Review by pbraue13 - Kingdom of Ash

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pbraue13 's review for:

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

4.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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: No

This is the epic and emotional conclusion to the Throne of Glass series, a sprawling finale that ties together every thread from the seven books before it. At over 900 pages, it’s a brick of a novel, but every chapter pulses with war, sacrifice, and survival as Aelin and her companions fight for the fate of their world against Erawan and Maeve’s armies. It’s a story of endurance, loyalty, and the heavy cost of freedom.

While there are many standout moments in this book, for me, Manon remains the true star. Her arc throughout the series has been one of the richest, and here she steps fully into her role as leader of the Thirteen and heir to the Crochan witches. Her scenes are fierce and devastating, especially those centered on her bond with her sisters. On top of that, I am lowkey living for her toxic, tension-filled dynamic with Dorian. It’s messy, it’s sharp-edged, and it’s brimming with dangerous chemistry in a way that feels completely intentional—exactly the kind of high-stakes, morally gray pairing I love.

You can definitely tell that Kingdom of Ash (and Tower of Dawn before it) were written after Maas had started her Court of Thorns and Roses series. The sexual tension and implied intimacy are much more overt than in earlier Throne of Glass books, and it makes the relationships feel more mature, layered, and complicated. For readers who enjoyed the charged dynamics in ACOTAR, there’s a lot here that hits the same notes. And speaking of ACOTAR, Maas even sneaks in a sly little cameo from characters of that world—a fun Easter egg for her fans.

In the end, Kingdom of Ash is an exhausting but triumphant farewell to a cast of characters we’ve spent years with. It’s brutal, emotional, and cathartic, with just enough light peeking through the shadows to make the journey worth it. For me, Manon made the book unforgettable, and her story intertwined with Dorian’s is one of the things I’ll be thinking about long after closing the final page.

Content Warnings