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A review by surbhi_reads
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
4.0
“The world,” Aelin said, “will be saved and remade by the dreamers, Rolfe.”
Almost 700 plus pages of deliciousness, juiciness, bloodshed and viciousness that I devoured in two days straight. That’s what “Empire of Storm” is. In classic Sarah J. Maas, style this book is long and winding, longer than it definitely needs to be but I have come to this realisation that I like books which are wordy and complicated and “Empire of Storms” is everything and then some. It is bewitching, dense, rich, compelling and absolutely fascinating. However, I feel “Heir of fire” will forever be my favourite in this series.
It is insignificant to explain the plot at this point because so much is happening to these characters and in their world. If Aelin and her gang hoped that once the King of Adarlan is defeated and magic is freed their problems will lessen to a certain extent then boy! They were wrong because now an even greater threat looms all over the continent and the gang is caught between dealing with the Vlag king Erawan and the Fae queen Maeve, who has her own agendas and is bent on making life hell for Aelin. Also, it doesn’t help that the lords of Terrasen have refused to accept an assassin as their queen unless she proves her worth and Rifthold is sacked by Erawan forces prompting Dorian to flee the city. As for Chaol, he is absent in this book which is actually surprising but it also works quite well with this storyline.
Chaol, at this time, needs a considerable amount of time to heal both mentally and physically and with the crazy things happening in the story currently, I am happy that he is tucked away safe in the southern continent. In addition, I know we get a whole book based on Chaol and his time on the southern continent. So yay!
“I'm going to call in old debts and promises. To raise an army of assassins and thieves and exiles and commoners.”
Moving on, the sheer massiveness of this plot and this world amazes me every single time. It is barely recognisable from the first book, there are so many new character addition to the series, it keeps on getting complex and intricate and there are so many surprises, twists and revelations which I never saw coming. The relationship between characters is extremely intense and there are some truly epic, action-packed and strong moments in the book. However, there is something coherent and enamouring about Sarah’s writing and the characters she brings life to which strikes the chords with me. Some of these characters are morally grey, some just plain good and some just downright evil but they are all written with such conviction that feels real and honest. In “Empire of Storms” we have three major plot points which include some 7 to 8 major characters. We have Aelin, Rowan, Dorian, Aedion and Lysandra on one hand, and then we have Manon and her thirteen on the other. However, the most surprising and if I may say interesting plot point of all is easily that of Elide and Lorcan. Obviously, when all three of them converges it is nothing sort of fireworks, bringing about a heart-stopping, gut-wrenching and cliff-hanger of an ending.
I did this for my previous two reviews for this series, where I broke down characters and talked about them but I feel it only makes my reviews long and winding like this book so I will just try to keep this short and try to talk about them in as much fewer words as it is possible. In addition, there are just too many characters and their respective relationships to talk about so you get the idea. Right?
Aelin- okay! So Aelin is the reason why I gave this book 4 stars even though this book has an incredible and addictive plot. I really felt Aelin was out of character in “Queen of Shadows” because of how she treated Chaol but in this one, she is like this person I don’t even recognise from the other books. She has so many secrets and she does what she feels like doing without considering how others feel about it or how they will react to it. The other people in this scenario being her mate, friends and advisors she could trust but she doesn’t. Even though what happens to her at the end broke my heart I still felt so disconnected to her for most the time.
“He was hers and she was his and they had found each other across centuries of bloodshed and loss, across oceans and kingdoms and war.”
Rowan- He has his moments especially there is some really cool dynamic between him and Dorian. But I suppose his character lives too much under Aelin’s shadows. Which also brings me to him and Aelin being mates. I loved them together in “Heir of fire” and even in “Queen of Shadows” to a certain extent however in this book not so much and it has nothing to do with the sex scenes between them. Which is quite vivid, detailed and there is a lot of claiming involved. It is just that I never got the appeal of them being together except for maybe giving equal importance to newly introduced characters. I know, I know they are madly and irrevocably in love but later on this whole new destined together for centuries is imbibed in the plot and them getting married in secret and all that stuff which is exactly more or less the same things that happen at the end of ACOMAF.
Dorian- Dorian has a very silent presence in this book and most of the time he is on the sides spurring into action only when he is required to wield magic but it is somewhat obvious. He is actually all alone, he has lost his city, a king without his crown or lands, his best friend Chaol is not with him and then he has this whole baggage of things to deal with and the entire gang is actually under constant pressure or attack from the otherworldly creatures. Someone give this baby a break.
“Then Manon Blackbeak whirled and brought Wind-Cleaver down upon her grandmother.”
Manon- My queen of sass, Manon is actually awesome in this book like gasping for breath awesome. The way she stood for her thirteen disobeying every order from her evil grandmother and that fight sequence. Omg! Like I can’t even describe my feelings because I wanted this to happen for so long and then it finally happened and I was just squealing in delight. And that final revelation about her heritage, I mean absolutely wonderful. As for Manon and Dorian, honestly, they are a couple of my dreams. I would not say it felt insta-lovey because they are only having sex without any real feelings and both these characters have so much to deal with but I am sceptical about their relationship in the future. At this point though their relationship feels more like a coping mechanism so I guess fingers crossed.
Abraxox- Shiny winged guardian angel, I love you to the moon and back. Wet sloppy kisses!!
Aedion- OMG! He is bisexual! And I am like squeeeee! He deserves the world. One of my absolute favourite moment from this series is between him, Lysandra and the beach. You will know it when you read it.
“But you know what I told them? I said that they didn't stand a chance in hell. Because I am going to marry you,” he promised her. “One day. I am going to marry you.
Lysandra- amazing, amazing. I cannot even say how much she means to me after everything that she did in this novel. So brave, so loyal and so selfless. Another character who deserves the world. I am beginning to hope an Aedion and Lysandra ship in the future but I guess we will see.
Elide- I am floored by her, she is not just amazing, she is impressive, manipulative and extremely ingenious. Everything about her is perfection like I can’t even express.
“Lorcan reached out, grasping her chin and forcing her to look at him. Hopeless, bleak eyes met his. He brushed away a stray tear with his thumb. “I made a promise to protect you. I will not break it, Elide.”
“I will always find you,” he swore to her.
Her throat bobbed.
Lorcan whispered, “I promise.”
Lorcan- This character took an unexpected and surprise turn for me. His devotion to Elide touched me so, so much. Yes! He didn’t take some wise decisions especially towards the end but at least his intentions were good. The fact also helps that his and Elide’s relationship is actually the most subtle, unique and relatable one in this entire series so that definitely helps.
Fenrys- loved him!
Gavriel- Neutral territory!
Maeve- I don’t even want to start on her-------cruel and soulless.
Overall, this book has every element, which makes Sarah J. Maas a hit. There is action, drama, steamy and vivid smut, conniving and manipulating characters, complex world, interesting back-stories, prophecies, dense plot and obviously revengeful goddesses. I am finally reaching towards the end of this series and I am not yet sure, how I feel about it ending. Technicalities aside, this book is entertaining as hell and gives me so much feels. Onto “Tower of Dawn” and cannot wait to read “Kingdom of Ash”.
“Aelin Galathynius had raised an army not just to challenge Morath, but to rattle the stars.”
Enthralling, captivating and gorgeous!
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Almost 700 plus pages of deliciousness, juiciness, bloodshed and viciousness that I devoured in two days straight. That’s what “Empire of Storm” is. In classic Sarah J. Maas, style this book is long and winding, longer than it definitely needs to be but I have come to this realisation that I like books which are wordy and complicated and “Empire of Storms” is everything and then some. It is bewitching, dense, rich, compelling and absolutely fascinating. However, I feel “Heir of fire” will forever be my favourite in this series.
It is insignificant to explain the plot at this point because so much is happening to these characters and in their world. If Aelin and her gang hoped that once the King of Adarlan is defeated and magic is freed their problems will lessen to a certain extent then boy! They were wrong because now an even greater threat looms all over the continent and the gang is caught between dealing with the Vlag king Erawan and the Fae queen Maeve, who has her own agendas and is bent on making life hell for Aelin. Also, it doesn’t help that the lords of Terrasen have refused to accept an assassin as their queen unless she proves her worth and Rifthold is sacked by Erawan forces prompting Dorian to flee the city. As for Chaol, he is absent in this book which is actually surprising but it also works quite well with this storyline.
Chaol, at this time, needs a considerable amount of time to heal both mentally and physically and with the crazy things happening in the story currently, I am happy that he is tucked away safe in the southern continent. In addition, I know we get a whole book based on Chaol and his time on the southern continent. So yay!
“I'm going to call in old debts and promises. To raise an army of assassins and thieves and exiles and commoners.”
Moving on, the sheer massiveness of this plot and this world amazes me every single time. It is barely recognisable from the first book, there are so many new character addition to the series, it keeps on getting complex and intricate and there are so many surprises, twists and revelations which I never saw coming. The relationship between characters is extremely intense and there are some truly epic, action-packed and strong moments in the book. However, there is something coherent and enamouring about Sarah’s writing and the characters she brings life to which strikes the chords with me. Some of these characters are morally grey, some just plain good and some just downright evil but they are all written with such conviction that feels real and honest. In “Empire of Storms” we have three major plot points which include some 7 to 8 major characters. We have Aelin, Rowan, Dorian, Aedion and Lysandra on one hand, and then we have Manon and her thirteen on the other. However, the most surprising and if I may say interesting plot point of all is easily that of Elide and Lorcan. Obviously, when all three of them converges it is nothing sort of fireworks, bringing about a heart-stopping, gut-wrenching and cliff-hanger of an ending.
I did this for my previous two reviews for this series, where I broke down characters and talked about them but I feel it only makes my reviews long and winding like this book so I will just try to keep this short and try to talk about them in as much fewer words as it is possible. In addition, there are just too many characters and their respective relationships to talk about so you get the idea. Right?
Aelin- okay! So Aelin is the reason why I gave this book 4 stars even though this book has an incredible and addictive plot. I really felt Aelin was out of character in “Queen of Shadows” because of how she treated Chaol but in this one, she is like this person I don’t even recognise from the other books. She has so many secrets and she does what she feels like doing without considering how others feel about it or how they will react to it. The other people in this scenario being her mate, friends and advisors she could trust but she doesn’t. Even though what happens to her at the end broke my heart I still felt so disconnected to her for most the time.
“He was hers and she was his and they had found each other across centuries of bloodshed and loss, across oceans and kingdoms and war.”
Rowan- He has his moments especially there is some really cool dynamic between him and Dorian. But I suppose his character lives too much under Aelin’s shadows. Which also brings me to him and Aelin being mates. I loved them together in “Heir of fire” and even in “Queen of Shadows” to a certain extent however in this book not so much and it has nothing to do with the sex scenes between them. Which is quite vivid, detailed and there is a lot of claiming involved. It is just that I never got the appeal of them being together except for maybe giving equal importance to newly introduced characters. I know, I know they are madly and irrevocably in love but later on this whole new destined together for centuries is imbibed in the plot and them getting married in secret and all that stuff which is exactly more or less the same things that happen at the end of ACOMAF.
Dorian- Dorian has a very silent presence in this book and most of the time he is on the sides spurring into action only when he is required to wield magic but it is somewhat obvious. He is actually all alone, he has lost his city, a king without his crown or lands, his best friend Chaol is not with him and then he has this whole baggage of things to deal with and the entire gang is actually under constant pressure or attack from the otherworldly creatures. Someone give this baby a break.
“Then Manon Blackbeak whirled and brought Wind-Cleaver down upon her grandmother.”
Manon- My queen of sass, Manon is actually awesome in this book like gasping for breath awesome. The way she stood for her thirteen disobeying every order from her evil grandmother and that fight sequence. Omg! Like I can’t even describe my feelings because I wanted this to happen for so long and then it finally happened and I was just squealing in delight. And that final revelation about her heritage, I mean absolutely wonderful. As for Manon and Dorian, honestly, they are a couple of my dreams. I would not say it felt insta-lovey because they are only having sex without any real feelings and both these characters have so much to deal with but I am sceptical about their relationship in the future. At this point though their relationship feels more like a coping mechanism so I guess fingers crossed.
Abraxox- Shiny winged guardian angel, I love you to the moon and back. Wet sloppy kisses!!
Aedion- OMG! He is bisexual! And I am like squeeeee! He deserves the world. One of my absolute favourite moment from this series is between him, Lysandra and the beach. You will know it when you read it.
“But you know what I told them? I said that they didn't stand a chance in hell. Because I am going to marry you,” he promised her. “One day. I am going to marry you.
Lysandra- amazing, amazing. I cannot even say how much she means to me after everything that she did in this novel. So brave, so loyal and so selfless. Another character who deserves the world. I am beginning to hope an Aedion and Lysandra ship in the future but I guess we will see.
Elide- I am floored by her, she is not just amazing, she is impressive, manipulative and extremely ingenious. Everything about her is perfection like I can’t even express.
“Lorcan reached out, grasping her chin and forcing her to look at him. Hopeless, bleak eyes met his. He brushed away a stray tear with his thumb. “I made a promise to protect you. I will not break it, Elide.”
“I will always find you,” he swore to her.
Her throat bobbed.
Lorcan whispered, “I promise.”
Lorcan- This character took an unexpected and surprise turn for me. His devotion to Elide touched me so, so much. Yes! He didn’t take some wise decisions especially towards the end but at least his intentions were good. The fact also helps that his and Elide’s relationship is actually the most subtle, unique and relatable one in this entire series so that definitely helps.
Fenrys- loved him!
Gavriel- Neutral territory!
Maeve- I don’t even want to start on her-------cruel and soulless.
Overall, this book has every element, which makes Sarah J. Maas a hit. There is action, drama, steamy and vivid smut, conniving and manipulating characters, complex world, interesting back-stories, prophecies, dense plot and obviously revengeful goddesses. I am finally reaching towards the end of this series and I am not yet sure, how I feel about it ending. Technicalities aside, this book is entertaining as hell and gives me so much feels. Onto “Tower of Dawn” and cannot wait to read “Kingdom of Ash”.
“Aelin Galathynius had raised an army not just to challenge Morath, but to rattle the stars.”
Enthralling, captivating and gorgeous!
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