Queen of Shadows ~ Post-Reading (Spoilers)

[Noris]

Thanks girls! On the other hand.... Could somebody save my sould and post about Manon vs Aelin????? Holly gods on heaven!!!!! I was running around my house! It was epic! Epic! I was shouting!!!!! Even an hours ago I was screaming while trying to talk with my friend about the scene! Omg omg omg! Sarah couldn't make it better!

[Jess S]

OMG Aedion and Gavriel meeting! Where to look first!I wonder how that will play out...if Maeve asks Gavriel to hunt down Aelin major conflict of interest there. Trying to kill/undermine/enslave the girl your son is sworn to protect.

I wonder what would happen if Gavriel did the blood bond with Aelin as well as Maeve...if one asked to kill the other one would he even be able to?

[Natalia]

WOW

[Umaira]

I'm posting my full thoughts on QoS here later(because exams and work D:), but IS NO ONE GONNA TALK ABOUT ASTERIN? THAT POOR BABY DESERVES HAPPINESS AFTER ALL THE SHIT THE WICKED MATRON GAVE HER.

[Anna]

So the scene where apparently Aelin had been kinda pretending to be this guy Cormac to ultimately in the end screw Arobynn over.. Is this Cormac character a character that we've seen before? Or just a rando that we know nothing about? I just remember thinking who the heck is Cormac while I was reading that part. And is it the same guy that has a collar on in Morath towards the end?

[Umaira]

Anna wrote: "So the scene where apparently Aelin had been kinda pretending to be this guy Cormac to ultimately in the end screw Arobynn over.. Is this Cormac character a character that we've seen before? Or jus..."

Yes, it's the same guy, clearly. He even has red hair, the color Aelin dyed her hair.

[Anna]

Just didn't know if we'd seen him before Aelin used him to screw arobynn over

[Umaira]

I don't think so. He's just a side character Aelin used who died before he could even do anything to Elide.

[Lydia]

Noris wrote: "Thanks girls! On the other hand.... Could somebody save my sould and post about Manon vs Aelin????? Holly gods on heaven!!!!! I was running around my house! It was epic! Epic! I was shouting!!!!!..."

Oh my goodness me! That scene was just.......OMG....I literally read that scene so quickly and I was just sitting there in my room like....OMG IT'S OVER?!?!? HOW HOW HOW IS IT ONLY THIS LONG?!?! I JUST OMG! IT'S SO GOOD! I loved Aelin's reasoning for going back to Manon! Because Asterin screamed for Manon the way Aelin screamed for Rowan...I just found that so considerate and calculating, because in that moment Aelin realized that these witches could actually FEEL something. GO ASTERIN!!! <3 <3

[Lydia]

Oh and Can I mention Aelin's speech at the end of the book after Dorian shattered the Glass Castle and she stepped up LIKE A BOSS?!!? PERFECTION. And did anyone else Notice that along with Aelin now truly letting go of Celaena and embracing her destiny, that the "Throne of Glass" has been physically destroyed along with the girl who first started the series? Parallels xD

[Caitlin]

Guys, I really hate to say this but this book was such a disappointment to me. I was such a fan of the rest of the series but I cannot forgive how hard Sarah betrayed her own characters.

QoS Chaol is not the Chaol who developed through the first 3 books. Celaena/Aelin is no longer the cocky assassin we loved in book 1, but a bratty, cruel queen who blames Chaol for not being some type of superhuman and saving everyone while she was away. Rowan and Aedion think Aelin's sh** doesn't stink and that everything she does is perfect.

This book was so hard to read.

If you loved this book, I'm not hating on your opinion! I'm just wondering if anyone feels the same? I didn't have time to look through this whole thread, I just needed to express my thoughts because I am dying inside.

[Ale]

Hey, Caitlin. It's okay to express your opinions, it's fine. I don't know, but I feel like no one can't really assume Sarah betrayed her own characters because no one knows them better than she does. I completely understand why you are disappointed, but I guess it depends on what perspective you had on the characters and story as a whole.

[[deleted user]]

Caitlin wrote: "Guys, I really hate to say this but this book was such a disappointment to me. I was such a fan of the rest of the series but I cannot forgive how hard Sarah betrayed her own characters.

QoS Chaol..."



This is why I'm scared to read this book, but I want to know what happens! I need a reason to read this... and I swear if this book is all basically Rowanelin Fan fiction (it's really annoying when authors do that) I will not read this book!

Otherwise someone give me a reason to read this book!

[Sandy]

Caitlin, I read your review and I have to pretty much disagree with everything you wrote. In fact, I have nothing to agree with you on. Let me explain:
Chaol has been, and had been, scared of magic since forever. He lived with the prejudice and discrimination against magic and pretty much thinks it should be rid of so all non-mortals can have some chance at living. So yeah, of course he would call Aelin a monster. Because he is SCARED. And ANGRY. And MAD.
Magic is what caused the destruction of his BEST FRIEND. Dorian Havilliard. He's scared of it because it ruined everything he loved and stood for.
Aelin isn't perfect. She isn't bratty. She's not a bitch. Aedion and Rowan do not love her because of her so-called perfection.
She has flaws. But she cares. So much. That it hurts her to see people she loves hurt and in danger. Aedion loves her because she is his family. Probably the only one left. He is alone without her and this true vice versa.
Rowan sees himself in her, all the flaws and imperfections and hate and passion. He loves her because she represents the best person he can be. Rowan is the ultimate mate for Aelin because he accepts everything about her and doesn't ask her to be anything she doesn't want to be. I'm sorry if you hated this book and you are welcome to stop reading it. But please acknowledge that Chaol becomes better towards the end and that Rowan and Aedion are not shallow and nor is their love towards Aelin.

[Sandy]

Neona, the romance is like 2% of the overall plot. And it's not fanfiction if the author herself is writing it. Plus why would you judge the entire book on a tiny plot aspect ad compared to the whole?

[[deleted user]]

Because everything I was told that Aelin mentions Rowan a lot until he appears... Plus I was basically spoiled a couple of weeks ago and what I heard really angered me.

[Sandy]

She doesn't really. A few sentences here and there. Uh can you read the book and stop posting in the "POST READING" forum until you judge it for yourself..

[Ale]

Neona wrote: "Because everything I was told that Aelin mentions Rowan a lot until he appears... Plus I was basically spoiled a couple of weeks ago and what I heard really angered me."

Not really too much. She misses him so of course she mentions him, but it's not everything she thinks about.

[Rachel , Co-Moderator]

Caitlin wrote: "Guys, I really hate to say this but this book was such a disappointment to me. I was such a fan of the rest of the series but I cannot forgive how hard Sarah betrayed her own characters.

QoS Chaol..."

Hey Caitlin, I totally understand what you mean here. I was a huge Chaolaena fan, but I really had to step back and take a moment to get over Chaolaena before continuing. It just shows how quickly things change and how people fall into and out of love.

"QoS Chaol is not the Chaol who developed through the first 3 books"

Yes this is so true!! I feel as though his POV has been diminished, but I think he's still on his way to redepemption. By the end of QoS he's more accepting and trusting of Aelin. They've come to terms with everything. And he can't forgive her for some of the things she did just as she can't forgive him for Nehemia (although I think that was partially Celaena's fault.) Nehemia planned her own death to get Celaena to claim her birthright and start doing stuff, so...

"Celaena/Aelin is no longer the cocky assassin we loved in book 1, but a bratty, cruel queen"

She's on her vengeance rampage. She starts off the story a bit frazzled and judgy, but we start to see her joking later on. Her character changed so much through this series, and I feel like it took a leap we didn't see from HoF to QoS. She's more serious and determined now. I respect and understand that she's changed, but she still has a bit of humor in her.

Rowan started acting like a teenager, and honestly Rowaelin was hard to get on board with. Rowan had his one true mate AND he's 300 years old. I can't stop picture him as an old man. And some of the crude/dirty things he said to Aelin made me want to puke tbh. But I love how understanding and supportive he is of Aelin. That's who she needs right now, only time will tell if she needs him forever.

[[deleted user]]

Ale wrote: "Neona wrote: "Because everything I was told that Aelin mentions Rowan a lot until he appears... Plus I was basically spoiled a couple of weeks ago and what I heard really angered me."

Not really t..."

Then there's the fact that Chaol is getting so much hate. True he's always been an ass but I heard from one side that he is just a dick for no apparent reason and the other side said that Aelin was causing him to act the way because she's just a brat

(sorry for all these Complaints/comments I just want to know and you're the only that can tell me right now)

[Rachel , Co-Moderator]

Sandra wrote: "Neona, the romance is like 2% of the overall plot. And it's not fanfiction if the author herself is writing it. Plus why would you judge the entire book on a tiny plot aspect ad compared to the whole?"

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and if she wants to not like a book because of the romance that's totally okay! We all have different opinions, and we form them different ways :) you can't argue someone into having a new opinion, so I just don't see a point xD

[Sandy]

All I can say is please read the book and have an open mind. Instead of listening to second hand sources, seriously. They're all biased.

[[deleted user]]

Sandra wrote: "All I can say is please read the book and have an open mind. Instead of listening to second hand sources, seriously. They're all biased."

I can't read it until Christmas because my list of books I still have to read is full and I'm a broke college kid... but thank you for all the information Sandra

[Rachel , Co-Moderator]

Neona wrote: "Ale wrote: "Neona wrote: "Because everything I was told that Aelin mentions Rowan a lot until he appears... Plus I was basically spoiled a couple of weeks ago and what I heard really angered me."

..."

I think it's a mix of both. Chaol has grown so much, yet he still needs time to grow. He's used to his beliefs and blindly and honorably following his king. Duty and honor before all else. Now that everything he knows and loves is being threatened and challenged, he's had to change and not everyone reacts the same way.

Aelin and Chaol are both mad at each other for both reasonable and unreasonable things. Personally I think they were both being highly hypocritical as they slung insults and accusations at each other at their first meeting in QoS, but that's just me. I see faults on both sides, but I think they'll work through it eventually.

[Sandy]

yeah Rachel I understand but she's stating her opinions like she has read the book already and that doesn't sit well with me. It's not having an informed opinion but an opinion based on rumors..

[Jess]

I think it's interesting to point out, about Chaols character that Sarah wanted noticed, was when Chaol turned around to Aelin coming through the secret door in her Fae form and it said that he saw "Hope." It's important, I think, to put this out there because when he first saw her form, he was disgusted, and horrified, and basically saw her as dirt. But now he looks at her and sees hope.

Also when she went to say goodbye to him in his bed, he asked her if he could see her powers. He got all teary-eyed and called it lovely.

I think that's important in regard to his character development from the last book to this one.

Yes Aelin and him were together, so of course they're going to have their squabble, but they worked it out in the end with short words with each other, which is how the majority of break ups get healed.

[[deleted user]]

Sandra wrote: "yeah Rachel I understand but she's stating her opinions like she has read the book already and that doesn't sit well with me. It's not having an informed opinion but an opinion based on rumors.."

Rumors that scare me.

[Ale]

Jessica wrote: "I think it's interesting to point out, about Chaols character that Sarah wanted noticed, was when Chaol turned around to Aelin coming through the secret door in her Fae form and it said that he saw..."

YES JESSICA! He went to a lot of character development and I know it hurt to see him act the way he did in the beginning of QoS but he got through every judgment and fear and he accepts Aelin for what she is now and what she represents; and also that they are both in good terms now. I absolutely adored the scene where she shows him her magic because it means he's, again, not afraid of her and means a lot.

[Ale]

Neona wrote: "Rumors that scare me"

Oh well, Neona, opinions are subjective. No one will ever have a better judgement on a book than you do, so I guess the best way to find out if you like it or not is reading. I suggest you do, I found it very exciting and entertaining.

[Rachel , Co-Moderator]

Neona wrote: "Sandra wrote: "yeah Rachel I understand but she's stating her opinions like she has read the book already and that doesn't sit well with me. It's not having an informed opinion but an opinion based..."

read it if you want to! I've not read some books because I've heard bad things from other bloggers and such, people I tend to share bookish opinions with. Don't let anyone shame you for having an opinion or idea of a book not having read it yet. We all have our own preconceived notions and premonitions before starting a book.

[[deleted user]]

Rachel wrote: "Neona wrote: "Sandra wrote: "yeah Rachel I understand but she's stating her opinions like she has read the book already and that doesn't sit well with me. It's not having an informed opinion but an..."

That happened with me on Tumblr

[Aasha]

Caitlin wrote: "Guys, I really hate to say this but this book was such a disappointment to me. I was such a fan of the rest of the series but I cannot forgive how hard Sarah betrayed her own characters.

QoS Chaol..."

Caitlin, I felt exactly the same.
Here's the thing: I'm not hating on anyone who loved this book. And I'm not hating on Sarah J. Maas - she's still a brilliant author. But I had so many high expectations for this book, and I just felt like it fell low. None of the characters felt like themselves to me - and I honestly don't know if that was intentional character development or it's just because I haven't read the third one in a while. It just felt to me thought that they all became such different people than the characters I knew and loved. Also, I missed Dorian and Chaol.... It felt like the main characters of the first two were pushed to the sidelines in this one. I also felt like Rowan and Aelin's relationship developed from platonic to romantic a bit too quickly. Another thing that nagged me, was all the hating on Celaena Sardothian's character. I mean, yeah, I get that Celaena was a coward who ran from Aelin's fate, but at the end of the day she was an amazing character that hooked us into the series and that shouldn't have been forgotten.
Does anyone else agree with me? Please don't hate me for not loving the book as much; at the end of the day it's still one of my favorite series, but QOS just didn't work for me.

[Rachel , Co-Moderator]

Aasha wrote: "Caitlin wrote: "Guys, I really hate to say this but this book was such a disappointment to me. I was such a fan of the rest of the series but I cannot forgive how hard Sarah betrayed her own charac..."

I thought the characters were a bit ooc in the first 300 pages, but they started to fill in and I saw their old personalities a tad bit. Also I think they've definitely changed. Aelin the most. So it's understandable if a bit too fast moving and unrecognizable from before.

[Lydia]

Ale wrote: "Jessica wrote: "I think it's interesting to point out, about Chaols character that Sarah wanted noticed, was when Chaol turned around to Aelin coming through the secret door in her Fae form and it ..."

I totally agree!! The development from his opinion of Fae being Monsters and disturbing to actually accepting Aelin's magic and not hating Rowan+Aedion because of who they are was truly beautiful! And don't get me wrong or anything but it was almost like Chaol was racist for a long time and now he finally sees that it DOES NOT MATTER. What matters is how he is going to react to them and whether or not he is going to support Dorian AND Aelin in the future! :)

[Ale]

Lydia, I don't know about you but when she showed him her magic I cried like a baby.

[Lydia]

Rachel wrote: "Aasha wrote: "Caitlin wrote: "Guys, I really hate to say this but this book was such a disappointment to me. I was such a fan of the rest of the series but I cannot forgive how hard Sarah betrayed ..."

I felt like their differing personalities were necessary because in HoF the original Trio is seperated and they begin developing away from eachother. I think it is for this reason that when Aelin comes back not everything is sunshine and rainbows, and there is a lot of aggression between people because they have had so much time apart and amongst themselves to bottle up all of their feelings (mainly Chaol + Aelin) that it just didn't end up getting them anywhere. And it seemed accurate to me because that really does happen to people and especially with how Chaoleana left off, it seemed destined that their reunion would be rough. I seems like a lot of people think things were OOC because they didn't like the outcomes in QoS and I can understand readers being upset about that but it doesn't mean that the characters aren't behaving properly just because it isn't what YOU want. Aelin came back claiming to be Queen and she has grown VERY much since Throne of Glass.

I would also like to point out that there is about a 1 month gap between the events of HoF and QoS so Aelin didn't just show up different. She had time to calculate and think about what she wanted to do and accomplish. People getting in her way was not really an option, but hey, Aelin/Celaena is flawed and obviously she can't be great in every situation.

[Lydia]

Ale wrote: "Lydia, I don't know about you but when she showed him her magic I cried like a baby."

I have never actually cried while reading a book, (teared up yes) but idk...LOL! I can completely see why you would though, that scene touched my heart so much, and I sighed a little because I was so overwhelmed by the calm after that whole fight scene between Dorian/Aelin/King. I thought it was so beautiful that he wasn't disgusted anymore by magic. And when he saw Dorian free from the collar he didn't even think about his magic, he thought about his friend. And he cried....When he cried I REALLY felt for them ! :)

[Ale]

Lydia wrote: "Ale wrote: "Lydia, I don't know about you but when she showed him her magic I cried like a baby."

I have never actually cried while reading a book, (teared up yes) but idk...LOL! I can completely ..."

I cried so many times during this book, ugh. On the Sam's grave scene? JESUS CHRIST SAVE ME. But yeah, that little scene between Chaol and Aelin meant so much for the story that I couldn't help myself :c

[castergurl]

When Aelin offered Rowan the lavender soap I felt so betrayed. I love Rowan but still...and at Sam's grave when Aelin thought Sam would've been a wonderful king I felt my heart being torn into tiny pieces.

[Em]

"Fae, assassin, it doesn't matter..." - Chaol in Crown of Midnight.

He accepted her being fae. The thing he struggled with was knowing she was queen of Terrasin aka the boggest threat Dorian could ever face.

But, well, Sarah rewrote her characters personalities to make Rowan shine, so I get why you think he is "racist".

I promised myself I would not discuss this series any longer, but some things are too much to let go.

[Lydia]

Ale wrote: "Lydia wrote: "Ale wrote: "Lydia, I don't know about you but when she showed him her magic I cried like a baby."

I have never actually cried while reading a book, (teared up yes) but idk...LOL! I c..."


I know!!! I liked the whole backstory we received about how Terrasen people treat their graves in that scene too. The idea behind the stone was very touching. And when Aelin said she thought Sam might have been her mate but she never knew....ugh. :'( I love that Sam was mentioned in this book, it really grounded Aelin to Celaena for me. Like she couldn't completely let go without finding out what happened to Sam and visiting him.

[Anna]

I started my reread. haha i feel like i read it the first time so fast that I missed SO much. Already in one of the first chapters and I picked something up. That when she first gets back to Rifthold Aelin still has a couple of weeks before her duties as Champion and killing the royal family in Wendlyn were due. WEEKS. At the end when she leads Chaol into the castle cause her time is up that means only WEEKS have passed. So everything that happened in QOS happened in a matter of WEEKS. mind blown!

I really believe that there was a lot and good character development in this book, and in a short amount of time. So since we're talking about Chaol i thought I'd have a go about what I think. Yes Chaol and Aelin seriously butt heads ( to put it nicely) at the beginning of the book. His entire life he has been taught that magic is bad, has been following his King and his country and his position that he was so proud of loyally. Chaol Westfall is the definition of loyalty. Then all of a sudden the veil that king had to hide how much of a monster he is is gone. Everything that Chaol has been raised to believe and worked for had gone to shit. For the first time in a world where everybody is losing everything and the people they love, Chaol experiences it. And dammit he's PISSED!! And I would be too.

When Aelin lost everything she went and became an assassin for 10 years. Granted this is due mostly because of Arobyyn to hate who she is and everything about her past. So if Aelin can go around assassinating people for 10 years then Chaol has a right to be pissy for a couple of weeks.

They are in a middle of a war, his King and best friend is being held by a Valg prince and everyone is just a little on edge. I kinda get the OOC that some people are talking about but you also have to think about how different the situation is from the first books. They aren't in the castle trying to make Celaena the Champion.. They are in the middle of a war and people are dying everyday.. you're gonna act a little differently.

I also think that these characters still have time to grow. I think that a lot had to happen in this book, including the introduction ( or reintroduction) to new characters. In 645 pages they managed to kill Arobynn, the King of Adarland and free magic.. more than any of us really thought was going to happen in this book. AND we still have at least 2 more books!! Imagine what could happen to these characters. There is still so much more story to be told!

Don't give up on these characters yet, they'll still surprise you I'm sure!

[Natalia]

Yes they will!

[Catriski]

How can anyone not see how OOC Chaol is in this book?

I couldn't understand how he could go from an honourable knight who blushed when Celaena mentioned her period to someone having seedy assignations up back alleys. This wasn't Chaol at all.

I respect SJ Maas as a writer. She's a good author but that was a big mistake on her part.

[[deleted user]]

EVERYONE READ THIS INTERVIEW

https://www.bookish.com/articles/sara...

[Alexis]

Nice. Seems like every time I turn around I find something else I have in common with Sarah. Lysandra as the Ghost Leopard was epic. My fave part of the book.

[Liz]

castergurl wrote: "When Aelin offered Rowan the lavender soap I felt so betrayed. I love Rowan but still...and at Sam's grave when Aelin thought Sam would've been a wonderful king I felt my heart being torn into tin..."

I actually took it as a sign that she was a more mature person who didn't care about those sorts of things anymore. Like how she didn't buy anything for herself throughout the book, despite the fact that she's a self proclaimed lover of pretty things.

I was a mess during the grave scene! And I kept screaming I knew it at the screen because I've always thought that if Sam hadn't died his role in the romance subplot would have been as the underdog who sneaks in and steals Aelin's heart xD and I take the King part as confirmation of that.

[Brittany]

Even though i love rowan as a character i still hope for aelin and chaol as endgame.why would sarah go to all that trouble in the first to books to have chaol hate her,to liking her,and then loving her only to throw it all away? It is to be expected that they would act the way they did to each other. He had only a co of weeks at the most with her after discovering she was part fae and she was gone when he realized who she really was.plus how many books have all of us read where something splits a couple apart and they move on only to find their way back to each other in the end? Book four was them getting back to being friends again. There are still two more to go and i plan to go down with this ship.

[Lydia]

Chelsea wrote: "I don't understand why people are so concerned with Chaol acting ooc.
His whole life has been turned upside down in a matter of weeks and he was a fugitive. He wasn't aware of what happened in th..."

THANK YOU!!! I have been thinking this all along! It is completely acceptable and understandable that Chaol would behave and think that way in the beginning of QoS.

[Noris]

Lydia. Agree. I think that is because we see the book in a subjetive way. We can't forget that is a war! And our characters are developing! Chaol more than anybody else!