A review by jessie_allbookedup
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Overall this book was SO enjoyable! The twists and turns and the adventure it takes you on we’re some of the best I’ve read. The fight scenes were epic. All the character growth was top tier. The plot? *chefs kiss*.
But I think there was a ton of events crammed into 645 pages that makes it hard to keep track of what all happened or kept me from absolutely falling for some of the characters due to ALLLLL of the pov switching. Don’t get me wrong, I love multi pov but this one switched to at least 8 characters and gave me a bit of whiplash. Not to mention SJM doesn’t label the sections with the character POV you’re reading from.
I really enjoyed this but so far I don’t think it’s my favorite 😬
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Expect spoilers:
First off, can I just say I don’t get the Chaol hate… I mean… he didn’t betray Aelin and had her back even though he was scared of who she would be with magic and was mad that she kept her true identity from him…. If you were in love with someone and you suddenly found out that person wasn’t who you thought they were, wouldn’t you feel betrayed? The man held out for her all through Heir of Fire and when shit went down in the glass castle and his bff sacrificed himself for him things changed for him. He became so focused on saving as many people as he could.
Did I understand all his reasoning for why he was mad at Aelin? No! Because when I’m mad I get irrational too. He’s human. He’s allowed to be rude. He’s entitled to his emotions just like you are. He’s allowed to have a bad day and make bad decisions. Leave Chaol alone!
Honestly this book was a whirlwind and I think that’s why I’m rating it 4 stars. So much, I mean SO MUCH happened in this book and I don’t even remember all of it. I feel like it could’ve been separated into two books and would’ve been easier to keep up with what was going on. But that’s just me.
I also get a little whiplash from ALL THE POV SWITCHING. It would be easier if she’d just label the chapter with the POV but nope… in some cases you’re left guessing and a few times I had to start a chapter over because I was reading from the wrong POV. I can count at least 8 POVs off the top of my head.
I’ll admit though, I didn’t see the plot twist at the end with the King. I figured out once they went into the catacombs that he had a Valg in him I just wrongly assumed it was Erawan.
Let’s talk about a let down… I feel like we were robbed with the death of Arobynn. This man is the KING of assassins, and the girl he pays to screw around with just skits his throat in his sleep… she has no training. She wasn’t even that stealthy about it…. And he just dies…. With no fight. Boring AF. I mean I get it, the amulet was protecting him and help him rise to the top but wow… how embarrassing for him.
Unpopular opinion 😬 Rowan and Aelin feel more like bffs instead of love interests. I said what I said, don’t come at me! 🫣 yeah yeah yeah they have some tender moments and lots of tension but I’m not on the Rowaelin bandwagon yet. It’s giving Hunt and Bryce vibes and I’m not a Hunt/Bryce shipper
Oh! And why isn’t anyone talking about Kaltain?! This girl started off shallow af and then turns around and SACRIFICES HERSELF in the name of revenge. I mean, at least there was satisfaction with her getting her revenge but I’ll never get over Lysandra just rolling over while Arobynn was gurgling in bed next to her.
Manon is such a queen. I love her but apparently some you don’t and I don’t get it. She’s a badass. Okay yes, she was blindly following orders but by the end of the book shes like the Grinch and grows a heart! Plus if Abraxos can love her, so can we. The fiercest witch picking the sweetest little puppy dog wyvern?! I love them.
And the Aelin/Manon fight seen?!?!? OMFG that was probably my favorite and had me on the edge of my seat! So so so good
I hope Elide grows a backbone. That’s all I have to say about her
Oh and back on Lysandra, I feel like I see hate for her floating around too. I don’t get it. Other than the miserable excuse of revenge she laid out for Arobynn, she’s a badass. She turned into a freak ghost leopard! Can you do that?! No, didn’t think so!
<-spoiler>
But I think there was a ton of events crammed into 645 pages that makes it hard to keep track of what all happened or kept me from absolutely falling for some of the characters due to ALLLLL of the pov switching. Don’t get me wrong, I love multi pov but this one switched to at least 8 characters and gave me a bit of whiplash. Not to mention SJM doesn’t label the sections with the character POV you’re reading from.
I really enjoyed this but so far I don’t think it’s my favorite 😬
——————————————
Expect spoilers:
Spoiler
First off, can I just say I don’t get the Chaol hate… I mean… he didn’t betray Aelin and had her back even though he was scared of who she would be with magic and was mad that she kept her true identity from him…. If you were in love with someone and you suddenly found out that person wasn’t who you thought they were, wouldn’t you feel betrayed? The man held out for her all through Heir of Fire and when shit went down in the glass castle and his bff sacrificed himself for him things changed for him. He became so focused on saving as many people as he could.
Did I understand all his reasoning for why he was mad at Aelin? No! Because when I’m mad I get irrational too. He’s human. He’s allowed to be rude. He’s entitled to his emotions just like you are. He’s allowed to have a bad day and make bad decisions. Leave Chaol alone!
Honestly this book was a whirlwind and I think that’s why I’m rating it 4 stars. So much, I mean SO MUCH happened in this book and I don’t even remember all of it. I feel like it could’ve been separated into two books and would’ve been easier to keep up with what was going on. But that’s just me.
I also get a little whiplash from ALL THE POV SWITCHING. It would be easier if she’d just label the chapter with the POV but nope… in some cases you’re left guessing and a few times I had to start a chapter over because I was reading from the wrong POV. I can count at least 8 POVs off the top of my head.
I’ll admit though, I didn’t see the plot twist at the end with the King. I figured out once they went into the catacombs that he had a Valg in him I just wrongly assumed it was Erawan.
Let’s talk about a let down… I feel like we were robbed with the death of Arobynn. This man is the KING of assassins, and the girl he pays to screw around with just skits his throat in his sleep… she has no training. She wasn’t even that stealthy about it…. And he just dies…. With no fight. Boring AF. I mean I get it, the amulet was protecting him and help him rise to the top but wow… how embarrassing for him.
Unpopular opinion 😬 Rowan and Aelin feel more like bffs instead of love interests. I said what I said, don’t come at me! 🫣 yeah yeah yeah they have some tender moments and lots of tension but I’m not on the Rowaelin bandwagon yet. It’s giving Hunt and Bryce vibes and I’m not a Hunt/Bryce shipper
Oh! And why isn’t anyone talking about Kaltain?! This girl started off shallow af and then turns around and SACRIFICES HERSELF in the name of revenge. I mean, at least there was satisfaction with her getting her revenge but I’ll never get over Lysandra just rolling over while Arobynn was gurgling in bed next to her.
Manon is such a queen. I love her but apparently some you don’t and I don’t get it. She’s a badass. Okay yes, she was blindly following orders but by the end of the book shes like the Grinch and grows a heart! Plus if Abraxos can love her, so can we. The fiercest witch picking the sweetest little puppy dog wyvern?! I love them.
And the Aelin/Manon fight seen?!?!? OMFG that was probably my favorite and had me on the edge of my seat! So so so good
I hope Elide grows a backbone. That’s all I have to say about her
Oh and back on Lysandra, I feel like I see hate for her floating around too. I don’t get it. Other than the miserable excuse of revenge she laid out for Arobynn, she’s a badass. She turned into a freak ghost leopard! Can you do that?! No, didn’t think so!
<-spoiler>