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Review: The Throne of Glass Series: Queen of Shadows (TONS AND TONS OF SPOILERS)

Chidinma Ogbonnaya
Oct 10, 2015
5 min read

Okay, so this is the fourth book in the series so I don't feel the need to make the non spoiler section very long. If you have not started reading this series, I recommend you do. If you like Game of Thrones, Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice you should definitely be giving this series a look. I'd rate this at about 4.17/5 stars. That's it for the non-spoiler review, make sure to come back and read the book so we can discuss TOGETHER.

SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!

Let me start off by saying I really enjoyed this book. It was for sure one of my favorite books of the series but compared to Heir of Fire....

I think it was an extremely close second to Heir of Fire as my favorite, but it just missed the mark. Let me list out the reasons.

1.) CHARACTERS

I liked all the new characters in this book, but I feel like they could've been introduced sooner in the series. Sarah J. Mass does a good job of making you interested in new characters, but I just don't think they should've been introduced so late in the story. Each character brings their own backstory into the plot and I don't think those plot lines should be rushed.

2.) CROWN OF MIDNIGHT

The way Sarah wrote this last book it was as if the reader was supposed to act as if Crown of Midnight never really happened and it was just there to tell the reader that Celaena was really Aelin.

BUT....

I FREAKIN' LOVED THIS BOOK !!!!!

Okay, so let's start off from the very beginning.

So as soon Aelin saw Chaol with Arobynn and he didn't recognise her I just knew my ship was dead.

.

REALLY CHAOL?!?!?!

She dies her hair and all of sudden she looks so different you can't even recognise her???? Then we meet Nesryn and at first I was all like

I was just so mad at that point already and then this random ass girl was trying to squeeze her way into my ship and you could say I was a little upset.

But then she turned out to be really cool and really badass and awesome so I felt really bad.

Moving on from that, was I the only one that thought Arobynn was a bit overrated? I mean we'd heard so much about him and how he was so evil and conniving, but he was incredibly easy to trick. If I were an evil mastermind who knew that Aelin was probably holding a grudge over you for, oh I don't know KILLING HER BOYFRIEND!!!!! I would have thought a better plan than just making her put on a Valg ring to control her considering she does FREAKIN' MAGIC. Just a thought.

Side Note: Do you know why Chaol wanted a Valg guard so badly? Like if you want one so badly get one yourself. Don't start talking to Arobynn, who told you that was a good idea?

Speaking of Chaol he really pissed me off in this book. In the beginning when he was talking to Aelin and called her a monster I was just like

I'm kidding, I still like Chaol, but he was so god damn frustrating.

Okay so let's start off with Manon and the other witches.

So they're being stationed in Morath by the King of Adarlan and Duke Perrington and Manon ain't having none of that.

Then she meets Elide (who I honestly thought was actually a spy) who is the daughter of the Lord of Perranth, which means she's Terrasin and part witch.

I liked Elide, but she's one of the characters that I wish was introduced early.

One of the things I liked about the witch chapters were Asterin's character - I just loved her backstory so much. I felt so bad for her! But if I were her I would have told Manon how much of a straight up BITCH her grandmother was before people started making DEMON BABIES OUT OF Y'ALL!!!!!

Side note: Was I the only one who forgot who Kaltain was? I was 20 chapters in and I finally remembered and then I felt like an idiot.

Now on my two favorite characters: ADEION & LYSANDRA!!!!!!

They were soooo great! Every time they were around I just got so happy I was like

Aedion's side eye to Rowan when he was trying to follow after Aelin after their fight the night before was absolute GOLD. And when Chaol was explaining that Dorian had to survive to be king and Aedion was all "Why don't you just be king?" and Chaol was all "I'M NOT WORTHY." I could just totally imagine Aedion rolling his eyes.

Lysandra was awesome to have around especially after Nehemia, Aelin really needed a girl friend to hang out with Lysandra was perfect.

BUT NOT AS PERFECT AS ROWAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

LITERALLY ME

I was so excited when he showed up!!! He is literally BAE and I want him to have all my babies!!!!! I knew it wasn't gonna stay completely platonic between Aelin and him!!!!! And yeah I know I said I was a ride or die Chaolena shipper, but 1) Aelin doesn't even go by that name anymore and 2) IT'S FREAKIN' ROWAN!!!!! I'm honestly so upset there wasn't a sex scene between them in this book. Usually, I don't care much for sex scenes but it's ROWAN.

OMG, when Chaol almost got them all killed by Manon because he was being a FUCKING IDIOT I got so mad. I mean Rowan- my beautiful baby snowflake-could've DIED. I was legit scared for him I started actually praying.

Okay, can we just talk about the ending for a second.

I know I was just talking mad shit about Chaol but for a good fifteen minutes I thought he was legit dead and I COULD NOT HANDLE IT!!!!

And then freakin' Lorcan and his triflin' ass didn't get rid of those scary gargoyles and I thought Aedion and Rowan were gonna die too.

Honestly, I was an advocate for Dorian dying just because it made the most sense. I mean looking at it from a practical stand point it just seemed like the right thing to do. Even after I found out Kaltain was able to fight against the Valg I still thought Dorian was gonna die, but I guess not.

BUT. OH. MY. GAWD.

THE KING'S CONFESSION

This was exactly what I was waiting for!!!!! I just never understood why the king became so evil. But it's so obvious when you look back at it. Now we just got to do go to Morath to kill Lord Perrington and all will be well. Well, not everything.... Was I the only one who felt bad about the witches just leaving Elide in the woods to find her way back home? Like the girl has a twisted up leg, you'd think they'd help her out a bit. Not only that but they told her the wrong name to look for. She's gonna be looking for Celaena Sardothien and everyone's gonna be all "Dafuq is that?"

Side note: Where's Dorian's mom? She's gonna come back from wherever she is and be hella confused.