Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7) by Sarah J. Maas

October 28, 2018November 16, 2018 meltotheanyAside30 Comments

(Thank you so much, Alex, for this tour edition! I love you!)
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#0.1) The Assassin and the Pirate Lord ★★★
#0.2) The Assassin and the Healer ★★
#0.3) The Assassin and the Desert ★★★★
#0.4) The Assassin and the Underworld ★★★★★
#0.5) The Assassin and the Empire ★★★
#1.) Throne of Glass ★★★
#2.) Crown of Midnight ★★★★
#3.) Heir of Fire ★★
#4.) Queen of Shadows ★★
#5.) Empire of Storms ★★★
#6.) Tower of Dawn ★★★★★

“Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom…”

I had a good time reading Kingdom of Ash. And there are no words I have to describe the feeling that I get while reading a book with what feels like the entire book community. All of us updating, crying, and swooning at the same times all over social media. It reminds me of reading Harry Potter with my friends back when I was little, and there really are no words to even begin to describe that feeling, because it truly transcends words and language.

Here is the thing – if you have loved this series from the start, you are probably going to love this conclusion and be very happy upon turning that last page. I’ve had a rocky journey with Throne of Glass even before it became “cool” to dislike this series and even before the stans thought it would be “cooler” to ignore all the gross, problematic elements. I’ve just never loved this series. And I always feel like the characters I do end up liking from this world, get the bad end of the stick. And Kingdom of Ash was no different. And, in true Sarah J Maas fashion, the book was ungodly longer than it truly needed to be.

This review isn’t going to be a drag or a gush, it’s just going to be my thoughts and feelings on what I did love and what I did hate. I’m not looking to hurt anyone’s feelings; if you have been hurt by SJM – you are valid, and if the book means more than words to you – you are valid. These are just my thoughts about a series I never really loved, and a conclusion that I thought was a little too convenient (and a lot too straight and white).

And if you are new to the book world, or just never bothered to actually look up the synopsis, Throne of Glass is a series about a young assassin that is enslaved. A prince from a royal kingdom, and his best friend who is also the captain of the king’s guard, rescue her from slavery so that she can compete to become the king’s assassin. But after a few books, you realize that this world is also full of magic, and Fae, and demon-like creatures called Valg who want to conquer everything. And this assassin, this prince, and this captain of the guard, get way more than they ever dreamed to bargain for.

“The threads of fate weave together in strange ways…”

But if you’re reading this review of the concluding and seventh book of a series, you probably already know this. And you probably want to know my thoughts on this conclusion. Overall, I feel like my favorite character got done really dirty, where everyone else got a happy ending. So, I’m bitter, and petty, and will talk about it more in the spoiler section of this review. Also, a lot of people said really horrible things to their friends/lovers and then didn’t care that they said it until they were about to die. Like, I’m not here for any kind of abuse, and some of the actions of some of these characters to the people they are supposed to “love” was really gross and unacceptable. Plus, I feel like this series ending was way too clean, and that SJM really didn’t listen to the complaints about A Court of Wings and Ruin! The deus ex machina was very abundant at the end, in my opinion and seemed to happen back to back to back in the last 150 pages instead of giving us more substance in the 800 pages before it. I also feel like SJM was really setting up for her new series, Twilight of the Gods, too, maybe? But again, if you love this series, you will probably love this ending. I’ve always felt like this series was just alright, so I felt like the ending was just alright, too!

Also, this book got very dark in the first 25%, so please use caution while reading! Content and trigger warnings for captivity, graphic torture, threats of sexual assault, talk of past sexual assault, murder, death, self-harm, talk of suicide, blood depictions, PTSD depiction, depression depiction, animal abuse, animal death, very severe physical abuse, verbal abuse, enslavement, sexual content, and war themes.

Now, I’m going to get into FULL SPOILER THOUGHTS FOR KINGDOM OF ASH below! Please do not read past this point if you do not wish to get spoiled for Kingdom of Ash and all the books in the series leading up to this final book!

(Breathtaking art by Gabriella Bujdoso)

Okay, friends! Again, I’m going to be talking about SPOILERS FOR KINGDOM OF ASH so please use caution before reading! Basically, all of our main characters are broken up into five different groups, all being tasked with different things.

Dorian, Manon, and the Thirteen, are trying to unite the witches and find the third wyrdkey, which is being hidden in Morath. Lysandra is pretending to be Aelin, while Aedion is leading the army. Chaol is heading to Silver Lake to meet with his father, with Yrene, Sartaq, and Nesryn. Rowan, Elide, Lorcan, and Gavriel are trying to rescue Aelin. Because Aelin is still in captivity because of Maeve, being tortured by Cairn, with her only ally being Fenrys.

Kingdom of Ash is broken up into two parts, and part one is very much all of these groups trying to come together, while all fighting their own little mini battles. Where part two is really about everyone coming to Terrasen for the big and final battle.

I think I’m going to start out by doing character break downs with my thoughts and feelings about the cast individually.

➽ Celaena / Aelin – My heart actually felt for Aelin throughout most of this book. Like, again, the first 25% of this book, and everything she had to go through, was really dark and really hard to read. But when her *sacrifice* in part two, lead her to just being an immortal fae, completely taking away her being a human…. Come on. And then I was like, “oh, but she lost her powers! That’s the trade!” No, they are just weaker, BUT she infused her blade before, just in case, so that’s still super powerful. Like, my eyes, they are rolling out of my head.

“I told you once that even if death separated us, I would rip apart every world until I found you.”

➽ Rowan – I was actually really empathetic towards Rowan in this book too.

➽ Chaol – It’s no secret, Chaol has always been my favorite character (behind Manon in later books), so I am really biased. But he really let Yrene be the person she wanted to be, without question, every single time, and it made me love him even more. I still think Chaol is easily the best dude in this entire series, and I still never understand the hate he gets.

➽ Yrene – When it first came out that she was pregnant I was so scared. Like, during a war? I was not prepared. But Yrene is honestly such an amazing character, and I loved her entire storyline and every scene that she was in. Also, my favorite part of this entire one-thousand-page book was when Yrene and Aelin met up for the first time in all those years.

➽ Abraxos – Why give him a mate to just… kill the mate? Like, honestly a lot of things made me upset about KoA, but that might be the thing that made me the most upset.

➽ Petrah – The true MVP of this book, for saving Abraxos’ (and my) life.

“Only a Crochan Queen may ignite the Flame of War, to summon every witch from her hearth.”

➽ Manon – Manon, Queen of witches and my personal queen, deserves better than Dorian’s rude, wish washy, refuses to communicate, ass. And no one in this world will ever convince me that Manon is straight, I’m sorry. Like, the most uncomfortable I felt while reading this book was when they had sex, and she told him what she wanted and that she didn’t want him to leave, and then he left without even saying goodbye… I mean, after they fucked. Then seeing her say that she thought it was a promise, but it ended up just being a farewell? Like, friends, Manon deserves every star on her crown and every star in the sky, she doesn’t deserve Dorian’s nasty behavior. Like, I really wanted her to tell him to get bent at the end of this book. And there is no way that she would be this weak over some twenty-year-old dude that was treating her like crap throughout the book. Dump him.

➽ Dorian – I’ll be honest, I thought the reason that I was disliking Dorian in this was because Maas was going to learn from A Court of Wings and Ruin, and actually give a more believable war ending with Dorian dying. But no, he was just an asshole throughout the entire thing to Manon. And when he was like checking out Maeve? I threw up in my mouth. Oh, and when he turned into a girl and was discovering his new body? *throws up again*

➽ The Thirteen – (Minus Manon) Wow, they got done so dirty. Like, I know I touched upon it in the Abraxos paragraph, but like I can’t believe SJM would only kill them and one other dude that we honestly didn’t give a fuck about. Feels so bad. So damn bad. When they told Manon to live, I threw my book to the other side of my bed and just bawled, because I knew that it was going to happen. Asterin dying really messed me up. All of them dying just felt so cheap, so bad, and I knew when it happened that they were going to be the only real sacrifice SJM made with this concluding novel. And it ended up being true, so everyone else could be heterosexually paired off with their mates.

➽ Elide – I love Elide, and her loyalty, but she also said some really abusive things to Lorcan, and then only regretted it when he was going to die. Also, again everyone is just going to heal all their disabilities and it feels a little questionable. Also, also, does Elide have a foot fetish? I mean, I don’t kink shame, but…. what.

➽ Lorcan – I really loved Lorcan in this. He tried so hard, for Elide, for his friends, and for himself, and it really warmed my heart. Also, now he’s making and packing his own homemade pads for Elide. Bonus points.

“How long until the allies you collected start asking why the Fire-Bringer does not burn.”

➽ Lysandra – I’ll be honest, Lysandra and Aedion’s points of view were easily my least favorite. And let’s be real, Lysandra could do way better…

➽ Aedion – …Because Aedion was an asshole in this book and was so hurtful. And again, things are realized, and things are forgiven, because death almost came for them. That will never excuse abuse, ever.

➽ Gavriel – I actually hated how he and Aedion reunited for only like one page, just for him to see his dad die. Like, not only did it feel pointless, it felt cheap.

➽ Evangeline – Sweet lil’ bean. And I really do love her found family with Lysandra, and I just wish her the best in life.

➽ Falkan – I loved his reunion with his niece, Lysandra.

➽ Fenrys – *blinks once* I actually loved this character and felt so many sad feelings for him, but I think the book was honestly better with the addition of him.

➽ Nesryn – I still feel like Nesryn was such a fill-in character, always, but I’m happy she’s happy, I guess.

➽ Sartaq – I enjoy him and his birds, and I’m happy he makes Nesryn happy, I guess, but it’s whatever.

➽ Erawan – The last remaining Valg king! But how they *tricked* him was like the most Scooby-Doo thing I have read in years.

➽ Maeve – I felt like she was going to get a redemption arc like five times while reading this book, and I was so scared. But, again, anticlimactic ending. And I hated how when these two villains were taken out, so was their army. It just felt too easy, and even the battle scenes weren’t great.

But let’s talk about the real character that I want to talk about…

“Do you know the story of the queen who walked through worlds?”

➽ Rhysand – Did Aelin really see Rhys and Feyre in Valerius and did he like help her get back to Rowan and the gang? Like, I felt like he was playing Star Fox 64 and he gave her the boost (or slow) or something? Like, I’m not making this cameo up, right? Like this happened? My mind still can’t process this information. I mean, we all knew the crossover was going to happen, but I truly didn’t expect it to be like that.

Okay, let’s talk a bit more about things that happened. First off, everyone is a couple. And more importantly, everyone is a straight couple. Next, everyone was a shapeshifter in this book! Like, Lysandra totally lost her unique and cool ability because like everyone and their mother can do it in this book. I hated it. Seriously. And Maeve could have done so much more with her powers, but she just chose not to for some reason. Thirdly, there is still a lot of sex in this book, but I feel like the scenes were a lot briefer and much more fade to black. So, that’s either going to be a good or bad thing for you.

I kept forgetting two things while reading. 1.) that Aelin is only twenty-years-old. That’s so wild! I’ve been reading these for so long, it just feels like she should be older. And 2.) This entire series really plays out just over the course of a year! Again, I’ve been reading these for so many years, I just can’t wrap my head around this timeline and everything these characters have done. I mean, how many relationships they’ve had, how many deaths they’ve witnessed, and how many terrible things that have happened. It seriously blows my mind that this it’s only been a year.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to bring this up for not, but I guess I will briefly, especially if you’ve read the entirety of this monstrosity of a review: I was hurt by the Charlie Bowater art, found in the B&N special edition, and I just wanted to say that Asian and white will never, ever, be interchangeable. Ever. And you know what SJM didn’t do with these 1,000 pages of KoA? Anything to say or show that Manon was Asian. I am half white and half Asian, and this is not the representation that even I will ever think is acceptable, and most certainly not the representation that will ever make me feel seen. And authors and artists (who have previously drawn characters as white) need to do better.

I also want to link Aentee’s review, because it is amazing, and she really talks about the lack of diversity in this book. And she brings up a lot of similarities that really blew my mind regarding The Lord of the Rings. It’s a really good review, you all should check it out!

Overall, I am happy that this series is over. I’m not sure if I will pick up more by Sarah J Maas or not, but I am happy to have finished this series off. Again, this will never be a series that I love, but I truly love the reading experience of feeling like I’m a part of a massive buddy read with 75% of the book community. It’s a feeling that I can’t put into words, but one that means a lot to me and that I cherish with my whole heart.

A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.1) by Sarah J. Maas

May 2, 2018October 12, 2018 meltotheanyAside23 Comments

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1.) A Court of Thorns and Roses ★★★★
2.) A Court of Mist and Fury ★★★★★
3.) A Court of Wings and Ruin ★★★★

“The first snow of winter had begun whipping through Velaris…”

A Court of Frost and Starlight starts out a few months after the events of A Court of Wings and Ruin, and Feyre, Rhysand, and the Inner Circle are preparing for the Winter Solstice. The entire gang is also suffering in their own ways with the trauma they are enduring from the events of the war.

“But it had been a long, brutal winter that had brought me so deep into the woods that day nearly two years ago. A long, brutal winter that had made me desperate enough to kill a wolf, that had eventually led me here—to this life, this … happiness.”

But there are so many lighthearted moments! Like, honestly, just picturing myself shopping for Winter Solstice during the first snow in Velaris? Talk about dream goals! And just in general, seeing this found family come together and be able to enjoy a holiday with one another after everything they’ve been through feels really nice.

My favorite thing about this story was easily the emphasis on the power of healing through art. This book beautifully showcases how important it can be to express your feelings through art, especially when you have no other means. This book truly is a love letter to artists everywhere, and it really meant a lot to me to see this topic be in the spotlight of this novella. Especially talking about the importance of kids learning to express themselves and giving them an outlet to do so, especially after trauma and/or dealing with depression. Seriously, the message was really touching and important. I only wish more schools took note.

“I have to create, or it was all for nothing. I have to create, or I will crumple up with despair and never leave my bed. I have to create because I have no other way of voicing this.”

My least favorite thing about this story is easily how it sort of feels like not a lot happens. I mean, this is a novella, and Sarah J Maas does gives us a lot of content inside of 224 pages, but at the same time I feel like a lot of that content is just about a group of people shopping for each other. Again, there are for sure important themes and discussions about trauma, loss, PTSD, and depression, but there is also a whole lot of fluff.

Trigger and content warnings for some sexist comments (always contested), talk of loss of a loved one, talk of abuse, talk of past torture, talk of past abandonment, depression, alcoholism, and talk of war.

I for sure think that SJM also gave her fans a lot of what they were after. Like, she gave you all the wall sex scene you all constantly hounded her for. So all you little pervs can look forward to that. And there is a lot of sexual tension in general, even though there is only one (really long) sex scene. I love Feyre and Rhysand, and I’m so happy they got their happily ever after, but I’m just kind of sick of reading about them. How many times can Rysand smell Feyre’s heated core? How many times can Feyre want all the naughty, terrible things from Rhysand? At this point, it feels like SJM is beating the deadest of horses that have ever died.

“Never enough. Not to paint him, know him. Eons would never be enough for all I wanted to do, see with him. For all I wanted to love him.”

ACOFAS is mostly in the point of view of Feyre and Rhysand, but Cassian and Mor get points of view too, and even Nesta gets a mini one! And I know I sound a little negative about a few things, but I really did enjoy being back in this world for a little bit! And I absolutely cannot wait to see what comes next, with new main characters!

The rest of my review is going to contain MAJOR SPOILERS for both ACOTAR, ACOMAF, ACOWAR, and this book, ACOFAS! Please, do not proceed to read any further unless you have read this book and its predecessors or you wish to be spoiled!

I have done this in the past reviews I’ve written for this series, so I’d just like to break down each character and talk about the way they made me feel.

“I think my heart knew you were mine long before I ever realized it.”

➽ Feyre – Okay, so her and Rhys are finally going to try to start a family. I was a little shook to remember that she turned 21 in this book, but to each their own. I have honestly thought Feyre was pregnant since the end of A Court of Mist and Fury, so I’m happy I no longer look as ridiculous. Also, I loved the selflessness of opening the art studio for kids in need. Again, best part of this story, hands down.

➽ Rhysand – What is there really to say about Rhysand at this point? You’re either going to love him for his big heart and empathy, or you’re going to love him for his big wing-span and ability to knock pictures off the wall. Hell, maybe you’ll love him for both.

➽ Cassian – Again, I’m so damn happy that he is going to be a part of the next story! He is such a kind soul, and I may have shed a few tears when he bought all those warm clothes, just to have the girl donate. He also always fights for women to be viewed as equal warriors to men, and I’m here for it, always. Best boy, and best boy deserves the next book.

➽ Azriel – You all know I want Elain with Lucien, so unless SJM is really going to go there and give me a polyamorous relationship between these three, then I just get irritated that Azriel is messing with my ship. But honestly, Azriel is a stand-up guy, and a fun character to read about. But please, give me that polyamorous relationship! I would honestly commit a minor felony for it.

“She would rather die here, bleed out here. She would rather die and return—return as something wicked and cruel, and shred them all apart.”

➽ Morrigan/Mor – Every time Mor has to go to the Hewn City, a piece of my heart dies. I love her, I love her so much. I want only good for her. And she is so much better than everything they made her endure. But anyways, the scene with her riding through the spooky, snowy woods at the end had me shook. I wish the entire book could have been about that journey and what was happening. Like, I loved it. Also, I was super let down that we didn’t get to see any glimpses of Viviane. Speaking of which, I really just want to celebrate Winter Solstice with the winter court, holy moly!

➽ Amren – The chapter where she was talking about not caring about what body she took was a little weird for me. I am a cis woman so I’m not going to comment too hard on it, but I am very interested to see how trans reviewers will feel about what she said. But I’ll be honest, it did kind of make me raise an eyebrow. Like, please never say a sentence with “male form” and “be able to whip it out and go whenever” please. It just reads badly and feels gross.

➽ Elain – And to touch on what I just said with Amren, the gross conversation made me think that maybe Elain was thinking about transitioning? And then I realized they mean back to a human, and that’s why I truly thought that the conversation was probably a really gross one that I wish wasn’t included in the book. But Elain as a character wasn’t bad or good, but it irritates me that she won’t even small talk with Lucien anymore.

➽ Nesta – Nesta was damn awful this book. Like, hard to read about awful. And her going down this destructive path isn’t edgy or cute.

➽ Lucien – My poor baby. My heart just bleeds for him. And him making sure Tamlin isn’t alone and is fed? Lucien is always the best friend to everyone. He deserves good things! SJM, give him good things!

➽ Tamlin – Look, I’m never going to sit here and excuse abuse, ever. But I don’t hate Tamlin, I don’t. His parts in this book were the saddest and hardest to read. And he, without a doubt, had the best quote line in all of A Court of Wings and Ruin. I feel very torn about him, but I don’t want people to think I’m a abuse apologist or anything like that. But if she wrote a Tamlin spin-off, I’d buy it.

➽ Ressina – My new favorite fae! Like, what do I have to do to get a book about her and her art studio(s)? Seriously, she had so many good moments in this novella, and I just want more. I love her!

➽ Eris – Someone come end this man and everything about him. Please. I’m honestly begging.

Well, if you all saw my pre-review for ACOFAS, it was pretty much just me wishing that this book was starring Cassian and Nesta. Well, my prayers, wishes, and hopes have been answered, because the sneak peak in the back of the book shows both of these two being swept away on a mission in the Illyrian Mountains. The amount of excitement I have is something I can’t even put into words.

And I shed a few tears at a few things in this book, but they really came when Feyre had to go and bring up the damn Suriel. I swear to you all, the Suriel was my favorite in this series, but now I think I’m just going to cry over him in every book. But as always, he helps Feyre remember an important message that I wish more people would embrace in 2018.

“And from far away, as if it was carried on the cold wind, I heard the Suriel’s voice. Feyre Archeron, a request. Leave this world a better place than how you found it.”

Overall, I’m not saying this was a perfect book, but I had a lot of fun with it. Yes, I’m totally sick of being with Feyre and Rhysand, too, but it was still nice seeing the Inner Circle, especially in winter time, and especially having snowball fights. Like, how precious. And I truly am excited for what is going to come next. (Also, I’m sorry if this review is a little all over the place! I inhale read for three plus hours and then wrote out this review at 3 AM! But hopefully you all enjoyed. Happy reading!)

May 2018 TBR

May 1, 2018April 28, 2018 meltotheanyAside40 Comments

🌷💐🌹🥀🌺🌸 Hey, loves! I hope you don’t mind me posting twice today! I hate it when the first of the month falls on a Tuesday, because I love doing certain Top Ten Tuesdays so much! But hopefully you all will enjoy both of these! I am trying to keep my TBR kind of free this month, because I know that it is going to be rather strict in the upcoming months! And lately I’ve been mood reading, and spontaneous buddy reading a lot! And… I kind of love it a lot. But here are the ten things that I will definitely read in May!

➽ The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black:
ARC – Publication: January 8th, 2019
Yeah, I can hardly believe it myself. My friend Diana was able to get me a personalized ARC of this, and it is now my most cherished possession. This is going to be one of the first things I’ll read in May, because I have no chill and it is taking every ounce of self restraint to not ditch every book on my TBR and inhale read this sequel.

➽ A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.1) by Sarah J. Maas:
Publication: May 1st, 2018
Okay, by the time you are reading this, your girl has already devoured, reviewed, and hopefully loved this one! Literally, I’m staying up until midnight to read this highly anticipated novella, set in the ACOTAR world! And even though it is still surrounding Feyre and Rhysand, I’m thinking this is going to let us transition and know who the next series is going to be about! *prays forever for Cassian*

➽ The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan:
May is Asian/Pacific Heritage Month, so I’d like to get many ownvoices books in to help celebrate! Life & Lit is doing an entire event, and this is the group book pick! And this is a story about an interracial girl (half Asian, half white) who travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents after she hears about the passing of her mother (TW/CW: suicide, loss, grief). I think this book is going to be very hard hitting, and I think it’s going to have a very important discussion about mental illness, and how some cultures have an even harder time to reach out for help. And I’m buddy reading this with Yusra! ❤

➽ Mirage (Mirage #1) by Somaiya Daud:
ARC – Publication: August 28th, 2018
This is an ownvoices Moroccan YA SFF novel about a girl who is taken from her village, to a powerful kingdom, all because she looks identical to the princess of the kingdom. She is forced to masquerade as the princess, if she ever wants to see her family and home again. This is also a buddy read with Julie from Pages and Pens, Jules at JA Ironside, Amy at A Court of Crowns and Quills, & Chelsea at Chelsea Palmer! ❤

➽ Bruja Born (Brooklyn Brujas #2) by Zoraida Córdova:
ARC – Publication: June 5th, 2018
I don’t believe this is a direct sequel to Labyrinth Lost, which I absolutely loved two years ago. But this is still an ownvoices novel about another bruja in the family! Hopefully I’ll be emotionally prepared! And I’m buddy reading this with Alexis over at The Sloth Reader & Amy at A Court of Crowns and Quills! ❤

➽ All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover:
ARC – Publication: July 17th, 2018
This is the brand new CoHo book of 2018, and I’m a little scared to go into this, but I couldn’t refuse when Atria gave me an ARC (thank you, you all are the best!) I hope I will love this one, and hopefully it doesn’t give me too much anxiety! Plus, I’m buddy reading this with my bestie, Kayla! ❤

➽ A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3) by V.E. Schwab:
Okay, you all know I’m not the biggest fan of this series, but I actually have high hopes for this concluding novel! And I hope I can fall in love with this series, like so many of my friends! And I’m reading this for the BooktubeSFF Awards, but I’m also buddy reading this with Julie, Destiny, & Julie! ❤

➽ Fresh Ink: An Anthology edited by Lamar Giles:
ARC – Publication: August 14th, 2018
Friends, I have no words for how excited I am for this anthology! And every single one of these stories are ownvoices from authors of color! What a blessing! Expect a review for this early in the month! And I’m buddy reading this with Destiny! ❤

➽ The Queen of Crows (The Sacred Throne, #2) by Myke Cole:
ARC – Publication: October 16th, 2018
The Armored Saint was one of the best books I read in all of 2017. I loved it more than words, and I can’t wait to see where Heloise’s journey goes next. And I’m buddy reading this with my favorites: Petrik from BookNest.eu & Lilly from Lair of Books! ❤

➽ Nyxia Unleashed (The Nyxia Triad #2) by Scott Reintgen:
ARC – Publication: July 17th, 2018
Nyxia was one of my favorite books of last year! It meant so much to me, and I loved it so much. This series stars a young black boy from Detroit, who is sent out into space for a once in a lifetime opportunity, game, and mission. And I can’t wait to see what happens next! And I’m buddy reading this with Lilly, Cierra, Scrill, & Solly! ❤

Okay, I think that’s everything! I truly have the highest of hopes for these ten books! What are you guys reading this month? And, as always, I’m wishing you all the happiness in the world, and all the good reads! 🌷🌹💐🌺🥀🌸

Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6) by Sarah J. Maas

September 7, 2017September 19, 2017 meltotheanyAside42 Comments

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“Every step, all of it, had led here. From that keep in the snow-blasted mountains where a man with a face as hard as the rock around them had thrown him into the cold; to that salt mine in Endovier, where an assassin with eyes like wildfire had smirked at him, unbroken despite a year in hell.”

Tower of Dawn is my second favorite book that Sarah J. Maas has ever written! And it is, hands down, the best installment in the Throne of Glass series, in my honest opinion. I completely and wholeheartedly loved it. This is easily one of the best books I’ve read in 2017.

The first part of this review is spoiler free for Tower of Dawn, but it does have minor spoilers for the rest of the Throne of Glass series!

Also, before I even start this review, I just want to say that I actually think Sarah has been listening to her readers and this book truly proves it. First off, we have a very predominant queer side character, who clearly states this from the beginning and is written very believably and seamlessly. Next, we have a full diverse cast of characters, besides Chaol, in this novel. And lastly, and the thing I was most concerned about going into this book, Sarah respectfully writes about Chaol’s disability, without ever making it seem like he must be “fixed” in order to have self-worth. (But please be aware that this review is coming to you from a white, able-bodied woman, so I am not the voice you should be listening to for the last two representations.)

I also think Sarah unfortunately listened to the backlash about her “young adult” books having so much sex in them, because there is totally less sex in this book than in EoS, ACOMAF, and ACOWAR. There is still amazing angst and build up to sex, and there is one actual sex scene, but nothing near as graphic or even as descriptive as her previous works. Me, being the perverted person that I am, was a little disappointed by this, especially with how much I love Chaol.

I should also preface this review by telling those of you who do not know that Chaol is my favorite character in ToG, well, besides my queen, Manon Blackbeak! I’ve never been the biggest fan of Celaena/Aelin, and I think this story (and the rating I gave it) probably really benefited from that.

The last thing I will say before I actually start this long-winded review is that I cannot stress enough how important it is to read The Assassin and the Healer novella from the novella bind up, The Assassin’s Blade, before you read this book!

Tower of Dawn is a story that is running parallel with the events that took place in Empire of Storms. While Aelin, Dorian, and the rest of the gang are trying to unite empires and bring them together to fight the greater threat at hand, Chaol and Nesryn left for Antica, located in the southern continent, to convince another strong empire to join them in the battle that is inevitably coming, while also seeing if the healers at the Torre can heal Chaol’s paralysis.

Also, the southern continent is way more advanced than Erilea could ever hope to be. Magic is not only thriving here, but it’s celebrated. And healing is one of the most prized powers of all. And one of the three points of view in this book, besides Chaol and Nesryn, is a very talented and powerful healer named Yrene Towers.

I would say the point of views are definitely equal seeming between the three, but there are two big story lines going on. The first being Chaol’s healing, and how he is hurting a lot more than just physically. Chaol is struggling with his self-worth, but I believe he’s also struggling with PTSD. He feels very guilty and that he is to blame for Aelin, Dorian, his family, his guardsmen, and also his disability. This book really showcases and highlights how mental pain and disabilities are just as hard to overcome as physically pain and disabilities, and Chaol for sure learns this lesson in true Chaol fashion: the hard way.

And the second storyline is a big mixture of different ways Chaol and Nesryn are trying to sway the current khagan, Urus, to their cause. Urus has six children and when he passes on one of them will rule, because in this kingdom it is not automatically given to the first-born heir. No one knows who the ruler will be, so this can make siblings rather blood thirty for one another, and once one is chosen to rule, the others must submit or things can get really bloody. This also makes the task of winning them all over a little difficult for Chaol and Nesryn.

“Your city is the greatest I have ever laid eyes upon, your empire the standard by which all others should be measured. When Morath comes to lay waste to it, who will stand with you if we are all carrion?”

Urus’ six children:
➽Arghun – oldest child and enjoys power in knowledge.
➽Sartaq – second oldest and commands the Rukhin riders.
➽Hasar – third oldest and amazingly queer.
➽Kashin – fourth oldest and most loyal.
➽Duva – fifth oldest, who is married and carrying the first grandbaby right now.
➽Tumelun – the baby, and the cause of an underlying mystery.

All of these side characters are very impactful to not only this book, but the greater arching story at hand, too. These characters also put a big emphasis on family for this story, and the amazing lengths we are willing to go for the people we love.

Tower of Dawn not only introduces a vast array of new characters, and it also helps showcase that this book feels like a love letter to being young and finding yourself. Yet also, finding what you truly want in your life. I mean, these characters are all in their early 20s, it’s not plausible that they are all going to know what path they want to take, or that they all choose to take the path that was set for them by others. I love that this book realistically depicts that your first love won’t always be your last love, and how normal and okay that truly is. Finding yourself, and what you want from this life, is a truly beautiful story in and of itself.

There is a vast amount of world building and character development within these 700 pages, and I truly believe this is such a wonderful addition to this series. Before I get into the spoiler section, I will say that there are trigger warnings for talk of suicide, grey area cheating, war themes, and violence. I will also say that the epilogue of this book will probably shatter your soul. Like, is it Fall of 2018 yet? But I loved this and it was such a wonderful and important installment in the Throne of Glass series.

The rest of my review is going to contain MAJOR SPOILERS for both ALL the books leading up to this book, and for Tower of Dawn itself! Please, do not proceed to read any further unless you have read this book and its predecessors or you wish to be spoiled!

“The heart he’d offered and had been left to drop on the wooden planks of the river docks. An assassin who had sailed away and a queen who had returned.”

Okay, so I think I’m just going to do little (and probably incoherent) paragraph gushes about things and how I felt about certain things in this book, because I just have too many emotions right now!

“No matter the oceans, or mountains, or forests in the way.”

I guess we should probably start off talking about how Sarah J. Maas does what she always does, but somehow always ends up surprising me. I honestly thought this book was going to have a romance about Chaol and Nesryn, so when she pulled the rug out from under my feet and made it really apparent that Chaol and Nesryn were going to not only not be together, but also have new budding romances with other people, I was completely shocked.

I, personally, never liked Chaol and Nesryn together. I always thought that it was terrible writing on Sarah’s part to even force them together. I thought it was so unbelievable and just another way to show how Aelin and Rowan were soulmates, and it just felt bad to me. So, I was beyond elated to see their outcome work out differently than I expected.

“Yrene pushed down on the handle. And Chaol took a step toward her.”

This quote defeated me. When Chaol finally stood up and then walked to Yrene… I was weeping. Like, tears, sniffling, heavy breathing, hell, I was ugly crying, let’s be real. This was my favorite moment in this entire book and I was a complete and utter mess.

“You looked at me without an ounce of pity. You saw me. Not the chair or the injury. You saw me. It was the first time I’d felt … seen. Felt awake, in a long time.”

I loved how Sarah handled Chaol’s disability, and how even though he is able to walk a lot of the time, he also isn’t completely healed. I was really concerned going into this book, that this was going to be a bad feeling “fix”, so an able-bodied Chaol could come back into the main storyline, but instead it truly was a story about Chaol coming to terms with his disability and accepting himself and his life, wheelchair, cane, or standing on his own two feet.

“I might not have battled kings and shattered castles […] but I am the heir apparent to the Healer on High. Through my own work and suffering and sacrifice. And you’re standing right now because of that. People are alive because of that. So I may not be a warrior waving a sword about, may not be worthy of your glorious tales, but at least I save lives—not end them.”

And Yrene is such a amazing character. Seeing her refusing to ever be a victim again, while also teaching lots of young girls how to defend themselves, was one of my favorite plot lines Sarah J Maas has ever written. I loved the tie in with The Assassin and the Healer, and I am very much anticipating the reunion between her and Aelin. Also, Chaol crying over his fate and that piece of paper? Lord, help me.

“I loved you before I ever set eyes on you”

I actually really enjoyed the romance between Nesryn and Sartaq, too, I just was really disappointed that we didn’t also get to have a sex scene between them, as horrible as that sounds! Sartaq has some of the most romantic one liners I have ever read in my entire life. Like, he has me swooning from the very beginning, and I can’t wait to read more about him and the rest of the Ruk riders. Also, the whole storyline with the Ruks very much reminded me of Valyn’s storyline in the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, which is one of my favorite series of all time, and I completely loved it. Give me all the warrior birds and their warrior riders, please.

And Borte, Yeran, Houlun, and Falkan were all amazing side characters, too! And the plot twist with Falkan searching for Lysandra made my entire year. That, too, will be such an amazing reunion that I can’t wait to read about.

And Nesryn’s storyline was really important to me too. I was very happy she wasn’t overshadowed by Chaol and Yrene. I also loved that she acknowledged that she refused to be used and be a rebound to Chaol. As much as I felt bad for Chaol, because of Aelin, Nesyrn is the only true victim in this. I’m also happy that she seeked out her own happiness, even without knowing that Chaol and Yrene had feelings for each other. I hope young SJM fans read this, and realize they are all worth someone who unconditionally loves them, and an impulsive ride on a Ruk.

“We fly to war. Much is uncertain ahead. Save for this.” He brushed his mouth against hers. “Save for what I feel for you. No demon army, no dark queen or king, will change that.”

I mean, just when I thought we had all the Maeve surprises we were going to get from Empire of Storms, this book comes along and says, “hold my beer!” A Valg Queen? Talk about an amazing plot twist that I didn’t see coming from a mile away! Also, the Stygian Spiders are terrifying, and I know their gate guarding is going to come back into play in a super crucial way and they are going to give me the major heebie-jeebies all over again!

Fireheart, the epilogue ending with Aelin… be still, my heart. I honestly cannot wait for this final concluding novel. The ending of Empire of Storms was hard to read, and those two pages just brought back so many emotions.

Overall, if you couldn’t guess from this gush of a review, I completely and wholeheartedly loved this. Again, this is my second favorite thing Sarah J. Maas has created, and I have nothing but the highest of hopes for everything she creates and for what she plans to do for the conclusions on this series. Also, she has set up the option for so many spinoffs with all of these amazing side characters she introduced in Tower of Dawn, but first they all have to survive this incoming war.