EMPIRE OF STORMS BY SARAH J MAAS 

Can we please talk about how much better a villain Maeve is than Erawan!

Am I the only one who misses Celaena I love Aelin don't get me wrong, but I really miss the snarky assassin. And when she faked Celaena I just want her back!!! Still love the series though.

I totally lost it when Aelin met Elide. For some reason that really crushed my soul and I was sobbing like a baby and basically everything that happens afterwards didn't really help me to calm down at all...

What I found really interesting is that Aedion is Bi. I was really surprised when he told Lysandra that he had been attracted to males and females but it made me love him even more :)

I feel like the disconnect some people seem to have with Aelin in this one comes from the fact that she keeps so many of her plans to herself in this book and you don't find out a lot until the very end. And then just as you start to connect with her again BAM Sarah destroys your heart. I'm not a Chaol fan so I didn't really miss him in this book but I am excited to read his novella when that comes out.

when Lysandra turned into the sea dragon and took on all those wyverns I was literally DYING like I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Not a good time to be reading such an intense scene cos I was in work on my break and I think my co-workers think I'm crazy...

why is it that only aelin and dorian can be the one that dies for the lock, when it can also be HOLLIN, DORIANS BROTHER WHO IS ALSO A HAVILLIARD? can we have him die instead

Did anyone else get ACOMAF Vibes from the ending of this book? Like the mate situations?

I find it really hilarious that the hardcore - like really hardcore like Jesse and Christine - Dorian and Chaol lovers kinda like tolerate Rowan. Like yeah, he's great and he's great with Aelin. But DORIAN! But Choal!

Rowan is literally my life

I feel a little bit less alone now. Everywhere I look I see hate and more hate towards Lorcan, but I really liked him in this book. I mean, sure, he really messed up everything, but he was just trying to do all he could to save Elide, and that really got me, I loved it. Also, the relationship between him and Elide was just perfect, I root for them so much and Elide broke my heart with what she said to him. I hope, though, that Lorcan will redeem himself in the next book and that Elide will forgive him.

I freakin loved this book! I completely agree with you on the Aelin chapters, they weren't necessarily boring or anything they were just overshadowed by the other amazing characters. Like Manon and Elide were amazing!! I love how good Elide is at just taking a minute to observe the situation and then freaking slays it. My favorite scene with her was when she first encounters those monsters (i forget what they're called, anyway...) i thought for sure Lorcan was going to come save her but she just walks away like a boss without a scratch! It was also kind of fun watching Aediden deal with his "daddy" issues. aaaah i can't wait for the next book! maybe you could do some theories of what will happen i would love to know your thoughts! (sorry for my wrighting) greetings from Belgium :)

I loved EOS it was SOO GOOD. For me the safest part was when Gabriel and Fenrys tried to kill Lorcan and Elise was standing there crying. LIKE I WAA LITERALLY SOBBING bc Elide loved Lorcan and she's had so much loss in her life and for her to loose Lorcan would have just been TOO MUCH!

Am i the only one who actually loves Aelin?? 😭

That part of the book when Aelin and Manon were in the mirror watching little Aelin running away and Elena was talking about how Aelin fought so hard when she was younger even though she had lost everything...and then young Aelin fell into the river and was drowning and just...TAT

When rowan sed ‘where is my wife’ OMG 😭😭😭😭😱😱😱😱

YES, JESSE, CHAOL WESTFALL DEFENSE SQUAD REPRESENT.

I actually thought Aedion's and Lysandra's relationship went the slowest? Despite what he said about marrying her, they barely did anything. In the end they only had that agreement to be honest with each other, right? And at the end of the book it's hard to say where they stand with each other now, 'cause Aedion is definitely pissed. And I know you don't like how Chaol has changed but I thought it was a very human and realistic reaction that he had to what was happening. I think in the Chaol novella we're getting he might get better. You should totally read the WHSmith extra story if you haven't, 'cause it's about Chaol!

Why do most booktubers not like Rowan?! Like wut?!?

Chaol my favorite male character and Manon my favorite female character. Yup we agree

I just finished Empire of Storms last night and I had a lot of similar thoughts (namely, Chaol!). Manon was definitely my favourite character in this book, and her scenes with Dorian were really fun and interesting to read. I had a huge disconnect with Aelin. I also found it kind of frustrating that all of the characters seem to have to been in a relationship with someone else (because being single and kick-ass and an awesome friend is not good enough?) - which is not that I have any objection to any of the relationships, as I love the majority of them, but still. It was nice to be back in this world again and I cant wait to read how it all ends in the next book.

I also really love Abroxas, like he is so smart and saved Manons life so many times. That was emotional for me too, just the bond that was there.

Chaol had no place in this book, I completely understand why he wasn't included. No one would've enjoyed his chapters unless he was building an army and actually contributing to the bigger picture. The only thing I think it would've been good for was world building and learning about the southern continent, but the book is so long, there was no time. Also, is Elide not a disabled character? Call me out if I'm wrong, I'm genuinely curious.

Also I think we feel disconnected from Aelin in this book because there were not a lot of chapters in her perspective. Because then when her schemes get revealed it like OH NO SHE DI'NT and your reaction is the same as well Aedion's. It was really cool how Maas wrote it using Aelin's court more. Also YES THE HARRY POTTER FEELS. Like a sheep to the slaughter -ugly cry-

I ALWAYS GO TO YOU FOR THE TOG SERIES CAUSE WE HAVE THE SAME SHIPS AND IM SO HAPPY. (APART FROM ROWAN. I LOVE ROWAELIN SO MUCHHHHH) XX

I was in major tears the lsat few chapters. BUT the MAJOR breaking point was when Rowan asked for his wife and then FRICKIN GALEN ARRIVES AND THEN THE SILENT ASSASSINS AND AEDION CANT COPE AND IM CRYING AND EVERYTHING IS A MESS AND HOLYSHIT I STILL GET TEARY THINKING ABOUT IT

ME TOO!! I WAS READING AND WAS LIKE WHERE IS MY BABY CHAOL

I just finished this book a few days ago and holy crap. HOLY CRAP. The Lorcan and Elide parts made me cry, I'm not gonna lie.

LORCAN AND ELIDE YESSSSSS

Dorian in this book was absolutely amazing. I feel like he has been completely changed but in a good way. Like he's all dark now and I can't get enough of him

DANON😂im used to Manorian but hey that works

I LOVED Rowan in Heir of Fire, I really liked his relationship with Aelin then, when it wasn't really romantic. I'm not really into mushy mushy romances, so with each book I just care less and less about their relationship. I was never a big fan of Chaol so I don't mind that he wasn't in the book. And yes, major Harry Potter vibes with the "chosen one destined to die" thing, and major ACOTAR vibes with that ending, and some small GOT vibes with the "people fighting for a throne when that really doesn't matter and there is a way bigger threat than that going on". Overall, I really like this series, and also ACOTAR, she might be one of my favourite writers.

I'm so with you on the representation of disability with Chaol! That was one of my biggest problems with the book as well, because there was so much potential to develop him even more and provide great representation. Great review Jesse! 😊

I`m so happy that you ship Elide and Lorcan so much!

Rowan is the name of a berry Whitethorn is a type of flower Every time someone says Rowan whitethorn , thyre pretty much saying berry flower

I'm definitely interested in seeing how Sarah J. Maas will wrap up the series as well. I also feel the same way about Chaol but I do really like Rowan! I almost forgot that Chaol was getting his own novella so I'm hoping we get to see what was going on with him during Empire of Storms in that upcoming novella. I really didn't care about Manon in Heir of Fire but now I love her!

Chaol is one of my favorite characters but there was so much going on I didn't miss him as much as I thought I would. Also I thought manorian was fast, but I love them so much I don't care. And Aedion and lysandra only made comments to each other 😅. I was expecting that to at least move faster then manorian.

Chaol has always been a complete favorite of mine, and Chaolena was THE ship of awesome way back in books one and two. SO bummed he hasn't moved forward in the same ways other characters (Like Dorian) have moved forward. Great review!

Omg Chaol is my absolute favorite character! #ChaolWestfallDefenseSquad

I love both Rowan and Chaol(really missed him in this book). But I really miss the old Rowan from Heir of Fire and to a lesser extent, Queen of Shadows. In this he's to much of a lovesick puppy(same extends to Aelin, I don't like how she's a lovesick kitten in EOS), and it just feels weird. I miss how much of a badass he was in the past

Your book talks are so good! I missed Chaol so much in this series! But at least we're getting a novella with him. And I definitely agree with the slight disconnection with Aelin. I miss the smartass assassin that was Celaena Sardothien. It's just not the same without her. But I still love the series!! Looking forward to book 6!

I LOVE Manon. I freaking love her!!!

CHAOL IS GETTING HIS OWN BOOK OH MY BAJEEZUS

JESSE CHILL CHAOL IS GETTING AN ENTIRE NOVEL I AM NOT EVEN KIDDING IT WILL ALL BE OKAY

“You need to count out these whips” *subtle country accent* 💀💀

Is it bad that I completely shipped Aelin with all three guys?? For this book, I would’ve felt like Chaol would have been really boring in it. I personally feel like the blindness of Aelin led up to the heartbreaking moments at the end. Who else agrees? Lol

What do you think about Rowan and Aelin and their mating bond? I mean they're already married but don't you appreciate their relationship more now because of their connection and everything with them?

omg i loved lorcan and elide so much i seriously skipped chapters until I got to them lol i really only cared about them. i love chaol. while it didn't bother me that he wasn't in it i would of preferred to have him in the book. i was a big fan of aelin and rowan in qos but I really didn't care about them in this book which was a big surprise too me. the ending was not only shocking but also heart breaking but I got some acomaf feels throughout the book. all in all I'm not a fan of the series ( I prefer acomaf ) but I will finish it. this was not my favorite book but i like it because of lorcan and elide

ahh I wanted to hear what he had to say about what Aelin and Manon learned from the mirror. the story of how this started and how Elena messed up and the guilt and how everything is tied together just left me speechless and gaping.

Jesse,You already know because you actually hung out with Sarah J Maas and talked to her about this. But for the rest of you... Sarah actually loves Chaol so much that she wrote him a separate book. A WHOLE BOOK JUST FOR CHAOL. that is how much she likes him.She wanted to write him in EOS but she had so much to say about him he had to have a separate book. I am sick of all the whining about Chaol not being in EOS. Also ELIDE is disabled. There's your representation.

You're one of the only people who pronounces aelin the way i do 🙏 bless you

Dorian is my favorite character. I HATE Aelin, Rowbaot is boring, Aedion is a straight up asshole, I love Lysandra, Elide, and Lorcan. Fenrys and Gabriel are just irrelevant to me. What I hate is how Dorian was treated by the others in this book. No one even bothers to get to know him. Save for Rowan and Lysandra all Aelin does is use him, Aedion clearly doesn't have any respect for him he doesn't even like him and even gave him a black eye, that alone made me hope that Aedion dies in the final book. Fenrys is too busy panting over Aelin and all Gabriel cares about is his son. He really was an outsider in this book. It angered me how they treated him like he was no King at all. I don't understand what makes Aelin better than Dorian. People are so loyal to her right after they meet her. The last time Fenrys and Gabriel saw Aelin was 3 books ago in HOF when she held their city in flames. But they come back 2 books later, spend a few days with Aelin and are more than ready to turn their backs on their queen for her. I don't think Aelin is better than Meave. She's just as arrogant. She even said that when she gets bored of being queen she might try conquering the continent. And based on what Meave said we all know Aelin can do it. That alone makes her a threat. She will treat them better but Dorian would never mistreat them either. You would think that they would be tired of serving queens. When to me Dorian has more kindness in his pinky finger than Aelin has in her whole body. "Well Aelin has priorities now" NOW. Dorian has had properties since BOOK 1 but he still puts his problems aside and helps her. Helps anyone that needs it. And that bugs me cause no one will do the same for him. SJM described Dorians time in that collar as an "unspeakable prison" and that's what it was. People are so torn up over EOS and Aelin being trapped in that box but in HOF Dorian was trapped in a collar being violated, broken and had all his pride stripped from him. He loved Sorscha and lost her, and then in QOS his "friend" Aelin came back and was ready to takeoff his head. HIS LIFE WAS NOT HERS TO TAKE. SHE DOES NOT GET TO DECIDE WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES. Celena was arrogant but Aelin is through the roof!! And I hate her because she wanted to kill him. I'll always hate her for that. I saw her sacrifice in EOS NO DIFFERENT than I saw Dorians in HOF and Manon's with her grandmother. And now Dorian is in such a dark state and suffering with PTSD and he's surrounded by people that don't care about him. Rowan, Lysandra and Manon are the only ones that have respect for him or even talk to him. SJM shipped Chaol halfway around the world from him at a time when they both needed each other. And EOS was just wasted for Dorian. He spent that whole 700+ book a follower. He didn't learn anything and didn't do anything for Adarlan. He helped Aelin fight wyrdwards, and help her get her alliance with Rolfe but SJM didn't have Dorian do anything for himself. He's so selfless and caring and kind and respectful to everyone. He was the ONLY PERSON that wasn't predijuce Manon. He was never predijuce towards Aelin either when he found out she was fae. You can't say the same about Aelin. Ever since QOS all she cared about was HER and HER plans. Plans for Arobrynn, her plan for Terrassen, her plan for Aedion, and her plan for Lysandra. She did more to free Lysandra than she ever did for Dorian. She didn't try to come up with ONE concrete plan to save him. And I really hate how after she did SJM had the nerve to have Dorian think that she came back for him. When if it wasn't for Chaol and Nesryn Dorian would have been dead by then. "She saved his city and took the fall" well Dorian didn't ask her to do that. She did it because she wanted to and now she thinks Dorian owes her something. And then when he was unconscious she got up in front of his people and threatened them. Told then they better accept Dorian as king or else. And said "If you cause one lick of trouble, I will find you and burn you" and "If you have a problem with that you can take it up with my court or you can take it up with me" I was utterly disgusted. She didn't know who loved Dorian or who hated him. And I don't even think Dorian knows about that. Or the fact that she tried to kill him. And in EOS all she did was use him. When she hears about the witches her first concern isn't for the safety of Dorian, it's well, SHIT, there goes my alliance. "Dorian is vital. Lose him and we lose any support in Adarlan" THATS all she cares about, not his life. And she didn't even go herself. And there was the thing was Manon. "It made her feel the slightest bit like a horrible person to use Dorians feelings to butter up the witch but, it was war" See my point? Then when he tried to help by sending her through the mirror she thought it was a waste of time. "I can fight with steel, without this waste of time" when he actually turned out to be right. I just hate how Dorian is being used. And yet he still continues to help them.

I just discussed this book too and had the exact same thought about Manon! I wasn't really interested in her in Heir of Fire but I LOVED her in this book too. She was also my favourite character in EoS. I'm not too sad about Chaol because he will get his own novella, so we will be able to see what he was up to in detail. :)

WE ARE SUCH CHAOL TRASH I LOVE IT!!!

OMG I LOOOVE this entire review!

I AGREE, JESSE. CHAOL HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE CHARACTER SINCE THE BEGINNING. IM STILL CURIOUS ABOUT HIS JOURNEY.

We're on the same wavelength about Chaol, Manon, and everyone else omg you're thoughts are like listening to my thoughts exactly! yay!

I really like Chaol and I’m still crying about Celaena and Chaol breaking up.... 😭😭😩😫😭😢😫😩😭😭

I love how your opinion about characters and situations are so similar to mine, completly agree about Chaol, Manon, Elide and Lorcan, and I was bored with Aelin and Rowan parts ):

"I was screaming and flailing all over the place..." Lol. Anyhow, I'll start by saying that Elide is also disabled. Good review. I honestly don't agree about the Chaol thing, don't get me wrong, I really, really like Chaol, but he just didn't make sense for this story line, not were it needs to be. Also like I said before, as for representation of the disabled all I have to say is: Elide.

PLEASE SARAH DON'T KILL MY BEAUTIES!!!

Who else here after reading and is trying to full the whole in there heart

I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH IT ALMOST HURTS UGH do you realize we have to wait for ANOTHER YEAR before the last book comes out ?! Now I feel like there are no books comparable to this series :( I loved everything about them, the characters developments, the action, the suspense, the romance, the plot twists, the sarcasticness, the sass, the heartbreaks, EVERYTHING. It's like Sarah Maas ready my mind and put everything I love in a book into hers. And now I can't find anything that I enjoy as much as her series... Help D: Do you guys have any book recommendations that are not necessarily similar to the ToG series' plot, but just as enjoyable and breath taking ? Anything with like a badass and sarcastic female heroine would do haha

WHY IS NOBODY TALKING ABOUT FENRYS!? Like I freaking loved that glorious walnut of a character!! His interactions with Aelin GAVE ME LIFE! And his little crush on her! 😍😭😱 *swoons* Can we talk about how much he FOUGHT FOR HER!? That scene ripped out my soul! And when he was watching her sleep and told Rowan to kill him if he was ever ordered to kill her. Asdfghjkl! 😭 I REALLY hope that wasn't foreshadowing, but considering that he just up and came out of nowhere with his bad self and made me love him has me worried. Gah! Oh, and side note: So happy Chaol gets his own book. Thank you Miss Maas 😘😁🙌🏻 *goes back to coloring in my Throne of Glass coloring book as I wait for the finale*

It's crazy how Chaol existed as a main characters in all the others and then... bye? YOU CAN'T JUST DO THAT. There are RULES here and you just DONE BROKE EM.

UGH YOURE LIKE THE ONLY PERSON WHO ADORES AND LOVES CHAOL ALMOST AS MUCH AS ME WHICH IS WHY I LOVE YOU AHHHH

my favorite part of this review is that rowan wasn't really mentioned oops 🙊 but ahhh jesse yes yes yes to everything you said!! i missed my son chaol so much, i went through the exact same thing with manon from not really caring to LOVING her, and i felt the same about elide/lorcan like idk where i started loving them but it happened! great review!!

Ugh I neeeeeed to catch up with this series!! It's been way too long since I read Heir of Fire 😫

I was soooo scared when Gavriel and Fenrys attacked Lorcan. I thought he was gonna die. And when Aelin let herself be captured, I was sure she would come up with a plan and escape but nooooo. My heart is still broken.

Laughed so hard at "See ya grandma! SLAY"

omg i love this review

YOU READ MY MIND!!!!!

I think Chaol is written out of that book, because he is on the southern continent, being healed by Yrene and finding out how to kill Erawan and the Valg. So... he is not in EoS BUT there is complete BOOK about him ;)

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LIKING CHAOL AND NOT REALLY ROWAN

Finally someone who shares my thoughts on chaol !

Loved your review!!! I also mentioned in mine about the scene where Aelin refused to count when she was being whipped because that was by far the most emotional scene for me! Ahhh the feels in this book!!!

I agree with like everything you discussed!

That ending KILLED me.

I literally agree with this entire review, my thoughts are so ramble-y with this book because I LOVED IT but I also had so many issues! Basically everything you said was on point though, and I am SO glad there is some other people out there who don't like Rowan and I too am feeling hella disconnected from Aelin's character lately (but I'm in love with Manon, WHY IS SHE SO AMAZING)

I'm just satisfied to find out somebody loves Chaol as much as I do!

AMEN! I just really love Chaol, and couldn't help myself from being REALLY upset with Sarah for what she did with him since the third book. For me it was only to justify rowaelin being endgame. Sarah just completely changed Chaol, and then decided to take him off.

I was feeling the Harry Potter vibes at the end too Jesse

I really hope we get more celana I love the sassy assassin

Completely agree with all u said

I love that you love chaol! I can't wait for his Novela

I so want to finish this series

Didn't SJM say that Chaol wasn't in the book because his arc that would have taken place in this book is going to be what that novella is going to consist of?

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING U SAID LITERALLY

FIRST!!! love your videos!

Does anyone actually know when the Chaol novella comes out?

I had a huge marathon on this series and the end of the 5th book got me so emotional and my heart broke for Rowan so much... (can't wait to see what happens)

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING!!!!

Omg you're like the only person that I can relate to with chaol! I love him and I totes agree with everything you said about him!

I hope we see Dorian hone and master his magic. He is just as powerful if not more powerful than she is. Its not the fact that SJM did all she did to him cause she did the same thing with Celena. But Dorian is in a dark state now and there might not be time for him to make the development and heal like Celena did in HOF or like Chaol is doing now. And that bugs me cause he doesn't deserve that. He doesn't deserve to end this series just being the way he is now. Neither does Adarlan. For the past 10 years Adarlan has been THE kingdom. And I hate how SJM literally took everything away from him only to give to Aelin whenever she wants it. He signed over the continent because he was kind and because Aelin was his friend And she wanted him to. Do you think she would do something just because Dorian, her "friend" or anyone wants her to?? I don't think so. He needs to focus on his own shit in the final book. He's helped Alein and Terrassen enough he's fighting this war as well. I hope Chaol bring back an army and an alliance for Dorian, and for Adarlan. Cause everyone knows Chaol doesn't owe Aelin a God damn thing. And he doesn't deserve anything less than a powerful wife and powerful children. And a prosperous kingdom. For him to bring back the honor and glory Adarlan hasn't has in generations. For him to build his own court as well. Its ironic cause after he shattered the castle he practically cleansed it. There was a scene in the book when Aedion even told Rowan that all those courtiers Aedion knew to be dirty and schemers didn't make it. So he basically got rid of all the filth in his kingdom. And not to mention his father is gone. Havilliard and Galaynthius are the two main bloodlines. One should not overshadow the other. Despite Terrassens kingdom being powerful it had still fallen. Adarlan is still standing. His capital is destroyed but there's actually something to go back to. There's no reason Aelins kingdom/court should be more powerful than his. As I said one should not overshadow the other. Hopefully during the final book Dorian gets what he needs and starts building his court and his army and his allies for the war but also for Adarlan. But I heard the final book has already been written so Dorian will not get what he deserves. I font have high hopes for the final book or Chaols novel.

aaah u said what I needed to understand my brain since I finished EoS 😂😂,,, everything you said about Aelin I felt it too,,,, something about EoS is missing for me,, I liked it of course, but kind of I have moved on quickly (exept for the whipping scene still hurts)... Heir of Fire is still my favorite, even though I HATED Manon chapters 😂

I agree so much about Lorcan and Elide! I felt exactly the same while reading their chapters :D

i missed Chaol so much too!! but him being gone kinda helped me to finally accept Rowaelin lol... he better be back for the next book though 😤

yaaaaaaaaaaaaas!!! 👏👏👏👏

So agree 5:04 - 5:35

In one of Sarah's interviews she said that Chaol overall story for when he and Nesryn travel to the Southern continent was so huge and she couldn't possibly fit it all in without confusing people... so yeah