Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7)

by Sarah J. Maas

“Tell me—” It is your own. Erawan’s eyes widened as the words came out of him. As Damaris drew it from him. But Dorian did not marvel at the sword’s power. His father’s name … Dorian.

OMG HIS FATHER GAVE HIM HIS OWN NAME!!! So a good king named Dorian might be remembered. So that his father would always be with him. So that the king that was Erawan’s slave might remember why he fought against Erawan’s power in order to protect Dorian 😭

I took his name, Erawan spat, writhing as the words flowed from his tongue under Damaris’s power. I wiped it away from existence. Yet he only remembered it once. Only once. The first time he beheld you. Tears slid down Dorian’s face at that unbearable truth.

Brb gonna go cry now

Perhaps his father had unknowingly hidden his name within him, a final kernel of defiance against Erawan. And had named his son for that defiance, a secret marker that the man within still fought. Had never stopped fighting. Dorian. His father’s name. Dorian let go of Damaris’s hilt.

I JUST SAID ALL OF THAT!!! See I know what you were doing SJM 😉

They watched in silence as the Valg king turned to ashes. As a winter wind swept over the tower balcony, and carried them far, far away.

I’d say rip to Erawan but it should really be RIH (“rot in hell”)

She was dead. Aelin was dead. Her lifeless body had been spiked to the gates of Orynth, her hair shorn to her scalp. Rowan knelt before the gates, the armies of Morath streaming past him.

DONT GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK LIKE THAT SJM!!!! Rowan honey, I’m pretty sure you’re just being shown an illusion by Maeve…

Aelin didn’t give Maeve time to react. Time to even turn her head as she grabbed Goldryn where it lay beside her and hurled it at the queen. It missed Maeve by an inch, the Valg queen twisting aside before the blade buried itself deep in the snow, steaming where it landed. Still burning. It was all Aelin needed. She lashed out, flame spearing into the world. But not for Maeve. It slammed into Rowan, into Fenrys and Lorcan. Struck their shoulders, hard and deep. Burning them. Branding them.

She’s trying to shock them back into reality! Smart girl!

An anchor. As he had once anchored her, hauling her from a Valg prince’s grip. Aelin.

OMG yes!!! A call back to Heir of Fire!

Life—life was pain. Pain, and joy. Joy because of the pain.

Pine and snow and the coppery tang of blood blended, rising to meet her as his palm sliced open with the force of that twitch.

Is Rowan going to share his power with Aelin so she can defeat Maeve?!?!

His fingers locked around hers. Aelin let out a low laugh. “I may have no magic,” she said, “but my mate does.”

YES BITCH YOU KICK MAEVE’S ASS

“And beyond us,” Aelin said, sketching a mark through the snow with the blood she’d spilled—her blood, and Rowan’s—“I think they have plenty, too.” Light flared at their feet, and Maeve’s power surged—but too late. The portal opened. Exactly as the Wyrdmarks in the books Chaol and Yrene had brought from the southern continent had promised.

OMG where is she opening a portal to?!?

Down the battlefield, portal after portal opened. Right where Rowan and the cadre had drawn them in their own blood as they fought. All to be opened upon this spell. This command. And beyond each portal, that teeming mass of people could be seen. The army.

ANOTHER ARMY?!?

“The Fae who dwelled in Terrasen were not wiped out so thoroughly,” Aelin said. Lorcan began grinning. “They found a new home—with the Wolf Tribe.” For those were humans also riding those wolves. As all the myths had claimed. “And did you know that while many of them came here with Brannon, there was an entire clan of Fae who arrived from the southern continent? Fleeing you, I think. All of them, actually, don’t really like you, I’m sorry to say.”

OMG this plot twist is everything

Look at me. His shredded face leaking blood, Fenrys looked, his eyes blindly turning toward hers. And clearing—just slightly. Aelin blinked four times. I am here, I am with you.

OMG is Aelin going to let Fenrys kill Maeve??

“I’d say,” Aelin panted, speaking above the glorious roar of magic through her, the unbreakable song of her and Rowan, “that you haven’t wronged us the most at all.” Like alternating punches, Lorcan struck with them. Fire, then midnight death. Maeve’s dark brows narrowed. Aelin flung out a wall of flame that pushed Maeve back another step. “But him—oh, he has a score to settle with you.” Maeve’s eyes went wide, and she made to turn. But not fast enough. Not fast enough at all as Fenrys vanished from where he knelt, and reappeared—right behind Maeve. Goldryn burned bright as he plunged it through her back. Into the dark heart within.

YES FENRYS!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 AND HE FINALLY USED HIS TELEPORTING POWERS AGAIN 😭

Fireheart, her mother had called her. Not for her power. The name had never once been about her power.

Aelin drew close. Just as she slid something onto Maeve’s finger. And whispered in Maeve’s ear, “Then go to hell.” Maeve reared back, but too late. Too late, as the golden ring—Silba’s ring, Athril’s ring—shone on her pale hand.

Whoa what a power move

Maeve thrashed, Goldryn burning, twin to the light on her finger. Immunity from the Valg. And poison to them.

Holy shit why weren’t more of these damn rings made!?!?

Sartaq ran a hand down her matted hair. “You know what victory means, don’t you?” Nesryn lifted her head, brows narrowing. Behind them, Salkhi patiently stood while the healer’s magic soothed over his eye. “A good night’s rest, I hope,” she said. Sartaq laughed, and pressed a kiss to her temple. “It means,” he said against her skin, “that we are going home. That you are coming home—with me.”

I kinda like Nesryn’s answer better 🤣

But they did not behead. Did not sever and finish the job. Not for those with the black rings, or black collars. Those whom the healers might yet save. Tomorrow. That would come tomorrow.

Aww they’re gonna try and save the possessed people! But yeah definitely heal and get some sleep first before saving any of the enemies

Aelin only looked at her people, smiling broadly and freely, as she entered Orynth, and they began to cheer, welcoming her home at long last.

She’s *finally* home at last 🥹

A grand burial, Aedion silently promised. With every honor, every scrap of stately regalia that could be found in the aftermath of this battle. He’d bury his father in the royal graveyard, amongst the heroes of Terrasen. Where he himself would be buried one day. Beside him. It was the least he could do. To make sure his father knew in the Afterworld.

And now I’m crying again… 😢

A young man, no older than thirty, stood there. Staring at Lysandra.

OMG THE MEETING IVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!

Lysandra was crying, and it was pure joy on her face as she flung her arms around Falkan and embraced him tightly. Aedion watched, silent and ripped open. Yet happy for her—he would always be happy for her, for any ray of light she found.

OMG so wholesome!!!! 🥹

Dorian still tightened his hand around the golden hilt and said, “I am human.” It warmed in his hand.

Dorian is finally realizing what he is, and it’s not a heartless monster. Ugh we love character growth! 👏🏻

Wings boomed, and then Abraxos was landing on the balcony. A white-haired rider atop him. Dorian stood, blinking, as Manon Blackbeak dismounted. She scanned him, then the dark stain on the balcony stones. Her golden eyes lifted to his. Weary, heavy—yet glowing. “Hello, princeling,” she breathed. A smile bloomed on his mouth. “Hello, witchling.”

ANOTHER REUNION I WAS WAITING FOR!! 🥹

He scanned the skies beyond her for the Thirteen, for Asterin Blackbeak, undoubtedly roaring her victory to the stars. Manon said quietly, “You will not find them. In this sky, or any other.”

😢😢😢😢😢

Dorian only held her tighter, and let Manon lean on him for as long as she needed, Abraxos staring toward that blasted bit of earth on the plain, toward the mate who would never return, while the city below celebrated.

OMG I forgot Abraxos was mated with Asterin’s wyvern! 😭😭😭😭😭

But Aelin looked to Evangeline, the girl still beaming. Win me back my kingdom, Evangeline. Her order to the girl, all those months ago. And she didn’t know how Evangeline had done it. How she had changed this old lord before them. Yet there was Darrow, gesturing to the gates, to the castle behind him. Evangeline winked at Aelin, as if in confirmation. Aelin just laughed, taking the girl by the hand, and led that promise of Terrasen’s bright future into the castle.

OMG I forgot about that! 😂 Another great callback! 👏🏻

Yet Aelin took one look at who waited in the faded grandeur of the Great Hall, and forgot about her hunger and thirst. The entire hall grew silent as she hurtled for Aedion, and flung herself onto him so hard they rocked back a step. Home at last; home together.

The cousins reunited at last 🥹

“I wished to wait to offer you the blood oath until after your son had taken it,” she said, her quiet voice echoing off the stones. “But I offer it to you now, Gavriel. With honor, and gratitude, I offer you the blood oath.”

Just when I think I’m done crying, the tears start back up again 😭

But when a white-haired witch limped into the hall, an injured Crochan slung between her and another witch Elide did not recognize … Elide was halfway across the space, across the hall where she had spent so many happy childhood days, by the time she realized she’d moved.

An now an Elide/Manon reunion that I totally forgot would happen

“Ask me to stay,” was all he said. Her heart began racing. “Stay,” she whispered. Light, such beautiful light filled his dark eyes. “Ask me to come to Perranth with you.” Her voice broke, but she managed to say, “Come to Perranth with me.” Lorcan nodded, as if in answer, and his smile was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. “Ask me to marry you.” Elide began crying, even as she laughed. “Will you marry me, Lorcan Salvaterre?” He swept her up into his arms, raining kisses over her face. As if some final, chained part of him had been freed. “I’ll think about it.”

I love them so much 😭

“It’s just … I’m Lady of Perranth. If you marry me, you will take my family name.” He blinked. Elide laughed again. “Lord Lorcan Lochan?” It sounded just as ridiculous coming out. Lorcan blinked at her, then howled. She’d never heard such a joyous sound.

OMG I’m dying I’ve thought about how similar their names are since they first met!!! 🤣

“I will marry you, Elide Lochan. And proudly call myself Lord Lorcan Lochan, even when the whole kingdom laughs to hear it.” He kissed her, gently and lovingly. “And when we are wed,” he whispered, “I will bind my life to yours. So we will never know a day apart. Never be alone, ever again.” Elide covered her face with her hands and sobbed, at the heart he offered, at the immortality he was willing to part with for her. For them.

He’d give up his immortality for her 😭

“You never stop teaching, do you?” Hafiza’s mouth cracked into a grin. “This is life, Yrene. We never stop learning. Even at my age.”

And smiling through her tears, laughing in joy and sorrow, Manon laid that precious flower from the Wastes upon the ground. In thanks and in love. So they would know, so Asterin would know, in the realm where she and her hunter and child walked hand in hand, that they had made it. That they were going home.

What a bittersweet moment for Manon

Aelin deemed that acceptance enough as she asked them all, “Did anyone bother to sleep?” Only Fenrys lifted his hand.

Hahaha love that for Fenrys 😂

“Three of you are ancient as hell, you know. I’d have expected better from cranky old bastards.”

SASSY AELIN IS COMING OUT TO PLAY TODAY 😂

But Fenrys said, “Four. Four of us are old as hell.” Aelin arched a brow. Fenrys smirked, the movement stretching his scars. “Vaughan is still out there. And now free.” Rowan crossed his arms. “He’ll never be caught again.” But Fenrys’s smirk turned knowing. He pointed to the camped Fae army on the plain, the wolves and humans amongst them. “I have a feeling someone down there might know where we could start.” He glanced at Aelin. “If you’d be amenable to another cranky old bastard joining this court.” Aelin shrugged. “If you can convince him, I don’t see why not.” Rowan smiled at that, and scanned the sky, as if he could see his missing friend soaring there.

Oh yeah I forgot about the last of Maeve’s cadre!

“Need I remind you that since you beheaded Maeve, I am a Prince of Doranelle once again, with access to my assets and estates? And that with Maeve outed as an imposter, half of her wealth goes to you … and the other to the Whitethorns?”

Ooooo they’re rich!!

Ansel of Briarcliff, bruised and scratched, smiled back. “Your shifter was a good liar,” she said. “I’m ashamed I didn’t notice it myself.” Prince Galan, equally battered, huffed a laugh. “In my defense, I’ve never met you.” He inclined his head to Aelin. “So, hello, cousin.” Aelin, leaning against the half-decayed desk that served as the lone piece of furniture in the room, smirked at him. “I saw you from a distance—once.” Galan’s Ashryver eyes sparked. “I’m going to assume it was during your former profession and thank you for not killing me.” Aelin chuckled, even as Rolfe rolled his eyes. “Yes, Privateer?” Rolfe waved a tattooed hand, blood still clinging beneath his nails. “I’ll refrain from commenting.”

OMG I forgot they haven’t actually spoken to the real Aelin yet! 😂

Aelin ascended the three steps and knelt upon the top one. The only time in her reign that she would ever bow. The only thing she would ever kneel before. Her crown. Her throne. Her kingdom.

Hmmm where have I heard this before…? (*cough* Rhysand’s tattoos *cough*) 😙

“Rise,” Darrow said, “Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen.”

Aelin turned to the left. Toward Aedion. And said quietly, but not weakly, “This has been yours from the day you were born, Prince Aedion.”

OMG she’s going to finally let him swear the blood oath to her!! 🥹

“The Little Folk,” people murmured, some backing away as small figures darted through the shadows down the aisle, wings rustling and scales gleaming. One of them approached the dais, and with spindly greenish hands, laid their offering at her feet. A second crown. Mab’s crown.

Oh yes!! She’s their queen too!

So she placed Mab’s crown atop the one of gold and crystal and silver, the ancient crown settling perfectly behind it. And then finally, Aelin sat upon her throne.

ALL HAIL QUEEN AELIN 👑

But Aelin, crowned and glowing, only said, “Walk with me.” She gestured to the gates behind her. “All of you.” This day did not belong to her alone. Not at all. And when they all balked, Aelin walked forward. Took Yrene Westfall by the hand to guide her to the front. Then Manon Blackbeak. Elide Lochan. Lysandra. Evangeline. Nesryn Faliq. Borte and Hasar and Ansel of Briarcliff. All the women who had fought by her side, or from afar. Who had bled and sacrificed and never given up hope that this day might come. “Walk with me,” Aelin said to them, the men and males falling into step behind. “My friends.”

Her friends 🥹 something she never had up until now

For it was friendship that had grown here, even in war. True friendship, to last beyond the oceans that would separate them once more.

Chaol stared at the letter in his hands.

I bet it’s from his dad