⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 stars. 

Wow, the writing in this book was phenomenal. This is only the third book in the series sans TAB, and just how perfectly everything came together from the first book was crazy. Like the evolution of Celaena, Dorian and Chaol. The only issue I had with this book was that Celaena had fewer chapters because Dorian, Chaol, Aedion and Manon had their own chapters and I was aching to get Celaena's POV again. 

And finally we met Rowan. Y’all have no idea how I was aching for him because all I knew before starting this series was that Aelin and Rowan were together and to find out he doesn’t appear until the third book had me shook. Now the evolution of their relationship was the absolute best. This man went from punching her and saying "You would probably have been more useful to the world if you'd actually died ten years ago,” and "I don't care what you have been through or what you want to do with your life. The sooner you can sort out your whining and self-pity, the sooner I can be rid of you. You are nothing to me, and I do not care,” to being absolutely loyal and caring to her. Like this man almost walked into a scenario that guaranteed death all to try and get her back to safety. And then the best part of how their relationship came together was the blood oath. Like the amount of trust they have in each other is crazy. But one of the best things about Rowan was that he never cowered in her presence or vice versa. They were matched. Like even though I loved Celaena with both Dorian and Chaol, they were never meant for her or could handle her, but Rowan could. Plus, Dorian and Chaol were always surprised or horrified at Celaena’s murdery side (even though Chaol was more horrified), whereas Rowan was pleased by it. And of course, the best scene was when he saw her back and said “who did this to you?” And typically those kinds of moments don’t do anything for me but because they had started with such a strong dislike for each other to that was perfection 😘👌. Then when he started fussing, taking care of her and making her stay in his room made my heart all warm and fuzzy. And y’all, when he started brushing his hands through her hair *swoons*. And can they actually have wordless convos like Rhys and Feyre?? 

Y’all have no idea how happy I got when they mentioned the red haired queen in the waste lands!!!! Twice 👏👏. I CANNOT wait until she makes a reappearance and it better not be because Manon is going to try and take the land from her. But that is no hate towards Manon, I love her and Abraxos’ relationship 🥹. 

But y’all, my emotions were out the wringer in this book, more so than with Crown of Midnight. Like with the slave mines…the conductors…the musicians… I sobbed like a baby. Especially when the Valg were going through her memories and she had seen each of her deceased loved ones telling her to get up 😭😭, and when she finally accepted being Aelin and wanted to reclaim her kingdom but those were happy tears. And other than that, I cried for many more reasons. Sadness when Celaena told Rowan about Nehemia, and happiness when everyone in Erilea heard of the news of the return of Aelin Galathynius, the lost queen of Terrasen and hope was reignited. Like I couldn’t imagine the joy and hope everyone had felt when they heard that news after experiencing the horrors the King of Adarlan had incited. 

And y’all poor Dorian has been going through it these books. First he falls in love with an assassin that wanted her freedom more than him (as she should), had his friendship with Chaol and Celaena disappear, has to discover and control his magic all on his own with no support, has to prevent Celaena from killing Chaol, to see Celaena forced to another country, to have his friendship with his best friend wither away because of all of the changes in their life, forced to watch Sorcha's—the sweet healer he fell in love with—death, had to reveal his own power to save Chaol’s life, had to watch Aedion be dragged to the dungeons to wait for his execution to lure Aelin to the kingdom for her death, and to be a host for the Valg 😭. Like what the hell. Give this sweet man a break. But thankfully Chaol finally chose a side, chose Dorian and Aelin, gave up his title, his name, all to bring a better world. Like I was so happy. And of course, the best news, Aelin Galathynius is back to reclaim her kingdom and her people. 

I am prepared and not prepared for Queen of Shadows 🫣🫶. 

“Aelin would come back, and when she did...With every breath, Aedion felt that lingering scent wrapping tighter around his heart and soul. When she came back, he was never letting her go.”

Why are you crying, Fireheart?
It had been ten years-ten long years since she had heard her mother's voice. But she heard it then over the force of her weeping, as clear as if she knelt beside her.

"Because I am lost. And I do not know the way."

"How—how did you come back from that kind of loss?"

"I didn't. For a long while I couldn't. I think I'm still... not back. I might never be. But maybe. Maybe we could find the way back together."

"I think. I would like that very much."

"Together, then."

“Together.”

"My only wish is to see her again. Just once, if that's all the gods will allow me. If they grant me. more time than that, then I'll thank them every damn day of my life.”

"You cannot pick and choose what parts of her to love. Just as you cannot pick which parts of me you accept."

"Tell me which one of your little cadre is the handsomest, and if he would fancy me."

"The thought of you with any of my companions makes my blood run cold."

"They're that awful? Your kitty-cat friend looked decent enough."

"I don't think my kitty-cat friend would know what to do with you— nor would any of the others. It would likely end in bloodshed. They would likely have very little interest in you, as you'll be old and decrepit. soon enough and thus not worth the effort it would take to win you"

"Killjoy."

“And he'd returned to Celaena with chocolates, since he claimed to be insulted that she considered his absence a proper birthday present. She tried to embrace him, but he would have none of that, and told her as much. Still, the next time she used the bathing room, she'd snuck behind his chair at the worktable and planted a great, smacking kiss on his cheek. He'd waved her off and wiped his face with a snarl, but she had the suspicion that he'd let her get past his defenses.”

“She knew no one would ever replace Nehemia, and she never wanted anyone to, but Rowan made her feel... better. As if she could finally breathe after months of suffocating.”

“So I am staying. Because you are needed, and because I will follow you to whatever end."

"To whatever end?"

She nodded.

"I claim you, Rowan Whitethorn. I don't care what you say and how much you protest. I claim you as my friend."

"If you like, you could be my friend."

"I have a friend. He is to be Lord of Anille someday, and the fiercest warrior in the land."

"Wear it, and know that you are loved, Fireheart—that you are safe, and it is the strength of this"— she placed a hand on her heart—"that matters. Wherever you go, Aelin, no matter how far, this will lead you home."

“She would remake the world-remake it for them, those she had loved with this glorious, burning heart; a world so brilliant and prosperous that when she saw them again in the Afterworld, she would not be ashamed. She would build it for her people, who had survived this long, and whom she would not abandon. She would make for them a kingdom such as there had never been, even if it took until her last breath. She was their queen, and she could offer them nothing less.”

They were carranam. He had come for her.

"To whatever end?"

He nodded. "I claim you, too, Aelin Galathynius."

"I have never told anyone this story. No one in the world knows it. But it's mine, and it's time for me to tell it. Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom ... very much."

"Eyllwe. Send word to Eyllwe. Tell them to hold on—tell them to prepare. Tell them it's time to fight back."

“There was not one soul who did not know that Aelin Galathynius was alive— and willing to stand against Adarlan. Across the White Fangs and the Ruhnns, all the way to the Western Wastes and the red-haired queen who ruled from a crumbling castle. To the Deserted Peninsula and the oasis-fortress of the Silent Assassins. Hooves, hooves, hooves, echoing through the continent, sparking against cobblestones, all the way to Banjali and the riverfront palace of the King and Queen of Eyllwe, still in their midnight mourning clothes. Hold on, the riders told the world. Hold on.

“Somewhere in Wendlyn, his friend was changing the world. She was fulfilling the promise she’d made him. She had not forgotten him, or any of them still here. And perhaps when they figured out a way to destroy that tower and free magic from his father's yoke, she would know her friends had not forgotten her, either. That he had not forgotten her.”

"One thought from me, and your city will burn."

"It is stone.”

"Your people aren't."

"Together, Fireheart. We'll find a way together. A court that will change the world. Say it, Aelin.”

"Do you promise to serve in my court, Rowan Whitethorn, from now until the day you die?"

"I do. Until my last breath, and the world beyond. To whatever end"

“The story of her love and loss now written on her: one line for her parents and uncle; one line for Lady Marion; and one line for her court and her people. On the smaller, shorter scars, were the stories of Nehemia and of Sam. Her beloved dead. No longer would they be locked away in her heart. No longer would she be ashamed.”

"I will not go to Anielle. And I will not serve you a moment longer. There is one true king in this room—there always has been. And he is not sitting on that throne. There is a queen in the north, and she has already beaten you once. She will beat you again. And again. Because what she represents, and what your son represents, is what you fear most: hope. You cannot steal it, no matter how many you rip from their homes and enslave. And you cannot break it, no matter how many you murder."

“Chaol had drawn his line—and Dorian was on his side of it. Chaol had called him his king. So revealing his power to his father did not frighten him. No, to save his friend, dying did not scare him one bit.”

“But there was a new sword at his side-an ancient king's blade, from a time when good men had served noble rulers and the world had prospered for it. He would see that world reborn, even if it took his last breath.”

"We're stronger together than apart."

"If I'd known you would be such a pain in the ass, I never would have let you swear that oath."

"I am going, Rowan. I will gather the rest of my court—our court—and then we will raise the greatest army the world has ever witnessed. I will call in every favor, every debt owed to Celaena Sardothien, to my parents, to my bloodline. And then… And then I am going to rattle the stars."

“She was Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, heir of two mighty bloodlines, protector of a once-glorious people, and Queen of Terrasen. She was Aelin Ashryver Galathynius— and she would not be afraid.”