Fiercely Epic! Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Contains spoilers for books one to three in the Throne of Glass series

Queen of Shadows Throne of Glass Book Four
Written by Sarah J. Maas
Fantasy, Romance
Published September 1st 2015
656 Pages
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia
Add to Goodreads
★★★★☆
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.
All Celaena has ever wanted was her freedom. Now she wants freedom for herself, her court, her country and justice for the lives lost and sacrificed. Back in Rifthold, she has unfinished business against the king in which she formerly served as his champion, before Celaena discovered who she truly is, the fire breathing Queen bitch her enemies have affectionately dubbed her. But the city is on the verge of ruin. Citizens are terrified and the kings guard have never been more inhuman, executing free thinkers and rebel sympathizers in their dozens.

Chaol hasn't seen Prince Dorian since his world came crashing down, fleeing the castle while leaving his best friend and greatest companion behind. While Celaena has been honing her skills, the king has been building a demon army, an arrangement in which Manon's Thirteen are made to serve at will. Enemies, estranged lovers and former companions, they all share a common goal. To fight for freedom, for themselves and for the fallen. It's time for Celaena to create her own legacy.

ponderings of a booknerd

EPIC. Absolutely epic.

Celaena was fierce in Throne of Glass, she enamored readers in Crown of Midnight, she took us on a journey of self discovery in Heir of Fire now in Queen of Shadows, left me feeling incredibly liberated. She's powerful, she's intelligent and the supreme symbol of a strong heroine that allows nothing to stand in her way. I adore her. Passionately. She's now Aelin, the Queen of Shadows and Rifthold will set the scene for her revenge for those who have crossed her, used and abused her. But now Aelin returns not only for vengeance, but to seek freedom from the King of Adarlan's oppression. For her Kingdom, for Rifthold and for those now enslaved by Valg demons.
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.
Slipping back into her role as Assassin, for Aelin to gain a foothold within the Kingdom she has no choice but to retrieve her stolen Wyrdkey and attempt to break the stronghold on magic. But Rifthold is so deeply entrenched in corruption and heinous crime, that she'll risk her life to obtain freedom for others.

Queen of Shadows picks up shortly after Heir of Fire and unfortunately provided few reminders of the previous storyline. I did struggle in the beginning, but as the story progresses, we see snippets of where our characters were left. Dorian at the palace with his vengeful father and dealing with the consequences of a forbidden love, Chaol fleeing the Kingdom and joining a new alliance, the centuries old Rowan left behind reluctantly, while Aedion is facing a battle against a kingdom, powerless. It was absolutely glorious. I loved seeing Manon and her Thirteen of Ironwitches struggling with a new found emotion, against the injustice of being expected to serve without question. Her character development was incredible and only demonstrates how the series is brimming with strong females who use their cunning and intelligence to defeat and defend.

I absolutely loved the multiple viewpoint scenarios, seeing the story unfold from each character's perspective only added to an intense and often smouldering storyline. As the battle evolves, so do the character relationships, those previously at odds will come together to form a tentative and dubious alliance.

Told in two parts, with part one setting the scene for a battle of epic proportions. New alliances are formed and former ties have been severed. The romance on several fronts was delicious and so well crafted that it left me more often than not on tenterhooks. There are a few hints at a surprising new romance that I could definitely find myself on board with and with passionate fans aplenty, may cause a rift between readers. But I absolutely adored it. I applaud Sarah J. Maas and her ability to make the hard decisions, and not pander to satiate fans.

the verdict

It took a few chapters for me to immerse myself back into the storyline and may have benefited from skimming Heir of Fire again beforehand, but it didn't take long for Sarah J. Mass to enchant and entice me back into her world. Beautifully written, even more so than previous books in the series. I was enamored by the incredible crescendo of battle, the gentle moments between characters, the new alliances and character development were all immaculately crafted and precise. I adored it. Sarah J. Maas is no doubt the leading author in young adult fantasy and Queen of Shadows is by one her best releases to date.

38 comments

  1. OMG ALL THE QOS REVIEWS ARE COMING IN. I was gonna pick up ToG when someone said they were on sale for 99c but I looked it up on Amazon and ... nope. So I'm going to just wait for a little longer, see if there's a box set or something that I might want instead now that all the books are out.

    But I literally had no clue QoS was multi-PoV and I kind of ADORE multi-PoV. And vengeance and politics and alliances and just ARGH this sounds so fantastically epic that I am determined not to let ACOTAR dissuade me from reading the ToG series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I seen it the other day for $1.99 on there, but I think that's the regular price Alyssa. Still a bargain. This isn't the finale though, there are still another two books to go in the series, so you'll have to wait another two years sadly before I think they'll release a box set. I loved A Court of Thorns and Roses, but the Throne of Glass series is far superior.

      Delete
  2. AMAZING REVIEW. I'm so glad you loved this one! I've heard some not-so-great things about Queen of Shadows, which has been making me rather nervous. ;) Haha. BUT. I'm pretty hopeful that I'll love this one. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks poppet. I'm not a fantasy reader, so if I've loved it the chances that you'll adore it too are pretty high. Took a few chapters to fully immerse myself, but it was incredibly, especially the second half. I can't wait to see what you think of it.

      Delete
  3. Wonderful review Kelly, but still I don't think I'll be going for this book. I have lost my love for this series - sadly - and I want to part ways while I still have a good opinion of my ship.
    But I am glad you loved it though!:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Which book did you read up until? I wasn't too keen on Heir of Fire to be honest. I liked it and enjoyed it, but it was the weakest in the series for me and that turning point whether I wanted to continue or not. But I'm so thankful I did. Queen of Shadows is absolutely epic. Definitely give it another try, the first time I;d read Throne of Glass, I really didn't like it. Once I started to read more fantasy and tried reading it again, I absolutely loved it. Funny how our tastes change.

      Delete
  4. I definitely agree that Celaena was a lot more fierce in this one - the stakes were higher and it was so EXPLOSIVE. But I did struggle in the beginning, like you :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it needed a bit more backstory to remind readers what happened in Heir of Fire, it's been so long since book three. But once I got back into it and was recovering from the flu, I couldn't put it down. So epic. I don't know how I'll survive until book five now. The pain is real.

      Delete
  5. I can't wait to finally have time to read this. Everyone seems to be loving it so far.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't wait to see what you think of it Christy. I'd actually be really interested in hearing how many copies and preorders were sold on release day. It's probably been one of the most anticipated books in young adult ever.

      Delete
  6. I agree with every word. Great review. I think I need to reread HoF and this one to fully appreciate it, but I loved every page and I'm totally on board with that possible future romance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too Nicole, but I know not all fans probably will be. I think it's a case of not being able to please everyone sadly. I wish I had of reread heir of Fire too, but it wasn't long until I was able to immerse myself back into the storyline.

      Delete
  7. I just started it today but I was feeling rather uncertain because it is SO LONG but after reading this review, I've found the courage to dive back into the book. Awesome review by the way :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had the same reservations Rachana. When I started reading Queen of Shadows, I had a nasty flu and could only read a few chapters here or there, but once I recovered, I flew through it. It was amazing and definitely worth persisting with. I;d love to see what you think of it.

      Delete
  8. Crown of Fire and Heir of Fire (still in the process of reading this one) really turned Celaena around for me. I didn't like her during ToG but she gets better with every book, I can call myself a fangirl now. Can't wait til I finally catch up and finish QoS. IT SOUNDS AWESOME.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is awesome Aentee. Completely agree, the series gets stronger with each book and Celaena is absolutely flawless in Queen of Shadows. She's fierce.

      Delete
  9. Crown of Midnight*** Omg I am losing my mind.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I absolutely LOVED it too! I felt the same way about the new romances as well. I'm definitely on board with all of them -but there will be some people who aren't.

    Great review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sadly yes. I still have my favourites, but I love the new direction it's taking. But knowing Sarah J. Maas, in the next installment, she'll probably pull the rug out from under us and we'll be shipping another couple all together. It was amazing though wasn't it. Definitely worth the wait and the hype.

      Delete
  11. I loved the first two books in this series but I really couldn't get into the third one for some reasons. I think a lot had to do with the multiple POVs. I struggle with them so much. I also don't like some of the spoilers I've read about the romance in this one. I'm beginning to think as muh as I love SJM's writing, her books just aren't for me.
    I'm glad that despite a bit of a shaky start, that this ended up being epic for you, Kelly! I hope the rest of the series continues to impress you. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I struggled with it too Nick. It just didn't have the same feel as Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight. it was much more serious and Celaena seemed to lose her way a little. But I'm so happy to report that in Queen of Shadows, she's back with a vengeance. Even with not enjoying Heir of Fire, I think you'll love this one. It's epically long, but Celaena returns to that kick ass heroine that we all fell in love with.

      Delete
  12. Seeing so much love for this book at the moment, I've just ordered it so I can read it after I finish the rest of the series. So far behind D:

    - Wattle @ Whimsical Nature

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Once you get into them Wattle, you'll fly through them. I can't wait for you to meet Celaena!

      Delete
  13. That's great this one captured you pretty quickly, since it's sometimes difficult to get into a sequel, etc. I haven't read any of these, but I really do want to try the series out. It sounds great and all sorts of exciting!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Lauren, you need to grab a copy of Throne of Glass and get started. I"m not a fantasy reader, but this series completely changed my mind. It's absolutely incredible!

      Delete
  14. I'm reading this one right now, and I'm so conflicted. The bitterness, hostility, and hypocrisy being slung between Aelin and Chaol is ridiculous! I feel so disconnected from all the characters in this book. They're not the same people I fell in love with in books 1-3. They've changed beyond recognition, even their most innate qualities. I absolutely LOVE the plot though, and the writing and storytelling is awesome. I like Rowan, but I don't care much for the romance. Honestly it kind of grossed me out. LADY FRIENDS!! I love Lysandra and Nesryn and that Aelin has some girl power to add to her squad. I love how everything is finally coming together. Oh and my sweet baby Dorian, I FEEL SO BAD FOR HIM. :( Hopefully all works out in the end of the book... I'm becoming even more of a Manon fan, although Elide kind of bores me. I like how Asterin and Sorrell are in this a bit more too. Lovely review, Kelly <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I felt the same in the beginning too Rachel, and I struggled to remember what happened in Heir of Fire as well and wondered if I'd forgotten something important. But it does pick up, dramatically. Manon didn't really appeal to me in Heir of Fire, but I absolutely loved her in Queen of Shadows. It'll all come together, you'll see. Really looking forward to seeing what you think of it once you've finished.

      Delete
  15. AHH. I'll have to admit that while I really liked Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire was a bit meh for me. But I am definitely going to have to still give this a try Kelly since your enthusiasm makes me so excited! Thank you for sharing this wonderful review! ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too Zoe. I really didn't connect with it and was disappointed actually. It felt as though it dragged on a bit too long. But Queen of Shadows? It returns to that epic toughness and sass from books one and two. Hooray! Especially part two. I was a mess reading that, the anticipation was killing me.

      Delete
  16. This is another series I know I'm missing out on greatly! The romance peaks my interest, it sounds as though it is extremely well-executed, which is rare to come by now and day. I'm so over romantic tropes :P Is this the final book? There are so many! I keep seeing different covers floating around the book blogging sphere ha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is the fourth in the series, with another two to go I believe. Claudia, you need this series in your life. It's passionate, intense and one of the most incredible young adult fantasy series that gets better with each book. Throne of Glass is pretty cheap on Amazon too now, so definitely worth buying a Kindle copy and giving it a try. I can almost guarantee you'll adore it too.

      Delete
    2. I'll take your word! However, I think I may just go ahead and purchase a hard copy ;)

      Delete
  17. I have so many thoughts about the romance in this book but I just can't order them into anything coherent! Ahhhh! Great review as always, love.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I felt the same Sophie, it really hit me how intricate their connections and relationships are in the series. It was glorious though. Definitely the hardest book I've ever reviewed, especially without spoilers.

      Delete
  18. I completely agree with you Kelly, this one was done SO WELL even with all the multiple point of views as each character took us on their journey! Definitely worth all of the hype, it was freaking epic! Lovely review hun <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jeann. I absolutely loved it, my only quibble was the lack of reminders of Heir of Fire which took me a few chapters to really get into. Part two really blew me away, it was so explosive and I loved the new alliances formed as well. Which really surprised me. How will we survive until book five now? I think we might need a support group.

      Delete
  19. You already know how passionately I love this book and series, and of course I agree with EVERYTHING and more that you've written. QoS <3 <3 Need. Next. Book. NOW.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes Joy, like that time you were licking all the pages. Hang on, that might have been me.

      It wasn't until I started the series where I finally realised what all the hype was really about, and so, so worthy of all the praise. I need it now too. Oh, however will we cope with the wait!

      Delete

© Diva Booknerd. Design by Fearne.