Review: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Started reading: December 8th 2019
Finished the book: December 26th 2019
Pages: 648
Published: September 1st 2015
Source: Received as a gift
Goodreads score: 4.57
My score:

Synopsis

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.


She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

My thoughts

I'm always so excited to pick up books by Sarah J. Maas. I'm always pretty sure it's gonna be a 5-rating. I feel like she's taking you on a rollercoaster ride in every book. And I find myself thinking, when reading her books; "Someone made this up with their mind?!?" I'm just blown away every time.

Pros

• Characters: Sarah J. Maas is one of my favorite authors when it comes to portraying characters and personalities. I also like the way Celaena is called Aelin in this book, it's really cool and I've never seen something like that, where a character switches names in a series. I had to get used to it, but I felt like it fit the story.
• POVS: I love the way the story switches povs. It really gives you the opportunity to get to know every character a bit better. You can feel what they're feeling and are better able to empathize with what they're going through. I feel that the switching povs gives the story a deeper layer.
• Double story line: The double storyline is so much fun to switch between. I could just feel a bigger plot brooding below the surface. I couldn't wait for the two storylines to come together. 
• Romance: One of the best romance storylines I've ever read. I know a lot of people out there don't agree with me, but I think that it's perfectly realistic, the way the romance is developing. Also considering everything that's happened in the previous books. I didn't feel like the romance was over the top at all. It felt raw, and deep, and real and I loved every minute of it!
• Fighting scenes: The fighting scenes are amazing. It's what I fell in love with in the first book in this series. There is so much action and tension and it's so detailed. There is so much blood and injuries and all that. It's so realistic.

Cons

• Small remark: I had expected more from the big fight in this book. After all, this is what the whole book is working towards. It felt like it was over too fast in my opinion. 

Overall

I just can't wait to DEVOUR the rest of this series. It's so good. I can't imagine a fantasy lover not liking this series. Sarah J. Maas keeps up the tradition; another 5 star rating. Yay!

Other opinions on this book

"Character motivations and interactions are always nuanced and on point, especially Aelin's growing maturity offers her new perspectives on old acquaintances. Impossible to put down."

- Kirkus Reviews

"Fans of the high-fantasy series likely won't mind the protracted story at all, packed as it is with brooding glances, simmering sexual tension, twisty plot turns, lush world building, and snarky banter. The final chapters of this installment promise more epic adventures and badder bad guys to defeat in forthcoming volumes."

- Booklist

Memorable quotes from this book

"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."

"They joined hands. So the world ended. And the next one began."

"Sometimes there won't be a right choice, just the best of several bad options."

Thanks for reading!

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