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annamary54's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
4.75
okay i almost wanna give it a 4.99 stars. it’s like almost 5 stars for me, but not quite. I also did this as a tandem read with Tower of Dawn, so my brain is kinda muddling plots together. all I can really say is in the last chapter I suddenly was sympathetic toward huge Marvel fans…I get it. This is Marvel for me. I think the lack of 5 stars for me is the relationship between Rowan and Aelin. yes I love them, but it was honestly giving me yawn boring. like it was the same thing from them every time. Although idk how to get around that i guess. I also didn’t like the Celeana attitude that Aelin kinda sported the whole book, especially after meeting up with Rolfe. I just felt like cocky instead of confident y’know. I’m also not sure how I feel about Elide and Lorcan, it honestly felt very Jeff and Annie from Communtiy overall I had a great time, a lot more action packed and gripping than the first books, it didn’t just wait for the last 100 pages to pick up the pace. I was flipping pages like mad the whole time. I guess that’s just a compliment to SJM’s world building skills, she really created an intricate web of characters that I couldn't have anticipated when starting this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
infjkiki's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
readwithde's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
Empire of Storms feels like the start of a sequel series: the stakes are so much higher, and the setting stretches across the continent. The cast of characters grows, and I found myself excited for different POVs.
I felt like Aelin's path was so jarring and chaotic at the beginning of the book, but by the end after seeing her "fetch quest" of speaking with Brannon, securing Skull's Bay, and seeking the Lock and Elena her journey made much more sense.
Lysandra, Elide, and Manon shone brightly in this book; I was happy to see each of them step fully into their potential. Elide and Lorcan had some of the best action and storylines. Every time it cut back to them, I had to keep reading.
As nice as it was to have so many other POVs, I would have loved a bit more Aelin. She controlled many of the plot twists, and I would have loved a bit of extra foreshadowing or even just getting to see her thought process.
I did read this in tandem with Tower of Dawn; I feel like both books benefited from that system, getting extra action in this book to balance the extra lore in Tower of Dawn. I highly recommend reading these together.
I felt like Aelin's path was so jarring and chaotic at the beginning of the book, but by the end
Lysandra, Elide, and Manon shone brightly in this book; I was happy to see each of them step fully into their potential.
As nice as it was to have so many other POVs, I would have loved a bit more Aelin. She controlled many of the plot twists, and I would have loved a bit of extra foreshadowing or even just getting to see her thought process.
I did read this in tandem with Tower of Dawn; I feel like both books benefited from that system, getting extra action in this book to balance the extra lore in Tower of Dawn. I highly recommend reading these together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gore, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and War
ashleynp24's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
I loooooved reading this in the tandem read. It really helped to keep both stories chronologically and helped to break up some chapters.
My favorite part of this book was all of the connecting plot lines finally coming together. We got to see a lot of previous characters resurface and see how they mesh into the story.
Absolutely thrown by the fact Aelin and Lysandra prepared a scheme knowing she’d die and that she’d be pretending to be Aelin. The other one that got me is that Maeve???? The VALG QUEEN???? I already knew that Aelin and Rowan had to be mates but the fact Maeve created everything with Lyria was crazy it was like she was playing chess.
My favorite part of this book was all of the connecting plot lines finally coming together. We got to see a lot of previous characters resurface and see how they mesh into the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.5
We continue to follow Aelin in her quest against Erawan.
The first part of the book was slow, but in Maas style, the last like 30% of the book had me in a chokehold. There were so many twists that I didn't see coming.
I have not been a huge fan of Aelin throughout the series and that attitude continued through most of this book. I found her to be pretty immature and impulsive. BUT I was proven wrong in the last part of this book. Behind the scenes and behind everyone's backs (even her own group) she was plotting some genius moves. We don't get to see how she navigates the world like a chessboard, moving everything perfectly in place, it's all behind the scenes, not reveleaed untilher showdown with Maeve. We find out along with her group that she has called in all of her favours to build an army, married Rowan, devised a plan with Lysandra to replace her, and is fully prepared to die to create the lock and save her people.
Manon is quickly becoming one of my favourite characters. I am very excited to see herembrace her role as Queen.
I highly recommend reading this in Tandem with Tower of Dawn as the two stories overlap! So much was revealed about Maeve in Tower of Dawn, so I think the tandem reading made it reading this book much more suspenseful!
The first part of the book was slow, but in Maas style, the last like 30% of the book had me in a chokehold. There were so many twists that I didn't see coming.
I have not been a huge fan of Aelin throughout the series and that attitude continued through most of this book. I found her to be pretty immature and impulsive. BUT I was proven wrong in the last part of this book. Behind the scenes and behind everyone's backs (even her own group) she was plotting some genius moves. We don't get to see how she navigates the world like a chessboard, moving everything perfectly in place, it's all behind the scenes, not reveleaed until
Manon is quickly becoming one of my favourite characters. I am very excited to see her
I highly recommend reading this in Tandem with Tower of Dawn as the two stories overlap! So much was revealed about Maeve in Tower of Dawn, so I think the tandem reading made it reading this book much more suspenseful!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and War
clursternhop's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I think I liked this one more than some of the others, not the best one tho. Maybe that'll change as I read on but I found the new POVs nice and I liked when characters were more spread across the world. More classic "Aelin did shit in the background that you don't find out until later" nonsense, but at least I saw the "Nameless" one coming.
Also, lol, so much sex compared to any of the other books.
Also, lol, so much sex compared to any of the other books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Confinement, Death, and Vomit
britwalsh16's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
I read this in Tandem with Tower of Dawn. And I am SOOO glad I did! If I had to read TOD between this book & KOA, I would have died! & not enjoyed TOD, cause I’d be obsessing over what’s gonna happen with the characters in this book!
This book was sooo good! I love being able to read from all the different characters POV’s.
I love all the couples & am so thoroughly enjoying them to settle in with eachother. The dynamics between the different couples are just amazing!! But Aelin & Rowan are still my favorite!
But, all the revelations at the end, I AM NOT OKAY WITH THEM!!! This story really can’t end the way it’s leading to!! There has to be another way! I am not okay with that!
This book was sooo good! I love being able to read from all the different characters POV’s.
I love all the couples & am so thoroughly enjoying them to settle in with eachother. The dynamics between the different couples are just amazing!! But Aelin & Rowan are still my favorite!
But, all the revelations at the end, I AM NOT OKAY WITH THEM!!! This story really can’t end the way it’s leading to!! There has to be another way! I am not okay with that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
karleevoelp's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
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? Yes
5.0
I think I've said this every book, but THE BEST ONE yet. I get emotional when I read, but it takes a lot for me to actually CRY. Ever since reading ACOTAR, I knew that there would be a point where I cried in this series and I was waiting for it. IT HAPPENED HERE.
You would never catch me dead doing the tandem read *sorry* but I do understand why that is appealing to people based on where this book leaves off. BUT, since I know what Tower of Dawn is about, I was already mentally prepared to be left on a cliffhanger for another book and I am okay with that.
You would never catch me dead doing the tandem read *sorry* but I do understand why that is appealing to people based on where this book leaves off. BUT, since I know what Tower of Dawn is about, I was already mentally prepared to be left on a cliffhanger for another book and I am okay with that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Slavery
kathrynok's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
erafact's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Did a Tandem read which i highly recommend because tower of dawn is alittle slow , so this is for both "Empire of Storms" and "tower of dawn". A great story that ends on a cliff hanger that breaks your heart there is so much left to do for there being only one book left im not sure how I feel about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Pregnancy
Minor: Bullying, Death, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Again: Did a Tandem read so some of this might be from "Empire of Storms" or "tower of dawn". A woman has a stillborn birth, and for the "failure" of that she is branded and left for dead. Another woman is whipped and imprisoned inside a box.