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ect625's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Tower of Dawn was just what I needed after the emotional crush of Empire of Storms. (I did not do the tandem read.) I've been a Choal fan all along, and I enjoyed the time getting to know him better. Also, SJM needed a plausible reason/plot line for bringing in the other characters to return to fight Erawan with Aelin and shifting the focus to Chaol for a book was a way to do that. I don't know yet the importance that they're going to play on KOA, but clearly SJM thought they deserved a whole book dedicated to setting up their story and presence.
There are as many opinions about the tandem read as there are about when to read Assassin's Blade, and I was very satisfied with reading them separately. Because of the intensity of the cliffhanger at the end of EOS, I needed a breather before starting KOA and TOD was perfect for that. SJM is the expert on her own writing, and she knew what she was doing with these two books.
There are as many opinions about the tandem read as there are about when to read Assassin's Blade, and I was very satisfied with reading them separately. Because of the intensity of the cliffhanger at the end of EOS, I needed a breather before starting KOA and TOD was perfect for that. SJM is the expert on her own writing, and she knew what she was doing with these two books.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
liesthemoontells's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A welcome disruption to the drawn out repetition of the previous book. The worldbuilding of a new civilisation and continent injects some variety into the series, although at times I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief at the glowing descriptions of the khaganate's empire and political structure.
While I don't know if Chaol *needed* a redemption arc, this book executes one remarkably well for a character who was so insufferable in earlier .
While this book at times felt like it is just moving the chess pieces into place for the finale, it also includes some delicious twists and revelations to be explored in the next book.
I took half a star off for the overuse of classic Maas phrases such as "eyes lined with silver" and characters saying something "too softly" - girl needs to pick up a thesaurus.
PS: lampshading the irony of me accusing Maas of needing to pick up a thesaurus when I use the word "book" five times in four paragraphs
While I don't know if Chaol *needed* a redemption arc, this book executes one remarkably well for a character who was so insufferable in earlier .
While this book at times felt like it is just moving the chess pieces into place for the finale, it also includes some delicious twists and revelations to be explored in the next book.
I took half a star off for the overuse of classic Maas phrases such as "eyes lined with silver" and characters saying something "too softly" - girl needs to pick up a thesaurus.
PS: lampshading the irony of me accusing Maas of needing to pick up a thesaurus when I use the word "book" five times in four paragraphs
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, and Classism
Moderate: Infertility, Racism, Medical content, and Medical trauma
undecidedpersonality's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Drug use, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
readwithde's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I've always had a soft spot for Chaol, and it was cathartic to read through his emotional and physical healing. I appreciated how his injury/disability was handled: as something to work through and around, not a problem to be solved. His "sleuthing" with Yrene to find answers was fun, and I liked that this warrior still had trouble dealing with all the politics.
But the reason I loved this book so much is Nesryn's story. It was refreshing to have a BIPOC FMC with so many connections and interesting characteristics not become the "love interest" side character for Chaol's MC. I love that she chose herself over their relationship, and she chose to fight in her own way for help and answers in this war. Also, I love her being with Sartaq. She made meaningful choices, had interesting adventure and action sequences, and came away with arguably the most important hidden information in the series: Maeve's false identity and purpose in Erilea.
I read this book in tandem with Empire of Storms, and I think both books benefited from that choice. It helped the narrative flow well, giving the reader time to react to both sides, as well as balancing the heavy action of Empire of Storms with the lore of this book.
But the reason I loved this book so much is Nesryn's story. It was refreshing to have a BIPOC FMC with so many connections and interesting characteristics not become the "love interest" side character for Chaol's MC.
I read this book in tandem with Empire of Storms, and I think both books benefited from that choice. It helped the narrative flow well, giving the reader time to react to both sides, as well as balancing the heavy action of Empire of Storms with the lore of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Infidelity, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
caroline_rk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Child abuse
britwalsh16's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I read this in Tandem with Empire of Storm. And I am SOOO glad I did! If I had to read this book between EOS & KOA, I would have died! & not enjoyed this book at all, I would have been obsessing over what’s gonna happen with the characters from EOS, & not able to take in all this book had to offer.
Chaol & Yrene are so sweet, & I think Yrene is exactly what Chaol needed. & though I rooted for them throughout the book, I felt bad for Nesryn. But when Sartaq came in, I was fully on board with that ship! And Nesryn deserves happiness with Sartaq, instead of being Chaol’s second choice. She was his rebound twice, & I think that just states how much they were not meant to be.
I enjoyed seeing the Southern Continent, & how they treat their people, & I hope that transfers over to the Northern Continent whenever this war ends & the good guys come out on top!
Chaol & Yrene are so sweet, & I think Yrene is exactly what Chaol needed. & though I rooted for them throughout the book, I felt bad for Nesryn. But when Sartaq came in, I was fully on board with that ship! And Nesryn deserves happiness with Sartaq, instead of being Chaol’s second choice. She was his rebound twice, & I think that just states how much they were not meant to be.
I enjoyed seeing the Southern Continent, & how they treat their people, & I hope that transfers over to the Northern Continent whenever this war ends & the good guys come out on top!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Stalking and War
Minor: Child death and Pregnancy
chaptersofamylea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
‘I know what you are.’
4 ⭐️
First time tandem reading just so I can get through this book. Its not a bad book, I bloody love Yrene. I love the setting, I love the family politics, I love the extraness this book adds to the overall story. I just bloody hate Chaol. Sorry not sorry.
TWs: injury detail, paralysis, death of a sibling
4 ⭐️
First time tandem reading just so I can get through this book. Its not a bad book, I bloody love Yrene. I love the setting, I love the family politics, I love the extraness this book adds to the overall story. I just bloody hate Chaol. Sorry not sorry.
TWs: injury detail, paralysis, death of a sibling
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Injury/Injury detail
phoricho's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, and War
sierrabowers's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I think this book was a good addition to the throne of glass series, but it was definitely not the best one. If I hadn’t done the tandem read, it would have been dreadful. I think the only way people should read this book is in conjunction with empire of storms. The ending was not as enthralling as EOS but definitely gave me motivation to hurry into Kingdom of Ash!!!! I think the journey that Chaol went through emotionally and physically is very important and shows the strength of people who live with physical disabilities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bookboyfriend's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Good, Chaol gets a character arc yessss. Honestly this is a good book but not Sara J Maas' best work
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death