{Review} Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Queen of Shadows
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass, book #4
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Source: purchased audiobook and hardcover :)
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Sarah J. Maas's New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth volume.

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.

I can't really do a typical review for this book. Nothing I say will be adequate enough to convey just how amazing this book was. I mean, obviously, by this point, you should already know that Sarah J. Maas is brilliant and you should read all of her books. Duh. So, I don't have to regale you with why you should read Queen of Shadows. Instead, let me extol on this book's merits, hopefully without spoiling anything too much for you, though I think it's probably still a good idea to suggest that you not read this until AFTER you've finished the book. =)

Queen of Shadows made me root for characters who I had previously loathed in the books that came before it. I love that I just didn't understand their importance until this book, that I dismissed them so early on, only to see them in a whole new light in this book. And then there were some that had me flip-flopping, even when I ultimately knew just how evil they were. Sometimes a girl just needs that affirmation.

Maas is BOSS at creating bad-ass female characters. And not just the main characters like Aelin and Manon but all of her female characters are fierce. Whether they've been wielding a sword as a rebel for years or slowly coming into their own, these ladies don't take shit from anyone. They are ruthless and cunning and I bow down to their awesomeness.

This author is not afraid to take a once-beloved character and show a completely different side of them. Readers may not like it, but people change, and I love that Maas had the balls to show the readers that other side, even if it did make the character almost unidentifiable in the end. I love Chaol, I do, but Sam never would have given up on Celaena just because he'd found out who and what she was. THAT is real love.

Maas ain't afraid to wreck yo ship. We've seen this before, and I'm sure we'll see it again, whether in this series or in ACOTAR. After HOF, I really, truly thought that things would remain platonic between certain characters. I mean, I was hoping for more but I wasn't going to allow that to get the better of me. Because when it comes down to it, I'll always be #TeamAelin because it's her prerogative to choose who she wants to be with. It doesn't make her promiscuous; it makes her a woman who knows what she wants...and doesn't want. And I'm usually pretty happy with who she picks for herself at any given moment. But most especially now. I swooned pretty hard even though there wasn't a lot of actual physical connection in this book. Page 527 got me hard, though. I'm probably fooling myself, but I think this might be the real deal this time.

Honestly, at this point, though, I'm almost, almost more interested in the friendships and kinship that develops. I've always adored the friendship between Chaol and Dorian, and now the Aedion and Rowan bromance has me all aflutter. But the pairing I'm really hoping for in my heart of hearts is Manon and Aelin. Their encounter in this book was phenomenal and everything I'd hoped it would be: fierce, bloody and death-defying. They are like two sides of the same coin.

I could've used more Abraxos, though. Especially considering my own theories about the wyverns. I'm just so curious about them: the how, the why, the who. I wish I had my own wyvern. :( But at least Fleetfoot made an appearance. And I hear that she'll make it through the whole series, so at least there's that.

After the sometimes tedious Heir of Fire -- which is much less boring on audio, I know from experience -- Queen of Shadows was everything I'd hoped it would be. These characters are everything. They lived up to my expectations and then some. They fought the bitter fight and never gave up, even when it looked like the end. They've all loved and lost and made sacrifice on top of sacrifice and yet they still keep going. #squadgoals

There are few series that can get me as fired up as this one. I am so unbelievably glad I still have two more books with all of these characters. When I first read Throne of Glass, I never thought I'd be so ardently devoted to these books, and now look at me. Fangirl to the end. I've even got both of my sisters hooked on the series now! =D

GIF it to me straight:

THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING!!!

About the author:

Sarah J. Maas lives in Southern California, and over the years, she has developed an unhealthy appreciation for Disney movies and bad pop music. She adores fairy tales and ballet, drinks too much coffee, and watches absolutely rubbish TV shows. When she's not busy writing YA fantasy novels, she can be found exploring the California coastline.

Find Sarah:

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Labels: audiobooks, bloomsbury, faeries, fantasy, favorite authors, favorites, girl power, magic, must-read, reviews, sarah j. maas, throne of glass