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emma1712 's review for:
Empire of Storms
by Sarah J. Maas
Re-read review
'' "Your mother told me to tell you that she loves you-very much. Those were her last words to me. 'Tell my Elide that I love her very much.' " For over ten years, Aelin had been the sole bearer of those final words. Ten years, through death and despair and war, Aelin had carried them across kingdoms. And here, at the edge of the world, they had found each other again.''
At this point, I feel like these reviews are getting repetitive, it's just me repeating how much I'm enjoying re-reading this series. But turns out, surprise, I also freaking loved EoS. I did the tandem read- reading EoS and ToD at the same time and it was SO much better than reading EoS and then reading ToD separately.
To be fair, this is the first book that I feel like impacted me more the first time I read it. I remember SOBBING when I was reading the ending the first time. Don't get me wrong, I still cried my eyes out, but I didn't feel as much like my soul had been ripped out afterwards. But still, I do not feel like any other book or series I've EVER read had the kind of profound impact on me that ToG has. Even reading it the second time.
I'm a little scared to start KoA, solely because I do not want to be done with this series. The book hangover is going to be INSANE.
"I love you. There is no limit to what I can give to you, no time I need. Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you."
First read review
THIS ENDING. I'm not sure I have ever cried that much at the ending of a book. I really do not know where to start with this review.
Aelin. The bitch. Planned everything from the start and knew what was going to happen pretty early on. Every time someone (mostly Aedion) mentions being annoyed at not knowing what she is planning, I didn't pay much attention to it, because I was pretty sure I had figured her plans out. Boy, was I wrong.
A part of the story I loved was reading about Aelin's struggle with having people taking her seriously as a queen. Without an army or strong allies, it is obvious that other leaders (mostly men) do not take her seriously and do not deem her worthy to ally with. And every time she tries to show her power and that she is one strong as heck woman, something gets messed up. This annoyed me to no end, because the reader of course knows how strong she truly is.
I grew to love every single character in this book (except for Maeve of course).
Dorian's character development really shows itself in this book, in Throne of Glass he is the conceited Crown Prince and he turns into the Dorian in this book, cold, powerful but also lost. Sorscha's death really changed him and he doesn't mention it often, but he tells Manon about it.
'Because she died. And even before she did, this world saw to it that she suffered, and was afraid, and alone. And even though no one will remember who she was, I do. I will never forget the color of her eyes, or the way she smiled. And I will never forgive them for taking it away.'
This is a big part of why he is attracted to Manon, because she is a warrior and not 'breakable' like human women, still, I am very curious to see where their relationship is going and whether Manon will warm up to him.
I also grew to love the witches in this book (the Thirteen). I love their loyalty to Manon and that they show some kind of feeling in this book. I can't wait to see them rally with Aelin and see Manon claim her Crochan bloodline (hopefully successfully).
I can't wait for Aedion and Lysandra to get together. They deal with the same kind of prejudice against them and I love how respectful Aedion is of Lysandra's boundaries, taking her past with men touching her into account. It seems obvious that the key to getting a happy love life in this series is accepting the past of your partner, without judging them about it. This is the case for Aelin and Rowan, Aedion and Lysandra, Dorian and Manon and Elide and Lorcan.
Elide and Lorcan. Damn. I absolutely love Elide, she is a strong woman and can be very fierce, yet she is also a warm and caring person. She looks up to Aelin and Aedion and it seems like she would do anything for her country (including being tortured by Maeve/Cairn). And then there's Lorcan. I grew to like him as the story progressed, then that disappeared the second he started crawling after Maeve when she broke his blood oath. Then it came back a little when he wept because of what Aelin had done (considering he is a 500-year-old man who seems to VERY rarely get emotional). Even though I can understand the fact that Elide is cold towards Lorcan at the end, I still low key want them to be together, so Elide can have someone to protect her and so Lorcan can have someone to love him.
'Where is Aelin. Where is my wife?'
Aelin and Rowan. They are mates (duh). They got married. Rowan is the King of Terrasen. What the hell. The main reason I cried at the end of the book was for Rowan's pain at Maeve taking Aelin. Him being left, knowing that he would be the one to have to decide for Terrasen. Lysandra taking on Aelin's body and him having to pretend that she is the woman he loves so deeply, while actually that woman is being tortured by his former queen somewhere. I really hope they will find each other again.
'I love you. There is no limit to what I can give to you, no time I need. Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you.'
I cannot wait to read what happens next in Kingdom of Ash, but at the same time I do not want to finish this series, because I think it will shatter me.