Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas. Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books. Hardcover. 672 pages.

Note: There are no spoilers for this book in my review, but there will be inadvertent spoilers for previous books in this series as I discuss the events of Tower of Dawn. Please be aware if you have not read the previous books and plan to!

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. In fact, almost didn't even pre-order this book. Eventually, however, it occurred to me that I know I'm going to read it no matter what because I love this series, so I went ahead and pre-ordered it anyway, and I'm so very glad I did.

As most of you probably know (or even if you don't), Tower of Dawn is the sixth installment in the Throne of Glass series, but instead of following Aelin and the regular cast of characters, it follows the events of Chaol and Nesryn as they travel to Antica in hopes of having Chaol healed by the famed Torre Cesme healers.

In the beginning of this series, I really like Chaol's character and I don't remember having any major problems with him. However, as the series continued, I started losing interest in him and stopped caring much about his own story arc. A lot of people talk about his character being ruined throughout the series, which I can understand even if I don't fully agree. Other people, however, still completely love him and have been anxiously awaiting this release. If you, like me, lost interest in Chaol and are hesitant about reading this book -- do it! Even if you don't love him, it's still a fascinating story and contributes so much to the series, as well introduces some great new characters--I definitely understand why Maas says it is necessary to read this in order to understand the rest of the series.

In Tower of Dawn, the perspective is split between three characters: Chaol, Nesryn, and Yrene, a healer at the Torre. These three perspectives are, overall, fairly evenly split throughout the book and provide an interesting look into a variety of different aspects of this particular kingdom. I defintely enjoyed Chaol and Yrene's chapters the most, as I simply found their actions the most interesting to follow. Nesryn's sections are still interesting, but seem to be much more information-heavy and action-packed and tended to drag just a bit every once in a while for me.

I found Chaol's entire character arc in this specific book really well done. He is paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the battle in the previous books (though certain body parts still function, as was repeatedly mentioned), and as expected from someone who used to be captain of guard, work out regularly, and train soldiers, it frustrates him quite a bit. We get to have a very personal understanding of his struggles and how things both big and seemingly minor bother him regarding his feelings towards being unable to walk. What I most appreciated about this entire plotline is that whether or not he regains the ability to use his legs (I won't say!), he overcomes this, eventually realizing that having a disability does not make him any less of a man or person in any way, and I think that that message itself is extremely powerful and important to convey.

Yrene is a new character that we are introduced do and one that I found myself really liking. She is an intriguing character, both confident and unsure at the same time. As a healer, she has great knowledge of her own powers and how she can improve, and I loved her strong work ethic and compassion for what she does. However, she also has her fair share of insecurities and struggles from her past, which were interesting to explore and allowed me to understand more about her and why she acted as she did in certain situations.

I really don't have that much to say about Nesryn. To be completely honest, I didn't really remember that much about her, so I really had no opinion on her or her character. She is certainly not my favorite character, but she is still a complex, driven woman who brings a lot to the story.

The other main plot of this book is Chaol and Nesryn's attempt to persuade the khagan to join their cause. The khagan has six children, which, I won't lie, I had a hard time remembering and telling apart at first. In addition the way the ruling and power works in their kingdom is a bit complicated and cutthroat, but I'll let you explore that for yourselves instead of trying to explain it all in a confusing manner. I found it to be particularly interesting, and definitely found myself enjoying reading about this particular political system.

Now: the world-building. Tower of Dawn vastly continues on the worldbuilding that Mass has already set up in the past couple of books, and if you have been hoping for more in-depth worldbuilding-- here it is. This world is so vibrant and multi-faceted and there are many cultures, customs, kingdoms, and creatures, that make it up. I really enjoyed exploring this land  and the different peoples within it, and I look forward to seeing where else Maas takes this story.

There is some romance in this book, but it is very much more of a small subplot. The romances are not forced or overused, but seem to fit in perfectly with the rest of the events of the book. As always with Maas, you never really know what to expect, and I appreciate that. Also, if you're wondering if there are any explicit sex scenes like in her previous novels, it's safe to say that there is only one sex scene, and it is not all that explicit.

Overall, I've given Tower of Dawn five stars! I really loved this book and had a great time reading it. It was a unique experience to read a book in the same series that didn't include Aelin herself, but I loved all the mentions of her and Rowan and Dorian, as it really made the book cohesive and not at all out-of-place.

And a quick note: before I end this review, I feel as though I should comment upon all of the Sarah J. Maas drama. I don't really like to get involved, but I feel that it is important to note that I think Maas has really listened to her readers' complaints and wishes and has really developed her writing well. If you're hesitant, I do implore you to give this book a chance and see what you think!

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You might also like:
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

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A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2016. Hardcover/Hardback.

If there is one thing that Sarah J. Maas has absolutely never done, it's disappoint me. I unquestionably loved this book. I think this might end up being one of my favorite books of the year. A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAF) is getting a lot of love and hype right now, and it so incredibly deserving of it. Everything about it is pure perfection. I immensely enjoyed A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) when I read it last year, and to be honest I was quite skeptical and unsure if I wanted to risk being disappointed by a 'sophomore slump.' I'm now almost embarrassed for having doubted Maas - ACOMAF completely blows ACOTAR out of the water.

The first area in which Maas excels is her creation of characters. She never fails to create the most realistic, well-rounded, and in-depth characters. She makes you fall in love with each person for their own unique personality, and not one character is inherently perfect with consistently perfect actions - everyone makes mistakes, some have been forced to make horrible, tragic decisions, and everyone eventually comes together into one large, realistic cast. Feyre's growth in particular was truly beautiful to watch unfold. Her continued memories and struggles from what occurred under the mountain were written in a harrowing and believable manner that I feel was crucial to her development. This is a problem that I feel likemany authors sometimes tend to overlook when writing after a momentous, life-changing event. Feyre truly grows from an already strong woman into an even stronger, self-sufficient woman than she already was. She is still the same person with the same values as before, but she is also completely different. I also loved the new characters Maas introduced into her world. Each one is integrated seamlessly and I immediately felt attached to each one.

I also found myself completely immersed in the world-building of Maas. The lands are brilliant and I had so much fun exploring the various courts for the first time with Feyre. The idea of having the different courts - winter, autumn, night, summer, etc. - was extremely imaginative, and I thought the way Maas created each unique world's culture, fashion, and even weather was stunning.

(potential semi-spoilers ahead!)
I loved the romance, and that's not something I say very often. It was not overdone or rushed in any way - it was just right. I could feel Feyre and Rhys' love slowly develop over time; I could feel Rhys' pain and Feyre's strong emotions as she discovered how much she was beginning to care for him. I know some people might be upset that Tamlin is now painted as a bad guy, and I understand that, I do, but frankly I don't think Maas is necessarily trying to paint him as some evil character. Instead, I really think its more that he just isn't a good fit for Feyre and he isn't necessarily sure who he is yet or what he should be doing. Tamlin has struggled a great deal throughout his life and has been placed in some fairly horrible situations. What he and Feyre went through under the mountain shaped them into completely different people than they were when they first met, and after what Tamlin witnessed, I understand his over-protection. However, that doesn't mean it justifies the way he treats her in any way at all, and I was also extremely angry and frustrated with his treatment of her, but it does allow me to understand why he seemed to suddenly change into an overprotective lughead - er, partner. This is where I would like to make a little shout out to Maas for writing Rhys to be not only such a naturally protective and caring man, but also an immensely encouraging man who never tries to hold Feyre back from anything. He knows what she is capable of and he allows her to act as she sees fit. He does not own her; they are equals.
(end spoilers)

Creating characters, however, is not the only area in which Maas excels - she also does amazing things with plot, pacing, and writing. The pacing itself was excellent. Everything happened in a comfortable manner: emotional issues were dealt with in a realistic manner, progressions forward occurred at timely intervals, and nothing ever felt rushed or boring. She took time to expand on specific events when necessary and yet also knew when not to spend too much time on any one aspect that would eventually tire us out. Her writing is so intricate, but also incredibly fluid and readable - nothing seems forced or overdone.

Overall, I think we all know what star rating ACOMAF is getting - do I really have to say it? Actually, yes, because it is getting five plus stars.

 +

(See my cute little plus-sign, there? Yep, it's that good.)

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You might also like:
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
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The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

 A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Bloomsbury Children's; 2015. 416 pages. Ebook. 

I don't know how Sarah J. Maas does it, but I haven fallen in love with every single thing that I have read by that woman. After reading all of the currently published Throne of Glass books, (minus Assassin's Blade, but including Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire), I'll be honest and say that I was a little worried that it would be too similar and the characters would have too many overlapping traits. Thankfully, however, it turned out to be a perfectly unique, innovative story that contains just as many magical elements, but in entirely new ways. 

A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) is, at its core, a fairy tale retelling; it contains elements of the well-loved Beauty and Beast story, but in a very loose, dark, and twisted sort of way. ACOTAR tells the story of a woman named Feyre who accidentally kills a member of the fae one day while hunting, and is then forced to repay her debt by living in a Prythian court, where she is watched over by two fae known as Tamlin and Lucien. While living in her new world, she learns the struggles and secrets of the fae, and slowly begins to warm to her captors, all the while becoming caught up the political turmoil of Prythian.

The two biggest factors that I think are what made this book so successful were the wonderful combination of characters and setting. While this book does contain some pretty intense action, the bigger emphasis was placed on the relationships between characters, as well as individual character development. Feyre, for instance is a strong woman who is fiercely loyal to her family, despite her often negative feelings towards them. Throughout the entire novel, she is the one taking care of her family, while in return her family acts as if they could not care less about her. Her sisters are useless; Feyre must hunt and provide for her family while they sit at home and carelessly throw away any extra money that she makes on frivolous items. Thankfully, by the end of the novel Maas allows us to see more sides of the sisters' personalities, which helps us to both understand their actions and see how they can change. Although Feyre is not a weak character in the slightest, she enters the house of Tamlin as an rather innocent, naive person. She has only ever heard myths and tales about the fae, which leads her to believe that that is how all fae act; she is, as we soon found, quite wrong. As she adapts to her new living situation, she begins to learn more her 'hosts,' as well as the lives and struggles of the fae as well. 

Moving on to Tamlin... Where to start? Tamlin is such a unique and interesting character; I was immediately intrigued by his actions and words. His demeanor is reminiscent of your typical 'charming captor' trope, but it was also very different. When he first meets Feyre, he is in his fae form and acts rather frightening and harsh, but we are soon able to learn that he isn't really a truly cruel person at all. It was curious to watch as he struggled to be nice and charming at times, but then naturally charming at others, such as when he takes Feyre to a lovely little lake to enjoy the Spring Court's weather. His relationship with Feyre is slow to start, but soon takes off with fiery speed. What begins as a rather mutual dislike (or hatred, one could argue) soon turns into a passion that cannot be stopped. The chemistry between the two is spot on, and completely obvious. 

Lucien and Rhysand are the last two main characters that I would like to discuss. Lucien comes across as talkative and honest man who isn't really afraid to say what he thinks. He's like the charming, teasing older brother that may be distant and brutal at times, but is ultimately someone you care deeply for. He has faced great tragedy and upset in his life, and he uses that to fuel his everyday existence and strive for revenge against Amarantha. Where Lucien is a somewhat lighter, honest-but-friendly character, Rhysand is a much darker, deadly sort of person. He is suave and immensely persuasive. He is incredibly tricky, and his power is deadly, which quickly instills fear in Feyre. While he is seen as an enemy, he is also a form of an ally, aiding Feyre when she needs it the most. Rhysand was another character that was extremely intriguing to me. How far would he go to help Feyre fight against Amarantha? How does he really feel about the current situations occurring in his world, and how does he truly feel about Feyre and Tamlin? These are all questions that I hope will be answered in forthcoming books. 

Maas has deposited all of these wonderful character in a land called Prythian, made up of various courts of fae, which are currently be ruled by a terribly and delightfully wicked fae known as Amarantha, a perfectly evil villain with an intriguing backstory. I loved this setting. Maas' fantasy world contains many of the same elements of other fantasy worlds, such as the poor peasants struggling to survive, frightened by the mythical tales they've been told their entire lives, and lands separated by magic and non-magic, it is still entirely unique and magical in its overall imagining. I enjoyed the various glimpses at faery traditions, other members of the fae, and the variety of beasts that inhabit the land, such as the Naga, Attor, Bogge, and Suriel. Every element brought even more fantasy and excitement into the story.

Overall, I highly recommend ACOTAR. For me, the sign of a good book is when I constantly have a desire to read it. If I'm not reading it and I'm dying to pick it up and lose myself in the pages, I know it's a winner. A Court of Thorns and Roses left me constantly longing to pick it up at every moment. The characters, setting, and storyline were perfect, and for all of those reasons, combined with the sheer enjoyment it brought me, I am giving ACOTAR  a lovely five stars. It earned every single one.

If you like A Court of Thorns and Roses, you might also like:

Thrones of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen. 

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas Book Review

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas. Bloomsbury USA Childrens; 2013. 418 pages. Ebook.

Having just finished Throne of Glass the day before, I was beyond excited to start Crown of Midnight. It did not disappoint.

Now, Throne of Glass was enthralling; I loved every second of it - the relationships, friendships, contests, battles, everything. Crown of Midnight only proved to further enhance the characters, plot, and setting and Celaena Sardothien's world.

There were almost constant (dare I say relentless) twists, turns, and complications that kept me hooked. Some extremely monumental events occur (which I will not mention, as I try to keep spoilers either minimal or non-existent in my reviews) that will undoubtedly shake you up and leave you wondering what on earth just happened. It's heartbreaking, violent, and wonderful all in one. It's also incredibly unpredictable. In my opinion, there is honestly no way you can really guess what is going to happen at any given moment.

The relations  between characters are also intensified and reach brand new levels of depth and conflict. It becomes very complicated. Let's start off with Chaol, who is an extremely secretive, intelligent, and fiercely loyal king's guard. Maas does truly remarkable work in portraying Chaol's many inner conflicts, such as how he must navigate the court politics and where his true loyalties lie. He is fiercely and unwavering loyal to the king, but also now has Celaena, whom he continues to become more bewitched by and protective of every day. Chaol was already an important character in the first book, but his role becomes much, much larger in this second book and allows an already loved and fascinating character become that much more intriguing. The chemistry between Celaena and Chaol is also perfect; he knows just how to deal with her, and the dialogue and moments between them are incredible fluid.

Secondly, we have Dorian. I feel that Dorian has matured quite a lot between the first and second novels. He is beginning to understand his role as Prince and is finally developing his own strong opinions, as well as gaining the courage to stand up to his father if he doesn't agree with him. Dorian has a lot to deal with; he struggles to not go against his father and role as Prince, but he does not always want to go with what the king may want. Dorian also makes a rather shocking discovery in the book (against, no specifics for no spoilers) that leaves him with many questions and potentially dire consequences. Dorian and Celaena continue to go through many things together, and we are able to witness a true, meaningful friendship form between the two, creating an unbreakable and incredibly strong bond between them.

Finally, Celaena. Celaena has countless sides to her personalities. She's perfectly flawed. Celaena also undergoes many changes throughout this book - some good, and some awful. In Crown of Midnight, readers are finally able to see the depths of Celaena's mind, where her vengeful and incredibly emotional feelings dwell. She turns almost robot-like, working only for she knows. Celaena also has this almost limitless courage, though not all of it is necessarily wise. Maas is truly a master of character development, which is completely evident with Celaena.

While many people may see Celaena, Chaol, and Dorian as a love triangle, I'm not sure I completely agree with that. Celaena undoubtedly has feeling strong feelings for both men, but as the novel progresses we are able to discern the types of feelings that she has for both men, and we can begin to easily understand which man is truly meant for Celaena.

Crown of Midnight takes Throne of Glass to an entirely new level. It's like eating the perfect ice cream and thinking it can't get any better, but then you add amazing toppings and it's suddenly a whole new flavorful and delectable world. The violence and intensity completely skyrocket as we are able to see the severity of Celaena's dark side. I would also like to add that Maas' writing is flawless. She knows how to tell a fantasy story. There is no confusion, no overstatements, but also no understatements. It's perfect. Overall, Crown of Midnight is receiving five stars, much like its predecessor. I just can't help it.