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faythfarrar's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
khaley0127's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow this book in the series was incredible. What a journey, and such revelations. What an empowering story it is to watch Celaena become Aelin, own her identity, her past, her truth, what she must do. And Rowan was a character I desperately needed in this series. I had many heartbreaks at the end of the book, many reveals that had me enraged. I literally shook with anger lol, I feel like a book deserves 5 stars if you pull genuine emotion from me (considering I have an impenetrable mask while reading lol I do not get emotional visibly easily)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Gore, Self harm, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death and War
ladyrambo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
An amazing emotional trip and continuance of the series. It keeps you literally on the edge of your seat. I could not put the book down and there are not a lot of books out there that does that to me.. I will be thinking about this story for the next several days. It’s definitely a book and a series that you can dive in and forget the world around you. ❤️. LOVED IT!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Slavery, Torture, Death of parent, and Murder
jmdressel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yet another fascinating and nail-biting book!! i’m enjoying this series more and more as i keep reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual content, and Vomit
stephhaigreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Torture, Violence, and Murder
savage_book_review's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
The calm before the storm. Although objectively this is not the best book in the series, I think it's my favourite precisely because it's predominantly about the characters rather than the significantly progressing the plot of the series. And the audio version of confirms this.
I would love to be able to devour this audio in a single sitting, as I think I'd enjoy it even more without the interruptions, picking it up mostly felt like I was sliding back into something relatively relaxing. However, I think this one will properly fly when it gets the graphic audio treatment.
Of course, the massive draw of this book is the introduction of Rowan Whitethorn. Now, IMO he doesn't reach Bat Boy levels of sexiness until later on in the series, but he's by far the most interesting character in this whole series and this book gives him a great foundation. Elizabeth Evans does a great job bringing him to life (as she does with all of the characters), but he is the one character that I think does need a proper voice actor to do him justice.
The biggest shift in my perception of these books that has come about due to listening to the audios is I've realised just how fleeting the characters' feelings seem to be about their relationship partners. When I read the physical books, because I read quickly it comes across fairly naturally, but where the audiobooks are slower it's really hammered home the immaturity here. Four books in, and Celaena is on man number four. Dorian is on girl two with more to come, Chaol is a bit behind but about to get going... and it's not like they're painted as teenage crushes or casual relationships either - the feelings always seem to be all-consuming, end game feelings. It's 100% just an observation, not a criticism, because they story and the characters work, but it's just something I can't necessarily relate to.
The other thing I love about this book is that I can picture the majority of scenes in my head with absolute clarity - certainly more than in any of the other books. I still see Abraxos as Toothless, but that just makes it cuter! I see Maeve as Miranda Richardson's Queen Mab from 'Merlin' (the Sam Neill version from the 90s), and the image of her surrounded by her cadre of warrior Fae is crystal clear. I think the gentler pace allows the scenes to build more completely and immerse the reader more fully, and then the slower speed of the audios and the wonderful narration boosts the effect even further.
I would love to be able to devour this audio in a single sitting, as I think I'd enjoy it even more without the interruptions, picking it up mostly felt like I was sliding back into something relatively relaxing. However, I think this one will properly fly when it gets the graphic audio treatment.
Of course, the massive draw of this book is the introduction of Rowan Whitethorn. Now, IMO he doesn't reach Bat Boy levels of sexiness until later on in the series, but he's by far the most interesting character in this whole series and this book gives him a great foundation. Elizabeth Evans does a great job bringing him to life (as she does with all of the characters), but he is the one character that I think does need a proper voice actor to do him justice.
The biggest shift in my perception of these books that has come about due to listening to the audios is I've realised just how fleeting the characters' feelings seem to be about their relationship partners. When I read the physical books, because I read quickly it comes across fairly naturally, but where the audiobooks are slower it's really hammered home the immaturity here. Four books in, and Celaena is on man number four. Dorian is on girl two with more to come, Chaol is a bit behind but about to get going... and it's not like they're painted as teenage crushes or casual relationships either - the feelings always seem to be all-consuming, end game feelings. It's 100% just an observation, not a criticism, because they story and the characters work, but it's just something I can't necessarily relate to.
The other thing I love about this book is that I can picture the majority of scenes in my head with absolute clarity - certainly more than in any of the other books. I still see Abraxos as Toothless, but that just makes it cuter! I see Maeve as Miranda Richardson's Queen Mab from 'Merlin' (the Sam Neill version from the 90s), and the image of her surrounded by her cadre of warrior Fae is crystal clear. I think the gentler pace allows the scenes to build more completely and immerse the reader more fully, and then the slower speed of the audios and the wonderful narration boosts the effect even further.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Vomit
miss_berry315's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Ooohh this book was good!
Every storyline was interesting and served to move the plot forward in a way that made sense.
Celaena's character growth in this was great. This book really feels like a turning point in the series, and I love it!
As usual, SJM puts the last 20% of the book in chaos mode and I have never been more grateful to not have to wait for the next book in a series to come out.
Every storyline was interesting and served to move the plot forward in a way that made sense.
Celaena's character growth in this was great. This book really feels like a turning point in the series, and I love it!
As usual, SJM puts the last 20% of the book in chaos mode and I have never been more grateful to not have to wait for the next book in a series to come out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Genocide, Slavery, and Torture
edotte's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
eemi42's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Ok I'll take back the negative things I've said about this series because THIS. This is the flavor of epic I had been promised with this series.
The story opens into an ensemble cast, with Celaena/Aelin and Rowan (my new favorite character, sorry Chaol) in Wendlyn; Chaol, Dorian, Sorscha, and Aedion in Rifthold; and Manon and the Ironteeth witches in the Ferian gap. Additionally, as more information about Celaena was revealed, she became more 3D, more likeable. I find it easy to identify with and root for her now.
I'm still not sure where things are headed with Manon.
There were some themes in this book that reminded me of A Court of Silver Flames, like Celaena feeling useless and avoiding her responsibilities until forced training helps her out of it. I enjoyed it then and I enjoy it now. Though—dare I say it—this might be a better series than ACOTAR.
The story opens into an ensemble cast, with Celaena/Aelin and Rowan (my new favorite character, sorry Chaol) in Wendlyn; Chaol, Dorian, Sorscha, and Aedion in Rifthold; and Manon and the Ironteeth witches in the Ferian gap. Additionally, as more information about Celaena was revealed, she became more 3D, more likeable. I find it easy to identify with and root for her now.
I'm still not sure where things are headed with Manon.
There were some themes in this book that reminded me of A Court of Silver Flames, like Celaena feeling useless and avoiding her responsibilities until forced training helps her out of it. I enjoyed it then and I enjoy it now. Though—dare I say it—this might be a better series than ACOTAR.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
baileylynn04's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty