This review contains no spoilers for Queen of Shadows, but might contain some spoilers for books 1 and 2, there shouldn’t be any spoilers for Heir of Fire either.
Date Read: August 12 - 15 2015
Date Released: September 1st 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury Australia
Source: Review copy via publisher
Genre: High fantasy
My Rating:
(not enough stars)
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 will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. 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.
Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world."
She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. 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.
Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world."
---
Have you ever wondered what perfection looks like? Well it’s staring you in the face when you read Queen of Shadows.
Now let’s establish something first. Before you pounce on the one word many of us reading this series worry about (“ship”) I’m going to say this: I’m not going to be talking about that in this review because 1) this book was about the vengeance for me and 2) most importantly, I trust in Sarah. I trust her and the journey she’s taking us on and that’s all I’ll say about it.
Well Celaena’s back. And she’s pissed. So obviously she wants to wreak hell on those who captured her, tormented her and caused her so much grief and heartbreak. Add in that she’s more badass than ever before (READ HEIR OF FIRE IF YOU HAVEN’T) and she is DEADLY. She’s also matured so much, come to terms with who she is and accepted her identity. That doesn’t mean she’s done a 360 though; she is still very untrusting, keeping things to herself – but can we blame her? The more people know, the more danger they’re in. She will do anything to protect those she loves. And this is why I connect with her; she has such a strong moral compass I know she’s always going to end up doing what’s right. She might lie and deceive on the surface, but underneath there’s just this brutal honesty about her so when she makes friends, she makes them for life. In Queen of Shadows we see just how cunning of an assassin Celaena can be. My goodness her plans are so well thought out. Complex and intricate she’s got all her bases covered. It’s like she just conducts the most thorough risk assessments in her mind and knows where all the weaknesses exist. I was actually mind-blown. Celaena once again proves she’s Adarlan’s Assassin.
Aelin Ashryver Galathynius. What a queen this woman this. A family slaughtered, her kingdom taken from her and her people in ruins. The lost Queen of Terrasen is one that loves her people. She would do anything for them. And her people love her. The King of Adarlan commands his people through fear and brutality. What made the kingdom of Terrasen so strong was that their rulers treated their people with justice and respect. We can see the qualities of her ancestors in Aelin. This is one queen I would gladly serve.
While all of the secondary characters were individually amazing – Chaol’s change and growth, Dorian’s own battle, Aedion and Rowan each getting to know their queen – it was the relationships in this book that made it really stand out. Queen of Shadows was all about the forming of bonds and friendships for life. There was Chaol’s undying loyalty to Dorian; Aedion finally meeting his hero Rowan, but what develops is this amazing brotherly relationship forged through respect and fighting side by side for the queen they would lay down their lives for. BUT BUT BUT. The girl power. Holy sweet baby Jesus. THE GIRL POWER IN THIS BOOK. *Flails*. It was just amazing how the females in this book didn’t let guy shit and personal stuff get in the way of helping each other out. The way they respected each other and each other’s talents ermagherd. Celaena and Nesryn. Celaena and Lysandra. Lysandra and Evangeline. I adored Nesryn’s calm, Lysandra’s cunning and Evangeline’s understanding. All these young women had all suffered in their own way so seeing them come together for a common cause but then form everlasting bonds deeper than friendships just had my heart all warm and fuzzy.
Now let’s not forget Manon and her Thirteen. DAYUM I loved Manon’s internal battle with herself as she struggled with what she had been brought up to believe against what her moral compass told her. I was also shocked at the glimpse we got into the Thirteen. One particular character’s story had me in tears I was just sobbing for ages. Crying for an Ironteeth Witch? Who would’ve thought?
The already dark plot of this series gets even deeper and more heartwrenching, accentuated by each individual character’s suffering. There are so many shocking revelations throughout – from Arobynn’s reach, to the extent of the King’s plans and the way everything is connected. It’s like just asaskdsakjfhdhds WHAT and the one question that consistently arises throughout this book: are monsters born or made?
I couldn’t stop turning the pages of this book, couldn’t stop devouring Maas’ lyrical writing and stunning world building. I felt ALL the emotions. I related to every single one of the characters, lived their stories filled with despair, joy and everything in between.
Now let’s establish something first. Before you pounce on the one word many of us reading this series worry about (“ship”) I’m going to say this: I’m not going to be talking about that in this review because 1) this book was about the vengeance for me and 2) most importantly, I trust in Sarah. I trust her and the journey she’s taking us on and that’s all I’ll say about it.
Well Celaena’s back. And she’s pissed. So obviously she wants to wreak hell on those who captured her, tormented her and caused her so much grief and heartbreak. Add in that she’s more badass than ever before (READ HEIR OF FIRE IF YOU HAVEN’T) and she is DEADLY. She’s also matured so much, come to terms with who she is and accepted her identity. That doesn’t mean she’s done a 360 though; she is still very untrusting, keeping things to herself – but can we blame her? The more people know, the more danger they’re in. She will do anything to protect those she loves. And this is why I connect with her; she has such a strong moral compass I know she’s always going to end up doing what’s right. She might lie and deceive on the surface, but underneath there’s just this brutal honesty about her so when she makes friends, she makes them for life. In Queen of Shadows we see just how cunning of an assassin Celaena can be. My goodness her plans are so well thought out. Complex and intricate she’s got all her bases covered. It’s like she just conducts the most thorough risk assessments in her mind and knows where all the weaknesses exist. I was actually mind-blown. Celaena once again proves she’s Adarlan’s Assassin.
Aelin Ashryver Galathynius. What a queen this woman this. A family slaughtered, her kingdom taken from her and her people in ruins. The lost Queen of Terrasen is one that loves her people. She would do anything for them. And her people love her. The King of Adarlan commands his people through fear and brutality. What made the kingdom of Terrasen so strong was that their rulers treated their people with justice and respect. We can see the qualities of her ancestors in Aelin. This is one queen I would gladly serve.
While all of the secondary characters were individually amazing – Chaol’s change and growth, Dorian’s own battle, Aedion and Rowan each getting to know their queen – it was the relationships in this book that made it really stand out. Queen of Shadows was all about the forming of bonds and friendships for life. There was Chaol’s undying loyalty to Dorian; Aedion finally meeting his hero Rowan, but what develops is this amazing brotherly relationship forged through respect and fighting side by side for the queen they would lay down their lives for. BUT BUT BUT. The girl power. Holy sweet baby Jesus. THE GIRL POWER IN THIS BOOK. *Flails*. It was just amazing how the females in this book didn’t let guy shit and personal stuff get in the way of helping each other out. The way they respected each other and each other’s talents ermagherd. Celaena and Nesryn. Celaena and Lysandra. Lysandra and Evangeline. I adored Nesryn’s calm, Lysandra’s cunning and Evangeline’s understanding. All these young women had all suffered in their own way so seeing them come together for a common cause but then form everlasting bonds deeper than friendships just had my heart all warm and fuzzy.
Now let’s not forget Manon and her Thirteen. DAYUM I loved Manon’s internal battle with herself as she struggled with what she had been brought up to believe against what her moral compass told her. I was also shocked at the glimpse we got into the Thirteen. One particular character’s story had me in tears I was just sobbing for ages. Crying for an Ironteeth Witch? Who would’ve thought?
The already dark plot of this series gets even deeper and more heartwrenching, accentuated by each individual character’s suffering. There are so many shocking revelations throughout – from Arobynn’s reach, to the extent of the King’s plans and the way everything is connected. It’s like just asaskdsakjfhdhds WHAT and the one question that consistently arises throughout this book: are monsters born or made?
I couldn’t stop turning the pages of this book, couldn’t stop devouring Maas’ lyrical writing and stunning world building. I felt ALL the emotions. I related to every single one of the characters, lived their stories filled with despair, joy and everything in between.
Queen of Shadows rattled the stars.
