Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

107 reviews

anaya_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Keep in mind that this is a problematic author and I’m reading this from a library outlet so I’m not profiting SJM-One of my favorites in the series. It showed different sides of characters and I absolutely loved the interactions and romance subplots.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

randirush's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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

5.0

second reread review — i meannn ♾️ ⭐️s!!!! THIS BOOK. i previously considered this my fav in the series and once again, on this reread everything about it was perfect! rowaelin <3 dorian <3 MANON <3 !!! 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

b_readss's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

veeronald's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I honestly would have preferred if the book was only about Manon.

Aelin reaches an all-time goody two shoes standard of Mary Sueness and awkward dialogue in this novel where so much of the action happens after the fact and the characters can't stop farting out awful, cringe-worthy one-liners.

It's honestly insulting how much the book is absorbed with how *amazing* Aelin is, and gives the bare minimum psychological processing to enslavement and war and the fallout of living through it all. I get it, Maas doesn't want to talk about it because she just wants to show how powerful and generous Aelin is, and how attractive (?) Rowan is. But it's a book about war. Make it about war, please. Anything else is insulting.

And should I even get into (again) how hypocritical this book is? Aelin (and the tone of the book) makes a big statement about who can be forgiven for being enslaved, and then goes ahead and blames someone for being enslaved because she never liked them. Yet again, the book presents a certain argument about inclusion or forgiveness or hope, but then only offers that to a select group of Maas' choosing. (I'm being vague for spoilers). Don't promote one thing and the in the very fabric of your book fail to do that very thing that the characters become so high and mighty about. The same thing happened in ACOTAR.

I'm tired of these half-assed books.


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mariareviews's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

(a ~little~ spoiler ahead)

4.5/5

After reading The Assassin’s Blade and Heir of Fire, I seriously considered DNFing these books. Alas, I’m someone that likes to read all the books if I already have them and that was the case for Throne of Glass. 

Now, SJM didn’t come to play for Queen of Shadows. I love powerful, strong-willed characters and QOS delivered that and much more. I’m still a proud Dorian simp (I screeched the second my man got that collar off) and I’m utterly in love with Aelin, Aedion, Manon, Elide, Nesryn, and Rowan. I’m still trying to forgive Chaol for spewing that much bs in one book.

Also, am I the only one with a soft spot for the ex-King of Adarlan (Dorian’s father)? Idk why his last seconds of life really killed me. Nevertheless, I’m glad Dorian killed him 😌✌🏻✨ My baby deserved that closure.

I’m still trying to find a book that matches the greatness of Crown of Midnight, but I must say that Queen of Shadows is now in second place.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

tiredtori's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense fast-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

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

janeivy11's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...