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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
sammiejayne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Violence
jessikarose's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Murder, Animal death, War, Blood, Pregnancy, Violence, and Gore
huddle_dragon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Gore, Grief, Sexual content, Blood, Death, Murder, and Animal death
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
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
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
Chaol and Nesryn head to the Southern Continent in search of allies and healers.
Honestly, I struggled to get through 75% of this book. It was mostly Chaol journey to heal and their inability to get an audience with the Khagan.
Finally around 75%, the book picked up when Nesryn journeys with Sartaq to the Tavan Mountains and they come in contact with the Stygian Spiders. We learn A LOT in the interaction (see spoiler below).
We learn that there is an entity hunting Yrene, but they cannot figure out who or why.A Valg has been sent to capture her before she can find out the truth to her powers. All healing powers actually come from a legion of Fae who escaped Maeve. Healers, we find out, can vanquish Valg from their host bodies, much like one does to a parasite.
I highly recommend reading this in Tandem with Empire of Storms as the two stories overlap! Reading this will help you understand Maeve's backstory more when reading Empire of Storms.
Maeve's story:Maeve is not really Queen of the Fae, but the Valg Queen and was married to Erawan's brother. While trying to escape the demon kings, she pierced the veil between worlds and managed to came to this world. Her husband, learning that his wife left him, found a way to control the gates between worlds and made keys to control them, three of them, one for each brother.
Knowing her husband would search for her, she used her powers to make Mab and Mora believed they had an elder sister. She took up a role of power, disguised as Queen of the Fae, and has been slowly bidding her time.
Eventually her husband and his brother demon kings found the right world, but Maeve was disguised and they did not recognize her. She stole the keys from them and managed to send two of the demon kings back. Before she could send Erawan back, the keys were taken by Brannon. He build a lock to send the Gods back to their world and bind the keys' power. But Elena used the lock to capture Erawan, thus trapping Maeve and Erawan in this world.
Honestly, I struggled to get through 75% of this book. It was mostly Chaol journey to heal and their inability to get an audience with the Khagan.
Finally around 75%, the book picked up when Nesryn journeys with Sartaq to the Tavan Mountains and they come in contact with the Stygian Spiders. We learn A LOT in the interaction (see spoiler below).
We learn that there is an entity hunting Yrene, but they cannot figure out who or why.
I highly recommend reading this in Tandem with Empire of Storms as the two stories overlap! Reading this will help you understand Maeve's backstory more when reading Empire of Storms.
Maeve's story:
Knowing her husband would search for her, she used her powers to make Mab and Mora believed they had an elder sister. She took up a role of power, disguised as Queen of the Fae, and has been slowly bidding her time.
Eventually her husband and his brother demon kings found the right world, but Maeve was disguised and they did not recognize her. She stole the keys from them and managed to send two of the demon kings back. Before she could send Erawan back, the keys were taken by Brannon. He build a lock to send the Gods back to their world and bind the keys' power. But Elena used the lock to capture Erawan, thus trapping Maeve and Erawan in this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Animal death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
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
cayleybp's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Suicide and Animal death
hopelessromanticbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“I wanted to heal you,” she breathed. “You did,” he said, smiling. “Yrene, in every way that truly matters … You did.” Chaol wiped away the other tears that fell, brushing a kiss to her hot cheek.“
I found this book hard to get into. I’m not sure if it was my mood or the story itself or even a mixture of both. In the end, even though I am not an audiobook listener, I thought I would try it and see if it would help me through the book. Funny enough it did as I listened and also followed along on the kindle app.
I felt the story started off quite slow probably why I felt like it dragged on. But when the story started to pick up it got interesting.
I loved that Sarah showed how the injury impacted Chaol both physically and mentally really well. And that’s something rare as some books just skim over those important things. Personally I suffer with mental health so seeing how withdrawn and frustrated Chaol got felt relatable.
The building of new friendships and relationships are the heartfelt moments I loved between each couple and how their feelings grew while trying to figure out how to stop the Vlag.
The different personalities between the Khagan’s children was interesting, even though sometimes I either wanted to slap one of the children or strangle one 😅
Borte (Sartaq’s Hearth-Sister) is hilarious 🤣 the banter between Sartaq and Borte kept me laughing especially when Nesryn got involved in the banter. I loved The Rukhin group especially the Ruks Kadara and Salkhi! 😍
It was always a mystery on who was killing people/trying to go after Yrene but once that was revealed who it was, I really wasn’t expecting that. Even what Nesryn & Sartaq found out was shocking but still to be honest made sense a little 😅
There was an animal death that was just heartbreaking 💔 that wasn’t nice to hear 😭
It was a good read and had great relationship/world building and physical/mental representation ☺️ x
I found this book hard to get into. I’m not sure if it was my mood or the story itself or even a mixture of both. In the end, even though I am not an audiobook listener, I thought I would try it and see if it would help me through the book. Funny enough it did as I listened and also followed along on the kindle app.
I felt the story started off quite slow probably why I felt like it dragged on. But when the story started to pick up it got interesting.
I loved that Sarah showed how the injury impacted Chaol both physically and mentally really well. And that’s something rare as some books just skim over those important things. Personally I suffer with mental health so seeing how withdrawn and frustrated Chaol got felt relatable.
The building of new friendships and relationships are the heartfelt moments I loved between each couple and how their feelings grew while trying to figure out how to stop the Vlag.
The different personalities between the Khagan’s children was interesting, even though sometimes I either wanted to slap one of the children or strangle one 😅
Borte (Sartaq’s Hearth-Sister) is hilarious 🤣 the banter between Sartaq and Borte kept me laughing especially when Nesryn got involved in the banter. I loved The Rukhin group especially the Ruks Kadara and Salkhi! 😍
It was always a mystery on who was killing people/trying to go after Yrene but once that was revealed who it was, I really wasn’t expecting that. Even what Nesryn & Sartaq found out was shocking but still to be honest made sense a little 😅
There was an animal death that was just heartbreaking 💔 that wasn’t nice to hear 😭
It was a good read and had great relationship/world building and physical/mental representation ☺️ x
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
sierrabowers's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
I think this book was a good addition to the throne of glass series, but it was definitely not the best one. If I hadn’t done the tandem read, it would have been dreadful. I think the only way people should read this book is in conjunction with empire of storms. The ending was not as enthralling as EOS but definitely gave me motivation to hurry into Kingdom of Ash!!!! I think the journey that Chaol went through emotionally and physically is very important and shows the strength of people who live with physical disabilities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Abandonment, Blood, Animal death, Child death, Classism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Vomit, Medical content, Violence, Sexual content, War, and Sexual assault