read the series, and I will continue to ship them my whole life. No one compares to the love that these two have. It hurt me so much when these two were parted, when they felt the mate bond pulling thin. But they always find each other in the end. They are one of the greatest love stories I have had the pleasure of reading about.
Nothing and no one in a book will ever compare to the love these two share.
This review did take a chaotic turn. But that's fine. I liked writing it out, writing about these characters one last time. It sure has been a journey, exploring the depths of this series and learning more about the characters. I wish I never have to go.
But all good things must come to an end.
And so, I have finally completed the Throne of Glass series. (not counting The Assassin's Blade) This review may have been slightly dramatic, but I'm dramatic, so that is fine. I'm going to miss these characters and world so much, so I may as well convey all of my feelings into this review. And yeah, I did cry while writing this.
These characters have forever impacted me with their words and stories, and I will never forget this series.
5 stars
“Be the bridge, be the light. When iron melts, when flowers spring from fields of blood—let the land be witness, and return home.”
<><><><><><><><>
nothing will ever compare
rtc
<><><><><><><><>
Why is the book so big though
“I will be with you always.”
this series means the world to me, and no matter how many books I read in the future, I will never, ever forget it.
buddy read with caitlin! (I loved reading all of the reactions!)
the ending never fails to make me cry.
<><><><><><><><>
“Let’s make this a fight worthy of a song.”
I suppose I have to write this review now. I had to take a few hours to compose my thoughts because I was a mess once I finished this. I'll probably start crying while writing this review so if it gets chaotic, I'm sorry.
(also, this book sticks out like a sore thumb with the other books in this series. It's so bright)
And once again, it took me 2-3 days to read a 900+ page book in this series. They're addicting.
This series....I think it's become my favorite of all time. Even surpassing The Cruel Prince. These characters have buried themselves into my heart and they aren't ever leaving. I've grown to cherish and love them all and I was literally crying as I pushed myself through the final pages, not wanting to leave them. I would give anything to meet these characters and live in their world, no matter the wars that might be brewing in the book, or new villains who pop up.
When I finished this book, I felt empty. I sat on my bed and stared at the wall, taking deep breaths as I realized that I would never get to read about these characters for the first time. Even when I read The Assassin's Blade, it will be Celaena and Sam, and I won't get to see these characters (Rowan, Aelin, Elide, Manon, Dorian etc) ever again.
And that's sad.
The Plot
“Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom …”
I knew this book was going to make me cry. I knew right from before I even started this series that this book would kill me because I could already tell I was going to love this series and its characters. And indeed, that did in fact happen. This plot was absolutely insane and it literally destroyed me. I found myself holding my breath many times and I was so scared someone was going to die. With such a huge cast of characters, I was afraid for everyone.
There was intense battle scene after intense battle scene, and I was tense and not breathing through all of them, fearing the absolute worst. The different story lines that intertwined, the times when characters finally reunited, were absolute perfection. I honestly wouldn't change anything about this book .
The Characters
This is the hardest part. Having to leave these characters behind and say goodbye. To write about them one final time. Some may call me dramatic for all of these sentimental things I'm saying, but I've grown to love and adore these characters as if they were real people. Which is kind of concerning, but that doesn't matter. There are a LOT of characters in this series, so there are a lot of character overviews here.
Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius
“I am a god.”
One of my favorite protagonists of all time. Aelin is the definition of badass, snarky, arrogant, and yet she cares so deeply for the ones she loves that she was willing to sacrifice herself for the good of her people and her friends.
After the end of Empire of Storms, I was so scared as to what may happen to her. I didn't think Sarah J. Maas would kill off the main main character, but I mean you never know.
In all of her scenes where she was using her powers, I was grinning because Aelin was back and she was her normal sarcastic self.
I don't think any book protagonist can top Aelin as one of my favorites.
Manon Blackbeak
“We are the Thirteen,” she said. “From now until the Darkness claims us.”
Manon is another one of my favorite protagonists. She's incredible: cold yet still loving, especially towards the Thirteen and Abraxos . I was so sad for her throughout this, and especially when some things happened. But when she fought against Literal queen.
Manon is such a special character and I HIGHLY doubt any character will be like her.
Rowan Whitethorn
“To whatever end,” he whispered.”
My one true love. (Though I feel like the love has SLIGHTLY decreased since Heir of Fire but we don't talk about that.) Sometimes I wished he was real so badly that it hurt. Sometimes I wished I was Aelin so that Rowan would be in love with me but we also don't talk about that.
He went through so much in this book, his agony from being separated from Aelin was killing me. When Maeve made him have that vision of Aelin? I was tearing up so badly, the tears threatening to spill onto the book. The love he has for Aelin is incredible. I'm not jealous. I'm not-
Yes I am.
His love and respect for his Cadre is also one of my favorite things. I love how he gets along with them and how he actually cares for them.
Rowan is irreplaceable in my heart.
Dorian Havilliard
“Together,” Dorian breathed, shaking. “We’ll rebuild this world together.”
This scene gutted me and made me cry so hard.
I've loved Dorian since the very beginning. He was my favorite in the first book. I watched as he grew into the character he is right now through the series, as he grew into his powers, into his friendships and relationships. I adore Dorian with all of my heart. The stuff he had to go through in this book and series is awful, but so admirable, especially in this book.
Though I must admit, some of those things Dorian said while shifted into a woman were just NO.
He was willing to risk his own life for the sake of the kingdom. Willing to take Aelin's spot for the sake of the kingdom.
Dorian deserves everything.
Elide Lochan
“Life—life was pain. Pain, and joy. Joy because of the pain. He saw it in Elide’s face.”
I love Elide so much. Her character growth and her strengths are incredible. I love her growing friendship with Yrene and how she helped so many people. Her relationships with Aelin and Manon are forever some of my favorites as well.
Elide is so strong and courageous and she's certainly one of my favorite protagonists in this series.
Aedion Ashryver
“Together,” Aedion rasped.”
This. Scene.
Aedion is incredible. Sometimes. I hated how he treated Lysandra in this book. It did make sense as to why he was angry, but Lysandra and Aelin had come up with the plan, but he had no right to do what he did to her, and call her what he did in the fits of anger. When Lysandra called him out on them, it felt like a breath of fresh air.
But Aedion is still a really good character, once he realized his mistakes. He's strong and certainly cares for his cousin and friends. I felt so bad for him when a certain scene happened.
Lysandra
“Remember that we have something to fight for, and it will always triumph.”
I love her character. She's so sarcastic and fun, but yet so nice and loving. She isn't my favorite character in this series, but she's still such an amazing character and I love her.
Lorcan Salvaterre
“So Lorcan said softly, “I meant every word.”
I loved that scene. I still do love that scene.
Lorcan got off to a rough start in this series for me- at first I was indifferent towards him, unsure how to feel, but he has EASILY reached one of my favorites. He just seems so hard on the outside, but yet he is so sweet. The sacrifices he made and how he redeemed himself from the end of EoS which had been a COMPLETE misunderstanding made me love him even MORE.
I want a spin-off with him and please and thank you.
Chaol Westfall
“Be the bridge, be the light. When iron melts, when flowers spring from fields of blood—let the land be witness, and return home.”
I was surprised at how little Chaol was in this in the beginning, and even more surprised at how much I wanted to read his chapters. I shouldn't have been that surprised, considering I learned to love him in Tower of Dawn, but still. Chaol's leadership skills shone through in this book, and how much he cares for Yrene is amazing.
I know he's going to have a wonderful life.
Yrene Westfall
“For across every mountain, spread beneath the green canopy of Oakwald, carpeting the entire Plain of Theralis, the kingsflame was blooming.”
Yrene is in the top 5 of my favorite characters in this series. While I do prefer her in Tower of Dawn, mainly because she was actually a main character and focus in that book, she was still incredible in this book. She literally saved them all in more ways than one.
If I forgot any characters, apologies, because I can't think of them all. Here are a few notes on other characters:
Fenrys: I always will adore Fenrys. I was terrified for him throughout this book, especially in the beginning.
Nesryn: A natural born leader. I loved how she was with Sartaq and all of that army, and how she fought alongside Aelin. I love her character.
I don't want to leave these characters.
The Relationships
I think the relationships in this series are one of the best parts. They all have such good chemistry, and because I don't want to spoil people, I'm gonna have to put most of them in spoiler tags.
Rowan and Aelin
“To whatever end?” she breathed. Rowan followed her, as he had his entire life, long before they had ever met, before their souls had sparked into existence. “To whatever end, Fireheart.”
I will always and forever shout about my eternal love for these two. I've shipped them since I found out about them, before I even read the series, and I will continue to ship them my whole life. No one compares to the love that these two have. It hurt me so much when these two were parted, when they felt the mate bond pulling thin. But they always find each other in the end. They are one of the greatest love stories I have had the pleasure of reading about.
Nothing and no one in a book will ever compare to the love these two share.
This review did take a chaotic turn. But that's fine. I liked writing it out, writing about these characters one last time. It sure has been a journey, exploring the depths of this series and learning more about the characters. I wish I never have to go.
But all good things must come to an end.
And so, I have finally completed the Throne of Glass series. (not counting The Assassin's Blade) This review may have been slightly dramatic, but I'm dramatic, so that is fine. I'm going to miss these characters and world so much, so I may as well convey all of my feelings into this review. And yeah, I did cry while writing this.
These characters have forever impacted me with their words and stories, and I will never forget this series.
5 stars
“Be the bridge, be the light. When iron melts, when flowers spring from fields of blood—let the land be witness, and return home.”
<><><><><><><><>
nothing will ever compare
rtc
<><><><><><><><>
Why is the book so big though
November 5, 2018
This review and other non-spoilery reviews can be found @The Book Prescription
“Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom …
🌟 You may like Sarah J. Maas writing, you may hate it. Actually SJM may be the most controversial author at the current time. So we may agree to disagree on her style but I think something that we can not deny is her immense success and how big this series has got. In my 3 years on GR and few month of blogging, I have never seen a book that took over those sites as this book did.
🌟 I remember finishing 2016 with starting Throne of Glass which was a great gift from a friend. I wanted to end 2016 and start 2017 with a bang and reflecting back On this, I don’t regret it.
🌟 Keep in mind that I am also not a SJM stan, I just appreciate a good book and this series had its ups and downs but I am so glad it had a good ending. I am also not one of those people who started the series when book 1 was released. I actually read the whole series in 1 year.
🌟 I don’t usually include all the previous books ratings in a review but I am adding it here this time to prove a point:
Throne of Glass ★★★★
Crown of Midnight ★★★★★
Heir of Fire ★★★
Queen of shadows ★★★
Empire of storms ★★★★
Tower of Dawn ★★★
🌟 I am actually thankful for Sarah for entertaining us with
7 books
532 Chapters
4464 Pages
🌟We haven’t actually gone into the review yet so let’s get down to it:
🌟 The world building was great, I love this world, I love the magic, the different creatures and the politics were amazing too. I like that this is a hard magic system that is bound by rules and that it is not just random and chaotic. I also know Erilea’s map by heart and I didn’t have to go back to the map at a certain point to check what was happening because it was all right in my mind.
🌟 I always used to say that Shatter me series has one of the best character development in books! Sadly that was shattered in restore me
🌟 Now I am going to say that this is one of the series that I love the characters of. How they started and what they ended up being. In my previous reviews I criticized how Sarah always uses the term beautiful and most beautiful and gorgeous…etc to describe her characters. There are many many characters in this series and UNFORTUNATELY they are all beautiful! And she even went to say that a character could only be described as beautiful and I was like: “It can be described by many things but you don’t want to brain storm even a little bit”.
🌟 That being said, I love Aelin & Rowan, Aedion & Lysandra (my favs), Chaol & Yrene, Elide & Lorcan, Dorian and Manon, Asterin and the Thirteen, I even like Abraxos!
🌟 I think Sarah can write the best ships ever, I always feel the chemistry between those characters and some of them started differently and I thought that they were not a good match until they really weren’t!
🌟 There are some series that you read and forget the characters after a few books and there are some characters that are meant to stay with you, affect you and change you and obviously this is the later choice! I can’t stop thinking about the sass, the retorts and comebacks of some characters. You can’t believe how scared I was while reading this book, because there was going to be a major war and I was worried about my babies! I didn’t know who was going to survive and who wouldn’t and that’s just war! I am not sure if I am totally satisfied with how things go but I can see why Sarah did certain things that way!
“Aelin wiped her hands. “Well, that’s over and done with,” she announced, and strode to the desk and map. “Shall we discuss where you all plan to march once we beat the living shit out of this army?”
🌟 Regarding Manon by the way, she was not described differently in this book and that was a bit better than expected.
🌟 Now the writing was good, the references and planning since book 1 is just mind blowing. There were some good quotes (Captain Obvious strikes again, It is almost 1000 pages so it is bound to have some good quotes). Sometimes though, I felt that Sarah was like a toddler who learnt a new word and was saying it all the time to everyone and this word is Sarah’s renowned “Mate”. If you notice it once, it can not be unnoticed and becomes very annoying specially that it is repeated more than a 100 times!!
🌟 The plot at the end of book 5 peaked and left us wondering about many things making this one of my most anticipated reads of the year! The plot was interesting from the first till the last page! I complained about how Sarah’s books were bigger than needed and yet I felt that I need MORE this time! I don’t know how I read 1000 pages in 5 days.
🌟 I like (I certainly like a lot of things) that each small group of characters were having their own adventure and their own goals and they all converge to make the bigger plot at the last pages! That was better than a linear way of telling the story. And that there were not ex machina moments in this book, everything made sense and the foreshadowing was top-notch! I feel like reading the series again just to catch all the hidden clues and be mesmerized again. Did I mention that the series was first written when Sarah was 16?!!! I am currently writing a short story and it is so hard but to start writing a whole series at 16 is just mind-blowing.
🌟 I can’t deny that there are problems with the series and I know that SJM is just great at writing white characters, I don’t know why she’s trying to ruin her books with false half-cooked diversity that brought more problems than benefits to her. I am one of those readers who are convinced that no diversity is better than bad and forces diversity. But one thing I can not understand too is how there are people who hate the series and yet they read the 7 books, isn’t that a bit hard to understand?
🌟 Summary: I usually rate books according to the elements of the story and how they come out together and how well they were written. And although I don’t deny the problems in this book, I think it is amazing that a book caught my attention for a 1000 pages. I am rating this one on both my analysis of the story and out of pure enjoyment.
🌟 I can’t believe that this is coming to an end! Sarah J Maas, here are 5 stars and Thanks a lot!! To a better world!
“Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom …
🌟 You may like Sarah J. Maas writing, you may hate it. Actually SJM may be the most controversial author at the current time. So we may agree to disagree on her style but I think something that we can not deny is her immense success and how big this series has got. In my 3 years on GR and few month of blogging, I have never seen a book that took over those sites as this book did.
🌟 I remember finishing 2016 with starting Throne of Glass which was a great gift from a friend. I wanted to end 2016 and start 2017 with a bang and reflecting back On this, I don’t regret it.
🌟 Keep in mind that I am also not a SJM stan, I just appreciate a good book and this series had its ups and downs but I am so glad it had a good ending. I am also not one of those people who started the series when book 1 was released. I actually read the whole series in 1 year.
🌟 I don’t usually include all the previous books ratings in a review but I am adding it here this time to prove a point:
Throne of Glass ★★★★
Crown of Midnight ★★★★★
Heir of Fire ★★★
Queen of shadows ★★★
Empire of storms ★★★★
Tower of Dawn ★★★
🌟 I am actually thankful for Sarah for entertaining us with
7 books
532 Chapters
4464 Pages
🌟We haven’t actually gone into the review yet so let’s get down to it:
🌟 The world building was great, I love this world, I love the magic, the different creatures and the politics were amazing too. I like that this is a hard magic system that is bound by rules and that it is not just random and chaotic. I also know Erilea’s map by heart and I didn’t have to go back to the map at a certain point to check what was happening because it was all right in my mind.
🌟 I always used to say that Shatter me series has one of the best character development in books! Sadly that was shattered in restore me
🌟 Now I am going to say that this is one of the series that I love the characters of. How they started and what they ended up being. In my previous reviews I criticized how Sarah always uses the term beautiful and most beautiful and gorgeous…etc to describe her characters. There are many many characters in this series and UNFORTUNATELY they are all beautiful! And she even went to say that a character could only be described as beautiful and I was like: “It can be described by many things but you don’t want to brain storm even a little bit”.
🌟 That being said, I love Aelin & Rowan, Aedion & Lysandra (my favs), Chaol & Yrene, Elide & Lorcan, Dorian and Manon, Asterin and the Thirteen, I even like Abraxos!
🌟 I think Sarah can write the best ships ever, I always feel the chemistry between those characters and some of them started differently and I thought that they were not a good match until they really weren’t!
🌟 There are some series that you read and forget the characters after a few books and there are some characters that are meant to stay with you, affect you and change you and obviously this is the later choice! I can’t stop thinking about the sass, the retorts and comebacks of some characters. You can’t believe how scared I was while reading this book, because there was going to be a major war and I was worried about my babies! I didn’t know who was going to survive and who wouldn’t and that’s just war! I am not sure if I am totally satisfied with how things go but I can see why Sarah did certain things that way!
“Aelin wiped her hands. “Well, that’s over and done with,” she announced, and strode to the desk and map. “Shall we discuss where you all plan to march once we beat the living shit out of this army?”
🌟 Regarding Manon by the way, she was not described differently in this book and that was a bit better than expected.
🌟 Now the writing was good, the references and planning since book 1 is just mind blowing. There were some good quotes (Captain Obvious strikes again, It is almost 1000 pages so it is bound to have some good quotes). Sometimes though, I felt that Sarah was like a toddler who learnt a new word and was saying it all the time to everyone and this word is Sarah’s renowned “Mate”. If you notice it once, it can not be unnoticed and becomes very annoying specially that it is repeated more than a 100 times!!
🌟 The plot at the end of book 5 peaked and left us wondering about many things making this one of my most anticipated reads of the year! The plot was interesting from the first till the last page! I complained about how Sarah’s books were bigger than needed and yet I felt that I need MORE this time! I don’t know how I read 1000 pages in 5 days.
🌟 I like (I certainly like a lot of things) that each small group of characters were having their own adventure and their own goals and they all converge to make the bigger plot at the last pages! That was better than a linear way of telling the story. And that there were not ex machina moments in this book, everything made sense and the foreshadowing was top-notch! I feel like reading the series again just to catch all the hidden clues and be mesmerized again. Did I mention that the series was first written when Sarah was 16?!!! I am currently writing a short story and it is so hard but to start writing a whole series at 16 is just mind-blowing.
🌟 I can’t deny that there are problems with the series and I know that SJM is just great at writing white characters, I don’t know why she’s trying to ruin her books with false half-cooked diversity that brought more problems than benefits to her. I am one of those readers who are convinced that no diversity is better than bad and forces diversity. But one thing I can not understand too is how there are people who hate the series and yet they read the 7 books, isn’t that a bit hard to understand?
🌟 Summary: I usually rate books according to the elements of the story and how they come out together and how well they were written. And although I don’t deny the problems in this book, I think it is amazing that a book caught my attention for a 1000 pages. I am rating this one on both my analysis of the story and out of pure enjoyment.
🌟 I can’t believe that this is coming to an end! Sarah J Maas, here are 5 stars and Thanks a lot!! To a better world!
June 1, 2023
I am in tears. This was absolutely perfect. I have no complaints, no remarks, no anything. I wouldn't change it at all. SJM wrote a masterpiece and am absolutely in awe of it 😭❤️
KoA is easily the best book in the series for me. Sure, it's hugee. But the characters, the story, the romance, the war and sheer beauty of it all was mesmerizing to read. How come there's no tv series for it yet?!
It started with such intensity and heaviness. Aelin, Rowan and Fenrys are the winners for me in this book, they broke and mend my heart. Chaol and Dorian coming in next, with Manon, Lorcan and Elide at the end. I know it's an odd way of ranking but that's the way they impacted me.
If you haven't read this series, DO READ IT. Pls 🥺🥺
I have some theories in my drafts but before posting them. I want to reread ACOTAR and CC.
~•~•~
Y'all have me so scared to start this one but here I go. Also, after this I officially start my reread of ACOTAR and CC- am ready to start theorizing for CC3
KoA is easily the best book in the series for me. Sure, it's hugee. But the characters, the story, the romance, the war and sheer beauty of it all was mesmerizing to read. How come there's no tv series for it yet?!
It started with such intensity and heaviness. Aelin, Rowan and Fenrys are the winners for me in this book, they broke and mend my heart. Chaol and Dorian coming in next, with Manon, Lorcan and Elide at the end. I know it's an odd way of ranking but that's the way they impacted me.
If you haven't read this series, DO READ IT. Pls 🥺🥺
I have some theories in my drafts but before posting them. I want to reread ACOTAR and CC.
~•~•~
Y'all have me so scared to start this one but here I go. Also, after this I officially start my reread of ACOTAR and CC- am ready to start theorizing for CC3
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