This series is getting better and better by the second. Now all I can think about is them. With each book, the story and the characters become more tangible. More real.
*CONTAINS SPOILERS*
“She was fire, and light, and ash, and embers. She was Aelin Fireheart, and she bowed for no one and nothing, save the crown that was hers by blood and survival and triumph.”
–Sarah J. Maas
What Is It About?
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…
She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.
My Opinion
/ 5
Questions are answered, but more questions are asked. Making the plot so much more complex and intriguing. I was still confused with all the Wyrdkeys and whatnot, but the way the characters develop was priceless.
I must admit that ToG is battling to be first place against ACOTAR. Don't get me wrong. I still am a fan of ACOTAR, but the way ToG is written and the character development feels much deeper than with Feyre and Rhys.
Aelin has come back to Adarlan. To fight for what she lost. For her parents. Her people. For her. She has become a fighter. And I adore that, as she is now my role model (alongside Manon). I cannot describe what Aelin has done for me. She has taught me so much. She has suffered so much, but she is still this strong fire-breathing b! tch queen, who cares more than she says. Who fights for what is right. Never in my life, a book has meant so much to me. She grew a lot in HoF, and I can say I grew with her too.
SJM never writes things just because. She always has a meaning behind it, as we can see with Manon's storyline. She was introduced in the third book, although she didn't interact with any of the other's stories. But in this book, we see how her storyline crosses Aelin's and Dorian's. Manon was one of the few characters that I loved since page one. Her morally gray personality was perfect *chef's kiss*. Her story teaches us that even if we are in a bad environment and with terrible people around us, we can still make a difference. We still can decide to change the course of our life and not settle with what is "normal. I loved the appearance of Elide in the camp and how her relationship with Manon evolves.
Let's talk about the other characters. Poor Dorian is constantly being tortured. Every time his POV showed up, I wanted to cry and give him a hug. Chaol keeps disappointing me. His behavior towards Aelin is unacceptable. The things he said to her were hurtful, and he deserves that scar on his cheek as a reminder every day. Aedion acts like an alpha male over Aelin, which is cute, but at the same time, a bit annoying. She can take care of herself just fine.
The whole part involving Arobynn is messed up, and my stomach twists every time I think about it. Arobynn thought he still had Aelin wrapped between his fingers. Gave Lysandra as a "gift. Thinking she was going to kill her. But no, Aelin was more intelligent, sparing her life to listen to her story.
To free Aedion, Aelin made a deal with Arobynn. But because he is never satisfied, demanded Aelin stop messing with his investments. Aelin agreed, only if he returned her amulet.
One of the most powerful scenes in the book is when Lysandra kills Arobynn. One would think that Aelin would have wanted to, but she gave Lysandra the opportunity. This took a heavyweight off them.
Every single woman SJM presents us in these books is a warrior. I wouldn't say fearless because they actually have fears, but they don't let them get in the things they want. They allow their fears to shape them, propelling them to be better. To overcome their inner demons. To do not let their hard days win (YES, I used an ACOTAR quote).
SJM is a master of writing stories in different POVs. We not only see Aelin and her friends, but we also see the POV of new characters, like Lysandra. I didn't trust her at all in TAB. But after she opens up to Aelin and tells her story, my admiration for her was huge.
I could talk on and on about these books. How each character breaks and stitches my heart again and again. But then I would reach the character limit. So if you want to rant about them, my DMs are open :)
At the end of the book, Aelin and her friends managed to: kill Arobynn and free Adarlan from its king. With the help of Dorian, who thankfully managed to break the Wyrd collar. Aelin and Dorian join their power to defeat the king, and by doing so, they destroy the Glass Castle. In the whole mess, Chaol was badly hurt, paralyzed from the waist down. So he and Nesryn decide to go to the Southern Continent. To Torre Cesme, to get him to heal.
The rest of the crew decides to sail towards Aelin's kingdom. Her home. Terrasen.
ONE SCENE WE MUST DISCUSS, AND THAT MADE THE ENTIRE BOOK PERFECT: when Rowan showed up in Adarlan and Aelin runs towards him. That fricking scene was the best scene ever written in history. And no one can say otherwise. I wept and wept when they got reunited. And you may ask yourself why? They weren't a couple, mates, or married. No, they were Carranam. And that is something as important or even more than the other. To be Carranam means you have to completely trust the other and put your power and life in the hand of him/her too.
That's why I love so much Rowaelin. Because before having a relationship, they had to trust each other unconditionally. And open up to their past to face their future. Together. To whatever end.
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