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| Categories | Fantasy |
| Author | Sarah J. Maas |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing (February 14, 2023) |
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 672 pages |
| Item Weight | 2.31 pounds |
| Dimensions |
6.6 x 1.85 x 9.7 inches |
I. Book introduction
“Queen of Shadows” unfolds as the fourth installment in the thrilling “Throne of Glass” series. As the narrative progresses, readers are immersed in a world where darkness collides with light, and the fate of kingdoms hangs in the balance. Let’s embark on a comprehensive summary of each chapter, exploring the twists and turns that await within this gripping tale.
No masters. No limits. No regrets.
Aelin Galathynius takes her place as queen in the fourth book of the #1 bestselling Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas.
Celaena Sardothien has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.
She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.
Everyone Aelin loves has been taken from her. Everything she holds dear is in danger. But she has the heart of a queen-and that heart beats for vengeance.
In this fourth book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, no one will escape the queen’s wrath.
Editorial Reviews
- “Action-packed . . . What a ride!” ―Booklist on The Assassin’s Blade
- “A thrilling read.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Throne of Glass
- “An epic fantasy readers will immerse themselves in and never want to leave.” ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on Crown of Midnight
- “Celaena is as much an epic hero as Frodo or Jon Snow!” ―New York Times bestselling author Tamora Pierce on Heir of Fire
- “Packed . . . with brooding glances, simmering sexual tension, twisty plot turns, lush world building, and snarky banter.” ―Booklist on Queen of Shadows
- “Tightly plotted, delightful escapism.” ―Kirkus Reviews on Empire of Storms
- “Turns a corner from sprawling epic to thrilling psychological fantasy.” ―HuffPost on Tower of Dawn
- “A worthy finale to one of the best fantasy book series of the past decade.” ―Time on Kingdom of Ash
About the Author (Sarah J. Maas)
Sarah Janet Maas, known as Sarah J. Maas (born March 5, 1986) is an American fantasy author known for her fantasy series Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City. As of 2024, she has sold nearly 40 million copies of her books and her work has been translated into 38 languages.
Sarah Janet Maas began writing what would become her debut novel, Throne of Glass, at age sixteen. After writing several chapters of the novel, then titled Queen of Glass, Maas posted them on FictionPress.com, where it became one of the most popular stories on the site. It was later removed from the site when Maas decided to publish the novel. The story line of the series is based on the story of Cinderella, with the premise of “What if Cinderella was not a servant, but an assassin? And what if she didn’t attend the ball to meet the prince, but to kill him, instead?” In 2008, Maas started sending the story to agents before signing with Tamar Rydzinski of The Laura Dial Literary Agency in 2009. Throne of Glass was purchased in March 2010 by Bloomsbury, who later purchased two additional books in the series. The series is available in 15 countries and 35 languages. While four prequel novellas set two years before the first novel were also published, these were later condensed into one book, The Assassin’s Blade plus an original novella. The second book of the series, Crown of Midnight was a New York Times young adult best-seller. The final book in the series, Kingdom of Ash, was released on October 23, 2018; the finished series comprised seven books plus the novella collection.
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Maas’ second fantasy series, is a loose retelling of the traditional Beauty and the Beast. The first book of the trilogy was written in 2009, but was not published until 2015. Due to the success and popularity of the original series, it was extended and a spin-off series was announced which would feature stories of other popular characters. The fifth book in the series and the first of the spin-offs, A Court of Silver Flames, was published on February 16, 2021.
On May 16, 2018, Maas announced her first adult fantasy series, Crescent City. The first book, titled House of Earth and Blood, was released by Bloomsbury on March 3, 2020. It was ranked one of the top twenty Science Fiction & Fantasy books of 2020 on Kobo. The sequel, House of Sky and Breath, was released on February 15, 2022 and won the Best Fantasy award for Goodreads Choice Awards in 2022. The third installation of the series, House of Flame and Shadow, was released on January 30th 2024.
The A Court of Thorns and Roses series was announced to be adapted into a television series for Hulu in 2021. In an interview with The New York Times, Maas confirmed that she was developing the project with the writers and the showrunner as executive producer.
In May 2023, The Verge reported that the cover of the UK edition of House of Earth and Blood uses an AI-generated image.
The banning of many is her books in Utah public schools has led to a surge in their popularity.
II. Reviewer: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
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1. ALI GOODWIN reviews for Queen of Shadows
It’s crazy HOW MUCH is going on in this book! It’s so cool that at this point in the series we’re invested in so many characters and subplots. Really cool to see all of the characters come together and cross paths. Also, everything Celaena is balancing with the fantasy plot is wild. I would simply crumble under the pressure (but that’s why she is the badass main character and not me haha).
2. JESSICA reviews for Queen of Shadows
reading this book feels like an ascension to some higher sphere.
this installment is the key turning point in this series and it has absolutely sent me. the foresight, the cleverness, the complexity, the reach, the drive, the cunningness – all of it amounts to a story that transcends all other stories.
it is, quite simply, a masterpiece.
↠ 5 stars
3. BROOKE AVERICK reviews for Queen of Shadows
Everyone was off their rocker the first half of this book. I love the romances that are forming and pray that those are explored in detail asap as possible. I was on the edge of my seat for the last 100 pages. Overall enjoyed this thoroughly but found it slightly underwhelming compared to Heir of Fire.
Please no one say anything that could possibly be a spoiler…
4. WARDA reviews for Queen of Shadows
I see Goodreads had the nerve to get rid of my original review.
I don’t even know what to say really. I’ve read and reread this series to death and will continue to do so till I’m greying.
It’s a series that’s brought me a lot of comfort, it’s been a safe space for me for a while.
I can’t say much without spoiling everything. This 4th instalment was epic The world and the characters get bigger and bigger and better. More expansive, richer. That ending bordered on poetic. It was so hopeful but also highlighting that it’s very much the start of a new road for our characters and there’ll be many more challenges that they’ll have to face.
I’m just excited to re-experience the rest of the books. Especially Kingdom of Ash.
5. MELYNDA WANGSNESS reviews for Queen of Shadows
“So the world ended. And the next one began.”
Where everything starts to come together.
Queen of Shadows brings all of the world building, character introduction, and character development to a wonderful and action packed point. It all makes sense now!
Queen of Shadows is packed to the brim in order to fit all of the above in, but is done in an interesting and easy to read way that makes the pages fly by. Having read another series by Maas – A Court of Thorns and Roses – first, I feel as though I can sense some foreshadowing that will be important later. Maas has an amazing ability to add these elements throughout her series without missing a beat; this brings emotional punches as the series progresses. I’m excited to see how these items play out!
The twists and turns in Queen of Shadows took me by surprise; I found myself gasping and needing to set the book down for a few minutes in certain places. The delivery of these shocking events was delicious and left me begging for more! This is definitely a book that refuses to be put down.
With a hopeful ending wrapping up Queen of Shadows, this almost feels like it could be the end. Instead, it’s an energizing start to my tandem read of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn.
6. HELEN M reviews for Queen of Shadows
so good, can’t wait for the next book.
This book is the beginning of it all. It’s the culmination of all of the prior books and surprise, I didn’t end up thinking the witches were useless (though still not my fave). I don’t want to spoil any of the plot but this is the first book in this series that I couldn’t put down. It’s fast moving and epic and I absolutely loved it. In this book Celeana comes into her own, fights her demons and awakens the queen within. This book is also where we really get to know Rowan and he has all the vibes of a great Sarah Maas Fae male warrior. I’m telling you, every character comes back better, more clearly written, with characters you want to fight for and rage with. There is romance and intrigue and magic create the delectable Maas books I love. So good. 5 stars. Plus a little kissing. Still very G rated.
7. KELLY J NICK reviews for Queen of Shadows
Worth the ride.
The first two books were nice. They were ok. The third book started slow but made me sit up in my seat. This book was a roller coaster ride of action and emotions. This book has everything you’re looking for in an epic fantasy. THIS is the book that is worth all of the hype. Yes there were a few “convenient” moments but overall it was spectacular. And there was a point in the journey that actually made me sob. Great beginning middle and ending. Multiple awesome action sequences that could’ve been a book ending (but in a good way). This book was so good and satisfying and still so much left to overcome. Excellent book!
8. SARAH reviews for Queen of Shadows
The best of the series (so far)
Sarah J. Maas, you genius, mastermind you! Queen of Shadows has quickly become my favorite book of hers, even more than the A Court of Thorns and Roses books. I wept, I giggled, my heart raced, I cheered, I gasped! I haven’t felt like this reading a book since I first read the Harry Potter series as a kid. A Court of Thorns and Roses got me close, but this… the build up, the lore building, the political moves, the cunning and plotting and mischief… this is by far Sarah’s best (so far as I’ve read, I have the tandem read and kingdom of ash and then I’ll be fully caught up). Honestly, might be in my top 10 of all time favorites now. Bless Maas and her mind and her writing!
9. THARINDU DISSANAYAKE reviews for Queen of Shadows
“Welcome to the Blackbeaks.”
This series keeps surprising me. I loved how improved the third books was, but this fourth books was well beyond my wildest expectations. Plot, world building, character development, adventure, humor, politics, and anything else you could think of, each reaches a near perfect level in Queen of Shadows. As always, the first half build-up leads to a thrilling second half, that felt more like the final book of a series, than one of the middle installments. I’m having a hard time imagining remaining ones surpassing this book: Maas does everything correctly here. If you’re one of many who gave up on this series because of the first two books, you are missing out on an amazing journey.
“Celaena Sardothien doesn’t exist anymore.”
While we still have most of the original gang, the author keeps on introducing new, interesting characters with each book. And the best thing is, all these new characters are turning out to be even better than the main ones. Manon and Rowan quickly replaced everyone else as my favorites by the end of this book, and I’m really hoping Maas would not kill them off in near future. When she must have chaos -which would be inevitable in next three books- I’m willing to loose one of the older main characters instead of those two. But I might be getting ahead of myself.
Plot-wise, there’s a lot happening here. Pretty much all the loose threads are tied up by the end of this book. If it wasn’t for a couple of major bad guys remaining, it’s easier to imagine this book turning out to be the end of the series. The last quarter was so eventful, and unpredictable, leading up to probably the best ending I’ve encountered in this series so far. I’m also finding those adventure elements to be quite enjoyable, adding a nice bit of variety to the usual flow with politics, scheming and romance.
“Backs straight, shoulders back, necks uplifted. You are light you are air, you are grace.”
It’s not easy to give a ‘right’ ending to a book like this. If everything goes perfectly, you end up making the ending unrealistic, or make things go very badly by killing some of the good guys, you end up depressing and disappointing a lot of readers. Even though the ending here was a little towards the former, I liked how things turned out at the end. It’s really nice of Maas to maintain a perfect balance between victory and defeat without major causalities to the good guys. Though, it’s possible that this might be the only happy ending we’ll have for a while. 4.5 stars. I’m loving this series!
“And at long last, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius was home.”
10. KHURRAM reviews for Queen of Shadows
I loved this book. The books in this series just seem to get bigger and better. This book is 600 + pages, but every page is good and well done. My only complaint is that I would have like more details about the fights, more blow for blow account not that “they were already carrion, when she drew her blades”. True, this would probably take the page count well into the 1000s, but I would not mind if it was well written as the rest of the book. I have always been a fan of Sarah J Maas’ “chunking” writing style, where she makes some chapters longer as events dictate in some cases half a page for a side event constitutes a chapter.
The last book Celaena’s true name and heritage was revealed in this book to reflect this she is referred to as Aelin rather than Celaena, the book also introduced a new character and Manon of the Iron Teeth witches. She and her coven are continued to be developed in this book. For this development and even by the end of the book, we are not sure which way she will turn. Many of the characters of the novellas or the collected counterpart Assassin’s Blade paperback. The fallout from there is death within the first half of this book. The body count is higher in this book, but there are not as many fights described. What this book does display is Celaena/Aelin’s tactical and planning precision yes she can be a hellcat and a hot head, but as wild as she get she is a disciplined and dangerous fighter always thinking a couple of moves ahead. There is a great cat and mouse game between Aelin and her former master.
Aelin returns to Adarlan she finds it an even more brutal place than before. Along with her own vengeance, she must deal with the fallout from the months she has been missing, one disadvantage is all the training she did to hone her powers in the last book, is lost as magic does not work in Adarlan. However, her physical training is still useful and has made her even more formidable. She has embraced her heritage of the Queen (I have to say I love the title of the “Fire breathing bitch Queen”), now she must assemble her court. This is big book with big time ramifications and revelations. All in all great.
III. Queen of Shadows Quotes by Sarah J. Maas
The best book quotes from Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
“But perhaps the monsters needed to look out for each other every now and then.”
“She was a whirling cloud of death, a queen of shadows, and these men were already carrion.”
“You make me want to live, Rowan. Not survive; not exist. Live.”
“Fire-breathing bitch-queen.”
“She was fire, and light, and ash, and embers. She was Aelin Fireheart, and she bowed for no one and nothing, save the crown that was hers by blood and survival and triumph.”
“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.”
“I missed you,” he said quietly, his gaze darting between her mouth and eyes. “When I was in Wendlyn. I lied when I said I didn’t. From the moment you left, I missed you so much I went out of my mind. I was glad for the excuse to track Lorcan here, just to see you again. And tonight, when he had that knife at your throat …” The warmth of his callused finger bloomed through her as he traced a path over the cut on her neck. “I kept thinking about how you might never know that I missed you with only an ocean between us. But if it was death separating us … I would find you. I don’t care how many rules it would break. Even if I had to get all three keys myself and open a gate, I would find you again. Always.”
“They joined hands.
So the world ended.
And the next one began.”“Sometimes there won’t be a right choice, just the best of several bad options.”
“Behind them, across the hall, the dancers shattered their roses on the floor, and Aedion grinned at his queen as the entire world went to hell.”
“He shifted his arm so he could brush her hair back. His fingers lingered along her jaw. “You make me want to live, too, Aelin Galathynius,” he said. “Not exist—but live.” He cupped her cheek, and took a steadying breath—as if he’d thought about every word these past three days, over and over again. “I spent centuries wandering the world, from empires to kingdoms to wastelands, never settling, never stopping—not for one moment. I was always looking toward the horizon, always wondering what waited across the next ocean, over the next mountain. But I think … I think that whole time, all those centuries, I was just looking for you.”
“They were infinite. They were the beginning and the ending; they were eternity. The king standing before them gaped as the shield of flame died out to reveal Aelin and Dorian, hand in hand, glowing like newborn gods as their magic entwined.”
“Fae warriors: invaluable in a fight—and raging pains in her ass at all other times.”
“Tell me that we’ll get through tomorrow. Tell me that we’ll survive the war. Tell me—” She swallowed hard. “Tell me that even if I lead us all to ruin, we’ll burn in hell together.”
“Ten years of shadows, but no longer. Light up the darkness, Majesty.”
“Elegant, feminine, and utterly wild. Warm, and steadfast—unbreakable, his queen.”
“Whatever you had to do to survive, whatever you did from spite or rage or selfishness … I don’t give a damn. You’re here—and you’re perfect. You always were, and you always will be.”
“What if we go on,’ he said, ‘only to more pain and despair? What if we go on, only to find a horrible friend waiting for us?’
Aelin looked northward, as if she could see all the way to Terrasen. ‘Then it is not the end.”“You and I are nothing but wild beasts wearing human skins.”
“Even when we’re apart tomorrow, I’ll be with you every step of the way. And every step after—wherever that may be.”
“She was fury, she was wrath, she was vengeance.”
“Her scent hit him. For a second, he could only breathe it deep into his lungs,his Fae instincts roaring that this was his family, this was his queen, this was Aelin. He would have known her even if he were blind. Even if there was another scent entwined with hers. Staggeringly powerful and ancient and—male. Interesting.”
“The wrath Chaol found in Aelin’s eyes was world-ending. “You bring my court into this, Chaol,” Aelin said with lethal softness, “and I don’t care what you were to me, or what you have done to help me. You betray them, you hurt them, and I don’t care how long it takes, or how far you go: I’ll burn you and your gods-damned kingdom to ash. Then you’ll learn just how much of a monster I can be.”
“Thank you for the oil,” he added. “My skin was a little dry.”
“It would all be fine, even if it went to hell, so long as he was here with her.”
“And at long last, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius was home.”
Excerpted from Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
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