The Children’s Book Review | July 19, 2016
Written by Sarah J. Maas
Age Range: 14 and up
Hardcover: 689 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury (2016)
ISBN: 978-1-619636071
What to expect: Epic fantasy, magic, Fae, Witches
Sarah J. Maas has brought us another epic installment of the THRONE OF GLASS series with EMPIRE OF STORMS.
Aelin and her crew have a long road ahead of them. She has defeated the demon living inside the King of Adarlan, and Dorian is now the King. After a meeting about her legitimacy goes south, Aelin, Rowan, Dorian and the rest find out that the Ironteeth witches are flying to Rithfold to attack. After a treacherous escape aided by Manon Blackbeak, Dorian is on the run with Rowan.
While Aelin and her contingent are regrouping, trying to find allies for the coming war, Manon Blackbeak faces a trial by the other witches – including her vengeful grandmother.
Elide Lochan has traveled far by foot, and her crippled leg has held her back from finding the woman named Celaena to whom a small black stone belongs. But when an attack nearly costs her her life, Elide is saved by the person who has been stalking her: Lorcan, the nearly feral Fae warrior. They travel together, starting from a point of desperation and mutual distrust.
All of the storylines finally coalesce in to one gripping narrative, bringing together Aelin’s feisty crew, Manon’s fierce determination and strength, and Elide’s courageous heart. Who will make it out alive when war grips all of Erilea?
This is a phenomenal entry in to the THRONE OF GLASS series. As always, Maas’ characters are well-rounded and compelling. Manon Blackbeak continues to grow as a fan favorite, revealing a brutal ambition and an emerging conscience. Her personal growth is exhilarating, and readers will find themselves holding their breath until they find out exactly what will happen to the Bluebood witch.
Elide grows in to a more substantial character, and her relationship with Lorcan is perfectly fraught with irritation and arguments, which make the steamier tensions that arise later in the book even more exciting.
And, as always, Aelin is a fierce and loyal leader. Her growth from flouncy assassin to Queen of Terrasen is a fulfilling and gratifying one. Readers will root for her as she becomes a truly bold and captivating leader of a ravaged, scrappy army. Charismatic, beautiful, flawed: that’s what draws followers to Aelin Ashryver Galathynius.
Maas perfectly captures this epic fantasy world, each chapter more exhilarating than the last. At nearly seven hundred pages, EMPIRE OF STORMS is a commitment, but you won’t mind the length. A rich and gratifying read that will leave you begging for the next installment, EMPIRE OF STORMS is the best book in the THRONE OF GLASS series so far. Maas’ books are one of a kind and pitch perfect for the genre.
Highly recommended.
Available Here:
About the Author
SARAH J. MAAS is the author of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series: Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, and the series’ prequel, The Assassin’s Blade; as well as the New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury. A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog.
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Empire of Storms, by Sarah J. Maas, was reviewed by Denise Mealy. Discover more books like Empire of Storms by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Books About Witches, Faerie Books, Fantasy, Magic, and Throne of Glass Series.