**PRE-REVIEW NOTE**
So I have fallen off the face of the earth for about 10 months. But. I am back! I had to take some time to myself to accomodate house moving, job commitments and family things. Alongside those, we also had the whole Covid-19 thing going on too….. Fun times. Love it. This is an extremely review of the 5th instalment in the ToG series. It was in my drafts and I don’t want it to go to waste! The final two book reviews will also be published and then we have some new content for you! Still Young Adult, still fantasy, still romance. With some other bits and bobs thrown into the mix too. Missed ya’s.
“It is not such a hard thing, is it – to die for your friends.”
Review – Spoiler Free
With intricate world-building, character and relationship development, Empire of Storms follows on from the previous 4 books in the series and gives and gives and GIVES. Now, am I right in thinking when originally released this was set to be the penultimate book but then SJMaas threw a curve ball and released a Chaol perspective-led read before the finale? You can tell that. Many of the plot lines within this book start to round up in a way that suggests the answers will be coming soon (as this is a re-read we all know, that is NOT the case!).
We get to see more of Rowan’s perspective at the forefront within this and understand how his and Aelin’s partnership is growing. We also spend more time with some new characters and delve deeper into the backstory of those we have been introduced to before. Alliances form in areas that are unexpected. New and old fuse together to propel the story and begin the final stages of Aelin’s quest to be queen.
Every character within this has experienced and explores trauma in different ways. All are relevant to the story line and fuse to create a well-rounded ‘court’ for Aelin as she gets closer and closer to taking back the throne. Dorian, as I’m sure many of you will know and will be happy about, progresses as a man and as a protagonist, witnessing his own setbacks and trauma but this is poised n such a way that it will also help him achieve and successfully continue his role as King/his journey to become one!
I know there has always been much discussion surrounding SJMaas’ writing and whether it is New Adult or Young Adult. I would argue that ToG is her closest to YA series she has written, however there is a heavy slice of smut in this that you should be wary of if you are not after sex.
If you have stuck around this far for Maas’ novels, then this book is a must and crucial to the Throne of Glass journey. I would argue this is my favourite book in the series so far.
Let me know your thoughts!
Belle xo
belle in pages 