_edited.jpg)
5 stars! This review will HAVE SPOILERS after the *spoiler marker* because at this point why would you need to read this review of Kingdom of Ash without already having the intention to finish it (it’s the last book, read it!).
Synopsis:
Aelin locked in an iron coffin.
Rowan desperate to save her.
Dorian searching for the 3 keys.
Manon destined to unite two enemy kingdoms.
Aedion trying to hold his kingdom together.
Erawan ready to end the world.
The final battle is here.
Thoughts:
It’s been some time now since I’ve finished this series and I can now finally give my thoughts without melting into a puddle of tears because the series is finished. It’s done. It’s ended. And for a whole year my heart wasn’t ready to read this last book because I knew it would rip me to shreds AND THAT IT DID. If you’ve read this far into the series you know that my final thoughts will just be a bunch of fangirlly gibberish.
*Spoilers ahead*
The entire lead up to the final battle.
Can we just take a SILENT moment for Fenrys and Aelin. Fenrys was Aelin’s crutch throughout all the torture that Cairn and Maeve inflicted on her. The language they created so they could talk to each other. The language that stayed between them and only them.
Rowan was doing everything he could to find her, to save her. Knowing she would be broken when he did, but willing to do whatever it took to bring her back. Then how she was ready -READY- to end it all right before he found her. That was HEARTBREAKING. I cried. And her skin was new. All new. No scars, no visible memories of all she went through, only the mental and emotional memories that would haunt her.
Back on Erilea, Lysandra and Aedion were doing everything they could to keep Terrasen safe. Aedion was being a complete ass the entire time to her. But Lysandra kept fighting, kept her head up through all the blood and battles, by sword or by the hurtful words Aedion said to her. They were the might that Terrasen needed until more help arrived. Even thought nasty old men who want to play king were trying to keep them from doing what they needed to do.
Chaol and Yrene finally making it back to the continent with the vast army they brought from the Southern Continent. WOW. That was SO satisfying. And Chaol getting to go back and confront his father after so long as being the Oathbreaker. Yrene fed Chaol’s father the truth. Chaol became a savior of his land. Then they run into the best warriors in the whole book: Aelin and company.
This battle at Chaol’s father’s estate/fortress was NERVE WRECKING. And Aelin had to -waste- her final blow to save them. She had been tunneling down into her power so weeks-months-forever and she had to use it to save her army. I know it’s not a waste, but wow. That was one helluva display of magic and power.
Dorian understanding his raw power. Learning to shift, learning to be mischievous. Then infiltrating Erawan’s keep. Tricking Maeve. Finding the keys. Being, essentially, a whole fucking BADASS on his own. I thought it was going to go so badly and when it didn’t, was I so satisfied with how much Dorian has grown and become a savior on his own.
Manon finally finding the Crochans. Winning their trust. Thought by the death of more of her own kind. Manon finally confronting the high witches. Confronting her grandmother! And WINNING. Making her the high witches go crying back to their keep. Earning her CROWN. The crown as Crochan queen and high witches of the Thirteen.
Then they all had to make their way to Terrasen.
Aelin had to make a decision. She had to decide if she wanted to give up herself to save the world. She had everything she wanted. She had Rowan. She had her friends. But she needed her queendom and to save it, she had to end it. But Dorian helped her. Dorian’s father HELPED HER. And even the GODS helped her. And though she is no longer the epitome of fire, she is still the Fireheart. The Fire Queen. And she kept enough of her fire to continue living and continue the fight.
And on the way back, managed to sneak a glimpse of our ACOTAR faves.
The final battle.
Wow. It’s been months and yet I still feel like I’m recovering as I relive the book through this review.
Manon and the Thirteen. THE THIRTEEN. Their sacrifice. Their breaking of the curse. Their lives will forever be remembered. Manon fighting through despite the pain of losing her closest family. More heart break! The field of blooming flowers. Now having a home to go back to -if they survive this war.
Dorian getting to meet Chaol and his wife. Finding out he will be an uncle. Adoring Chaol’s wife and loving their happiness. Being able to be truly happy for his best friend and what he’s found.
EVERYONE REUNITING. Everyone fighting for a just cause. Everyone willing to put down their lives for the future of Terrasen and the future of the world. Yrene being another BOSS and healing and -cleansing.- Aelin defending her kingdom. Her rightful kingdom along side her cousin. Rowan and Lorcan and Fenrys being fierce WARRIORS on that field. Lysandra and her ghost leopard form also being a warrior on that field. Evangeline being a warrior of her own kind as the ward of an old man, being able to change his heart and change his mind and make him understand that Aelin is the QUEEN. Evangeline kept her promise. She fought from the inside and turned the old geezers to their side. Then the wolves! ALL the people who came to help Terrasen, help Aelin save the world.
Aelin using the last bit of her magic. Aelin fighting tooth and nail to deal with Maeve. Yrene also fighting with her wits, doing everything she knew she needed to to deal with Erawan. Yrene being the one weakness he thought he had foreseen and dealt with, but she made it through. She ended it.
The ending.
I can’t believe it’s over. I can’t believe they’re separating. Manon and Dorian and their marriage joke. Still so cute. Chaol and Yrene and their future child that will now have a safe place to live. Rowan going right into the building of their destroyed kingdom. Covering the stain with a carpet -funny- and now having a home to live in. Aelin going right back into building the economy and trade and foreign relations. The Pirate King, now Privateer, ascending to his place as leader of the Mycenians. Lysandra being lady of Carravere (do we even get to find out what the name of this land means??) and Evangeline being a baby lady. Aedion and Lysandra working things out and working on themselves.
Separating ways. MY HEART SHATTERED even more. I need another book. Another whole novella for just the epilogue. This book did everything for me and then some. I think this series will definitely become my most reread series. I have to reread it. I need to reconsume this story and have a whole new reaction to it as I go through it much more slowly.
Overall:
Wow. Throne of Glass is a series that will stay with me my whole life. It’s one of my faves, if not THE FAVE. Recommend. Recommend. Recommend. READ IT.