This is book 4 in the Throne of Glass series, and the ante has been upped. It's bigger, better, and more exciting! This books takes off right where the last one finished and drives it further. It still follows Celaena Sardothien, except now she has embraced who she truly is. She is Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen and the Heir of Fire, and she is back to kill the King, save her friend, and reclaim her throne.
Queen of Shadows again follows different people throughout the book, but it mainly focuses on Aelin. Aelin is back in Rifthold after mastering her powers in Wendlyn. She left behind Rowan, though she misses him terribly. He would have stood out too much as Fae. Her goal and focus is multi-purposed. First, she needs to save her cousin, Aedion, from exucusion under the King. She needs to retrieve the 3rd Wyrdkey from Arobynn Hamel, her one time master and the one who inadvertently sent her to Endovier Salt Mines to be a slave for one year. She does this while also destroying him and his assassin empire. She wants to save her friend, Crown Prince Dorian, who is enslaved by a Wyrdcollar. The Wyrdcollar allows a Valg Prince, a demon from another realm, to inhabit his body and take over. Because the collar doesn't come off, Aelin thinks the only way to save Dorian is to kill him and the demon prince within him. It will be a mercy for him, she's sure. Aelin also finds out how to bring magic back to the land, and she determined to flood the land with it so she can have her powers back. With her powers, she will be able to take on the King and send him back to the hell he came from, making him pay for all the sorrows and suffering he's caused.
Along side her is her cousin, Aedion, who she masterfully saves with help from Arobynn Hamel. Chaol is also helping, though reluctantly. He is afraid of Aelin, afraid of what she will be and do, especially what she'll do with Dorian. He believes that Dorian should be saved, that he's still alive inside, but Aelin knows better. Chaol is angry with Aelin as well, and they spend a good deal of time arguing with each other.
Lysandra, a courtesan from The Assassin's Blade (the Prequel), returns. She is Arobynn's choice courtesan, but she hates him and plans with Aelin to destroy him. In The Assassin's Blade, Lysandra and Aelin were enemies, but in Queen of Shadows, they grow close, both helping and saving the other.
Rowan, though he's suppose to stay in Wendlyn, follows after Aelin. Neither realized how much they missed the other, and begin to discover that they need each other in more ways than one.
Manon, the Wing Leader of the Blackbeak witch clan, is another main character, and her story continues. Manon and her Thirteen are stationed at Morath, the home of Duke Perrington. He has secret plans that he is conducting under the mountain, secret evil plans that involve dark magic. Manon is conflicted throughout the book, trying to follow orders and yet do what she feels is right. In one section of the book, Manon and Aelin meet and battle spectacularly, and Aelin saves Manon from death. Manon finally makes a stand in the end, following what's right for her and her Thirteen.
In the end, Aelin and her court save the day, releasing magic, killing the king, and saving the prince. There is a HUGE secret revealed as the King dies, propelling the story forward and leaving it open for the next book where more action and adventure await. Aeiln and her court head home to Terrasen, excited to finally make it back. But more evil and danger is coming.
This book is amazing! It has everything a story needs: action, adventure, intrugue, secrets, betrayals, romance, surprises, healing, and redemption. It's a great story for middle school and above boys and girls.
THE NEXT BOOK COMES OUT TOMORROW AND I CAN"T WAIT!!!!!!!!
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