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miabaci's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
laughed, smiled, and (mainly) sobbed all throughout this book. i feel like i had to say goodbye to my own family after finishing this whole series 🥲
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Kidnapping, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual content
vanessabrown's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, War, Cursing, Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, and Mental illness
catology's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Throne of Glass is, and will forever be, Sarah J. Maas's best series. This was complete with so much joy, character development, genuine loss, belief that the odds will remain stacked against them, everything. There were multiple parts where I started to tear up like the last scene with the Thirteen, but ESPECIALLY finding out that Erawan took the King of Ardalan's name, and finding out that he remembered it only once, and it was when he held Dorian for the first time. TEARS. I love that SJM had the King make a reappearance, and Dorian finally got some sort of closure with him. It was really sincere to see him as the father he might have been.
I also love that Aelin got to be happy in the end, I think that's all she deserved after everything. SJM excels at writing emotional arcs, and I really enjoy how she didn't shy away from Aelin's deep, deep depression after her torture with Maeve. It tied in so well and harkened back to Heir of Fire in the best way possible.
ANYWAYS, I could talk about this baby for ages, just please read it. I'm so sad it's over. But also Rhysand cameo???? I knew about the multiverse theory but like,,, it feels REAL and I'm shook
I also love that Aelin got to be happy in the end, I think that's all she deserved after everything. SJM excels at writing emotional arcs, and I really enjoy how she didn't shy away from Aelin's deep, deep depression after her torture with Maeve. It tied in so well and harkened back to Heir of Fire in the best way possible.
ANYWAYS, I could talk about this baby for ages, just please read it. I'm so sad it's over. But also
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Vomit, War, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, and Death
aileron's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Violence, War, Gore, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Slavery, Pregnancy, Animal death, Vomit, and Emotional abuse
angelofthetardis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
4.0
The grand finale of the 'Throne of Glass' series, this almost 1,000 page tome promises the deepening of bonds, the severing of others and the climax of a seemingly unwinnable battle. The question of who will live and who will die are on the reader's mind from the outset, and by this point you are so invested in the series that it feels like you're right there in the thick of things with the characters.
Having made it through the previous books, you will now be familiar with all of the characters and their backgrounds, unless you have a terrible memory and have to rely on the library delivering the books to you, like me. In which case, there are a LOT of different story threads you now have to follow, each of them vital to the plot in their own way. For the vast majority of the book, the perspective shifts between at least four different spheres of action, and each chapter takes you to a different thread. Given how short the author's chapters generally are, you would be forgiven for getting into a spin trying to keep everything straight! It's not hard to do, but to me it does make the book feel rather choppy - I'm not sure if another tandem read situation followed by a smaller finale book when everyone comes together might have been a better way to go. That way, you could have the choice of taking it all in in one go, or choosing to focus on one or two threads at a time.
I do think a lot of my opinions rest on the fact that I haven't been able to binge-read this series (see library comment above); I'm hoping that I will get more out of it when I finally get around to buying the series and reading it straight through. But right now, I feel like I should be more affected by the Valg, Maeve and the other darker aspects of this book than I am. I can't say I've ever found the Valg part of the storyline that straightforward to follow, but now I'm at the end I found their ultimate story arc to be quite lacklustre. Likewise, I didn't see the need to add another layer to the 'Wicked Queen' storyline; I actually found Maeve worse when she was supposed to be just Fae! Ultimately, although there are dark moments, Aelin's fire shines too brightly to give them any real depth or impact for me.
SJM is a queen of worldbuilding; she has an amazing ability to paint vivid and ridiculously detailed images with her words. While in broad terms this series is no exception, by the time I reached 'Kingdom of Ash' a part of me was thinking that she's almost gone into too much detail, which means I now have a less clear picture in my mind because I've got too much to consider.
I've come to love all of the main characters and their personalities; some are so easy to picture (I'm sorry, but I can only see Tom Hiddleston with his 'Loki' attitude playing Lorcan!) Their personal journeys are so well thought out and executed, it really is a pleasure to watch them mature and adapt. However, in this book it was really only the fate of the various romantic entanglements that gave me any sort of visceral reaction; the need for the right people to end up together became more important to me than the outcome of the war. I feel like a significant shock was needed to properly tear out your heart, but nothing ever really materialised. There is character death, yes, but for once in my life I am slightly disappointed that there wasn't more... I don't want any of them to die, but I just think the story was crying our for it to turn it from good to great. It's also in dire need of an epilogue!!! I need a 'One Year Later' (or similar) update!!!
The series overall is very enjoyable and a great read, but ultimately it does feel like the dress rehearsal for ACOTAR, which I do still prefer. But I'm hopeful we haven't heard the last of Aelin, Rowan and their Court... keeping everything crossed!!!
Having made it through the previous books, you will now be familiar with all of the characters and their backgrounds, unless you have a terrible memory and have to rely on the library delivering the books to you, like me. In which case, there are a LOT of different story threads you now have to follow, each of them vital to the plot in their own way. For the vast majority of the book, the perspective shifts between at least four different spheres of action, and each chapter takes you to a different thread. Given how short the author's chapters generally are, you would be forgiven for getting into a spin trying to keep everything straight! It's not hard to do, but to me it does make the book feel rather choppy - I'm not sure if another tandem read situation followed by a smaller finale book when everyone comes together might have been a better way to go. That way, you could have the choice of taking it all in in one go, or choosing to focus on one or two threads at a time.
I do think a lot of my opinions rest on the fact that I haven't been able to binge-read this series (see library comment above); I'm hoping that I will get more out of it when I finally get around to buying the series and reading it straight through. But right now, I feel like I should be more affected by the Valg, Maeve and the other darker aspects of this book than I am. I can't say I've ever found the Valg part of the storyline that straightforward to follow, but now I'm at the end I found their ultimate story arc to be quite lacklustre. Likewise, I didn't see the need to add another layer to the 'Wicked Queen' storyline; I actually found Maeve worse when she was supposed to be just Fae! Ultimately, although there are dark moments, Aelin's fire shines too brightly to give them any real depth or impact for me.
SJM is a queen of worldbuilding; she has an amazing ability to paint vivid and ridiculously detailed images with her words. While in broad terms this series is no exception, by the time I reached 'Kingdom of Ash' a part of me was thinking that she's almost gone into too much detail, which means I now have a less clear picture in my mind because I've got too much to consider.
I've come to love all of the main characters and their personalities; some are so easy to picture (I'm sorry, but I can only see Tom Hiddleston with his 'Loki' attitude playing Lorcan!) Their personal journeys are so well thought out and executed, it really is a pleasure to watch them mature and adapt. However, in this book it was really only the fate of the various romantic entanglements that gave me any sort of visceral reaction; the need for the right people to end up together became more important to me than the outcome of the war. I feel like a significant shock was needed to properly tear out your heart, but nothing ever really materialised. There is character death, yes, but for once in my life I am slightly disappointed that there wasn't more... I don't want any of them to die, but I just think the story was crying our for it to turn it from good to great. It's also in dire need of an epilogue!!! I need a 'One Year Later' (or similar) update!!!
The series overall is very enjoyable and a great read, but ultimately it does feel like the dress rehearsal for ACOTAR, which I do still prefer. But I'm hopeful we haven't heard the last of Aelin, Rowan and their Court... keeping everything crossed!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Gore, Torture, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
I have finally made it to the end of my Throne of Glass reading experience.
"Kingdom of Ash" is the conclusion, at least thus far, to the Throne of Glass series. Aelin Galathynius has promised to herself and her people that she would save them, but she could never have imagined what sacrifices she would have had to make to protect everyone. She is locked in an iron box at the complete mercy of the Queen of the Fae, Maeve. With all of her friends and allies scattered around the land, they will need to find a way to come together to finally end this once and for all.
What an epic and intense conclusion this book was! It was very difficult at times to read about Aelin because Sarah J. Maas goes into intense detail with the types of torture Aelin is subjected to. However, Aelin proves to be such a strong leader because she never breaks, even when she thinks she cannot bear to take any more.
I absolutely loved seeing how much Rowan loved Aelin. He would stop at nothing to bring Aelin safely home to him. It was also his commitment to her that helped Aelin survive the brutal torment Maeve put her through. It was beautiful to see their love and respect grow for one another.
I also enjoyed seeing a quick peek into Chaol's and Yrene's lives. I do really appreciate their story and how it allowed a more robust view of the world.
Overall, I was incredibly satisfied with this book. This installment in the series had a little bit of everything and really kept me invested through the entire almost 1000 pages. Once I started this book, I could not put it down because I was enthralled with the characters.
It was definitely not easy to get through this series, and this is not my favorite world from Sarah J. Maas, but I am overall happy with where everyone ended up!
"Kingdom of Ash" is the conclusion, at least thus far, to the Throne of Glass series. Aelin Galathynius has promised to herself and her people that she would save them, but she could never have imagined what sacrifices she would have had to make to protect everyone. She is locked in an iron box at the complete mercy of the Queen of the Fae, Maeve. With all of her friends and allies scattered around the land, they will need to find a way to come together to finally end this once and for all.
What an epic and intense conclusion this book was! It was very difficult at times to read about Aelin because Sarah J. Maas goes into intense detail with the types of torture Aelin is subjected to. However, Aelin proves to be such a strong leader because she never breaks, even when she thinks she cannot bear to take any more.
I absolutely loved seeing how much Rowan loved Aelin. He would stop at nothing to bring Aelin safely home to him. It was also his commitment to her that helped Aelin survive the brutal torment Maeve put her through. It was beautiful to see their love and respect grow for one another.
I also enjoyed seeing a quick peek into Chaol's and Yrene's lives. I do really appreciate their story and how it allowed a more robust view of the world.
Overall, I was incredibly satisfied with this book. This installment in the series had a little bit of everything and really kept me invested through the entire almost 1000 pages. Once I started this book, I could not put it down because I was enthralled with the characters.
It was definitely not easy to get through this series, and this is not my favorite world from Sarah J. Maas, but I am overall happy with where everyone ended up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Body horror, War, Toxic relationship, Grief, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Toxic friendship, Gore, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Minor: Pregnancy
emilygibbs'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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Death of parent, War, and Gore
imds's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, War, Violence, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Torture, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, and Medical trauma
nerdkitten'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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Animal death, Suicide, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, War, Cursing, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Self harm, Vomit, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Medical trauma
Minor: Animal cruelty, Deportation, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Body horror, and Genocide
beckyremillard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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: Animal death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, War, Blood, Death of parent, Gore, and Grief