Cocktails and Books
Written on Nov 3, 2015
Sarah J. Maas's global #1 bestselling THRONE OF GLASS series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth instalment.
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. Now she returns to the empire – to confront the shadows of her past ...
Bloodthirsty for revenge on the two men responsible for destroying her life, and desperate to find out if the prince and his captain are safe, Celaena returns to Rifthold. She has accepted her identity as Aelin Galathynius, the lost Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, there are dark truths to learn and debts to be paid. Aelin must stay hidden beneath her assassin’s hood and draw on her mortal strength as Celaena to prevent the King of Adarlan from tearing her world apart. Only then can she fight for her people.
Readers will be held rapt as Celaena’s story builds to an agonising crescendo, packed with heart-pounding action and searing romance.
- ISBN10 1408858614
- ISBN13 9781408858615
- Publish Date 1 September 2015
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 1 February 2023
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Imprint Bloomsbury YA
- Format Paperback
- Pages 656
- Language English
Reviews
jesstheaudiobookworm
Written on Oct 17, 2015
bestmessever
Written on Oct 2, 2015
Jordon
Written on Sep 29, 2015
Yes.
Just yes.
Wow, this series really does get better and better with each book!
Nessa Luna
Written on Sep 18, 2015
Her first task is to rescue her cousin, Aedion, from being executed. And then, she plans on unleashing hell upon the King of Adarlan, for what he's done to her loved ones and herself. But she can't do it on her own, especially not without magic. So she enlists the help of a couple of rebels, and her old master Arobynn.
It took me so long to finish this book, partially because it was so big, partially because I have started a new job and I just couldn't bring myself to read a lot after I came home every day because I was just so damn tired every day. I would like to praise myself for avoiding spoilers in those seventeen (!!!!) days it took me to finish this book. But it was so worth it, I loved this book to bits - there was so much going on and I was afraid for so many times as I turned page after page to see what my favourite characters' fates were.
Sarah J. Maas' writing is just so good it keeps you wanting to read more and more, and I did so even if I was tired and even if I had to get up early the next day. So damn you Sarah for keeping me from sleeping day after day! But also, thank you so much for writing one of my favourite series, because it is - Throne of Glass had intrigued me right from the start and though I didn't love the first book, I started to love the series more as I read more.
I honestly loved about 80% of the characters; the 'gang' of course (Aelin, Chaol, Aedion, Rowan, Nesryn and some others), and Dorian (my baby what have they done to you); I loved Lysandra (especially her oh my gods), Evangeline, Manon, Elide; ALL OF THEM (okay no I didn't love the King, or the Duke, or Elide's uncle, or you know any of those assholes that thought they could do evil stuff, ugh).
There were only two things I didn't like about this book; one being the multiple POV's, but I think I've complained about this with all the previous books as well - it is just so confusing sometimes whose POV that part is being told from. It changes so much in the book, and eventually I just went with it and decided to ignore the fact that I had no idea whose POV it was. There were also some added POV's in this book, which annoyed me a bit more - but yeah there's nothing really that can be done about that. Then there was another thing, which I shall put under a spoiler tag, just in case.
I did not like the romance between Aelin and Rowan at all. Mainly because I just wanted to see her and Chaol get back together, but also because I just didn't like the fact that every time a 'hot' male character gets introduced, Celaena/Aelin has a romance thing with him. I mean seriously; Sam, Dorian, Chaol, and now Rowan. If Aedion hadn't been her cousin I would have expected her to have a thing with him as well. I just really wanted her to settle for one of the guys and not go from one guy to the other without blinking her eyes. *sighs*
But yeah, other than that, I really loved this book and I cannot wait for the fifth one to come out - which won't be until next year or so. *sobs* I'll just go and reread the series from the start and then reread ACOTAR and sob some more.
If you want to read a series similar to Game of Thrones, Throne of Glass is perfect for you! Especially if you are a lover of YA books, because let's be fair - this series is basically GoT-but-with-fairies-for-ya-people. Honestly I think I've been rambling too much in this review, but I just loved this book to bits and AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
My opinion on this book in one gif:
Angie
Written on Sep 4, 2015
I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning. Queen of Shadows just keeps amping up the tension and the danger. From the moment Aelin first sees Chaol again, I knew I was going to love this sequel. I was actually quite surprised with their reunion, because holy crap. So much animosity! I wanted to climb into the book with the book and slap Chaol with it! Do not speak to your queen that way, peasant! Although he does have his reasons, but still. I love Aelin and he is not worthy. Let her do her thing!
As much as I love Aelin, and her no nonsense attitude, I think by the end of Queen of Shadows, Lysandra was my favorite character. When she first appeared, I was like oh no! Things are about to get catty! But she's so much more than just a snotty bitch! We learn so much more about her, and I was like OMG that is awesome! Then things happen and I was like OMG I love you! I was also holding onto a very thin strand of hope that Aelin would go to the brothel, pay for a night with Lysandra that equals her debts, and then super happy fun girl on girl time! But that's just wishful thinking on my part.
Then there was Rowan. I totally did not give a crap about him in Heir of Fire. I actually kind of wanted him to go away. But now? He can stay. He can most definitely stay. I can't say why I'm allowing him to stay, because that is a spoiler. But several of his scenes just made me grin like mad.
I pretty much loved Queen of Shadows. If it hadn't been for more of those super boring witch chapters, I likely would have given it a 4.5 or even a 5. I still just really do not care about the witches, even though some of their chapters were quite interesting. Overall though, I simply don't care. But everything else was supremely awesome, and I felt like I had a couple of mini heart attacks.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
Amber
Written on Aug 31, 2015
I don’t see this review turning out too well considering Queen of Shadows is one of my favourite books of the year (it’s in my top three and that’s all you need to know) and I have discovered that I am entirely unable to be coherent when I talk about this book. Expect fangirling and capslock throughout.
First thing’s first, Aelin’s the realest. AELIN. I loved her in Heir of Fire but if there’s another level of love like the alleged several levels of hell then I have surpassed all levels and reached the pit. I’m talking pure adoration and worship. That is how much I fell for her in Queen of Shadows because she is one of the strongest women I have ever read about and I will never let go.
Aelin has been through so much and I cannot believe she is only nineteen because she wise and strong and a queen and a figurehead and I just want to be Aelin, guys. She is an inspiration.
I’m so glad that I read The Assassin’s Blade recently because I had Aelin’s (or, technically, Celaena’s) background fresh in my mind and I was all about it.
This entire book was so fucking intense, I can’t remember the last time I felt this way about a book. Maybe The Martian, because reading Queen of Shadows totally felt like I was running on a limited oxygen supply while stranded on another planet and about to die at any moment. THE ENTIRE BOOK IS PRECARIOUS.
Then there’s Rowan. ROWAN. I was ready to not hear much about him at all considering Aelin left him behind in Heir of Fire *sobs* because he wouldn’t have magic in Rifthold *weeps* and it would have been too dangerous and obvious *keels over and dies* BUT ROWAN WAS PRESENT SOMEWHAT AND OH MY GOD MY SHIP IS SO LEGIT GUYS AND I AM IN LOVE WITH ROWAN EVEN MORE NOW HE IS A PRECIOUS PRINCE AND NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS AND MY OTPPPPPPPPP.
Once again, I was NOT a fan of Chaol. Never have been, never will be. Chaol is an absolute arsehole who pits the blame on other people when really he should be looking at himself, or GASPSHOCKHORROR the actual bad guys who have oppressed and abused people for decades. But no, this puny little piece of shit likes to go around blaming people for shit they haven’t done.
ANYWAY, I hate Chaol, but… BUT the way his character ended up… I’m intrigued. I actually find myself looking forward to Chaol related storylines in the future because of reasons. I will never, ever like him, but I’m pleased with how things ended for him. Because. Reasons. Spoilers. Etc. I also loved that he was less present in this book, and I think it gave me a well deserved break in order to gather my senses and stop wanting to slit his throat at first sight.
ALSO ALSO ALSO, Manon!!! I struggled a bit with her chapters at first, like I did last time, and I think that’s because we kept getting dragged out of Rifthold and I just wanted to spend some time with my queen. But Manon’s bits were epic anyway and the WYVERNS and also Elide, a new character, and certain other Blackbeaks’ storylines were heartbreaking. Manon’s character arc is freakin’ awesome.
Speaking of character arcs, Queen of Shadows really is all about that. So many characters are growing and changing and coming to terms with things and learning and this book was one giant CHARACTER ARC OF AWESOME. Aelin, Rowan, Manon, Chaol (*hiss*), Lysandra, Aedion, Elide, and SO MANY OTHERS GO THROUGH SO MUCH AND CHANGE IN SO MANY WAYS THAT I CANT DEAL. SJM really loves these characters, guys.
I adore how everything is coming together as well. So many threads are being brought together and so many things are coming into play. You can tell that a fuck load of thought and planning has gone into this series. I said in my video review that it feels like a George R R Martin series due to the sheer scale of it. This series and this world is becoming mahoosive, and when I realised that it hit me like a fucking tidal wave. Seriously. So many characters are currently going through so many arcs and experiencing plot points and they’re all related in some way and some things are like a bloody butterfly effect and I LOVE IT SO MUCH. Sarah J Maas is rivalling Brandon Sanderson with this fantasy series and that takes some doing.
Sarah J Maas is actually becoming an absolute legend (LIKE THE QUEEN OF TERRASEN MHMMM) and every book of hers improves on the last. I said in my Throne of Glass review three years ago that it was an average YA fantasy and “I might continue with the series but I won’t rush to buy it”. I only read Crown of Midnight because Judith pushed me into doing it. And then Heir of Fire happened and got me hooked on the series. But Queen of Shadows got me hooked on the world and made me fall head over fucking heels with the characters and their journeys. How did I last this long without loving them? I don’t know. I now need to go back and reread the entire series so far so that I can get my dose because I swear to god, after Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows, the Throne of Glass series is the most addictive drug on Earth right now.
I don’t know what else to say about this book because it’s just flawless in every single way and while I have no problem repeating myself over and over again, I feel like I might lose your attention at some point. So, as is now tradition with my Throne of Glass reviews, I’m going to leave you with some quotes and some gifs. You should probably experience the actual book before you read these quotes, because context is everything.
Also, ROWAN AND AELIN AND MANON AND DORIAN AND QUEEN OF SHADOWS AND LYSANDRA AND EVERYONE IS FUCKING AMAZING AND I WILL CRY FOREVER OVER THESE CHARACTERS WHO HAVE FINALLY, FINALLY STOLEN MY HEART AND I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL NOT SURVIVE THIS SERIES.
If you’re a monster, I’m a monster.
She was a whirling cloud of death, a queen of shadows, and these men were already carrion.
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.
You make me want to live, Rowan. Not survive; not exist. Live.
“It’s Aelin now,” she snapped as loudly as she dared. “Celaena Sardothien doesn’t exist anymore.”
There were two men in this city responsible for destroying her life and the people she’d loved. She would not leave Rifthold until she’d buried them both.
I spent centuries wandering the world, from empires to kingdoms to wastelands, never settling, never stopping—not for one moment. I was always looking toward the horizon, always wondering what waited across the next ocean, over the next mountain. But I think … I think that whole time, all those centuries, I was just looking for you.
But she was her own champion now.
Elegant, feminine, and utterly wild. Warm, and steadfast—unbreakable, his queen.
She moved like a midnight storm. Whatever training she’d had in Wendlyn, whatever that prince had taught her … Gods help them all.
jnikkir
Written on Aug 30, 2015
Kelly
Written on Aug 25, 2015
EPIC. Absolutely epic.
★★★★☆
Celaena was fierce in Throne of Glass, she enamored readers in Crown of Midnight, she took us on a journey of self discovery in Heir of Fire now in Queen of Shadows, left me feeling incredibly liberated. She's powerful, she's intelligent and the supreme symbol of a strong heroine that allows nothing to stand in her way. I adore her. Passionately. She's now Aelin, the Queen of Shadows and Rifthold will set the scene for her revenge for those who have crossed her, used and abused her. But now Aelin returns not only for vengeance, but to seek freedom from the King of Adarlan's oppression. For her Kingdom, for Rifthold and for those now enslaved by Valg demons.
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.
Slipping back into her role as Assassin, for Aelin to gain a foothold within the Kingdom she has no choice but to retrieve her stolen Wyrdkey and attempt to break the stronghold on magic. But Rifthold is so deeply entrenched in corruption and heinous crime, that she'll risk her life to obtain freedom for others.
Queen of Shadows picks up shortly after Heir of Fire and unfortunately provided few reminders of the previous storyline. I did struggle in the beginning, but as the story progresses, we see snippets of where our characters were left. Dorian at the palace with his vengeful father and dealing with the consequences of a forbidden love, Chaol fleeing the Kingdom and joining a new alliance, the centuries old Rowan left behind reluctantly, while Aedion is facing a battle against a kingdom, powerless. It was absolutely glorious. I loved seeing Manon and her Thirteen of Ironwitches struggling with a new found emotion, against the injustice of being expected to serve without question. Her character development was incredible and only demonstrates how the series is brimming with strong females who use their cunning and intelligence to defeat and defend.
I absolutely loved the multiple viewpoint scenarios, seeing the story unfold from each character's perspective only added to an intense and often smouldering storyline. As the battle evolves, so do the character relationships, those previously at odds will come together to form a tentative and dubious alliance.
Told in two parts, with part one setting the scene for a battle of epic proportions. New alliances are formed and former ties have been severed. The romance on several fronts was delicious and so well crafted that it left me more often than not on tenterhooks. There are a few hints at a surprising new romance that I could definitely find myself on board with and with passionate fans aplenty, may cause a rift between readers. But I absolutely adored it. I applaud Sarah J. Maas and her ability to make the hard decisions, and not pander to satiate fans.
It took a few chapters for me to immerse myself back into the storyline and may have benefited from skimming Heir of Fire again beforehand, but it didn't take long for Sarah J. Mass to enchant and entice me back into her world. Beautifully written, even more so than previous books in the series. I was enamored by the incredible crescendo of battle, the gentle moments between characters, the new alliances and character development were all immaculately crafted and precise. I adored it. Sarah J. Maas is no doubt the leading author in young adult fantasy and Queen of Shadows is by one her best releases to date.