Reviews with content warning for Slavery - Empire of Storms

I really enjoyed this one. All of my favorite characters together fighting for each other and for a better world. There were definitely some raw and emotional moments and a few slower moments where I wasn’t as interested but overall it was a great read. Aelin really made good on her promises and proved although not perfect she is a force to be reckoned with. So many relationships forming has me a little scared for the future but these characters deserve love and peace.

Content Warnings

readwithde's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

rafacolog's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

britwalsh16's review against another edition

Go to review page

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!

Content Warnings

karleevoelp's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

undecidedpersonality's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

laura_nel13's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.0

Content Warnings

sierrabowers's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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

4.5

The ONLY reason I did not give this book a 5 star rating is because the majority of the book was very slow. Of course in Sarah J Maas fashion, the last 100 pages were INSANE!!! I was literally talking out loud to myself because I was in such disbelief. There was NO WAY I could have predicted what happened in the end. I have to read the last part of Tower of Dawn in order to finish the tandem read, but WOW. What another great installment in the Throne of Glass series. All I can say is screw Lorcan and Maeve!!! Aelin is the strongest character I have EVER known in any series, and that is an understatement. I cannot even imagine what SJM has in store for the last bit of TOD and Kingdom of Ash!!!!! WOW!!!!

Content Warnings

More...