A review by cbleyer
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

5.0

I tandem read these 2 books so that was a lot!

Goldryn-Aelin’s ancient sword once wielded by Maeve's lover Athril.
Sword of Orynth- Aedion’s sword belonging to Aelin and Aedion’s ancestral line
Erawan- the Duke- the Valg King- is now the great enemy
Elide is on her way to bring the wyrdkey to Aelin
Lorcan is hunting for the wyrdkeys
Darrow- A member of Terrasan’s court, wealthy landowner. Acts rude and defiant towards Aelin
When Erawan takes form in the Duke, it’s in a different body, a pale man with golden hair
The Duke plans on attacking Rifthold and sends Manon to do so
In response, Rowan heads to Rifthold to save Dorian
And, they plan to meet in Skull’s bay afterwards (Flashbacks to the Assassins Blade) to get Rolfe’s support

Aelin expects to meet her court with approval from them but instead she receives the opposite. Only Murtaugh and Ren seem to be on her side
“Should you return to Orynth and seize your throne without our invitation, it will be considered an act of war and treason.”
YESS AELIN “I promise you that no matter how far I go, no matter the cost, when you call for my aid, I will come…I will not turn my back on Terrasan as you have turned your back on me.”

Chaol and Nesryn are in Antica to get support of the khagan (Urus) in the war against Erawan and to get healed by the finest healers in the world at the Torre, a tower whose structure seems equal to the palace
Chaol is disappointed in himself and the title Dorian has given him- feels he doesn’t deserve it
“He was Lord of Nothing. Lord of Oath-Breakers. Lord of Liars.”
Turns out that Nesryn is from Antica
The Khagan has 6 children: Hasar, Sartag, Arghun, Duva, Kashin, and Tumelun who has recently died
The Khagan selects his heir as he wishes and this often causes dispute and death among siblings (for example, Orus’ brother attempted to kill him leading to Orus having to kill him)
Although the Khagan doesn’t agree to ally again the Duke, he grants Chaol the ability to be healed

Dorian is lonely and haunted by his time as Valg Prince
“Never again would he be weak and useless and frightened,”
“I have seen death, and worse the death you’d offer is kind compared to that”
Dorian’s about to be killed by a witch but then Manon saves him and warns him of danger from the Duke
“You owe me a life debt, King of Ardlan. Prepare yourself for the day I come to claim it,”

Lorcan and Elide encounter new beasts- Illken, which can speak and regenerate when wounded
The two ally together- Lorcan grants protection while Elide grants information about Morath

Yrene, the healer from Assasins Blade is now working in the Torre as a healer. Even years later, she still keeps the note and brooch Calaena gave her. She is assigned to heal Chaol but is reluctant because of the grudge she has against Ardlan
When Chaol sees Yrene for the first time, he’s immediately entranced and attracted but Yrene is bitter
“It was her eyes that Chaol noticed first. She likely stopped people dead in the street with those eyes, a vibrant golden brown that seemed lit from within.”
Healing Chaol with Yrene’s magic connects Yrene to him and the pain he has felt
Whenever Yrene touches Chaol’s wound, she realizes there is a dormant dark magic inside him that fights back against her healing, causing Chaol great pain
She demands that Chaol explains this and he does. As soon as Yrene learns about the Valg, darkness seems to enter into Antica
Chaol is broken and depressed, affected by the darkness inside him
“But believe me when I say there is no one in Erilea who loathes me more than I do myself.”
“Everything I thought, everything I had planned and gone. All I have left is my king, and this ridiculous, slim scrap of hope that we survive this war and I can find a way to make something of it…of everything that crumbled in my hands.”

The Duke tries to take over towns in Terrasen but Aelin conquers them back and conquers Brannon’s temple back
Brannon appears to Aelin and tells her that not only does she needs a lock in addition to the Wyrdkeys to unlock the gate
Erawan is now in the body of the Chief Overseer from Endovier

I love Tower of Dawn❤️❤️❤️❤️
Chaol and Yrene’s POVs