readTeddytalk: Book Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass #4)

Published: September 1, 2015

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Pages: 656
Genres: High Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure

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, agonising crescendo that might just shatter her world.

I CAN READ THIS SO MANY TIMES and I will not get bored of it! (easily)

This is an intense book let me tell you that. There isn't a space where there isn't something happening. My plans to read it as fast as I can crumbled miserably on page 40.

I was under so much pressure that I hadn't realised until after I finished this book. My whole existence seemed and felt lighter.

The character development was unreal, per usual. Looking back to the past books, everything in them feels so far away and forgotten.

You can feel the stuff that are going down. Extremely wise decisions were made for the narrator of the story at all parts. You don't get that annoying "I want to skip to the good part" moments because everything is bomb!

I think improvements could have been made on a couple of thing in the first half of the book but honestly after everything that happened I can't remember anything bad.

The humour mixed with darkness and suspense was amazing. It tied everything together, without it I think nothing would have been half as beautiful as it was.

Aelin is a fire breathing bitch-queen indeed.

Her development. I don't care how many times I type that, I can't stress enough about it. The assassin, the princess, the victim are gone and she is a queen now. But she has not forgotten who she was and is and everyone who made her that way. And she is enjoying her revenge. Nevertheless she stands by what she was.

"I am death... Should you want it."

So clever and a role model. Everyone can learn a little from Aelin on how to deal with problems. And what should come first.

Every little detail was so well though of: you get to see art and music and performances come to life

"Art is as vital as food is to a kingdom."

Manon was shinnning. She reminded me of Aelin so much more in this book. And I felt sorry for her too. She has a character development almost as strong as the queen. You get to see exactly how she was "crafted form the darkness between the stars." Concealed sides of he coven were revealed and they were brilliant. After i-don't-know how many years they start to embrace that immortal doesn't necessarily mean static. You get a closer look at the Thirteen but don't get a lot more interactions from the Bluebloods and their Matrons. But it was such a gripping experience, that other story.

You get a new(old) character, Elide Lochan, alive but not so well. The daughter of Lady Marion(!) and Lord Cal. She was one of the people who moved the storyline over in Morath and did one hell of a job doing so. She was nowhere as bright as some of the other characters but maybe (hopefully) she'll get there.

You get to see the bae Perrington and Vernon and Kaltain. And that is all the mention they deserve.

Arobynn appears for the first time in the novels. I find him to be a very intricate character. Super interesting to get to know his thinking process and plans and his reacting to seeing Aelin for the first time in a long time.

Hop- another new character - Nesryn Faliq. Quite the Katniss she was. You don't get to see a lot of her although I got a very positive vibe of her and was impressed with her skills. Oh, and she has history with Chaol! Ooooo

We get to peer into 17 y.o. Aelin life at Assassin's Keep thank again to Lysandra. Can't say anything more without spoiling things.

ROWAN. ROWAN. ROWAN. ROWAN.

fire. fire. fire. fire and some embers.