I also hated how she made her relationship with Chaol seem like it meant nothing... Aelin just blames Chaol too much, she blamed him for Nehemia's death even though he had nothing to do with it, she blamed him for leaving Dorian in the castle even though there is nothing he could have done. It's so frustrating how she treats him sometimes...
I am so with you girl. Rowan and Aelin is a no go for me as well. I feel like the most real relationship that Aelin ever had was when she was with Sam.
i totally agree with everything you said in this video. I loved the first book (Throne of glass), but i felt like the books got worse and worse (In my opinion). Throne of glass was perfect (5 stars), Crown of Midnight was a little less interesting (4 stars), i felt that Heir of Fire was 3 stars, and Queen of shadows was 2 stars. I loved the concept in book one, but the series changed to much in my opinion, and i don't like the series anymore. I loved the Celeana x Dorian relationship in book 1, and i was so frustrated when Rowan and Aelin became a thing. Why couldn't they just stay friends!?
damn this review is sort of old but I just wanna say that to me it seems like sarah j maas got bored of her main trio and is slowly trying to replace them with other characters. I've only read up until throne of glass (and I really didn't like it) so I'm only checking spoilery reviews just to see what happens after but that's the feeling I get
I did the same. It's like Sarah J Maas reached Heir of Fire and was like 'I don't really like this anymore' so she just changed everything in the middle of the series. For me Throne of Glass wasn't that good but the rest of the series just seems to go even lower.
I actually quit this series halfway through this book for basically all of the reasons you listed. Most of what had even kept me invested was the tiny hope of Chaol and Celaena/Aelin reconciling, but that ship was continually eviscerated. I probably could have read on even if they did never get together again, but I just couldn't handle the vitriol Aelin kept spewing at him when it didn't seem warranted.
You definitely touched upon all the issues I had w/ QoS. I thought that both 'Aelin' and Chaol had a character transplant. I know they didn't end on GREAT terms in Crown of Midnight, but I honestly could not understand the hostility between the two. It looked like SJM was really trying to over illustrate the fact that that relationship is totally severed. I also loved the platonic relationship between Rowan and Celaena in Heir of Fire. Im torn on it. Because I would've loved for it to stay platonic, but I also like the idea of her scrapping the ya trope that the first person you love/have sex with is the one you end up with. But my Chaolaena heart
I agree with ALL of the things you've said in this video ohmygod I thought Rowan was a really good friend/mentor figure in HoF, and I wanted him to stay that way bUT HE DIDNT what with aelin "I love him now"...then she came back and she treated chaol like trash and ???? It's not like they left on a terribly bad note, but now somehow they treat each other like really salty exes (understatement) who argue at every op?? Also #justiceforaedion
I really enjoyed this book and I get so frustrated when I see people not understand the changes that the characters go through. Aelin- in Heir of Fire, Celaena was struggling to finally accept her true role and history. In order for Aelin to live, she had to take off the Celaena mask and set it aside. It was a mask that aided her in her life when she was trying to mold herself into a new person. Once she accepts her role as a Queen, she needs to step up to the plate and let go of the person she was for years. It was simply a coping mechanism. She couldn't be both and Celaena will never be forgotten but that's not who she is anymore. Celaena just wanted to live and worry about herself which was fine but Aelin can't do that. She has a kingdom and people to protect and save. To anyone who has pretended to be someone different for any length of time, you know what it is to be at war with your mask and your true self. Chaol- during Crown of Midnight, I lost a lot of respect for him. He was so into Celaena and I was digging that ship. He was head over heels for her UNTIL she saved his and Dorians asses in the underground. The second Chaol saw her pointy ears he suddenly became so scared of her and magic in general and I couldn't understand that. Fast forward to the end of the book and Celaena just told him her biggest secret which lead to one of the biggest plot twists I have read in a very long time. Chaol's pillars of self were Dorian, his loyalty to the crown, his job and his sense of honor. Celaena telling him she was the rightful heir demolished all of those pillars that made him who he was. Of course he would be a broken man in QoS! He had to reevaluate what it meant to be Chaol while she was gone. When Aelin came back, he wasn't excited to see the reason as to why he lost everything and who he was.
+Gabrielle Holcomb What kinda irks me is that people are obsessed with that idea that the characters changes so much. Like Celaena/Aelin, she really doesn't change all that much. She still loves books, she still loves pretty clothes, still a smart ass, still too proud for her own good, still cocky, still deadly, she's pretty much just added queen to that, and changed her name. So I really don't agree that she's put Celaena away, she's just made some adjustments. Also, Chaol, I understand why he changed. But the fact that many people are ignoring is that Aelin was looking forward to seeing Chaol until he kinda acted like a dick towards her, and she's too proud to try to talk it through, in fact, she's always been too proud another thing that hasn't changed. I mean, here is Chaol trying to save his country from this horrible king and put the prince on the throne, and here comes Aelin who represents the destruction of all that he holds dear, how else would he act? I don't agree with his way of acting, but I understand it and so many people are ignoring that kinda depth in his character because they want him with Celaena. I mean, I don't even want her with Rowan honestly, I liked them as friends much better. It was a stronger relationship. But, hey, everyone's entitled to their opinions. In this case mine matches yours. I mean there are plenty of books people seem to love that I can't stand, so why should this be any different. P.S.: I'm usually pretty good at seeing plot twist ahead of time, who Celaena really was I kinda figured before they revealed it. If you want a crazy plot twist, read Kiss of Deception. First book in a long time that actually surprised me when the twist came, and if you already read that, then you know what I mean, and I wont say more cuz I don't wanna spoil anyone about that book.
oh man this is definitely my favorite review of this series! The first book i DNF'd and so i've been spoiling myself for the rest of the series because why not, and this has got to be the funniest and most cohesive one, good job!
I agree with so many things you said!! Especially about Aelin/Rowan, Chaol/Nesryn, and Manon/Dorian. Also I'm really glad I'm not the only one who really thinks Manon and Asterin should be together!!! When I read QoS, I was so angry because Chaol became one of my favorite characters in the series because he was so complex and he and Celaena's relationship, even though it was a little bit fast, felt like the most realistic ship of the entire series. I hated how he was turned into this brooding asshole and I hated how he was forced into the relationship with Nesryn. Also like the only time we see Aelin care for Chaol is when he was about to sacrifice himself for her like for some reason from that point on they like completely forgot about all their hatred for each other and Aelin saved him, BUT then he loses his ability to walk like wow he has gone through so much shit and then THAT happens like wow.
I have a huge theory that SJM is going to kill Rowan. That would breaks people's hearts because let's be real here, the only two characters anyone seems to care about anymore are Rowan and Aelin (and she is never going to kill Aelin) + it would make for an interesting plot for book 6 and AELIN MIGHT ACTUALLY DEVELOP AS A CHARACTER. I really hope Sarah J Maas does it because as much as I loved Rowan in Heir of Fire, the potential for character and plot development is unreal.
+Clara Oswald This would actually make me very happy, but very unhappy at the same time. On one hand, I hate how his character has developed and it could possibly make for an really interesting story line. But on the other hand I feel like it would just be more overly cruel things for Aelin to deal with. Like, it starts to seem ridiculous that every time she starts to get close to ok someone else has to die. So it would just be really interesting to see how SJM would deal with this, if she were to do it.
ProblemsofaBookNerd I agree with the cruelty thing but I'm still hoping for it to happen. It's honestly the only way I see the plot developing and hopefully humble/re-shatter Aelin. I agreed with you that Aelin/Celeana seemed like two completely different characters. Celaena was broken by all her loss and the year in Endovier and we see the extent she was broken to in Heir of Fire. I agree that Aelin is supposed to be the "healing" version of Celaena but she hasn't seemed to have learnt anything and everybody adores her which I find unrealistic. Rowan's death would shatter her character once again and although she might turn into a bitter character for half a book or so hopefully she'd come out the other end of it as a more humble and genuine character.
Great review! I definitely had a lot of problems with character development in this book. The relationships also got me mad as well. Seriously, not every friendship needs to result in romance. I do not like Aelin and Rowan. I felt Rowan is obsessive. I hate when authors sacrifice characters and character development for the sake of a relationship. Aghh! The complexity of Celaena is definitely more interesting and compelling than Aelin. I really wish she did not dismiss that part of herself so quickly. It is just not realistic that she could turn off a switch and become a completely new person. To be quite honest I totaaally ship Manon and Celaena... that little showdown in the book was awesome!! YES! Female fighting group! The men in this book need to suck it up and get their crap together. Also, is that an Angel Funko Pop I see?
+Maddie Elizabeth (Quirkymadsreads) I totally agree with all of this! It definitely felt like flipping a switch and BAM there was Aelin. Yesssssss Manon and Aelin would also be a wonderful ship! They would be amazing. And neither one of them would ever underestimate one another. And yes, that is most definitely an Angel Funko Pop :)
Totally agree with everything you said I just subscribed! 😀 The thing that I was most upset about was Celena (I hope I spelled that right) and Rowan's relationship. It's so rare to see a strictly platonic friendship between a straight man and woman in tv shows movies and books so I was so happy that they were actually just friends. At the beginning of Heir Of Fire I actually hated Rowan but as the book went on I came to love him. In Queen Of Shadows that just messed all that up. I don't know why they are together it totally came out of nowhere not to mention he's way older then her I don't care that he looks like he's in his late 20's and he's also her cousin so it's kind of incestly. I was so sure her and Chaol would get back together in like the last seen of Crown Of Midnight she told him she still loved him and she would always choose him but then she comes back a couple months later in Queen Of Shadows and it's as if that conversation didn't even happen!
Oh and Dorian and Manon again most if not all of the romantic relationships in Queen Of Shadows just came out of nowhere! Like Dorian and Manon how did that come about!? She's literally a man eating witch and he's a sweet handsome guy who was possessed by a Vlag Prince and had to kill his evil father who was also possessed and now probably has PTSD. I don't see how they would make a good pair and also she's way older then him I don't care that she looks like she's in her 20's she's still like a hundred years older!
Sarah broke her one set rule with the fae in QoS. Fae's have mates, and can never have another after they find their's. Rowan and Aelin was a cop out, and her breaking her own rules.
Hi, i read the 3 first tomes of Thrones of Glass saga, i just finished the tome 3 and find out they will not edit the Queen of shadows in my country (France). So i was curious about what will happend next and i'm now really disapointed to find out! How can you distroyed a caracter so humain and complexe like Chaol? And how Celaena can reject everything that we love about her badass personality? That's a big mess and i'm happy to not order the book in English which is difficult for me to understand the language. How confusing the author built and evolution of caracter. She really destroy alot... Chaol paralysed, really?
I did have a differing option on this book but I 100% agree on the female pride group and the seeing them together and I also loved Lysandra and I wish they could be together. I mean my orginal ship was Celena and Nehima but that ship is not happening soooo.... While I 100% agree that this Celena is not the Celena from the first two books I think it's a teething problem of Sarah growing as an author as learning how to write 3D characters. So I have kind of gone into Queen of Shadows knowing that a choosing to ignore it if that makes sense? Lovely review!
we are reading from her point of view and her doing sth without telling us and revealing later is really nice and mindblowing WHEN IT HAPPENS LIKE TWO TIMES, but sarah does that A LOT and it seema REALLY convenient and sloppy
YES! Yes, yes, to everything you said. I hated how Maas tossed Chaol aside because she discovered Rowan and wanted him to be with Aelin instead. And then, she thinks she can throw in this ridiculous backstory which has never been mentioned until QOS and expect her readers to fall for it?! Adding on to you rant, I had a major issue with Arobynn's *****SPOILER***** death. This great master of assassins was killed in his sleep by a simple blade? Are you friggin' kidding me? So much wrong done to Celaena because of him and she isn't even the one to end his life. I get Lysandra was wronged by Arobynn as well, but so much of who Aelin has become (well, up until this book) is because of the disgusting acts of her master. URGH!!
urgh indeed! -__- I haven't read this book yet but i was looking forward to an arrobyn vs caelina showdown. tbh arrobyn's obsession with her should have been deeply explored. it was borderline sexual and creepy.
I really love Aedion. He and Dorian are my all time favorite male characters of this series. Lorcan is also a character that I enjoy - I like that he's not a hero and he's not trying to be. I think he's a thousand times better than Rowan. Manon, Elide, and Lysandra are the best females in this series, hands down. Chaol, Rowan, and Aelin piss me off too much. If I could just read about all of these great, nuanced characters without Chaol's judgemental ass or Aelin's insufferable entitlement, I would be the happiest girl on the planet. Rowan...do I need to explain my problems with him?
I really enjoyed reading Queen of Shadows, I think I read it in about a day and a half, the plot was amazing and I loved Manon and Elide's storyline (I was shipping them so much but now I think Manon/Dorian is going to be a thing) and on first reading it I gave it about a 4.75/5 stars but I can totally see why some people are frustrated with it and looking back on it I can see how off the character development was. I think Sarah J Maas decided she wanted Rowaelin to be a thing and so she massacred the Chaolaena relationship just because she saw the fan reaction to Rowan and wrote the relationship without caring about continuity or staying true to her characters. I felt Rowaelin was really forced, there was no build-up, no subtlety, it was just like "They're in love now!" and it was so not done well at all. I don't hate Rowan but he's pretty meh to me honestly, and I can't remember Heir of Fire that well but it seemed like Sarah J Maas was setting them up to be really good friends and I loved that! Why couldn't it have been a really great friendship? Every male character that Celaena/Aelin as met has fallen in love with her which is just so annoying. Yes I loved the Lysandra/Aelin relationship too, there needed to be more female friendships and just female characters in general!
Unfortunately i dont feel Chaol is innocent and i do think he sucks honestly. And chaol blamed her back for thing that aren't her fault so i feel like this response is just biased
Yes. Yes to everything. I dunno if I hated more tha drastic change of personalities for the sake of awful new romantic relationships or the shitty "fae" dominance over Aelin...
