Review: Queen of Shadows

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m not entirely sure what it is about Queen of Shadows, but it just didn’t quite live up to the other books in the Throne of Glass series for me. Don’t get me wrong, it was still enjoyable, and I really loved all the action, but it just kind of fell flat. I can’t quite put my finger on why. There are some seriously badass scenes that definitely saved it for me, which is why it still gets four stars.

For one thing, I really loved Chaol in this book—well, not necessarily at the beginning, but once he finally got his head out of his… well, you know… he really shone. Even though he wasn’t always at the forefront of the story, his presence was much more impactful. I also started getting really invested in Manon’s storyline here. In Heir of Fire, her chapters didn't really grab me, but in Queen of Shadows, she finally became a character I was genuinely interested in. And lastly, I absolutely loved the final battle. It was badass as hell, and the way it was written created such a clear and vivid image in my head. It was truly epic.

Despite it not being my favorite, I still highly recommend this series!! I’m going to take a day or two break and then jump into a tandem read of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn.

Favorite quotes from this book were:

-“They joined hands. So the world ended. And the next one began.”

This is so powerful and symbolic. It marks a huge turning point in the story and signifies the end of one era and the beginning of another. It’s a moment of both loss and hope.

-“If you're a monster, I'm a monster.”

This speaks to the deep loyalty and unwavering bond between certain characters. It shows their willingness to stand by each other, no matter what. It’s a powerful declaration of solidarity.

-“Sometimes there won’t be a right choice, just the best of several bad options.”

This quote is so insightful and reflects the difficult decisions that the characters have to make throughout the book. It highlights the moral gray areas and the complexities of war and leadership.

While Queen of Shadows wasn’t my favorite in the Throne of Glass series, it was still a solid and enjoyable read. The action, Chaol’s development, Manon’s growing storyline, and that epic final battle definitely made it worthwhile. If you’re invested in this series, you should absolutely continue.

*Pinterest board created by me for this book: https://www.pinterest.com/isalemx3/throne-of-glass/

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