Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Kingdom of Ash

alright I’m gonna start with the reasons it’s not 5 stars for me: I did take FOREVER to finish this book. I don’t necessarily blame the book for this, it could’ve been me falling into a fantasy reading slump after reading so much. BUT I will say that this book was extremely repetitive, a lot of SJM is, but especially the beginning of this one was really tough. I loved that we dove into a large world of characters, but I think in developing so many characters in the two books before this it created a messy ending. It felt like the final chapters were kinda just slapping everything together

like yes it is fantasy, but the they all lived happily ever after of it all was frustrating. Not that I needed more sorrow, I just wanted to know more about these characters I began/fell in love with. Continuing with that idea, Nox?? He showed up and was never seen again, I guess he died in war??? I was waiting all book for his reunion with Aelin that never came. Maybe I missed something, idk. Also Fleetfoot getting her own deus ex machina at the end of the book, like ope and Fleetfoot was also well taken care of. It kinda all came together like the ending of a Shakespeare comedy. Something I really hated was Murtaughs death. It was just like “see yall, ima fight” then the next chapter Ren mourning for two pages and sudden make out sesh between Aedion and Lysanndra. Idk the timing of that was weird.

The smut in general was not timed right. Not enough early on and when it came, I was too stressed to be horny, so idk how the characters were. All this complaining aside, I had a wonderful time. I contemplated a lower rating, but i had too much damn fun reading this to do that. These books are entertaining, I can’t deny that. They’re also so heartwarming, I find myself crying more at the declarations of love and friendship than the deaths. I also have these books to thank for my fitness journey. I wanna be able to run like these strong ass women in SJM books, but specifically the training Aelin does in these books made me wanna start running. And whenever I’m tired I think of her and Rowan running through the forest, lungs burning. SJM you are my marvel. I’m obsessed with SJMLU (Sarah J. Maas literary universe).

Loved the little nod to Rhys and Feyre while traveling worlds. Can’t wait to start Crescent City soon, cause I know those go further into the world crossing.

It’s been two days, I changed my rating from 4.75 to 4. I remembered more that frustrated me.

This goes along with the too many characters thing, but I remembered Falkin had this whole story and helped fight in Tower of Dawn, turned young in Kingdom of Ash and never was seen in battle. I would’ve liked a little more development there. Same with the wild mountain men, I’m not as frustrated there, but I would’ve liked to have seen how they fight at least. Just on second thought, the last two books, and the first half of this one built up all these characters and tied them together really quick in like the last 5 chapters.

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jollygreenreader's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring sad 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

5.0

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gretchenplz's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad 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

3.5

3/5 ETA: I can't stop calling this a poor woman's LOTR, so, clearly, I'm still mad about things.

Now that I'm done, I will state that I think reading "The Assassin's Blade" first is the way to go. Not somewhere in the middle. I would have cared more about Sam to not already know his demise and would have been so much more overjoyed at the return of characters in the final books would have felt more rewarding and not an "Oh, I figured they'd be back."

I will concede that I definitely enjoyed this book more than I had others. I have quarrels (many), but I am happy I read the series, and I'm surprisingly settled with the ending.

After what happened with Nesta, I'm usually on team "Let the lady keep her powers," but I have been on team "Aelin needs to lose her powers" since Day 1. The girl was already nearing future tyrant status before she discovered her powers, so her giving them up makes sense and is a logical way to let everyone live in the end.

This book was definitely the best in terms of Aelin as a character. This was definitely her at her least annoying (which is certainly saying something, since she is definitely still annoying as fuck), and I did spy some character growth. Finally.

I stand by saying that Aelin and Rowan are the least interesting characters in the series, with Yrene, Chaol, Elide, Lorcan, Manon and the Thirteen, and Dorian just exponentially more compelling, complicated, and worth rooting for. It takes more for a character to be interesting and strong than for them to simply be hot, snarky, and possess otherworldly powers. This is a weakness when it comes to SJM's main characters, 100%.

I also think that she really does herself a disservice by forcing her characters to do things outside their established character set, sewing discontent that she very quickly has to walk back to bring pairs back together. Not every romance needs to have a third-act breakup (Aedion & Lysandra, Elide & Lorcan).

I'm glad that Chaol got the redemption he deserved. He should never have needed it from the beginning, as I don't think that he ever did anything wrong, but I digress.

Manon and the Thriteen. That's all I will say. They might have left a permanent mark on me.

My biggest issue with this book and SJM in particular is the plagiarism. I am not stupid. I know that, across the fantasy genre, there are certain things that crossover from story to story. That there are certain things that will be in every fantasy book that is written. However, authors need to make their use of these concepts unique, to not just blatantly steal dialogue and scenes directly from the works of others. The number of times I went "Hey, that's just like in Lord of the Rings" was too many to count, and that is just endlessly disappointing. I could say the same with Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and even Grey's Anatomy. If I read your dialogue and can immediately place that dialogue as iconic dialogue from another series, you've got an issue. ETA (2/23): Currently rewatching ATLA and screaming because she blatantly stole from this, too!!!!!! The tunnel under the mountains??? GIRL PLEASE>

My other main issue is the fact that SJM clearly did not plan a single thing about this series from the beginning. She didn't even plan anything about this book from the beginning. The surprise reveal of the Fae and Wofl People at the end is a case in point. Just another "Oh, Aelin and Rowan are just smarter and cleverer than everyone else!" It's obvious because of all the storylines that just had to be BOOP quickly ended in this last book so we could BOOP wrap up other plotlines.

Also, this book could have been 400 pages shorter. Fight me.

TW: PTSD, trauma response, etc.

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yarisbooksandbevs's review

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

What a great finale. I don’t have much to say. I cried. I laughed. I was STRESSED it was emotional and inspiring. I loved the characters, their growth throughout, and the way they tackle their problems. I love the thirteen. Yrene is amazing and all of the women throughout this story are badass.

I did feel like there were a few moments where the story dragged but not enough to take away from the general impact of the story. So many amazing moments

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ruthannejoy's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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