Ok. I admit it. It was better than I thought. I feel like SJM has me more humble. To not judge a book by its cover or by a character, that I didn't enjoy or like.
*CONTAINS SPOILERS*
“Every step. Every curve into darkness. Every moment of despair and rage and pain. It had led him to precisely where he needed to be. Where he wanted to be.”
–Sarah J. Maas
What Is It About?
Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.
His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica--the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.
My Opinion
4/5 ⭐
When I found out that an ENTIRE book was about Chaol I got frustrated. How does SJM dare leave us with a heartbreaking ending in EoS and make us read a whole book about Chaol??? I do believe SJM enjoys emotionally torturing us. And in the end, it was a book we needed.
After the great war in Adarlan, Dorian and Aelin killed the King of Adarlan. But during the battle, Chaol suffered an accident, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. In an attempt to try and regain his mobility, Chaol and Nesryn traveled to Torre Cesme, in the Southern Continent. This book runs along with Empire of Storms, where you can do a Tandem Read. Reading both at the same time. It would have been very stressful for me to read both, plus I would have been confused doing it.
Chaol Westfall. Once honorable Captain of the Guard. I never bonded with him. Since the first book, I thought he was boring. A man with no desires and just Dorian's puppy. I never really liked when he and Aelin were a thing. I believed that he truly deserved that scar Aelin gave him. I felt he didn't have dreams, just focusing on his job. No hobbies, no friends, no nothing. But in the end, Chaol made me realize the things that I resented about myself. I was not interested in reading a book about him.
Nonetheless, when I finished the book, I realized a few things. In Spanish, there is a saying which cannot be translated but means that if it bothers you is because it means something to you. In Spanish sounds more poetic (believe me).
What I'm trying to say is that Chaol was that for me. It bothers me, his presence and personality, simply because I saw so much of myself in him. And because I didn't want to acknowledge it, it made me hate him harder.
But who carried the book was Yrene! I was sooooo happy when she appeared! I couldn't believe she was the same girl as in TAB (if you haven't read it, this is your sign)! She was so courageous. So full of energy and empathy. She taught me that it is ok to be vulnerable. That to ask for help is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it is a sign of strength as you must be brave to ask for it.
We also have Nesryn and Sartaq. Their story was just so cute and romantic. I was constantly expecting their chapters and POVs.
Nesryn is the epitome of a badass woman. She knows what she wants and is not afraid to let you know. The way Nesryn is attached to the Southern Continent is important too. As it can teach us that sometimes we need to go back to our roots to find ourselves if we were lost. Also, it was a plus that she was able to fly on Kadara. And her love story with Sartaq is the cutest.
What I enjoyed about ToD is the diversity it gave to the series. Since it was set on another continent, with representation of race, LGBTQ+ and disability people. The world-building was complex, as is usual for SJM, but she works so well with words that you start to understand all as you keep reading.
ToD is a book of healing, specifically emotional healing. Of going back to your roots to find yourself. About trusting yourself and being brave enough to realize you are not alone. That is ok to ask for help, and having friends is a gift.
Sartaq taught me to keep dreaming. Nesryn taught me that going back to your roots sometimes is necessary. Yrene taught that we all have a light in ourselves. And Chaol. Chaol taught me that we will overcome our dark places. That is ok to sometimes feel and be in these darkest places, only. Only if we comprehend and trust that we will get out. That we will fight it with our inner light. It is ok to ask for help and allow others to gift us some of their light to fight our deepest fears. Just remember that if you are in pain and a dark place, you can always count on me to help you fight them. Because the dark can't survive in the light.
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