Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas

Queen of Shadows
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Published by: Bloomsbury
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance,
Pages: 656
Series: Throne of Glass
In series: 4
Released: September 1, 2015
Add to Goodreads
Read: September 2-4, 2015

---

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 will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. 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.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

---

Opinion:

I decided that I need to write this review regardless of the fact that I haven’t reviewed the other books on my blog yet. I just can’t not talk about it! So this is going to be a little informal and probably a little more fangirl. But you have been warned! Also, I will post a spoilers so I advise you not to read when I warn you they are coming. Also, don’t read this at all if you haven’t the series. It will be 100% spoilery for you.

So without further ado…

Queen of Shadows picks up pretty much right where Heir of Fire leaves off and the plot was fantastic! We follow Aelin as she tries to take down Arobynn, the king and her kingdom back. Chaol is now a outlaw since running from the king and Dorian, Dorian is wearing that godforsaken collar and being controlled by a demon prince, Manon and her Thirteen are still in Morath training with their wyverns. New characters were also introduced and unlike Heir of Fire I really loved them. The writing was phenomneal. I don’t think Sarah J Maas has it in her to write a bad novel. Every single book in this series just keeps blowing me away. Her writing has really improved and I could feel everything to the depth of my heart. I feel like I am living in this world with Aelin and the gang. The world building was so fantastic and still blows me away. I can’t wait until we see Terrasen.

Side note: If you haven’t read The Assassin’s Blade I highly suggest you do before QoS. Many events and characters from the novellas are brought into this novel and I think it’s kind of impossible

Now let me get into the characters…

Aelin. Oh Aelin. You are so bad@$$ and I love you to pieces. She is still the sarcastic, sassy little firecracker that we have all grown to love. She is spoiled, vain, and strong. I have seen some reviews saying that Aelin’s development has gone downhill since Heir of Fire because she is so vain or throws threats at people who don’t do what she wants and I have to say I disagree. Aelin has always been this way. She has always been vain and spoiled. She has always been a little brat who wanted to get her way, but that doesn’t take away from who she is. She is still loyal and strong and will do whatever she needs to make things right. She sees the big picture and will do whatever she can for her friends, family, and people. Yes, she makes a bunch of threats to people that she will kill them if they betray her, but she is the most wanted person by the king! She can’t be found and it’s very detrimental that she stay under the radar. Can you really blame her? I can’t.

However, I do agree that she did get a little dagger happy at the beginning, but it all worked out in trying to bring down Arobynn, which let’s face it…he had it coming!

Which I guess I’ll go ahead and talk about him next…

Arobynn. UGH HE IS SUCH A DOUCHE CANOE! I HATE HIM SO MUCH! This guy gives me the major creeps. I read The Assassin’s Blade and couldn’t stand him and I didn’t think it was possible to be even more creeped out by this guy, but Maas proved me wrong. Arobynn is so controlling and manipulated that I feel so sad that this, this, this is the only father figure Aelin had. Yes he molded her into who she is partly, but I wanted to see a huge showdown between him and Aelin. I am glad for his part in this book, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed. Don’t get me wrong I loved his part, but I like I said I wanted a bigger showdown. Oh well.

Chaol. Oh Chaol, Chaol, Chaol. How is it possible that you got worse from HoF? He was being so dumb through 75% of the book that I wanted to bang my head against the wall. Which is saying a lot considering he’s pretty absent for most of the book. A blessing in disguise, I guess. I just hate how he still didn’t accept Aelin! He hates her powers and who she is and just can’t accept her. I almost felt bad for him when he kept expecting Aelin to be jealous over Nesryn’s attention. Does he even love her? Did he ever? Because she’s not Celaena and can’t ever be again. I loved how Aelin pretty much called him out on how he accepts Dorian’s powers but hers are an abomination.

Okay, yes I know that Aelin is a little unpredictable but it’s not like she is going to be a tyrant who is going to kill everyone if magic is released. You can trust her. In fact, you have trusted her and you know deep down she can be again! *sigh* Speaking of releasing magic..HOW DARE YOU KEEP THAT INFORMATION FROM HER! I couldn’t believe that he actually was afraid to tell her how to release magic in Adarlan in fear of what she may do to all the non-magic wielders…are you being series right now, Chaol? -_-

Manon is still growing on me. I really enjoy her development and seeing her battle with humanity. However, her chapters are still so dull in my eyes. Like, HoF her storyline didn’t become really interesting until the end. I do enjoy seeing her struggle with what she is expected to do and her struggle with what she is starting to believe is right. Once she decides, she is going to be a force to be reckoned with! I guarantee it. I can’t wait for her to join Aelin and have them just kick everyone’s butt. Can we please have this happen?

Nesryn and Elide. These two girls were fabulous. They are each introduced as side characters, but I enjoyed them so much. Particularly Elide. She taught Manon hope and to have faith. She had such great hope that the lost Terrasen princess is still alive out there and will be able to save them all and it was so sweet too Manon want to help her meet Aelin.

---

Okay because I can’t take it anymore I can going into spoilery territory! So if you have not read QoS PLEASE STOP READING NOW!!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! or if you don’t care…by all means, continue…hehe

Okay first of all how BOSS-LIKE is Aelin? She had a list and she was ticking items off like nothing. I loved how she just started taking down Arobynn’s networks to bring him down. This girl is a pure genius. She was straight out dying her hair auburn and dressing like aristomen to pose as Arobynn as to frame him?! What! GENIUS! She was always a step ahead of him because she knew the scum he was. I was so terrified that she had to team up with him save Aedion from the king and I was fully expecting him to betray her. I am shocked he hadn’t, but it was so sad how Aelin still had some hope that he wouldn’t betray her and he did actually love her. It was pretty awesome that Arobynn sent Lysandra to Aelin to deliver items as a gift to Aelin to kill Lysandra if she pleases. And how wonderful to full the rug from under him to actually team up to take him down! YAASS! Aelin and Lysandra are the best together! I am so glad that they became friends because poor Aelin needs a female friend ever since Nehemia ): I didn’t want  to trust Lysandra, but I did, I so did and thank gods she was 100% there for Aelin. Oh my gosh! I was almost brought to tears when the king had captured Lysandra and Aelin stopped everything so they could rescure her and Lysandra was just shocked and told Aelin “You came for me” *PUDDLES OF TEARS!* Those two really have come such a long way since The Assassin’s Blade. Even though Aelin wasn’t the one who ended him it was nice that Aelin gave Lysandra the chance to get her revenge for what he did to her. But after Arobynn put that ring on Aelin in hopes that he would be able to control her..he was done. 

Oh and ROWAN! His reunion with Aelin was EVERYTHING!! I literally cried. Actually this book was a big whole mess of tears. I loved their relationship so much. I have to say…I am board the ship. LET IT SAIL! Even though I ship them together because they are absolutely perfect together, I am still a little disappointed that their relationship went from platonic to romantic. However, it makes sense. Rowan took the blood oath and they have a deep connection now. They carranam and they can’t help how their are just pulled together. I loved how each morning Aelin would reach across the bed and found it empty. I was missing Rowan just as deeply as she was and the fact that Rowan was doing the same miles away?! oh the feeeeels. I couldn’t handle their flirting. Their flirting was life. They were so beautiful!!!!

Since I am already talking about ships and the romance, let’s talk about Chaolaena (hehe). Boy is that ship dead. Sorry, not sorry if you are a shipper. But it’s safe to say Chaolaena is over forever. I mean even the name is outdated. Chaol is not who she belongs with and I think we could all see that since HoF. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Chaol and I did like them in Crown of Midnight but it was easy to see that they didn’t belong together. Chaol has so much hate in him for Aelin. He doesn’t accept her and he hated her for wanting to kill Dorian while he was controlled by that Valg prince. Aelin was just trying to give him mercy because she couldn’t see Dorian inside. That’s what Dorian would have wanted. In fact that is what he did want, in his POV we see him saying he despised the woman who didn’t kill him because she hesitated.

Okay, if you have read previous posts of mine you will know that I am in love with Dorian so it’s no surprise that I still ship them. I still have some hope that they can be endgame, but it’s looking pretty futile at this point because there is just so much friendship. But there is just so much linking them together! The way Dorian took control and ripped that collar from his neck and then joined forces with Aelin to take down his father. Dorian even said it…they are infinite. 

And Manon can just stay away from him because I am sorry but I do not approve! Stop remembering her name Dorian!

Are you still with me? I think I’ll wrap this up because it is long enough. So I’ll just end with saying that QoS is a very emotional ride. It had so many twists and turns! Every single thing I wanted to happen happened! The take down of Arobynn and the king! Manon and Aelin meet up! Dorian being released! Even Kaltain blew my mind! Aelin and Rowan! Aelin and Aedion! Rowan and Aedion fighting together and Lysandra joining the court! Aelin making her an official Lady! Oh gods.

This book was beautiful and it is definitely my favorite in the series. I absolutely loved every single moment. The wait for TOG5 is going to be unbearable!