Synopsis:

Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq have arrived in the shining city of Antica to forge an alliance with the Khagan of the Southern Continent, whose vast armies are Erilea’s last hope. But they have also come to Antica for another purpose: to seek healing at the famed Torre Cesme for the wounds Chaol received in Rifthold.

After enduring unspeakable horrors as a child, Yrene Towers has no desire to help the young lord from Adarlan, let alone heal him. Yet she has sworn an oath to assist those in need—and will honor it. But Lord Westfall carries shadows from his own past, and Yrene soon comes to realize they could engulf them both.

In this sweeping parallel novel to the New York Times bestselling Empire of Storms, Chaol, Nesryn, and Yrene will have to draw on every scrap of their resilience if they wish to save their friends. But while they become entangled in the political webs of the khaganate, deep in the shadows of mighty mountains where warriors soar on legendary ruks, long-awaited answers slumber. Answers that might offer their world a chance at survival—or doom them all . . .

My thoughts:

Sooo, I hate to say this butttttt at first this was kind of boring. Sarah builds up a series of books with characters we love, only to then write a massive book on Chaol…. and not Aelin. After that cliffhanger, I would have much rather read about Aelin.

Howeverrrr, ignoring this, since then I have reread the book and finally completed it in anticipation of Kingdom of Ash(which I have now read), and I’m actually really glad I made myself read it because it really enriches the plot of the whole series and is totally necessary for the plot of KoA.

It also helps that I totally ship Nesryn and Sartaq and Borte and Yeran lol.

For some reason I’ve never really liked Chaol all that much, so I was really disappointed when this book came out, but Sartaq and the ruks totally made it worth it. It was really nice to witness Nesryn’s POV- she’s actually really interesting and strong, and overall I pretty nice character, which I never realised when they were all in Rifthold.

At many times, this book was pretty damn scary. I mean the creepy library scene when Yrene is chased, is terrifying. Butttt, I loved Yrene’s character in this book. She was brave and kind, and a pretty damn amazing healer. I wish Maas had further developed her character in KoA, which was a little disappointing, but whatever- that’s another book.

Overall, I would rank the beginning of the book pretty low. It was sooo boring. However, the end really made the story great sooo overall it gets 4/5 stars.

Here’s a Nesryn/Sartaq excerpt:

“Please,” she begged them. Begged anyone.

But Sartaq’s face went calm. So calm.

He stopped pushing, stopped trying to haul himself forward.

Nesryn shook her head, pulling on his arm.

He did not move. Not an inch.

His dark eyes met hers. There was no fear in them.

Sartaq said to her, clear and steady, “I heard the spies’ stories of you. The fearless Balruhni woman in Adarlan’s empire. Neith’s Arrow. And I knew…”

Nesryn sobbed, tugging and tugging.

Sartaq smiled at her– gently. Sweetly. In a way she had not yet seen.

“I loved you before I ever set eyes on you,” he said.

“Please,” Nesryn wept.

Sartaq’s hand tightened on hers. “I wish we’d had time.”

A hiss from behind him, a rising bulk of shining black–

Then the prince was gone. Ripped from her hands.

As if he had never been.

Ummmmm, wow. Sarah really knows how to bring the feels😂 She’s such an amazing author. TBH, it’s crazy how the series turned out- I’m pretty sure she knew all along, which only proves her author prowess.

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Bye xxxx