Sarah J. Maas

Kingdoms collide as Aelin continues her epic journey from assassin to queen in this instalment of the global #1 bestselling series. The long path to the throne has just begun for Aelin Galathynius. As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down? Contains mature content. Not suitable for younger readers.

Empire of Storms

emma adkins

And Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen, knew the time would soon come to prove just how much she'd bleed for Erilea.

Her family--and her kingdom Two dreams long believed lost, she realized as the northern wind rufled her hair. That she would do anything ruin herself, sell herself to protect.

Rowan laughed again and Aelin thought she might never get sick of it, That smile. 

"Fireheart," he said onto her mouth. "Buzzard," she murmured onto his,

Rowan played with a strand of her hair grown almost to her breasts again. 

“No she had seen enough of the kindness and mercy of men She would never forget how those guards had leered at her naked body, why her uncle had sold her to Duke Perrington.

“She lifted her eyes toward the smoke-stained sky, the plumes parting for a heartbeat to reveal a star-flecked night. The Lord of the North flickered down at her. Perhaps the final gift of Mala to these lands this age, at least. Perhaps a thank-you to Elena herself, and a farewell. Because for Terrasen, for Erilea, Elena would walk into the eternal darkness lurking across the valley to buy them all a chance. Elena sent up a final prayer on a pillar of smoke rising from the valley floor that the unborn, faraway scions of this night, heirs to a burden that would doom or save Erilea, would forgive her for what she was about to do.”

“This war” she said quietly,”is but the second movement in a game that has been played since those ancient days across the sea.”

“Wondered if Erawan would first destroy her father's shining palace atop the mountain, or if he would burn the royal library--burn the heart and knowledge of an age. And then burn its people.”

“There would be no marker to tell the world where a Princess of Terrasen had fallen. There would be no marker for any of them.”

“Elena had never considered where she might die-never considered that it might be so far from the rocky green of Terrasen. That her body might not be burned, but devoured by the dread-lord's beasts.”

“She did not need the gift of her Fae ears to hear the prayers of her human army, both spoken and silent.”

“The bone drums had been pounding across the jagged slopes of the Black Mountains since sundown.”

Lizzy Jensen

"I love you. There is no limit to what I can give to you, no time I need. Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you."

sadie

I love you. There is no limit to what l can give to you, no time I need. Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you.

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't.

Madeleine Rose

Bigger tits won't prove or hide anything.

Kingdoms collide as Aelin continues her epic journey from assassin to queen in this instalment of the global #1 bestselling series.The long path to the throne has just begun for Aelin Galathynius. As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?Contains mature content. Not suitable for younger readers.

Lexi Vazquez

Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you. 

Syrina Akbari

Aelin was no savior to rally behind, but a cataclysm to be weathered

Miranda Watson

“Don’t you waste one heartbeat being afraid of a coward who hunts women in the darkness,” Chaol snapped at her.

Karaline Mccall

But I sent you to Wendlyn for the healing. And so you would ... find him. The one who had been waiting so long for you."

Screaming, crying, throwing up rn at Rowan Whitethorn 

 "I love you. There is no limit to what l can give to you, no time I need. Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you."

Kayleigh Vermeij

Bethany Jenkins

“Manon smirked at Lorcan. ‘Your claim on her, male, is at the very bottom of the list.’ Iron teeth slid out, turning that beautiful face petrifying. Lorcan didn't let go. Manon crooned in that way that usually meant death, ‘Don't. Touch. Her.’”

arwen

Hanna Rybchynska

This was exciting, but I didn't find the story super unique. I felt that the last 20% was the best part.

Never a boring page. Loved the characters‘ development and the unfolding storyline. I am on the edge of the seat for what comes next…

How much is too much for a normal person to be crying from a book?

Lior 🌸Lily🌸 Sasson

zlaina

4.5★ i read this in tandem with Tower of Dawn. 

this book took the series to a whole new level for me! prior to this i didn’t care much for many of the characters. but i loved this adventure, i love Manon (her chapters bored me to death in Queen of Shadows), and i can’t wait to read about the fates of Lorcan, Elide, Lysandra, Aedion, Dorian and of course, Aelin and Rowan.

Selin Igten

liana

Sidney Schaffner

The best one. So far. The amount of emotional damage this book gave me is beyond compare. Again, I loved seeing Aelins plans come together. All of her old debts she collected along the way coming to help— I can’t. I have a bad feeling about how this will end.

Brittany benson

Mel 

** spoiler alert **
           I have one teeny tiny issue with this book -
Manon and Dorian …is it necessary? 😭
I just feel like it came out of nowhere and was so unnecessary.

abi a

So! much! happened! Not sure if I’m prepared for KOA…

Casee Loudermilk

Berta

Whitney Nicole

holy fucking shit on a stick this book took me for a RIDE. I literally didn’t exhale for like the entire last half…and most of the first half if I’m being honest. I’ve been left in tatters. Phenomenal. I devoured this book. Each book in this series is better than the last. Y’all better make sure u have nothing else going on in your life when u read the last couple chapters of this cause BABYYYYYYYYY

nina 

edit: lol no that order is completely wrong except the first two 

This is my current order of favourite to least favourite books in the series:
1. Throne of Glass and The Assassin's Blade
2. Queen of Shadows
3. Crown of Midnight
4. Empire of Storms
5. Heir of Fire

Little did I know how much I would love this series, or even anticipate its plot direction, 2 years ago when I first picked up the Assassin's Blade. From Heir of Fire onwards, it has been a completely different series, but that's okay. I do somewhat miss the Celaena from the earlier books.

This finale is going to be epic.

Here are the things I want to acknowledge/vent/fangirl about:
(view spoiler)[
1. Elide and Lorcan. I went back and forth with this ship because I felt they were forced together, and when I finally started to ship them, the end happens, and they aren't together. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!

2. GAVAN ASHRYVER- He's like a mix of Aedion and Dorian. I really hope we see more of him.

3. Speaking of Dorian, his raw magic is sooooooo awesome. He can shape it to anything he wants it to be. He's just as powerful as Aelin and I feel like this isn't acknowledged enough. His input is always second to Aelin's, even when he is King of Ardalan and she hasn't had her coronation yet. I feel like he isn't appreciated enough.

4. Aelin and Elide meeting. It was great to see Aelin humbled by meeting the daughter of the woman to whom she owes her life. 

5. Elena, what were you thinking! What do you mean either Dorian or Aelin have to be sacrificed? Not my favourites!!!!

6. Manon and her Thirteen. Manon, I am so proud of you. Look at your cold heart thawing

7. Aelin literally telling us NOTHING. Not about the 3 armies she assembled, or her plan with Lysandra 

8. Aedion and Lysandra. Aedion please don't be mad at her, she is being loyal and looking out for your cousin

9. Lysandra and her shapeshifting was amazing. She is not to be underestimated! She was such a 2D, underdeveloped minor character in the Assassin's blade but she is now one of the most complex and interesting characters in the entire series. 

10. The reappearances/mentions of the Assasin's Blade characters: Sam, Rolfe, Ansel, Iliad

11. Maeve has to go. Manon's grandmother has to go. I am so mad at what Maeve did to Aelin at the end

12. Feysand round 2, for those who've read ACOMAF, you will know what I'm talking about. I never have and never will be a fan of Aelin and Rowan. I'm sorry if this is an unpopular opinion but I will never support the two of them. In Heir of Fire when Celaena claims that they have a platonic relationship, I was thinking pfft liar. And look where we are today. A large part of why I do not ship stems from the fact that I can't stand Rowan. I find him brooding, territorial and annoying that only serves the purpose of being Aelin's 'fated' love interest and a destroyer of my ship. 

13. Nehemia!!!!!!!!!!!

14. Dorian and Aelin banter

15. Aedion and Aelin banter

16. Manon and her Thirteen joining our side

17. Aelin basically being so badass and taking out that army of 500 ilken with her fire, (with a bit of help from Dorian and Rowan)

18. The reappearance of Celaena Sardothien, in true style turning up unexpected, with a grand entrance and full of sass. This is the protagonist I loved so much.
 (hide spoiler)]

There is a reason this book currently has 4.61 stars on Goodreads. I can't wait for the epic finale. But I'm not ready to say goodbye, I don't want it to be over.

Levi-Mae 

the end of this book still just absolutely shatters me

Hannah Williams

reread

the end of this book still just absolutely shatters me

This book...this series... I don't have words. It's like I was transported in that world and suffering together with Aelin, laughing with her... Can't describe the effect this book left in my life

Andrada Nane

Never been happier of doing the tandem read after reading this end

Pia 

Kingdoms collide in Sarah J. Maas's epic fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series. The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't. As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear. Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?

No ratings for re-reads. First time re-reading and also first time doing the tandem read. It's definitely much more enjoyable this way! Not that I didn't enjoy it on its own the first time around, but getting the little sneak peeks with TOD is so worth it. And makes this THAT much more heartbreaking. 

(Bre)anne✨

TW to be added later

No ratings for re-reads. First time re-reading and also first time doing the tandem read. It's definitely much more enjoyable this way! Not that I didn't enjoy it on its own the first time around, but getting the little sneak peeks with TOD is so worth it. And makes this THAT much more heartbreaking. 

A.L.L.

Meh. 

This felt like a lot of build up without any payoff yet. Kind of suffered through because I am curious where this is going and how it's going to end. 

So far Manon is favorite character. She certainly has the most interesting story arc so far. 

I still want to love Aelin so much more than I actually do. It feels like she has all the right ingredients but the flavor is still off. I just have so much trouble liking her or rooting her or even understanding her. 

All the romances in this are super heteronormative and done to death tropes and I don't really ship any of them, even though it feels like I should want to. All the male love interests are bland as heck. I feel zero chemistry between most of them, especially Aelid? Aleed? And stone face Lorkin. I listened to the audio book (narrator is really good, that's a plus) so I don't know how anything is spelled. 

Pacing of this story is a trip. Since it's an audiobook I can't tell if I think more should be happening for the amount of pages I assume this is...but I think more should be happening? 

There's lots of potential for this to get really good...but we are also several books into the series. I feel mostly like I am being led on.

Empire of Storms

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