Hi Foreverbookers,
How are you all today? I hope you’re well!
I’ve just finished “Queen of Shadows,” book 4 of the “Throne Of Glass” series Sarah J Maas, and I bloody well LOVED it. It’s amazing to think that I didn’t think much of “The Assassin’s Blade” or “Throne of Glass” itself but I’m LOVING the latter books in the series!
In Queen Of Shadows we’re following our main protagonist from the prequel novella collection, “The Assassin’s Blade” and all the other books so far, Celaena or Aelin as she’s known in “Queen of Shadows” more, as she and her cadre become significant to the running and fighting of Erilea and Terrasen, where they live. There are surprises in the plot that I didn’t see coming. For example, when Aedion, Aelin’s cousin, gets captured and tortured by the King, Dorian’s father. Can he get out alive or does he die? You’ll need to read to find out for yourself! Also, what happens to Dorian? After losing the love of his life, Sorcha, at the end of “Heir Of Fire,” book 3 in the series can he get back to some semblance of normal or does his evil father, the King of Ardalan keep him locked in a state of terror, not knowing what’s for the best?! Also, Manon is back! I enjoyed reading her scenes a LOT more in “Queen of Shadows” than I did in “Crown of Midnight” or “Heir Of Fire!” I loved Celaena’s plot in both of those but Manon’s felt a little pushed to the wayside, whereas in “Queen Of Shadows,” she actually had a purpose, I felt. Manon in “Queen of Shadows,” is a leader to her people, the Blackbeak coven of witches. She’s dealt a harsh hand but deals with it well. What is this hand she’s dealt? You’ll need to read for yourself but it’s good. She needs to help a stray girl, Elide, can she? What will happen to her if she does/doesn’t? Is she betrayed? All of these answers are in the plot of “Queen of Shadows!”
The plot of “Queen Of Shadows” centres Celaena or Aelin as she tries to overcome obstacles to rule Terrasen, her home land.
The romance was STRONG in “Queen Of Shadows!” I appreciated this. I love any good romantic plot line in a book series as you’ll know from my other reviews. I felt that in this fourth instalment of the “Throne Of Glass” series, the plot did balance the action and romance well, whereas in the other books the romance felt forced or not altogether there. The main romantic lead, Rowan isn’t present in the first three books, including the novella collection, “The Assassin’s Blade,” so that might be why I feel like this. We get to know him in “Heir Of Fire” but even then, it’s limited. In “Queen Of Shadows,” we actually see Aelin and Rowan bond, and start to create a future together for the good of their people, rather than training or fighting in every scene they’re in.
I read Queen Of Shadows for one readathon, which was
Reading Rivalry - A book where people are arranged into groups - There’s the fae, the humans and the witches in this world.
Always Fully Booked Reading Challenge - A book over 400 pages - “Queen Of Shadows” is 648 pages according to Goodreads
Reading Rainbow Reading Challenge - Pattern - the smoke in the background of “Queen Of Shadows” looks like a pattern.
On The Cover Reading Challenge - A weapon - Celaena is holding a sword.
There is blood and violence in the plot of “Queen of Shadows” but nothing you can’t look past if you’re okay with those things. I’d say because of the content of the book, deception and violence it should be read by an older teenager. There’s no sexual activity, although there’s talk of loss of a baby later in the book.
Spoilers below…
“Touch him,” Chaol said, “and I’ll make sure those bastards down there find Aedion.” This is when Aelin near the beginning of the book finds Chaol, her ex lover. All he wants to do is save Dorian his best friend and confidant. Dorian is supposed to be heir to the throne of Ardalan. However, his tyrannical father, doesn’t want to lose his place on the throne, so he put a collar around Dorian’s throat at the end of Heir Of Fire to keep him under his control. He also murdered Sorcha, Dorian’s love. Chaol feels a desperate need to protect Dorian, so that’s why he threatens Celaena and Aedion in this way. He doesn’t trust anyone easily. I liked Chaol more in the first two books than this one. He doesn’t really have a role in Heir of Fire as that’s taken up by Rowan more so as the main male character. “Heir of Fire” is based in Mistward too, not Ardalan.
A new character in the plot of Queen of Shadows is Lysandra. I think she’s been mentioned in either Crown of Midnight or perhaps Throne of Glass but she actually has a role to play in this fourth book (not counting The Assassin’s Blade). She helps the characters fight at the end of the novel. She’s a courtesan and shapeshifter who can transform into a cat. This is helpful in the final battle against the King of Ardarlan, Dorian’s father. I could see sparks between her and Aedion, Celaena’s cousin, for sure throughout so I hope this is built upon in the next couple of books. Lysandra is the one to bring about the death of Arobynn, the King of Assassin’s, the character that controlled Celaena’s actions in both “Throne of Glass” and “Crown of Midnight.” She does this not kindly at all.
“I used to be so jealous of you. Not only did you have Sam but also Arobynn . . . I was such a fool, believing he gave you everything and denied you nothing, hating you because I always knew, deep down, that I was just a pawn for him to use against you—a way to make you fight for his affection, to keep you on your toes, to hurt you. And I enjoyed it, because I thought it was better to be someone’s pawn than nothing at all.”
Lysandra is telling Aelin how she’s sorry for not believing in her. She used to think that Arobynn was the best, however she sees now that he’s not. This is why I believe she takes no prisoners when killing him later in the novel. Just after the above quote, it’s written “Arobynn would pay,” and boy does he! I’ll let you read for yourself how…but it’s not pretty!
“Aelin said, “The other night, you didn’t just come to warn me about Arobynn.”
When Lysandra raised her head, her eyes were frozen. “No,” she said with soft savagery. “I came to help you destroy him.” It was nice to see Aelin have a female friend in the book. The only friends she’s had so far have been male.
The other part of this novel is about the witches. I enjoyed reading about the witches so much more in Queen of Shadows than I did Crown Of Midnight or Heir Of Fire as I said above. When they meet Aelin later in the plot, what happens? I’ll let you read for yourself, but the only one Manon can truly trust is her wyvern, Abraxos! I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow even stronger. Abraxos would literally jump in front of anything or anyone to save Manon. When she learns that her Grandmother, the matron of the Blackbeak clan of witches isn’t as clean or as friendly as she once thought, what will happen to her? Also, another member of the Blackbeak clan, Asterin was betrayed by the matron. She reveals this to Manon later in the novel.
When the witches meet Aelin and her group of comrades, there’s a battle. “Here it was again, that tug—toward Manon, whose arms buckled as she collapsed to the stone.
Her enemy—her new enemy, who would have killed her and Rowan if given the chance. A monster incarnate.
But perhaps the monsters needed to look out for each other every now and then.
“Run!” Aedion roared across the ravine.
So she did.
Aelin ran for Manon, leaping over fallen stones, her ankle wrenching on loose debris.
The island rocked with her every step. And the sunlight was scalding as if Mala were holding that island aloft with every last bit of strength the goddess could summon in this land.
Then Aelin was upon Manon Blackbeak, and the witch lifted hate-filled eyes to her. Aelin hauled off stone after stone from her body, the island beneath them buckling.
“You’re too good a fighter to kill,” Aelin breathed, hooking an arm under Manon’s shoulders and hauling her up. The rock swayed to the left—but held. Oh, gods. “If I die because of you, I’ll beat the shit out of you in hell.”
She could have sworn the witch let out a broken laugh as she got to her feet, nearly a dead weight in Aelin’s arms.
“You—should let me die,” Manon rasped as they limped over the rubble.
“I know, I know,” Aelin panted, her sliced arm aching with the weight of the witch it supported.”
Here, we can see Aelin saving her enemy, Manon the witch. She does this to prove that not all fae are bad, and that some actually care for others. Manon’s grandmother, of course isn’t happy about this. I can see Manon and her group of witches working with Aelin and her group of fae/humans to better the world. And Manon’s grandmother playing the antithesis in trying to bring them all down, now that Dorian’s father is dead, or is he? Manon has a comrade in Elide, a young witch or is she? We’re not sure what she is, yet! I hope this is revealed in the next book!
Overall then, I really enjoyed Queen Of Shadows soooooo much more than I thought I would! I loved the character dynamics and how they all worked together to help save the world. I also liked seeing the fae characters come together with the witches and the humans. It was nice to see a cohesive group. I wonder what will happen next…
Stand by for my next review, coming soon!
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