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I enjoyed the book, but I have to admit that there are parts where the storyline drags on a bit. Towards the end of part 2, it gets really exciting for about 150 pages, but then it quickly fizzles out again... You really come to love the characters, and I'm so glad there's a kind of happy ending, since at times it felt like nothing good could happen to the characters because something always seemed to get in the way.

I really like how the book is divided into three parts. There's a part set in the present where poor Helena has lost her memory, then one set in the past (when her memories come back), and then one again in the present where she remembers everything. Sometimes, you find yourself thinking, "I wish she had known that before."

I really enjoyed the book, but I have to admit that I'm not quite sure what all the fuss is about lately. It's an enemies-to-lovers story, but it doesn't really delve into character development or anything else particularly impressive. It's about a man who's really possessive about the girl but doesn't always understand his own feelings. And then there's this woman who thinks she can change him.

However, I really liked the fact that other immortals appeared alongside Mirar and Emerahl, and I have to say that I can relate most to their perspective on the situation and I loved how supportive they are for one another!

which made it all the more difficult for me to understand the actions of some of the characters, because with a little thought, you could have seen through this game. So the book really holds up a mirror to what people are capable of when they feel obliged to do so by a religion or higher power.

Otherwise, I have to say that the books didn't contain any unseen plot twists. I had already anticipated that Mirar would return, and that something was amiss with the gods. By the middle of Part 2 at the latest, it was clear to me that these must be the same gods on both sides who can just take on two different personalities and who are actually just playing people off against each other for fun...

I was a little sad that after Part 1 there was no further information about Tryss and the development of his little family... but I really liked that the Siyee continued to play a major role! I also liked that we got to know the Elai people better and that they allied themselves with the Pentadrians.

I read parts 2 and 3 back-to-back within a week, so I don't have a separate opinion on each book. I still liked the worldbuilding and I thought it was very nice that the Pentadrians' perspective was also illuminated through their own POVs, which made the reader less biased, as there are characters on both sides that you just have to love. I particularly liked Imenja, the second voice.

I really like Emerahl's storyline, it's my favourite so far. But I also think the Syiee are very likeable, and there is something very mystical about the Dreamweavers. The end of the battle very abrupt, which left me with a lot of questions. So I'm curious to see whether peace can be established, the white people will eventually begin to doubt their gods, and whether there is a possibility that Mirar will return.

I enjoyed reading the book quite a lot. The worldbuilding is nice and it’s easy to fall in love with the characters. I'm still a little sceptical about the gods. There are somehow too many peoples who don't believe in thm, so I think there's more than just one truth behind it.

My friends often asked me while I was reading: "So, have you cried yet?" And now, looking back, I can say with fervour: "Oh yes, I have!"
The book series has had a lasting impact on me and I keep thinking about it and all the strong characters. I'm curious to see when the next book series will captivate me like this again.

I love how you get to know and love Yrene in Assassin's Blade and how she influences the outcome of the book in the end. I love how Elide's decision to give Aelin the ring leads to victory over Maeve. I love how Manon wins the Croachens over to her cause and goes into battle with them... just great! Dorian's storyline also touched me deeply.

I absolutely loved the finale of this book series. I can't even put into words how wonderful it is that all the female characters showed such strength and were indispensable to the ending.

Will someone die? At the moment I'm very confident that there will be a happy ending for all the main characters; whenever things have been dicey for the lives of individuals, they've been saved after all. You can probably tell from this that it's still a young adult book, but maybe that will change in the final part and we'll lose a few cool characters?

Will Aelin be freed? How well does Lysandra play her role? Will the secret be revealed to the characters from Tower of Dawn? Will Manon find the Chrocheans?

At the same time, in Empire of Storms, Aelin manages to raise an army and save herself from situations that seemed hopeless. It's really impressive how the smallest incidents, meetings and details from previous books are taken up again and have such a strong influence on the outcome of the plot. I am now very curious to see how the series will find its finale.

But that's not to say that Tower of Dawn is boring. The characters are great, the world described is almost even more beautiful and a lot is discovered, which is super relevant for the entire plot. As a reader, you're constantly left thinking: wow, if only the others knew!!! The book simply has a super pleasant feel-good factor, so many characters are able to realise personal boundaries and are super comforting.

I read the two books in tandem - which I can highly recommend! While Tower of Dawn introduces a lot of new people and places, which Sara J Maas really took her time to do, Empire of Storms has a lot happening super fast and in quick succession. So it's a nice change to switch between the books.

I read the two books in tandem - which I can highly recommend! While Tower of Dawn introduces a lot of new people and places, which Sara J Maas really took her time to do, Empire of Storms has a lot happening super fast and in quick succession. So it's a nice change to switch between the books.

The ending in particular left me speechless, because the king's confession turns the whole plot around 180 degrees!!! I'm so excited to see how all the characters grow into their new roles and what else happens in the next volumes! I'm going to try reading volumes 5 and 6 as a tandem read, I hope that doesn’t overwhelm me at some point.

Manon's side of the story gave you more insight into the structure of the enemy army. I can really relate to her now. She's going through such a strong character development, and I love her relationship with Elide. Throughout the whole book there are plot twists that you don't see coming: Aedions ancestry, the forged ring of the Valg, Lorcan, Elides ancestry, Kaltains redemption arc, Elena’s amulet… I loved it!

I really appreciated getting a peek into Dorian's perspective, too. As a reader, you were in a pretty good position: You knew a bit more than the main characters, and you didn't write Dorian off so quickly. The Valgs built up a lot of tension during the story, and in between, you were left wondering how it was all going to get any better.

I absolutely loved part 4! I'm so excited to continue reading the next volume. Where do I even start? It was such a treat to have Aelin back in Rifthold, and I really liked to see her and Rowan’s storyline intertwine with Chaol’s and Aedion's. I also have to say, I'm a big fan of the way the relationship between Lysandra and Aelin grew!

I think it makes a lot of sense to read this book after having read at least part 1 and 2 of the series, so that you as a reader are already familiar with Celena and have built up a connection to her. Otherwise, I can imagine that some situations might seem rather random or drag on. Overall, though, Assassins Blade gives you the opportunity to get to know Celena better and understand many of her motivations.

Since I read the book as an ebook and have no idea how thick the books are, I thought at first this was just a small collection of short stories from Celena's past. But I was surprised and pleased that they went into so much depth. Actually getting to know Sam and seeing how their relationship developed was very wholesome and much nicer than just getting brief references to him like in the other parts of the series.

I‘m curious to see how all these plots will come together at some point! But the finale of this part was really exciting! Rowan actually breaking away from Maeve and joining Aelin, and Dorian ending up a slave to his father with the new magic he just discovered!?!? And Chaol on the run... a lot of potential for volume 4!