A review by fraggerbot
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

5.0

4.5 stars, rounding up.

With a good amount of plot progression and action, Queen of Shadows is a well built structure on the platform set by Heir of Fire.

I enjoyed this much better than Heir of Fire. This one barely had any dull moments and there is a good amount of action compared to the previous ones. It is slightly bigger though, so finishing it took me a while.

The story continues with where we left off in Heir of Fire. Aelin Galathynius (or should I say, our beloved 'Fire breathing Bitch Queen') comes back to Rifthold to get the Amulet of Orynth from Arobynn Hamel, unaware of what happened in her absence. She learns about the execution of Aedion, the fate of Dorian from Chaol. What happens next forms the crux of the story. Then there is Manon's PoV that continues with what happens in Morath.

The biggest positive for me in this book is its ending. This one has a positive, hopeful ending so I could sleep peacefully when I finished it. The plot progression did surprise me a few times, and I liked how it went.

This Aelin we see in this book does more planning and scheming and I certainly consider it a development. Especially in the scenes where she dealt with Arobynn, you could see a certain maturity in the character (compared to her previous self). I also loved her parts with Rowan (my favourite being the scene when she meets Rowan in Rifthold). While it might feel that their relationship evolved too quickly, I am okay with it. Beyond that, Rowan's loyalty to her is noteworthy. I like Aedion at this point, but I could not find many scenes that established his character to make me love him. I think the will happen in the next set of books. Chaol feels more or less same compared to his role in Heir of Fire. The way he wanted to save Dorian - that friendship is all that makes me root for him. I am glad he found someone in the form of Nesryn (who I believe is yet another interesting personality who deserves a bigger part in the story) and I hope they make it work. Dorian's PoV chapters made me sad in this book and I am glad that he is finally back.

Lysandra is a surprise package in this book. When I read the prequel novellas, I had come to hate her. However, her backstory, sacrifice with Evangeline warmed my heart. I am happy that Aelin got a BFF in her form. Apart from being a good friend, she also proved her strength in the battle at the catacombs. I am very interested in her character's journey and her role in the future.
oh, I cant ignore what was going between Lysandra and Aedion XD

Manon's character is one of those that went through a significant development. From being the blind obediant leader to the one who questions and acts with a certain kindness (towards Elide), the change is really important for the story and what it would represent for the plot's future. While a part of me cringed at her blind obediance to the matron, I am glad that she chose her actions in the end. There is no doubt that she will have a much bigger role to play in the future books and the war with Erawan. I loved Asterin's role as the defiant second who tries to ask the right questions, pushing Manon to do the right thing. Her backstory was heartbreaking. Considering how the Blackbeak matron acted with Asterin, I am sure she must have done something with Manon too in the past. I cant wait to find out.
While we were only shown glimpses, a Manon-Dorian relationship could make a big impact to the story. I love it and I want it to happen :D

Elide was mentioned in Heir of Fire and I was first surprised to see her at Morath. I like characters that appear weak but can actually make an impact with their wits over time. Elide for me, falls into that category. There was not one moment that I felt sorry for the way she was treated by everyone. The chapters that involve her and Manon together, their conversations give us a glimpse of her courage and hope. I am glad that she has escaped in the end.

Kaltain doesnt stay long but I think she did enough to change the course of the story. I keep wondering about the thing she gave to Elide in the end and its significance.

The most forgettable character for me is Lorcan. I just hate him at this point. I am still not sure of what his true intentions are but I dont think he can be trusted.

One disappointment to me is how Arobynn's character was handled in this book. I think we all hate him and we find that he is the same cunning master as before. I expected something bigger when it came to his end. It felt very simple. I thought it was Celaena's revenge to take but the more I think, I feel it belongs to everyone that he wronged.

Three scenes/sequences stand out to me in the whole book.
1) Aedion's rescue

          "Behind them, across the hall, the dancers shattered their roses on the floor, and Aedion grinned at his queen as the entire world went to hell."

This was a well setup sequence. The planning, the execution, the drama when Aelin meets him for the first time, I dont think I want anything better than this. At a later point, we get to know that Celaena's hate for Arobynn goes deep enough to screw him over in the middle of all this chaos.

2) Manon-Aelin fight:
This one took me by surprise. I didnt expect both of them to face each other so early and I enjoyed the fight. The next time they face each other, I wonder if they will do it as allies or enemies. Either way, I think it is something I would enjoy reading.

3) The final battle:
This was a mad house. While I wont get down to the details, this one serves as a good climax battle for the book. Almost every key character is involved (in one way or the other). The post battle scenes give you the sense of calm and hope that in the end, it is all going to get better.

This is by far, my longest book review, so I guess you can understand how much I loved it.
I look forward to reading Empire of Storms soon.