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mxcopmy's reviews
93 reviews
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Wow! This one was even slightly better than the first book. There was a much darker component that made the story more compelling than the first book. In addition, from the beginning you were given small pieces that told you a little more about the ending. However, I found the plot really disappointing, as it was actually obvious. I expected there to be a huge twist, but it didn't happen.
Still, the series remains fantastic and fun! I will definitely continue with him
Still, the series remains fantastic and fun! I will definitely continue with him
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
It's embarrassing enough that I have to admit that I've never seen the Harry Potter movies. But now that I've started the series, it's even worse to admit that it never even occurred to me to discover this gem. To correct these mistakes, I am happy to inform you that I'm part of the gang: I'm an HP fan!! Yay!
This was truly an immense adventure! When I saw the table of contents for the chapters I was concerned because they were long, but every time I started one I was amazed at how quickly the pages flew by. It was therefore intriguing and compelling to get to know the world of Hogwarts and Privet Drive. Rowling's language is simplistic and compelling, so you don't feel like you've just received a ton of information about a magical world. That makes it very pleasant to read and just as great that this story is written for both young and old. Due to the accessibility of language, but the not super childish way of writing, everyone who sneaks into this world can enjoy it in their own way. The world-building and character development are really fluid and strong! There are many elements of friendship, humor and dedication to details, such as the own game of Quidditch, which in retrospect are very important characteristics for being able to attach that mental label of 'Harry Potter'. How J.K. Rowling was able to create an entire world in less than 350 pages is truly inhuman. This woman must be a genius!
The only negative point for which I did not give 5 stars is that sometimes I could no longer find the coherence in the story. Something is actively described in each chapter, such as the forbidden forest or Norbert the dragon, where they immediately lose their added value in the story (or so I thought). The common thread of 'The Philosopher's Stone' was only found again somewhere towards the end and not necessarily woven throughout the story. That's why it took a long time to find out what the title meant.
But, count me in for an HP movie marathon!! 🧙🏼 ✨
This was truly an immense adventure! When I saw the table of contents for the chapters I was concerned because they were long, but every time I started one I was amazed at how quickly the pages flew by. It was therefore intriguing and compelling to get to know the world of Hogwarts and Privet Drive. Rowling's language is simplistic and compelling, so you don't feel like you've just received a ton of information about a magical world. That makes it very pleasant to read and just as great that this story is written for both young and old. Due to the accessibility of language, but the not super childish way of writing, everyone who sneaks into this world can enjoy it in their own way. The world-building and character development are really fluid and strong! There are many elements of friendship, humor and dedication to details, such as the own game of Quidditch, which in retrospect are very important characteristics for being able to attach that mental label of 'Harry Potter'. How J.K. Rowling was able to create an entire world in less than 350 pages is truly inhuman. This woman must be a genius!
The only negative point for which I did not give 5 stars is that sometimes I could no longer find the coherence in the story. Something is actively described in each chapter, such as the forbidden forest or Norbert the dragon, where they immediately lose their added value in the story (or so I thought). The common thread of 'The Philosopher's Stone' was only found again somewhere towards the end and not necessarily woven throughout the story. That's why it took a long time to find out what the title meant.
But, count me in for an HP movie marathon!! 🧙🏼 ✨
The Selection by Kiera Cass
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
To say that I had problems with 'the selection' is a bit of an exaggeration, but I don't really know which way my feelings are pointing me. Was this book a masterpiece? Absolutely not. Was this book smooth to read? In a way, yes. To shorten these sentences: this was a big slap to read as a comfort book, but you won't get more than the bare minimum that a book can offer you. If you want to read a brainless book, then you should definitely start with 'the selection'.
Don't get me wrong, everyone at some point throughout their reading experiences is looking for a book that you don't have to think too much about and where you can just flow smoothly with the vibe. This was the initial reason why I picked up this book, to be able to have this mindless experience. At least Kiera Cass managed this well, but it's even more superficial than I expected. You get no plot, zero world-building as well as character development, plus a repetitive story that is a bit stolen from 'the bachelor' and 'the hunger games' (without the gruesome game). I've laughed more often because I cringed at the cringiest names and events in this book than I have found it genuinely funny. You are presented with a story about an insufferable teenager America (yes, sincerely, that's her name) who hates when anyone calls her pretty (boohoo, too bad you're so pretty that everyone would fall to their knees for you) and goes then counterintuitively against the fact that she actually does not want to participate in the selection at all, but still has jealous feelings towards the girls who participate.
In addition, with regard to the fact that this book is labeled as a 'fantasy' genre, I thought it was a bit of a stretch. Dystopian, okay. But fantasy? Not for me.
But I also cannot deny that I often continued reading because of the ease and the pleasant feeling I got. In addition, I certainly cannot criticize a book written for teenagers from a 'mature' point of view (which I have actually done a little bit).
It's just, for me, a little too childish without much substance. But if you're looking for a series to dive into for comfort, then it's definitely a good start :)
Don't get me wrong, everyone at some point throughout their reading experiences is looking for a book that you don't have to think too much about and where you can just flow smoothly with the vibe. This was the initial reason why I picked up this book, to be able to have this mindless experience. At least Kiera Cass managed this well, but it's even more superficial than I expected. You get no plot, zero world-building as well as character development, plus a repetitive story that is a bit stolen from 'the bachelor' and 'the hunger games' (without the gruesome game). I've laughed more often because I cringed at the cringiest names and events in this book than I have found it genuinely funny. You are presented with a story about an insufferable teenager America (yes, sincerely, that's her name) who hates when anyone calls her pretty (boohoo, too bad you're so pretty that everyone would fall to their knees for you) and goes then counterintuitively against the fact that she actually does not want to participate in the selection at all, but still has jealous feelings towards the girls who participate.
In addition, with regard to the fact that this book is labeled as a 'fantasy' genre, I thought it was a bit of a stretch. Dystopian, okay. But fantasy? Not for me.
But I also cannot deny that I often continued reading because of the ease and the pleasant feeling I got. In addition, I certainly cannot criticize a book written for teenagers from a 'mature' point of view (which I have actually done a little bit).
It's just, for me, a little too childish without much substance. But if you're looking for a series to dive into for comfort, then it's definitely a good start :)
De Volksjury 2 by Laura Scheerlinck, Silke Vandenbroeck
informative
fast-paced
4.0
Leest als boter! Ideaal om uit een reading slump te komen
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Miss maas presents you once again: second book supremacy. This was again a huge improvement over the first book which lacked a lot of body. Here you got the depth you WANT.
In acomaf we meet a lot of new, intriguing characters who were more than welcome to bring more power to this storyline! After I didn't have the feeling that I knew the characters thoroughly with Acotar, I thought I got the feeling that there was an enormous development. Mainly with the main characters, but also with the sub-characters. You were confronted with their history and personality for each character, which left a greater impact on me. So character development was seriously central to this book and what can I say, it was lovely!
In addition, the slow burn between Rhysand and Feyre was one to frame. This is really what I look for in a romance.
Furthermore, the world of Velaris and the night court was simply magical. SJM really made this world tangible, making you sincerely want to be in it. So people definitely didn't lie about this.
Although I must admit that I have occasionally struggled with this book, one way or another. Despite the fact that I feel a huge progress in character development, I don't yet feel a super deep connection with some of the characters... or at least not with the main characters. It wasn't until Rhys and Feyre discovered they were mates that I was more than happy. So it took about 380-400 pages before I could really feel happy for them... the rest of their romance in the story left me a bit cold. I also have the feeling that Rhys and Feyre will escape me more quickly than, for example, Nesta, Mor or Azriel. In addition, I'm still a bit unsure how I feel about the heavy romance in this fantasy. There are certainly plots, but I notice that I am still looking for the grit, strength and powerfulness of these books. Again there are certainly exciting moments (such as the ending, which was WOWWW!), but I sometimes missed the coherence of these exciting moments that ultimately did not lead to anything. Maybe a court of wings and ruins can offer me that?
We will see ;)
Miss maas presents you once again: second book supremacy. This was again a huge improvement over the first book which lacked a lot of body. Here you got the depth you WANT.
In acomaf we meet a lot of new, intriguing characters who were more than welcome to bring more power to this storyline! After I didn't have the feeling that I knew the characters thoroughly with Acotar, I thought I got the feeling that there was an enormous development. Mainly with the main characters, but also with the sub-characters. You were confronted with their history and personality for each character, which left a greater impact on me. So character development was seriously central to this book and what can I say, it was lovely!
In addition, the slow burn between Rhysand and Feyre was one to frame. This is really what I look for in a romance.
Furthermore, the world of Velaris and the night court was simply magical. SJM really made this world tangible, making you sincerely want to be in it. So people definitely didn't lie about this.
Although I must admit that I have occasionally struggled with this book, one way or another. Despite the fact that I feel a huge progress in character development, I don't yet feel a super deep connection with some of the characters... or at least not with the main characters. It wasn't until Rhys and Feyre discovered they were mates that I was more than happy. So it took about 380-400 pages before I could really feel happy for them... the rest of their romance in the story left me a bit cold. I also have the feeling that Rhys and Feyre will escape me more quickly than, for example, Nesta, Mor or Azriel. In addition, I'm still a bit unsure how I feel about the heavy romance in this fantasy. There are certainly plots, but I notice that I am still looking for the grit, strength and powerfulness of these books. Again there are certainly exciting moments (such as the ending, which was WOWWW!), but I sometimes missed the coherence of these exciting moments that ultimately did not lead to anything. Maybe a court of wings and ruins can offer me that?
We will see ;)
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Anxious people seems like an ordinary story, but quickly turns into a mystery play where a bank robbery turns into a hostage situation at an apartment viewing. It took a huge amount of getting used to this book because everything seemed very complicated. You were given a lot of information where you didn't really know what to do with and especially seemed very confusing. I had to slog through the first few chapters, whether or not even until halfway through the book. This mainly is because I didn't really know where the author was going. As the story ended it took on an incredibly beautiful and fun meaning, namely that everyone has their own story and personality where we can never say for sure what decisions someone makes are so "random" or "thoughtless". Also that we are all in some way affected and connected to each other. So beautiful!!! I have indicated an awful lot of things in this book.
It is very unfortunate, though, that we never knew who the "bank robber" is. I really thought that as the story progressed that this was precisely the climax that was being worked towards, but still all the messages Fredrik Backman throws at you linger.
So to conclude this review nicely with some wisdom: "We need to be allowed to convince ourselves that we're more than the mistakes we made yesterday. That we are all of our next choices, too, all of our tomorrows."
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
The official first book club pick! 🤩 what a ride!
**MINI-SPOILERS AHEAD**
**MINI-SPOILERS AHEAD**
"It's always very easy to declare that other people are idiots, but only if you forget how idiotically difficult being human is." was the first quote within this book that came in like a shot. Short and powerful with enough punch to carry its meaning.
Anxious people seems like an ordinary story, but quickly turns into a mystery play where a bank robbery turns into a hostage situation at an apartment viewing. It took a huge amount of getting used to this book because everything seemed very complicated. You were given a lot of information where you didn't really know what to do with and especially seemed very confusing. I had to slog through the first few chapters, whether or not even until halfway through the book. This mainly is because I didn't really know where the author was going. As the story ended it took on an incredibly beautiful and fun meaning, namely that everyone has their own story and personality where we can never say for sure what decisions someone makes are so "random" or "thoughtless". Also that we are all in some way affected and connected to each other. So beautiful!!! I have indicated an awful lot of things in this book.
It is very unfortunate, though, that we never knew who the "bank robber" is. I really thought that as the story progressed that this was precisely the climax that was being worked towards, but still all the messages Fredrik Backman throws at you linger.
So to conclude this review nicely with some wisdom: "We need to be allowed to convince ourselves that we're more than the mistakes we made yesterday. That we are all of our next choices, too, all of our tomorrows."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Addiction
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
For me a 2.5 stars. It wasn't so much bad, but rather the neutral feeling that is central to me with this book. I have a lot of thoughts running through my head and I will share them with you!
I knew ACOTAR was more romance based and generally had more spice. Now, as we know, I have never been the biggest fan of fast-romance and smut, so I had certainly already figured out for myself that this might be a difficult turning point for me. But to my surprise, the problem wasn't with the spice per se, but rather the overall nature of the story.
First of all, I thought that SJM made too clear a distinction between the two halves of this story. The first half was a lot of fluffy romance and being in spring court, without much boo or ba, where suddenly a quick turnaround was made to something very dark and deep. This really confused the mood I was supposed to feel about this book. To me it would have felt like a better whole if this had been woven together. Also, there was not enough or correct foreshadowing in the story, which is the element of SJM that draws me to her books. For example, I thought that the fairy with his wings pulled off and the one with his head on a stick brought little to no relevance to the story. I'm still not sure what the meaning of this was. In addition, I didn't feel any fireworks between Tamlin and Feyre at all. As a result, I couldn't bring myself to properly digest their romance or “feel” it at all. This was also most likely because I felt that the story didn't follow a very logical timeline and, for me personally, it came together way too quickly. To me it's illogical that you fall madly in love with your captivator... and honestly, it's just a creepy kink.
I must honestly admit that the steamy pieces made me feel warm for a while, which was super unexpected and gave me a lot of hope. In addition, I am still absolutely amazed that Maas is an excellent writer. At the beginning where Feyre was not yet taken to Prythian, I was drawn into the story and had high hopes. It was just a shame that it had toned down as it went on. Maas also always writes her action with a good dose of tension that keeps you reaching for the next pages. Furthermore, the part about the reason for killing Andras and why Tamlin took good care of her was well presented. At least here was the foreshadowing I expected and I felt like everything I had read before was useful.
If this book had been at least 200 pages longer, it would have been an easy 4 stars for me. The story just lacked the necessary body it needed to really stand up well. Since the next books are of that thickness, I have enough hope that she will succeed this time!
For me a 2.5 stars. It wasn't so much bad, but rather the neutral feeling that is central to me with this book. I have a lot of thoughts running through my head and I will share them with you!
I knew ACOTAR was more romance based and generally had more spice. Now, as we know, I have never been the biggest fan of fast-romance and smut, so I had certainly already figured out for myself that this might be a difficult turning point for me. But to my surprise, the problem wasn't with the spice per se, but rather the overall nature of the story.
First of all, I thought that SJM made too clear a distinction between the two halves of this story. The first half was a lot of fluffy romance and being in spring court, without much boo or ba, where suddenly a quick turnaround was made to something very dark and deep. This really confused the mood I was supposed to feel about this book. To me it would have felt like a better whole if this had been woven together. Also, there was not enough or correct foreshadowing in the story, which is the element of SJM that draws me to her books. For example, I thought that the fairy with his wings pulled off and the one with his head on a stick brought little to no relevance to the story. I'm still not sure what the meaning of this was. In addition, I didn't feel any fireworks between Tamlin and Feyre at all. As a result, I couldn't bring myself to properly digest their romance or “feel” it at all. This was also most likely because I felt that the story didn't follow a very logical timeline and, for me personally, it came together way too quickly. To me it's illogical that you fall madly in love with your captivator... and honestly, it's just a creepy kink.
I must honestly admit that the steamy pieces made me feel warm for a while, which was super unexpected and gave me a lot of hope. In addition, I am still absolutely amazed that Maas is an excellent writer. At the beginning where Feyre was not yet taken to Prythian, I was drawn into the story and had high hopes. It was just a shame that it had toned down as it went on. Maas also always writes her action with a good dose of tension that keeps you reaching for the next pages. Furthermore, the part about the reason for killing Andras and why Tamlin took good care of her was well presented. At least here was the foreshadowing I expected and I felt like everything I had read before was useful.
If this book had been at least 200 pages longer, it would have been an easy 4 stars for me. The story just lacked the necessary body it needed to really stand up well. Since the next books are of that thickness, I have enough hope that she will succeed this time!
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.25
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Review later, now just crying because it's done and for this ending ❤️🔥
Update 18/02/2024:
After a night of sleep, I can start my final review for the throne of Glass series. What an adventure this has been! This series will always have a special place in my heart, especially because this is my very first fantasy series that had a strong storyline and distinct characters. Throughout KoA I laughed, was angry and shed a lot of tears. Although I must admit that I had to lower my rating to a 4 after reviewing my recorded thoughts and seeing that there were quite a few parts that disappointed me. So strap in, this is going to be a very long review (including ratings at the end!).
I dove into the first part of KoA with full courage and a small heart, which got off to a good start. You also immediately notice that KoA is much more gruesome in terms of violence than the previous books. When Aelin was tortured several times by Cairn, I often had to swallow hard and look away from the pages. Especially because you built up a hellish bond with her through the books, so you could feel her suffering through the pages. There was also a huge build-up of tension throughout part 1 with the fights, the scene where Aelin escapes from the army camp and the iron coffer (I could really see everything in front of me! This was really a MASTERPIECE) and the parts where Manon found her way to her people , the Crochans. I absorbed everything in part 1 very hard and was really blown away at several moments. But unfortunately I have to admit that part 1 was one of the highlights of KoA.
First of all, I would like to agree that the romance between the characters seemed very repetitive. The couples had sufficient chemistry, but many sentences were reused to explain their love, such as: “I Will always be with you, I am always here for you” or “from the moment I saw you….” which, to me, made the relationships no longer unique. I also noticed that as the half went on that this romance also became sort of a focal point in the story and it became quite grueling. All romances were lumped together for description, while this could also be spread out over the length of KoA.
One of the biggest disappointments of KoA was how easily Dorian was able to retrieve the third wyrdkey from Morath and deceive Maeve, while Erawan and Maeve as two powerful people were usually described as 'always one step ahead'. Morath was also always described as inaccessible and how the third wyrdkey was simply in a girl's arm... SJM really let me down here. I expected more of a spectacle, because ofcourse getting the third wyrdkey back is something you've been aiming for since the very first book. So to keep it so incredibly short made me even think about whether a 7-book series was necessary to get to this point (hell, my thought?).
As a final negative point, I also thought that KoA did not show enough coherence. You felt physically and figuratively that there was a division between part 1 and part 2. It would have been nicer if the quest and war were somewhat mixed up throughout the story, because part 2 was too weak and described too quickly for me .
But back to some positive points, because you might start thinking “why the 4 stars?!”. Well, SJM made me feel emotionally connected to the characters on an even higher level for 80% of KoA than in the other books. You literally feel that you want to stay with these people or that you want to keep this series for a long time. In addition, there was so much good foreshadowing that was already given in book 1 or even in TaB and fed back in KoA. This gave you the feeling that you had fully 'experienced' Celaena/Aelin and that you were there from day one. Everything hit me a thousand times harder because of this. The amount of detail was very satisfying and felt very complete. Not a single moment throughout KoA (which was 980 pages long) did I feel like it was boring or that I wanted it to end. So with that said, KoA was the correct length for the ending!
And oh god... how Maeve and Erawan were defeated made me forget all the disappointments, because this was so phenomenally presented. I was actually genuinely happy that for once it wasn't just Aelin who was presented as 'hero', but that it was genuinely a team effort. How friendship was reflected in this... wow! This really warmed my heart and had tears streaming down my cheeks. You experience an adventure with these people in an evil world, so it was only right that they also contributed with defeating them. Simply POWERFUL! I just spent the last 100 pages crying every 5 minutes because of how beautiful the ending was and how happy I was for these characters that they have found their home, but also a bit out of sadness that I now have to leave them for a while...
With that said, KoA, and therefore the entire series, was a keeper for me. Overall a 5 star series that I would recommend to everyone. For now on, I will let these characters have their peace and let it all sink in for a while. In any case, it is not goodbye to them and their world, because I am convinced that I will grab this series again in a few months. So, see you soon…
Ranking of the books in the serie (it was so hard to rank the books, hence many shared ranks!)
1. Queen of shadows
2. Crown of midnight & Tower of dawn
3. Kingdom of Ash & The assassins blade & Empire of storms
4. Heir of fire
5. Throne of glass
Review later, now just crying because it's done and for this ending ❤️🔥
Update 18/02/2024:
After a night of sleep, I can start my final review for the throne of Glass series. What an adventure this has been! This series will always have a special place in my heart, especially because this is my very first fantasy series that had a strong storyline and distinct characters. Throughout KoA I laughed, was angry and shed a lot of tears. Although I must admit that I had to lower my rating to a 4 after reviewing my recorded thoughts and seeing that there were quite a few parts that disappointed me. So strap in, this is going to be a very long review (including ratings at the end!).
I dove into the first part of KoA with full courage and a small heart, which got off to a good start. You also immediately notice that KoA is much more gruesome in terms of violence than the previous books. When Aelin was tortured several times by Cairn, I often had to swallow hard and look away from the pages. Especially because you built up a hellish bond with her through the books, so you could feel her suffering through the pages. There was also a huge build-up of tension throughout part 1 with the fights, the scene where Aelin escapes from the army camp and the iron coffer (I could really see everything in front of me! This was really a MASTERPIECE) and the parts where Manon found her way to her people , the Crochans. I absorbed everything in part 1 very hard and was really blown away at several moments. But unfortunately I have to admit that part 1 was one of the highlights of KoA.
First of all, I would like to agree that the romance between the characters seemed very repetitive. The couples had sufficient chemistry, but many sentences were reused to explain their love, such as: “I Will always be with you, I am always here for you” or “from the moment I saw you….” which, to me, made the relationships no longer unique. I also noticed that as the half went on that this romance also became sort of a focal point in the story and it became quite grueling. All romances were lumped together for description, while this could also be spread out over the length of KoA.
One of the biggest disappointments of KoA was how easily Dorian was able to retrieve the third wyrdkey from Morath and deceive Maeve, while Erawan and Maeve as two powerful people were usually described as 'always one step ahead'. Morath was also always described as inaccessible and how the third wyrdkey was simply in a girl's arm... SJM really let me down here. I expected more of a spectacle, because ofcourse getting the third wyrdkey back is something you've been aiming for since the very first book. So to keep it so incredibly short made me even think about whether a 7-book series was necessary to get to this point (hell, my thought?).
As a final negative point, I also thought that KoA did not show enough coherence. You felt physically and figuratively that there was a division between part 1 and part 2. It would have been nicer if the quest and war were somewhat mixed up throughout the story, because part 2 was too weak and described too quickly for me .
But back to some positive points, because you might start thinking “why the 4 stars?!”. Well, SJM made me feel emotionally connected to the characters on an even higher level for 80% of KoA than in the other books. You literally feel that you want to stay with these people or that you want to keep this series for a long time. In addition, there was so much good foreshadowing that was already given in book 1 or even in TaB and fed back in KoA. This gave you the feeling that you had fully 'experienced' Celaena/Aelin and that you were there from day one. Everything hit me a thousand times harder because of this. The amount of detail was very satisfying and felt very complete. Not a single moment throughout KoA (which was 980 pages long) did I feel like it was boring or that I wanted it to end. So with that said, KoA was the correct length for the ending!
And oh god... how Maeve and Erawan were defeated made me forget all the disappointments, because this was so phenomenally presented. I was actually genuinely happy that for once it wasn't just Aelin who was presented as 'hero', but that it was genuinely a team effort. How friendship was reflected in this... wow! This really warmed my heart and had tears streaming down my cheeks. You experience an adventure with these people in an evil world, so it was only right that they also contributed with defeating them. Simply POWERFUL! I just spent the last 100 pages crying every 5 minutes because of how beautiful the ending was and how happy I was for these characters that they have found their home, but also a bit out of sadness that I now have to leave them for a while...
With that said, KoA, and therefore the entire series, was a keeper for me. Overall a 5 star series that I would recommend to everyone. For now on, I will let these characters have their peace and let it all sink in for a while. In any case, it is not goodbye to them and their world, because I am convinced that I will grab this series again in a few months. So, see you soon…
Ranking of the books in the serie (it was so hard to rank the books, hence many shared ranks!)
1. Queen of shadows
2. Crown of midnight & Tower of dawn
3. Kingdom of Ash & The assassins blade & Empire of storms
4. Heir of fire
5. Throne of glass