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adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood
Content warning stillbirth.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This put me in such a book slump sadly. Longest I’ve not read in years. A lot of plot holes, confusing, too long and feels like this was originally written to be just 2/3 books and then got popular so the author dragged out the story. There’s no need for so many new characters and storylines and the main character having 4 different name. I really wanted to like this series but there’s just something about it I can’t get behind. Assassins Blade was my favourite by far and I wish I felt excited to read the rest but I don’t.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this more than Heir of Fire since the pacing was better, and it felt like things were actually happening. I found Rowan more tolerable in this book, and the other new characters continued to grow on me as well. Still, I found Aelin's attitude so annoying, especially in the beginning, and I hate how Celaena and Chaol's relationship has been ruined for no reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Rape, Slavery, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Each book of the series, I love it more than the last, it gets better and better
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Slavery, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War
Minor: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"You bring my court into this, and I don't care what you were to me, or what you have done to help me. You betray them, you hurt them, and I don't care how long it takes, or how far you go: I'll burn you and your gods-damned kingdom to ash. Then you'll learn just how much of a monster I can be."
I absolutely flew through this book, I loved it! Looking back it felt long like why is the book this many pages - crazy things happened they just took a long time. But they happened and they were crazy and I loved them so *shrug*.
Special mention to the language throughout. What do you MEAN. Please see quote at the end for reference. I'm crying at how deep and *feels like I've just been slapped* some of the lines are fr. Even if they're coming from characters I would like to slap myself. I can't.
Also note that there are scenes in this book that were dark as Valg. Scenes that make you think how TF a character could do that to another. That's expected and all butthat scene with the Yellowlegs witches? Nah. There is no way. What the actual F.
All the characters and POVs are all really well developed now. They all make sense and have their dynamics and parts to play in the story. I only counted two important characters that were introduced in this book, so we're definitely getting there with the full cast. I'm excited to see where more of the previous characters mentioned in The Assassin's Blade will come into play later still. So much happened to the different characters in Queen of Shadows - stories started and stories ended, and I was SHOCKED for so much of it. You think you know someone and them BAM. Flawless.
Special mention to the language throughout. What do you MEAN. Please see quote at the end for reference. I'm crying at how deep and *feels like I've just been slapped* some of the lines are fr. Even if they're coming from characters I would like to slap myself. I can't.
Also note that there are scenes in this book that were dark as Valg. Scenes that make you think how TF a character could do that to another. That's expected and all but
All the characters and POVs are all really well developed now. They all make sense and have their dynamics and parts to play in the story. I only counted two important characters that were introduced in this book, so we're definitely getting there with the full cast. I'm excited to see where more of the previous characters mentioned in The Assassin's Blade will come into play later still. So much happened to the different characters in Queen of Shadows - stories started and stories ended, and I was SHOCKED for so much of it. You think you know someone and them BAM. Flawless.
'But perhaps the monsters needed to look out for each other every now and then'
Look, I'll forever mourn some of the lost relationships, but the new ones are beautifully developing and I love them all. The main slow burn of the series is so well articulated and stays completely YA throughout which is really nice to see from a series that does claim to be aimed at a slightly younger audience. Fr though I was kicking my feet during this book. Ahh love them <3 I'm really excited about the new relationship that was literally sprinkled throughout this one - we're talking mere sentences that suggest a new pairing - I hope it goes well because the significance would be beautiful.
The found-family had my heart crying. Not them all cooking and eating dinner together and then shouting goodnight through the apartment walls, PLEASE.
The girlhood in this series also just gets stronger. Some of my favourite moments in the entire series have been the girls having sleepovers together, talking about their clothes, and joking about how annoying the boys are. I also was so gagged about the several unexpected girls-girl plot twists, because YES Sarah. The girls in this series are so powerful but still so girly pop and I'm here for it.
The plot twists in general? I was gagged as usual. The reveals about characters' heritage, motivations, and significance? Sarah just keeps them coming. If you think you've been spoiled for some major plot points, please keep reading because there's still so many that you would never have guessed.
I'm going to do the tandem read because I can't imagine saying goodbye to any of these characters and just want to keep exploring their stories and relationships immediately thanks. AHH.
"Tell me what I must do to atone; tell me to crawl over hot coals, to sleep on a bed of nails, to carve up my flesh. Say the word, and it is done. But let me care for you as I once did, before... before that madness poisoned my heart. Punish me, torture me, wreck me, but let me help you. Do this small thing for me-and let me lay the world at your feet." What the actual FECK to you mean Sarah. WHAT.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Physical abuse, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual violence, Torture, Trafficking
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence
Moderate: Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War