This book was 5 stars the first time and it’s still 5 stars the second time 🫶. This book was a journey, it had insane revelations, betrayal, happiness, and the most iconic ending.

beware of spoilers

Throughout this book, I felt so bad for Dorian. Celaena had him rethinking his entire relationship with her like he started to wonder if everything was a lie 🥺, and then she would avoid or push him away every time he would be in her presence 😢. And then his friendship with Chaol also started to fade because he was always with Celaena, and poor Dorian had to deal with his new revelation of his magic all by himself 😭. Then the only time she came back to him was when everything was ruined for her 😭. And don’t get me wrong I’m a 100% Celaena supporter but that still hurt. And then he had to see her leave to Wendlyn and he was just worried for her safety and said he would never stop thinking of her 🥹.

One of my favorite parts of this book was Celaena and Chaol. Their evolution from guard x assassin to friends to lovers was amazing. Even from the first book you could see them slowly gravitating towards each other and it all came to fruition on Chaol’s birthday which was one of my favorite scenes. And they had one blissful week together where they both imagined the rest of their lives together before it all went downhill 😢. It hurt my heart when she attacked him and almost killed him 😭. But I’m glad after time, she learned the truth about everything and didn’t place the blame on him anymore. Then my heart healed a little when she went back through that portal to save Chaol and later told him she would always care for him even though she wouldn’t be with him again. And you just know she trusts that man so much because she gave him the clue to her real identity.

Honestly one of the best pieces of information we learned was that Farren was killed by Wesley 😩. Like first in TAB, he tried to warn Celaena about the trap and then months after he gets revenge for Sam’s death 🥺. This is also why TAB should be read first so you can understand the importance of this scene. Of course, another amazing part of this book was sassy Mort and his constant bickering with Celaena 🤣. And then y’all, freaking Elena and Nehemia 😩. Like why?? Nehemia was right, it did send Celaena over the edge.

Then of course, we learn the biggest pieces of information in like the last 10% which I will say again was an iconic ending and I cannot wait until I get to read Heir of Fire and meet Rowan 👏👏.


Favorite quotes/scenes:

"What was his name?" (Chaol)
"Sam. His name was Sam. I don't even know where they buried him. I don't even know who I would ask about it. I failed him. In every way that counted, I failed him."
"Not in one way. I bet he would have wanted you to survive—to live. So you didn't fail him, not in that regard." (Chaol 🥺)

“Did Sam love you?”
Yes. More than anyone had ever loved her. He’d loved her enough to risk everything—to give up everything. He’d loved her so much that she still felt the echoes of it, even now.
“Very much.”

"For what it's worth, Chaol. If she picked Roland over you, that makes her the greatest fool who ever lived."
"Thank you.”

"How insensitive of you to insult me about my age."
"What's your name?"
"What is your name?"
"Celaena Sardothien?”
"Oh, that is too funny! The funniest thing I've heard in centuries!"
"Be quiet."
"My name is Mort, if you must know."
"Can I expect all of our encounters to be this pleasant?"
"Aren't you even going to knock, after all that? You truly have no manners."
"Celaena Sardo-thien," he said to himself, and began laughing again.

"Believe me, Celaena. I know you can look after your-self. But I worry because I care. Gods help me, I know I shouldn't, but I do. So I will always tell you to be careful, because I will always care what happens." (Chaol)
"Oh.”

“He would move on. Because he would not be like the ancient kings in the song and keep her for himself. She deserved a loyal, brave knight who saw her for what she was and did not fear her. And he deserved someone who would look at him like that, even if the love wouldn't be the same, even if the girl wouldn't be her. So Dorian closed his eyes, and took another long breath. And when he opened his eyes, he let her go.”

"I heard the music and I just wanted to dance for a few minutes. To just ... forget everything for one waltz and pretend to be a normal girl. So go ahead and snarl and snap at me about it. What will my punishment be? Three extra miles tomorrow? An hour of drills? The rack?"
"Dance with me.’

"I’d travel until I found a place where they'd never heard of Adarlan. If such a place exists"
"We'll find that place, then.”
"What?"
"I’ll go with you."
"What about being Captain of the Guard?"
"Perhaps my duties aren't what I expected them to be."
"You love your country. I can't let you give all that up."
"I would be the greatest fool in the world to let you go alone." And then there were tears rolling down her face, and her mouth became a thin, wobbling line.
"Why are you crying?"
"Because you remind me of how the world ought to be. What the world can be."

“From the moment he'd pulled her out of that mine in Endovier and she had set those eyes upon him, still fierce despite a year in hell, he'd been walking toward this, walking to her. So Chaol brushed away her tears, lifted her chin, and kissed her.”

"So can I ask why you decided to join me for dinner? You've made it pretty clear that you didn't want to spend any time with me— and I thought you had work to do tonight."
"Because I have nowhere else to go."
"Then you will always have a place here."

"Even though things are different between us now, I meant what I said after the duel with Cain. I will always be grateful that you came into my life."

"If you are captured, if you are hurt, you are beyond our reach. You will be entirely on your own."
"I’ll be fine."
"But I won't be. Every day that you're there, I will wonder what has become of you. I won't... I won't forget you. Not for one hour."

"Thank you for all that you have done for me, Dorian. Thank you for being my friend. For not being like the others. I’ll come back. I'll come back for you."

"What does that mean?"
"You'll figure it out. And when you do … When you do, I want you to remember that it wouldn't have made any difference to me. It's never made any difference to me when it came to you. I'd still pick you. I'll always pick you."

“Celaena Sardothien wasn't in league with Aelin Ashryver Galath-ynius. Celaena Sardothien was Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, heir to the throne and rightful Queen of Terrasen.”  Iconic