Scan barcode
aksmith92's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
3.5
I read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn as a tandem read, as requested by most BookTokers I've seen out there. Many recommend this because they love Aelin and Rowan and didn't want to be a part of them for one whole book; plus, there will ALWAYS be Chaol haters. I honestly don't care much about Aelin and Rowan (sorry!), and I am notoriously known for thinking there is more than meets the eye with Chaol. But, I will admit it: the tandem read slightly improved my experience with my Throne of Glass journey. While reading nearly 1400 pages, give or take, seemed daunting, I did fly through this read (these reads?).
Set up: The main characters are thrown into every direction as war breaks out between citizens and the infamous Vlag. Empire of Storms follows Aelin, Rowan, Dorian, Manon, Lysandra, Aedion, Elide, Lorcan, and others we know and love. Tower of Dawn follows Chaol and Nesryn as they trek to the southern continent to, hopefully, gain support from the kaghan there in the upcoming war. Also, to see if they can get Chaol walking again. In this book, we meet Yrene again after briefly meeting her in The Assassin's Blade.
What I liked: Lysandra. I also enjoyed Elide's and Lorcan's characters. I liked their romance. Theirs didn't feel forced per se, but their POVs were sometimes redundant. Finally, I was invested in this plot. I wanted to see how SJM wove in all the moving pieces and how it would end. I was invested. I didn't see TOO many plot holes. This is some decent high fantasy plotting.
What I didn't like: Aelin. Always. She's so annoying, even if she spouts some funnies occasionally. I didn't enjoy Rowan and Aelin either. "Just bang!" I would say throughout this novel, and THEN they did, and I was underwhelmed. Something about velvet-strapped steel also just....yuck.
Set up: The main characters are thrown into every direction as war breaks out between citizens and the infamous Vlag. Empire of Storms follows Aelin, Rowan, Dorian, Manon, Lysandra, Aedion, Elide, Lorcan, and others we know and love. Tower of Dawn follows Chaol and Nesryn as they trek to the southern continent to, hopefully, gain support from the kaghan there in the upcoming war. Also, to see if they can get Chaol walking again. In this book, we meet Yrene again after briefly meeting her in The Assassin's Blade.
What I liked: Lysandra. I also enjoyed Elide's and Lorcan's characters. I liked their romance. Theirs didn't feel forced per se, but their POVs were sometimes redundant. Finally, I was invested in this plot. I wanted to see how SJM wove in all the moving pieces and how it would end. I was invested. I didn't see TOO many plot holes. This is some decent high fantasy plotting.
What I didn't like: Aelin. Always. She's so annoying, even if she spouts some funnies occasionally. I didn't enjoy Rowan and Aelin either. "Just bang!" I would say throughout this novel, and THEN they did, and I was underwhelmed. Something about velvet-strapped steel also just....yuck.
"She really tortured them, she realized, by shoving her way into danger whenever she felt like it. Perhaps she'd try to be better about it if this dread was at all like what they felt." LOL, yeah, AELIN.
This (these) book(s) also did teeter on the ROMANCE scale so much. I was finally glad not to have a love triangle anymore, and thankfully, those (kinda) went away, but everybody is paired with somebody. I'm not sure why it annoyed me because I've read other books where this happens (Roots of Chaos - Samantha Shannon), but I don't think anybody quite hypes it up and makes it a considerable plot point like SJM. I also wished I counted how many kisses characters gave at the "corners of mouths."
"She thought of the new, delicate scars on his back - marks from her own nails (*cough* sex *cough*), that he'd refused to heal with his magic, and instead had set with seawater, the salt locking the scars into place before the immortal body could smooth it over. Her claiming marks, he'd breathed into her mouth the last time he'd been inside her. So he and anyone who saw them would know that he belonged to her. That he was hers, just as she was his." WHAT. First. What? Second. How would people look at his back and be like THOSE ARE FROM F'in! Third. What. Fourth. The dramatics. Fifth. What. Lastly, they can do that with salt water? Since freaking when? This internal monologue was also the start of a BATTLE IN WAR. Lol. Just lol.
Lastly, there is a plethora of toxic perseverance and the glorification of war, which is something I must get used to with SJM writing. In addition [I'm putting a spoiler on this just in case], but
Overall, though, it was fine. This was a solid read (reads). However, I have officially decided that my TBR is too long for any more SJM. I will finish this series with Kingdom of Ash, and I will stop reading her works. Fated mates, toxic perseverance, and unnecessary romanticism of war simply isn't for me and I will officially put the books down after.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Toxic friendship, Medical content, Ableism, Blood, Medical trauma, Sexual content, War, Alcohol, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Suicide
Suicide is mentioned but not talked about in detail (Tower of Dawn)bi_n_large's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Child death, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Suicide
shannah_gone_bananas's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
slow-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
2.25
It’s very very slow. Compared to the other books in the series it is a hard read. Which is sad because I love Chaol’s character. He’s been one of my favorites.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Medical trauma, Child death, Murder, Death of parent, Blood, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Death, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Violence
Moderate: War, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Vomit
ect625's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Tower of Dawn was just what I needed after the emotional crush of Empire of Storms. (I did not do the tandem read.) I've been a Choal fan all along, and I enjoyed the time getting to know him better. Also, SJM needed a plausible reason/plot line for bringing in the other characters to return to fight Erawan with Aelin and shifting the focus to Chaol for a book was a way to do that. I don't know yet the importance that they're going to play on KOA, but clearly SJM thought they deserved a whole book dedicated to setting up their story and presence.
There are as many opinions about the tandem read as there are about when to read Assassin's Blade, and I was very satisfied with reading them separately. Because of the intensity of the cliffhanger at the end of EOS, I needed a breather before starting KOA and TOD was perfect for that. SJM is the expert on her own writing, and she knew what she was doing with these two books.
There are as many opinions about the tandem read as there are about when to read Assassin's Blade, and I was very satisfied with reading them separately. Because of the intensity of the cliffhanger at the end of EOS, I needed a breather before starting KOA and TOD was perfect for that. SJM is the expert on her own writing, and she knew what she was doing with these two books.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
liesthemoontells's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A welcome disruption to the drawn out repetition of the previous book. The worldbuilding of a new civilisation and continent injects some variety into the series, although at times I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief at the glowing descriptions of the khaganate's empire and political structure.
While I don't know if Chaol *needed* a redemption arc, this book executes one remarkably well for a character who was so insufferable in earlier .
While this book at times felt like it is just moving the chess pieces into place for the finale, it also includes some delicious twists and revelations to be explored in the next book.
I took half a star off for the overuse of classic Maas phrases such as "eyes lined with silver" and characters saying something "too softly" - girl needs to pick up a thesaurus.
PS: lampshading the irony of me accusing Maas of needing to pick up a thesaurus when I use the word "book" five times in four paragraphs
While I don't know if Chaol *needed* a redemption arc, this book executes one remarkably well for a character who was so insufferable in earlier .
While this book at times felt like it is just moving the chess pieces into place for the finale, it also includes some delicious twists and revelations to be explored in the next book.
I took half a star off for the overuse of classic Maas phrases such as "eyes lined with silver" and characters saying something "too softly" - girl needs to pick up a thesaurus.
PS: lampshading the irony of me accusing Maas of needing to pick up a thesaurus when I use the word "book" five times in four paragraphs
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Drug use, Grief, Chronic illness, Dysphoria, Colonisation, Death, Sexual content, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Violence, and War
Moderate: Medical trauma, Racism, Infertility, and Medical content
undecidedpersonality's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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: Medical content, Death, Gore, Murder, Vomit, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, War, Body horror, Medical trauma, and Blood
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Colonisation, Alcohol, and Genocide
Minor: Classism, Drug use, Slavery, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Ableism, Animal cruelty, and Confinement
readwithde's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.25
I've always had a soft spot for Chaol, and it was cathartic to read through his emotional and physical healing. I appreciated how his injury/disability was handled: as something to work through and around, not a problem to be solved. His "sleuthing" with Yrene to find answers was fun, and I liked that this warrior still had trouble dealing with all the politics.
But the reason I loved this book so much is Nesryn's story. It was refreshing to have a BIPOC FMC with so many connections and interesting characteristics not become the "love interest" side character for Chaol's MC. I love that she chose herself over their relationship, and she chose to fight in her own way for help and answers in this war. Also, I love her being with Sartaq. She made meaningful choices, had interesting adventure and action sequences, and came away with arguably the most important hidden information in the series: Maeve's false identity and purpose in Erilea.
I read this book in tandem with Empire of Storms, and I think both books benefited from that choice. It helped the narrative flow well, giving the reader time to react to both sides, as well as balancing the heavy action of Empire of Storms with the lore of this book.
But the reason I loved this book so much is Nesryn's story. It was refreshing to have a BIPOC FMC with so many connections and interesting characteristics not become the "love interest" side character for Chaol's MC.
I read this book in tandem with Empire of Storms, and I think both books benefited from that choice. It helped the narrative flow well, giving the reader time to react to both sides, as well as balancing the heavy action of Empire of Storms with the lore of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, Death, Child death, Murder, Cursing, Violence, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent, Infidelity, Animal death, Ableism, Pregnancy, Stalking, and Alcohol
caroline_rk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Child abuse
britwalsh16's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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 Empire of Storm. And I am SOOO glad I did! If I had to read this book between EOS & KOA, I would have died! & not enjoyed this book at all, I would have been obsessing over what’s gonna happen with the characters from EOS, & not able to take in all this book had to offer.
Chaol & Yrene are so sweet, & I think Yrene is exactly what Chaol needed. & though I rooted for them throughout the book, I felt bad for Nesryn. But when Sartaq came in, I was fully on board with that ship! And Nesryn deserves happiness with Sartaq, instead of being Chaol’s second choice. She was his rebound twice, & I think that just states how much they were not meant to be.
I enjoyed seeing the Southern Continent, & how they treat their people, & I hope that transfers over to the Northern Continent whenever this war ends & the good guys come out on top!
Chaol & Yrene are so sweet, & I think Yrene is exactly what Chaol needed. & though I rooted for them throughout the book, I felt bad for Nesryn. But when Sartaq came in, I was fully on board with that ship! And Nesryn deserves happiness with Sartaq, instead of being Chaol’s second choice. She was his rebound twice, & I think that just states how much they were not meant to be.
I enjoyed seeing the Southern Continent, & how they treat their people, & I hope that transfers over to the Northern Continent whenever this war ends & the good guys come out on top!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Vomit, Murder, Animal death, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death
Moderate: War and Stalking
Minor: Pregnancy and Child death
chaptersofamylea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
4.0
‘I know what you are.’
4 ⭐️
First time tandem reading just so I can get through this book. Its not a bad book, I bloody love Yrene. I love the setting, I love the family politics, I love the extraness this book adds to the overall story. I just bloody hate Chaol. Sorry not sorry.
TWs: injury detail, paralysis, death of a sibling
4 ⭐️
First time tandem reading just so I can get through this book. Its not a bad book, I bloody love Yrene. I love the setting, I love the family politics, I love the extraness this book adds to the overall story. I just bloody hate Chaol. Sorry not sorry.
TWs: injury detail, paralysis, death of a sibling
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Child death