Book Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Queen of Shadows
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #4
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 656
Goodreads

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 the world.

Queen of Shadows summed up in one word:

W-O-W.

Sarah J. Maas continually impresses readers with exciting book after book.  This year we've been fortunate enough to receive two new Maas releases.  And although I felt A Court of Thorns and Roses started off a bit slow, the action monumentally picked up, and by the end of the book, I was in complete bookish love.

Queen of Shadows, the fourth book in Sarah J. Maas's bestselling Throne of Glass series, was no exception.  I was and still am in awe of Sarah's captivating storytelling.  Like A Court of Thorns and Roses, Queen of Shadows, is action-packed, bewitching, and unputdownable.

On September 1, I immediately headed off to the bookstore after school to pick up my own copy.  This book was worth every penny spent; I blazed through the pages in only a matter of days.

Why was Queen of Shadows so riveting?

Here's why:

1. Aelin Galathynius

Our beloved heroine is back in QoS and somehow even more kick-ass and wonderful than she was in Heir of Fire.  From book one until now, I've loved Celaena (now Aelin) for her spirit, her resilience, and her nerve.  She has been such a refreshing character to the YA genre.  Yes, she's a queen and likes to dress up in lavish clothing, but she can also tough it out in the slums and wreak havoc upon her enemies.  In this fourth book, the Queen of Terrasen, Aelin Galathynius, is back and ready to fight for her title, her people, and her empire.  Readers, be prepared for even more pages (656!) of Aelin's usual "kick-assery" and verve.

2. Strong female characters

Sarah J. Maas knows how to write characters, but she's an absolute expert at writing strong female characters.  Over the past few books we've been introduced to a handful of them, but in Queen of Shadows, I especially feel the women of the series really take on the starring roles.  Besides old favorites and our main character, Aelin, readers are also introduced (and reintroduced) to a multitude of characters.  There's Nesryn, a fierce rebel fighting alongside Chaol, there's Elide, more witches, more Manon, an enemy-turned-friend, Lysandra, and a reappearance of Kaltain.  You'll love each and every one of these strong ladies and the role they play.

3. The intricate plot line

If someone handed me book one and asked me to predict what was to come in the following books, there would be absolutely no way to guess how Celaena's story would evolve into the intricate, sensational treasure it has become.  And that's exactly what I love about the Throne of Glass series - it's so well-thought out and so well-written that readers are always kept rapt!  I went from petrified to nervous to relieved in only a matter of pages.  Queen of Shadows is filled with those "oh no!" moments, those "ahhh!" moments, and then those "yes!" moments we love.   Honestly, there was never a dull moment.  (Even Manon's chapters that I felt was a bit boring in Heir of Fire, intrigued in Queen of Shadows.)

4. All the action

Come on, it's a Sarah J. Maas book.

Aelin Galathynius knows how to bring the action.

Look forward to loads of epic battles and mind-blowing brawls.

5. The relationships!

No spoilers here, but there's some romance, some heartwarming friendships forged, and some beginnings, too!  If anything, read this book for the complex interactions between characters.  There's funny scenes, sad scenes, cute scenes, and of course, those touching scenes that make our hearts burst in happiness.

I can positively say Queen of Shadows is one of my favorite Throne of Glass books yet.