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beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
I wanted to read this book as I’ve never read any of Sarah J. Maas’s work and I was interested to see what the hype was all about. I was kindly gifted this series and A Court of Thorns and Roses by my parents. So, I thought I would start at the beginning. I’ve been really enjoying this series and this tandem reading stressed me out from page one and now I'm nervous for the final book of the series.
This book still follows Aelin Galathynius and she is at the start of her journey to the throne and the war is looming on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t. With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.
I still love Aelin, I love how strong and how much of a leader she is becoming. I just wanted her to succeed so much and also be this badass fighter that we’ve all come to know and love. I loved the multiple POVs during this book and it made the storyline more interesting. I want a whole series from Rowan’s point of view. Especially Kingdom of Ash with the way this book ended. I love how Rowan is just like whatever you say Queen, I will follow you. I love how Dorian grew so much during this book as well. He was so hateful and afraid before this book and then he just grew and was understanding more of his powers. The tension between Manon and Dorian as well, oooo the heat! I was all for it. This series is stressing me out, I just want everyone to be alive and well and safe.
It took quite a while for me to get into this book and I don’t know if it was the Tandem read, or just because it took a lot for the catching up of the previous series and trying to remember where all the characters were and asll the dilemma. I am so scared for Chaol and Manon and Elide. I wanted more of Elide and was hoping she would kick ass. This book dropped a bit with all the planning, and I wanted more action, but once all the planning had been done, the plot twists and the actions were so jaw-dropping.
I am so ready for the last book of the series as well as not ready because I don’t want this series to end but I also want to see if everyone is going to survive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Sexual content and Torture
oxfordcommas91's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I did the tandem read of this book & Tower of Dawn and enjoyed them immensely. Though this series started a bit slower than I typically like in a fantasy, I starting to really appreciate all the ways that SJM set up multiple plot points and characters early on in the series. The call backs to characters and situations from earlier books throughout Empire of Storms was really expertly done. The world building by the time you get to EOS is immense and I really was constantly on the edge of my seat during this book. The action was intense and the end a real cliffhanger. This book reminds me in many ways of Empire Strikes Back and really beautifully sets up the final fight between good and evil and the battles that Aelin and her friends will have to wage to save the kingdom. A really good book and I’m really looking forward to the final installment!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Torture, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Slavery, War, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, and Colonisation
tupeloallie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, War, Cursing, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Torture, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Grief, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Slavery, Gore, Vomit, Forced institutionalization, and Confinement
jordan_uhden's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, War, Blood, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
mcpopish's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
So, so good. If you can do the tandem read with Tower of Dawn, do it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, War, and Violence
Moderate: Torture
neko_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
4.75
so im doing the tandem read with tower of dawn, so a lot of parts from this book also feel like tower of dawn BUT HERE IS MY OPINION (considering it took me almost 2 months to read because i was so busy and i dont remember half of what i felt reading this book)
THIS WAS AMAZING ok? pretty mcuh every pov is amazing and there is so much fun stuff going on ALL THE TIME. this book had me sacrificing my sleep and honestly im not mad, but it does provide even more insight into how obsessed i am.
now the ending to this book. it literally makes me feel sick because HOW COULD SOMEONE DO SUCH A THING. when i find one certain person in kingdom of ash i am going insaneeeee
THIS WAS AMAZING ok? pretty mcuh every pov is amazing and there is so much fun stuff going on ALL THE TIME. this book had me sacrificing my sleep and honestly im not mad, but it does provide even more insight into how obsessed i am.
now the ending to this book. it literally makes me feel sick because HOW COULD SOMEONE DO SUCH A THING. when i find one certain person in kingdom of ash i am going insaneeeee
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Torture and Sexual content
khaben31's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
anndreya's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Torture, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit, Confinement, and Death
tabeahaefliger's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.25
I enjoyed this book a lot but since I read it in the tandem read with TOD it took me SO LONG to get through! I do think that it could've been a lot shorter (the german translation was 170 pages longer than the english one) and at some points I felt discouraged to get through it.
I thought that the ending was really well played out and it made me feel a lot of things.
Also can we just talk about Lorcan and Elide? I ship them SO HARD!
I thought that the ending was really well played out and it made me feel a lot of things.
Also can we just talk about Lorcan and Elide? I ship them SO HARD!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War, and Death
chapters_and_pages's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
Sarah J. Maas is honestly a mastermind… this series just gets better and better!
As this is a sequel, I won’t go into the storyline. This was my second time reading this book, and my first tandem read, with Tower of Dawn, and I have to say, even though it took awhile, tandem reading is the way to go with these two books!
My favourite thing about this series is the characters, honestly Sarah J. Maas never fails when it comes to writing her characters. Sometimes when books follow so many characters, it can be difficult to differentiate them as readers, and make them unique as writers, but I never have an issue with these characters!
Overall, I absolutely love this series and have loved rereading it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Torture, Blood, Grief, Slavery, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence