Sarah J. Maas

"Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. Embracing her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen, Celaena returns to the empire--for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past"--

Queen of Shadows

You do not get to pick and choose which parts of her to love.

Elli Barnette

She said softly, "You make me want to live, Rowan. Not survive; not exist. Live."

“We are the masters of our own fates-we decide how to go forward."

Paige Leitner

"I've been with plenty of men. You're all the same. Taste the same." She looked him over as if he were her next meal. 

Her eyes narrowed, the gold like living embers. He'd never seen anyone so beautiful. 

This witch had been crafted from the darkness between the stars. 

"I think not, Prince," she said in her midnight voice. She sniffed again, her nose crinkling slightly. "But would you bleed red, or black?"

"I'll bleed whatever color you tell me to."

"Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing you three gutted and hanging from the chandeliers by your insides, but I think it would ruin these very beautiful carpets that I'm now the owner of."

"You can't just toss us out. What will we do? Where will we go?"

"I hear hell is particularly nice at this time of year."

Aedion rose from his seat at the kitchen table as Aelin and Rowan entered. Her cousin looked Rowan over with an appreciative eye and said, "You never bothered to tell me how handsome your faerie prince is, Aelin." Aelin scowled.  Aedion just jerked his chin at Rowan. "Tomorrow you and I are going to train on the roof. I want to know everything you know." 

Aelin clicked her tongue. "All I've heard from your mouth the past few days is Prince Rowan this and Prince Rowan that, and yet this is what you decide to say to him? No bowing and scraping?" 

Aedion slid back into his chair. "If Prince Rowan wants formalities, i can grovel, but he doesn't look like someone who particularly cares."

With a flicker of amusement in his green eyes, the Fae Prince said, "Whatever my queen wants." 

Anna Oeltjenbruns

"When you shatter the chains of this world and forge the next, remember that art is as vital as food to a kingdom. Without it, a kingdom is nothing, and will be forgotten by time. I have amassed enough money in my miserable life to not need any more - so you will understand me clearly when I say that wherever you set your throne, no matter how long it takes, I will come to you, and I will bring music and dancing."

Haley

It was why I started playing the pianoforte—so I could come home at night and make my poor attempt at replicating it.

Maeson Grace

I spoiled so much of this book for myself. But not Lysandra. I did not know how deeply in love I was about to fall with this character. And this sentence has me crying my eyes out, I love this bitch😭😭

Cheyenne Willis

And was ripped clean off by a ghost leopard.

No bc if something happens to them I stg I will lose my mind

"You make me want to live, Rowan. Not survive; not exist. Live."

oh my god I didn’t even realize😭  QoS has been so unbelievably good. I am obsessed with all the new characters and how it’s all coming together.

"Ten years ago, my parents were murdered. My father was executed on a butchering block in front of thousands. But my mother . .. My mother died defending Aelin Galathynius, the heir to the throne of Terrasen.”

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.

She was fire, and light, and ash, and embers. She was Aelin Fireheart, and she bowed for no one and nothing, save the crown that was hers by blood and survival and triumph. 

Florine is a fucking gem that was so sweet

So you will understand me clearly when I say that wherever you set your throne, no matter how long it takes, I will come to you, and I will bring music and dancing."

I’d highlight all of chapter 60 if I could. I’m 

Bethany Jenkins

"’Swords are boring,’ the queen said, and palmed two fighting knives. 

Manon sheathed Wind-Cleaver along her own back. She flicked her wrists, the iron nails shooting out. She cracked her jaw, and her fangs descended. ‘Indeed.’

The queen looked at the nails, the teeth, and grinned. Honestly it was a shame that Manon had to kill her.”

I don’t think you’ve ever groveled for a thing in your life, Wing Leader

But there was a Blackbeak witch on her knees, begging whatever gods they worshiped”

But perhaps the monsters needed to look out for each other every now and then. 

!’ Aedion roared from across the ravine. 

“Her hair was like living moonlight, her eyes like burnished gold. 

She was the most beautiful person Aelin had ever seen. 

“Only thirteen wyverns were grounded in the meadow. The smallest of them was sprawled on his belly, face buried in a mound of wildflowers”

“For her friends, for her family, she would gladly be a monster. For Rowan, for Dorian, for Nehemia, she would debase and degrade and ruin herself. She knew they would have done the same for her.”

Samaa

"You will make mistakes. You will make decisions, and sometimes you will regret those choices. Sometimes there won't be a right choice, just the best of several bad options. I don't need to tell you that you can do this-you know you can.

Haley Paluszak

"When you shatter the chains of this world and forge the next, remember that art is as vital as food to a kingdom. Without it, a kingdom is nothing, and will be forgotten by time.” 

How does this series only get better? The amount of times my jaw dropped throughout this book was insane. Can’t believe there is so much more to this series and honestly have no problem extending it out for as long as I possibly can😂

Priscilla Stanfield

Hanna Rybchynska

This was good! I really like the main plot and story! HOWEVER, I hate the romance plot between Aelina and Rowan... also I don't like AT ALL how men are represented in this book! They are so annoying and possessive! SJM stop romanticizing possession! Women are no longer men's things! Even if you try to disguise it with "she's my queen" and whatever! 
Every time that Rowan saw her with her COUSIN (not her love interest, not a crush!) her COUSIN!! He felt jealous. The same goes for Aedion (her cousin). WHY DOES HE FEEL JEALOUS OF ROWAN? What the Hell SJM??? You can't mix romantic and family filings, that is just wrong! 
Besides that, I enjoyed the rest of the book (except Aelina plot).

This is where the series picks up for me. 

Danielle Blandina

These books get better and better. Great character development this time and lots of twists I couldn’t see coming! I love that in a book. 

Jennifer Palmer

It took me longer than the other 4 to read but I enjoyed it! Rowan 🫶🤍

Edna Aviles

I loved this, it was amazing I read 500 pages yesterday

Katherine

OH MY GOD

I loved this, it was amazing I read 500 pages yesterday

zlaina

3.5★ 
to my own surprise, i actually enjoyed this! it was fun, albeit a bit confusing at times. i would’ve liked if the last 10% of the book didn’t drag on like it did but im looking forward to the rest of the series nonetheless

No masters. No limits. No regrets. Aelin Galathynius takes her place as queen in the fourth book of the #1 bestselling Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. Celaena Sardothien has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight. She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. 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. Everyone Aelin loves has been taken from her. Everything she holds dear is in danger. But she has the heart of a queen-and that heart beats for vengeance. In this fourth book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, no one will escape the queen's wrath.

Lili V Guba

Selin Igten

first read 14/04/2018
second read 29/02/2024

wow this is probably my least favorite book out of this series!!! i only care about dorian icl:)

aleksandra

5/5

Running to the next book. 


  
    "And tell him... tell him thank you for walking that dark path with me back to the light."

"You make me want to live, Rowan. Not survive; not exist. Live."

Had some length in the middle part but, my oh my, it turned out so good when all the pieces fell together! Loved the character development and the whole court.

Sidney Schaffner

There’s a reason I read this in one sitting. All 700 pages. About time this series picked up. I loved seeing how cunning and how smart Alien actually is. I also loved seeing a female main character use all of her power and be successful for once.

akynn 

Ana Luiza

AND AT LAST QUEEN AELIN GALATHYNIUS WAS HOMEEEEEEEEEEEEE chorando de vdd aqui

right from the start, the story jumps right into action. aelin is in rifthold with a plan. she really surprised me this book, every time i thought we were going to be in trouble, she thought of it already and had a counter attack planned. she’s becoming more of a queen each book. her relationship with rowan is also growing and they can’t deny their feelings for one another anymore. i love them. he knows her so well and the perfect partner for aelin.

chaol disappointed me in this book, but i understand a lot of changed and it takes a bit to process it, but he takes it out on others. i know he’s really mad at himself. towards the end of the book he redeems himself. i’m sad to see he’s paralyzed but hopefully in tower of dawn he’s healed. nesryn is a new character and i like her. she’s nonchalant and goes with the flow.

dorian… our poor boy. majority of the book he’s under control of the king and not in control of his own mind. except for manon… he’s fully in control for that. i’m excited to see those two in the rest of the series. he was able to kill his father and is now the king. i think he’s going to be a kind, selfless king.

manon is becoming more human as the story goes on. it was a little boring at first. elide is a new character as well and she’s actually a wish, and she’s on her way to aelin. she’s the daughter of the nanny aelin had as a child.

i love that aedion is reunited with aelin. im glad she has some family at her side ready to fight. i feel that him and lysandra are going to be a couple. i really like her and she had her own sad story. she’s gonna be a great friend to aelin. she’s one of my favorites. her being a shape shifter was unexpected but exciting!

perrington is the actual villain… wasn’t predicting that but now makes sense. he’s the actual demon and im curious to see what plans he has and how aelin is going to attack that.

kaltain’s story was so sad. her sacrifice was very emotional and powerful.

i’m ready to finish the series. this is one of my favorite in this series thus far.

andrea 

right from the start, the story jumps right into action. aelin is in rifthold with a plan. she really surprised me this book, every time i thought we were going to be in trouble, she thought of it already and had a counter attack planned. she’s becoming more of a queen each book. her relationship with rowan is also growing and they can’t deny their feelings for one another anymore. i love them. he knows her so well and the perfect partner for aelin.

chaol disappointed me in this book, but i understand a lot of changed and it takes a bit to process it, but he takes it out on others. i know he’s really mad at himself. towards the end of the book he redeems himself. i’m sad to see he’s paralyzed but hopefully in tower of dawn he’s healed. nesryn is a new character and i like her. she’s nonchalant and goes with the flow.

dorian… our poor boy. majority of the book he’s under control of the king and not in control of his own mind. except for manon… he’s fully in control for that. i’m excited to see those two in the rest of the series. he was able to kill his father and is now the king. i think he’s going to be a kind, selfless king.

manon is becoming more human as the story goes on. it was a little boring at first. elide is a new character as well and she’s actually a wish, and she’s on her way to aelin. she’s the daughter of the nanny aelin had as a child.

i love that aedion is reunited with aelin. im glad she has some family at her side ready to fight. i feel that him and lysandra are going to be a couple. i really like her and she had her own sad story. she’s gonna be a great friend to aelin. she’s one of my favorites. her being a shape shifter was unexpected but exciting!

perrington is the actual villain… wasn’t predicting that but now makes sense. he’s the actual demon and im curious to see what plans he has and how aelin is going to attack that.

kaltain’s story was so sad. her sacrifice was very emotional and powerful.

i’m ready to finish the series. this is one of my favorite in this series thus far.

chloe rae

I am UNWELL. 

The amount of times I flat out SHRIEKED during those last 150 pages is insane. This book had me GASPING FOR AIR. Incredible. 

A part of me feels like this may be more of a 4.5 since the first 200 pages were a total snooze fest but, the ending was so spectacular, I can’t even think about rating it anything other than 5 stars. Onward!

Madison Keiran

** spoiler alert **
           Nothing mattered but the Aelin and Rowan reunion. Nothing else will ever matter. Except for the golden nightgown 🫶

The whole middle barely kept my attention, but that is a me problem due to the lack of romance so I’ll still give it 5 stars because wow 

Brittany benson

Mel 

These books are a lot of fun and further confirmation that they are adapting the wrong SJM series. I just think this series will translate better to the screen than ACOTAR.

Bethany s. 

4.75 stars. What a way to wrap up my 2023 year of reading… this was so perfect. 

The contented sighs, shocked gasps, and lovestruck awwwwwwww noises coming from me during the last 30% of this had my husband on edge :D 

I loved this, clearly - the pacing, the intricate puzzle of slowly putting the pieces in place for (view spoiler)[ the grand finale, THE grand finale  (hide spoiler)] - all absolutely amazing. I was floored, and have finally fallen in love with this world and these characters. 

I do have some complaints - I am conflicted, but ultimately docked 1/4 star for the weird feelings I got in the very middle of the book. There was clear action in retrospect, but it wasn't on the page - and while (view spoiler)[Aelin was obviously laying traps, planning, and putting those pieces in place, we didn't see it.  (hide spoiler)] Which, yes, paid off - but I got a little irritated while reading at certain points because (view spoiler)[it felt like she had just stopped to enjoy falling in love and living in an apartment, in the midst of everyone else being in a literal war. (hide spoiler)] I know now that this wasn't the case; and there were some hints laid out for us, but I think (view spoiler)[I would have personally benefited from a few more clues as to what was happening behind the curtain (more than she sneaked out sometimes.) But then again, maybe this was supposed to be reflective of the frustration this brought to others in her life. I don't know, but I didn't like it.  (hide spoiler)]

All in all: I'm excited for the rest of the series, love the place that this installment concluded, and am eager to move forward. 

I think am opting for the tandem EoS/ToD format; we shall see how this goes! :D

I thought that this was a good book and I enjoyed reading it. The change from Celaena to Aelin is a bit of an adjustment but by the end of the book I was living for it! I loved all the banter and the character interactions. I also think we tie up a lot of loose strings in rifthold and the book as a whole is just fun and exciting to be a part of. 

Isabella Coarsey

Katherine Marie Elizabeth

piper!

i have no words. this books was incredible.

Queen of Shadows

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