Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

“You make me want to live, Rowan. Not survive; not exist. Live.”

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.

There will be spoilers throughout this review. If you have not read Queen of Shadows, please proceed with caution!

When I finished reading Heir of Fire, I dubbed it as one of the greatest fantasy novels I have ever read. So when I began Queen of Shadows, I had very high expectations. And I will admit, at first I was a little nervous.

For me, this one had a bit of a slow start. Whether that was from some of the prominent characters having limited roles or not initially being present (Dorian and Rowan, I'm looking at you), or the pace of the beginning chapters, I almost fell into a reading slump. But as soon as Queen of Shadows started picking up speed, it never let up.

Since I had yet to read The Assasin's Blade, I was yet to truly meet Arobynn, and my oh my, is he a fantastic villain. The scenes with him at the Assassin's Keep were some of the first to draw me into the storyline, particularly surrounding the rescue of Aedion and, eventually, the dinner when Aelin presents him with a Valg soldier. Strangely, I was almost disappointed when Lysandra and Aelin finally got their revenge (not that he didn't deserve it. He absolutely had it coming). Clever, cunning villains are often the most fascinating, but the King of Adarlan and the Valg also fill that role effortlessly.

The Valg specifically had a significant role in this book, which we see especially through Manon's storyline. We start to see the true plans of the Valg unfold at Morath when Manon is demanded to hand over a clan of witches to be used to create hybrids with the Valg. This was one of the more gruesome plotlines of the book, as was what was going to happen to Elide before the Thirteen rescued her. The majority of the fight scenes in this book were impeccable, but seeing a section of Morath be destroyed by Kaltain's shadowfire was one of the most satisfying. In addition, the inevitable confrontation between Manon and her grandmother is easily one of my most anticipated events for Empire of Storms, and I don't doubt that it will be extraordinary.

On a side note, I loved that we got to have a deeper look into Asterin's character. Her story was heartbreaking, but seeing her and Manon rekindle their friendship was such a touching moment.

Speaking of impeccable fight scenes, the battle between Aelin and Manon was flawless. Throughout the series so far, Aelin and Manon both are hailed as being the best of the best by everyone around them. While they more than earned those titles, it was refreshing to see them faced with an opponent who was an equal match. Hopefully, we'll get to see them fighting on the same side soon, because I'm fairly certain that they would be unstoppable.

Before we delve into the epic showdown that we've been waiting for since the very beginning of the series, let's talk about our beloved characters.

I actually found myself truly appreciating Aelin this time around. My opinion of her increased sharply in the previous book, but that growth was cemented as the plot progressed. Her relationship with Rowan is a considerable highlight of the book as well. I already enjoyed their dynamic in Heir of Fire, but they experienced a great deal of growth throughout the story, coming to trust each other more fully and finally admitting their shared attraction toward each other. I didn't particularly care for Aelin's relationship with Chaol in the early books, but these two complement each other in a manner that actually feels realistic, and I hope it remains as compelling going forward.

Chaol is also a character that went through a lot of growth in this installment. My feelings toward him have been fairly mixed at times, but seeing him fighting desperately to save Dorian and protect the rebels really caught my attention, as did his relationship with Nesryn. Aedion is another one that I wasn't sure of when he was first introduced, and while I still can't call him one of my favorite characters, I was far more interested in his role as a member of Aelin's court. Shapeshifters were an excellent addition with Lysandra, as is her friendship with Aelin. Elide takes on a larger role as well, and she just might be the character I am most curious about. Her journey to find Aelin in Empire of Storms is sure to be one to remember.

As for Dorian...my favorite character, whose story ripped my heart to shreds and led to one of the most epic battles I have ever read.

Aelin and Dorian facing off with the King of Adarlan has been teased ever since Throne of Glass, and my God, it did not disappoint. The minute that collar was put around his neck, it was made apparent that the following events were going to be nothing short of chaotic. Between Chaol and Aelin arguing over whether or not he should be killed and Manon eventually leaving a message declaring that his humanity wasn't gone, I was an anxious wreck. When they finally broke into the castle and the fighting ensued, I was flipping through the pages feverishly. It didn't matter that it was the middle of the night or that I was too slow of a reader to finish it at a reasonable time. I was locked in, and Sarah J. Maas had me hanging on her every word.

Magic fights in general are, in my opinion, the most exhilarating to read, and that couldn't be more true when it came to Dorian against Aelin. With Dorian having raw magic and Aelin with her fire, similar to Aelin's fight with Manon, it genuinely felt like a close match. Her desperate pleas for him to show a sign that he was still there were gut-wrenching, and don't get me started on the fact that it was learning that his father had supposedly killed Chaol that ultimately broke him free.

Also, when the two of them reunite and Chaol becomes emotional? I cried at four in the morning. If anything damages their friendship going forward, I will be devastated.

My emotional outburst aside, there is one more important topic to cover: Dorian killing his father. Learning the truth, that the King of Adarlan had actually been trapped by a Valg Prince the entire time, was probably one of the most devastating realizations we've had thus far in the series. This is a major turning point, as we now know that the Valg have always been the ones in control, not the man that has been so heavily despised by most of the main characters. It's painfully tragic, and even though I had to pity him, that didn't take away from the satisfaction of seeing Dorian kill him and shatter the glass castle. The writing of this scene alone was so immersive, and it leaves me with such high expectations for what's still coming. With how Queen of Shadows ended, I can only expect that it will be nothing short of spectacular.

In summary, despite a slow start, this book was yet another testament to Sarah J. Maas's ability to tell a wonderful, epic story, and after finishing The Assassin's Blade (which I am so painfully late to reading), I will be tackling the daunting tandem read. Will it take me an unreasonably long time to complete it? Most likely, but it's going to be a fantastic journey.

Happy reading, everyone!

Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars