Overall Series Review: 4.9/5 stars
The Assassin's Blade:
5/5 stars
This was my second time rereading The Assassin's Blade and I just forgot how much I enjoyed it when I read it the first time and I think reading it before the rest of the books helped too because then I was reading things chronologically. I really loved the characters, they made me happy and I loved getting to see Celaena again and Sam and Yrene before the Yrene we know now. Each of the stories ends up becoming more and this book was just definitely needed.
Throne of Glass:
4.85/5 stars
Every time I read this one, I'm always more of a Dorian fan than a Chaol fan. Before knowing who Celaena actually is, I always thought that she would make a great queen and that her and Dorian would have been great together and would have the relationship that I had always wanted for myself where both were avid readers that could talk about books all the time. The competition was always something that I enjoyed reading and it was great to come back to it.
Crown of Midnight:
4.8/5 stars
This book I guess has always been my least favorite of them all just because of the fact that I was never a huge Chaol fan. I was okay with the fact that Celaena chose Chaol out of him and Dorian, though. I loved getting to see more of what happened in the castle and I loves watching the relationships build when I reread this book and I just really loved rereading the series.
Heir of Fire:
4.9/5 stars
I really really loved meeting Manon and Aelin who are probably tied for favorite characters in this series, if not ever. I just loved Abraxos and the wyverns and seeing how the Ironteeth witches worked, but still watching Celaena accept who she is and building a relationship with Rowan, and still getting to see what happens at the castle with Dorain and Chaol and Aedion.
Queen of Shadows:
5/5 stars
Queen of Shadows has always been my favorite because of all of the things that happen. Manon and Elide and also Manon and Dorian, but then also everything happening with Aelin and her court including saving Aedion but then reuniting with Rowan and Lysandra and just the more relationships that happened and grew between characters that weren't necessarily romantic.
Empire of Storms:
5/5 stars
I loved Empire of Storms so much because of the fact that Aelin was kicking ass and so much was happening and it was just magnificent and I couldn't get enough of it. This book ended up making me cry so much because of everything that happened and it was just so great.
Tower of Dawn:
4.68/5 stars
I was conflicted about reading Tower of Dawn just because Chaol was not my favorite character and I didn't want to read a whole book about him, but I enjoyed it so much more than I originally expected too and he grew on me. I loved getting to experience a new part of the world and meet new characters.
Kingdom of Ash:
4.96/5 stars
This book was so good. Everything came together, it made my cry and laugh and I just couldn't get enough of it. It was just what I needed and I finished it so much faster than I was expecting to, but it was just so good. The only reason it didn't get a 5/5 stars was because I left still wanted a little bit more in the ending because I figured we would get a little more of the characters after the war was over, but it was really good regardless.
Main Characters:
Celaena Sardothian/Aelin Ashryver Galathynius is the main character that the story is revolved around and I love her with all my heart. She inspires me so much and her strength has encouraged me to do things that I never thought that I would have been able to do.
Dorian Havilliard is a man that quickly stole my heart with his charm, but then his love for books just killed me. He is so amazing and his growth throughout the series was just something that I couldn't get enough of. Especially when he is getting close to a certain golden-eyed witch.
Chaol Westfall was not my favorite character, but he was still a good man and he did everything that he could to protect Dorian and all that he did was because of his brotherly love for Dorian and so I have quite a bit of respect for him, regardless of how much I like him.
Rowan Whitethorn is just one of those characters that just made my heart happy with the love that he had shown Aelin when they were together and the dedication and care that he had for her in Kingdom of Ash just made me so happy. He loved all of Aelin and not just certain parts of her and it was just an amazing relationship to watch unfold.
Manon Blackbeak is one of my favorite characters ever, she is just so badass and I couldn't get enough of her character growth, I just love her so much.
Lysandra was good for Aelin and just a good character in general. She was a great friend to Aelin and was willing to do so much to help her friend and I think that that is what counts in their relationship.
Aedion Ashryver was kind of an asshole, but I did enjoy his character. You could definitely tell how much he cares for the ones he loves as well as his soldiers and he was smarter than people gave him credit for.
Yrene was just a lovely character to read about, I love her so much, and the fact that she was pregnant and still could kick ass, was just amazing.
Nesryn deserved so much more and I'm really glad that she found it with Sartaq.
Elide was such a strong character that was just so fun to read about. She was so smart and she cared so much, and she deserved so much more.
Lorcan was kind of a big asshole, but I do like him with Elide.
Other Characters:
Sam Cortland deserved so much better.
Arobynn Hamel deserved so much worse.
Kaltain Rompier deserved so much more than what she was given, but she was detrimental to the story.
Nehemia Ytger was not my favorite, I really didn't care for her. I understood why she did what she did, but she still wasn't my favorite.
Fleetfoot brought me so much joy, I love her so so much.
Asterin has been through so much and I'm glad that she finally got to avenge her baby.
The Thirteen was such an amazing group of witches and I loved them all so much, I cried to so hard when they Yielded.
Abraxos is like a dog and I love him so much, I really really want an Abraxos.
Maeve was the worst, I hated her more than I did Erawan.
Erawan was such a smart being to be able to come up with all that he did, but he was so so twisted and I hate him.
Mother Blackbeak is just a monster and I despise her, she deserved everything that came to her in the end.
King of Adarlan really wasn't that bad of a guy once you got the Vlag out of him. He really did care for Dorian and what he did with the Key just made me cry.
Fenrys was like a puppy and I love him so much. I want one. I love how he was there for Aelin in Kingdom of Ash.
Gavriel was such a great character and I loved them.
Other characters made me happy like Sartaq and Hasar and Kashin and Renia and so many others. This seried just had so many great characters. Rolfe and Ansel and so many others where great and I just enjoyed all the characters so much.
Favorite Scenes:
-fight scene between Aelin and Manon
-Aelin's coronation scene
-the Thirteen's yielding scene
-Dorian and Aelin geeking out about books
-Dorian giving Aelin Fleetfoot
-Rowan and Aelin reunion scene in QoS
-When Lysandra is a Sea Dragon and Aedion tells her that they are going be married one day
-Manon saving Petrah
-Manon turning against her grandmother
-when Manon learns about Asterin's past
- when Chaol, Dorian and Aelin say goodbye at the end of KoA
-Whenever Aelin just shows up in Chaol's chapters in QoS
-whenever Aelin's plans become unraveled
-Manon asking Dorian to marry her
-Yrene killing Erawan
-Dorian tricking Maeve
-Evangeline and Darrow scene
-when Rolfe finds out that Celaena is Aelin
-when Aelin is pounding on the box
-Aelin getting out of the box and the scene with getting out of the chains
-when Dorian and Aelin are dancing
-the ending scene of QoS with the glass castle shatters
-the whole Key scene
SO many more
Favorite Quotes:
-"You could rattle the stars. You could do anything, if only you dare."
-"You do not yield"
-"I am Sam Cortland, and I will not be afraid."
-"Where's my wife."
-"Libraries were full of ideas--perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.
-“My name is Celaena Sardothien. But it makes no difference if my name's Celaena or Lillian or Bitch, because I'd still beat you, no matter what you call me.”
-“I like music," she said slowly, "because when I hear it, I . . . I lose myself within myself, if that makes any sense. I become empty and full all at once, and I can feel the whole earth roiling around me. When I play. I'm not . . . for once, I'm not destroying, I'm creating.”
-“We each survive in our own way.”
-“The best lies were always mixed with truth.”
-“Then Celaena and the King of Adarlan smiled at each other, and it was the most terrifying thing Dorian had ever seen.”
-“She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.”
-“You cannot pick and choose what parts of her to love."
-“I claim you, Aelin. To whatever end.”
-“You didn't need a weapon at all when you were born one.”
-“You make me want to live, Rowan. Not survive; not exist. Live.”
-“She looked at them, at the three males who meant everything—more than everything. Then she smiled with every last shred of courage, of desperation, of hope for the glimmer of that glorious future. “Let’s go rattle the stars.”
-“If you're a monster, I'm a monster.”
-"To a better world."
-“Aelin Galathynius had raised an army not just to challenge Morath, but to rattle the stars.”
-“You know, you ladies can let us males do things every now and then.”
-“He’d almost told the princess that she could keep Hellas’s Horse, but there was something to be said about the prospect of charging down Morath foot soldiers atop a horse named Butterfly.”
-“Rowan beheld all Aelin was and is, and he was not afraid."
-“Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom …”
-“I am here, I am wish you.”
-“Live, Manon. Live.”
SO many more
Overall, I love this series so much. I need more of this world.