EMPIRE OF STORMS BY SARAH J MAAS | booktalk with XTINEMAY

[@ReniLove38]

Sarah J. Maas' books are great in how they represent relationships. They show how you don't just meet the love of your life right away, but you fall in love with several others only for it not to work out (Sam, Dorian, Chaol) until one day, you unexpectedly meet your partner and equal in every way. The way she meets Rowan half way through is much more realistic than most YA novels.

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

i understand this, but it doesn't make me not want celorian. =P

[@LAKnightAuthor]

Dorian can't handle a relationship with a human anymore. He needs someone who is either Settled Fae, full Fae, or a witch, because of Sorscha. So it would take another 6 or so years before he thought about being with Aelin. I think he was uncomfortable with the Rowaelin cuddles because he misses Sorscha.

[@xWerecutiex]

rowaelin is abusive how is this great relationship rep lmao?!?$??

[@fillmewithwords3104]

I completely agree with you this is the only series I've read that represents relationships in that way and I really appreciate it!

[@LAKnightAuthor]

xWerecutie ; You'll have to explain the abuse once they actually enter into a romantic relationship. Their friendship before hand was incredibly problematic, although the rules of abuse differ between friendship vs romance (and same with parental relationships, sibling relationships, etc) and the toxic nature of their relationship ended before romance really entered their minds (or bodies). So again - you'll have to explain how the Rowaelin ship (versus the friendship) is abusive. Generally when people say that and you (editorially) ask for evidence, what they present is simply a general lack of understanding how royalty works.

[@maggiespages]

"it seemed like a good idea at the time" is literally dorian's life motto and it's fantastic.

[@jensenbury8625]

When you were talking about the ships and how in the first two books you kinda picked a ship. I didn't, neither Dorian or Chaol felt right and then when Rowan came along in the HOF I was like this is my guy. This is my ship.

[@alicetimpson5801]

yep yep yep yep yep. I liked dorian more than chaol, although I thought chaoleana had more of a relationship then her and dorian, but neither of them really did it for me. Then rowan shows up and my life is COMPLETE.

[@sabrinasone2000]

Same!! I felt like that too. I didn't feel like either Dorian or Chaol were right for Celaena

[@verad6127]

i loved chaol and their ship but first time they had fight i was like nope not him and same second rowan jumped in i knew it was him

[@lohart4514]

I was the exact same, I didn’t have one. Or should I say, I was settling for the prince because “he’s the prince” then Roman came along and I was like- yes, this one. This is the one.

[@swimminginbooks3414]

Rowan convincing all his cousins and family to join their army was so Breaking Dawn

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

LOL XD

[@valeee3798]

Sounds like a Weasley family reunion to me

[@dgirl142]

1. Manon was there because Rihannon Crochan helped to create the lock 2. I am affraid that because Dorian has that super powerful raw magic, he might be able take Aelin's place and sacrifice himself to save everyone 3. I can't be the only one affraid of the fact that nobody died in EoS, it probably means a lot of death in the next one

[@victoriaalfieris5086]

I also think that Dorian and Aelin might be able to combine their magic like they did at the end of Queen of Shadows. Or We also have Hollin who is a descendant of Elena so he also has the ability to do the lock thing

[@smuwu3336]

Hollin has to have fire (or raw) magic to be able to do the lock thing and we don't know if he does😭

[@victoriaalfieris5086]

I think he might

[@smuwu3336]

One can only hope🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@Sheechiibii]

The problem with the Holland theory, as good as it may seem since he's an evil little shit - he's also a child and that's been stressed many times through the books. To have the series end by forcing a child to sacrifice themselves would be very hard to write in a satisfying way given the way she's treated the topic of child sacrifice leading up to this point.

[@asialiaw6855]

Dude, in ToG, I shipped Aelin and Dorian. Then in CoM I shipped Chaol and Aelin. Finally, I shipped Rowan and Aelin and finally there is an endgame. I'm totally on board for this ship (have been since HoF).

[@victoriaalfieris5086]

Same

[@valeee3798]

I FEEL YOU SO HARD

[@anjanavi555]

OMFGG THIS PERFECTLY DESCRIBES MEE

[@strawberrycat1019]

same i will GO DOWN THE ROWAN AND AELINS SHIP!!!

[@shelficle]

You literally just described my ships completely throughout the series XD glad I'm not the only one!

[@Earth2Maja]

Was I the only on who was heart broken when Aedion lashed out at Lysandra?

[@katedyoung773]

Omg yes I really liked that ship

[@shelficle]

I KEPT WAITING FOR YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE ENDING SCENE WITH AELIN AND YOU NEVER DID BUT THAT PART MADE ME SOB FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AND SOMEONE PLEASE DISCUSS THIS WITH ME 😭😭💔💔

[@angelicsugar9876]

I DONT THINK IM PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT THAT YET! HELP!

[@shelficle]

+MCBunny THEN KETS CRY AND SCREAM INCOHERENTLY TOGETHER

[@globbity]

I SOBBED TOO DON'T WORRY IT WAS LIKE 1 IN THE MORNING AND I WAS A FREAKING MESS

[@asia89572]

That was so whack. I would have preferred Rowland getting kidnapped.

[@angelicsugar9876]

+Shelbie McDonald OKAY! GOD DAMMIT MAEVE! WHY DO YOI HAVR TO BE SO MUCH! LIKE WHIPPING HER WASN'T ENOUGH!

[@meredith4646]

Am I the only one watching who actually loves Rowan or... 😭😭

[@hopeblair9936]

Rowan is my everything

[@reading_with_chloe]

I love Rowan!

[@peyfler3756]

ROWAN IS MY LIFE

[@christinagrifffin]

LOVE ROWAN!

[@jessecarlson3552]

I LOVE ROWAN

[@pxndscxm]

I'm all for Rowaelin- I love Manon so much, but I don't like that she had to have a love interest; I sorta just wanted her to be a singular badaf woman character that doesn't need no man... or at last have her and elide get together. But I do LOVE ElidexLorcan. Doraelin died in the first book, during the ball whenever he saw her and Chaol looking at each other and was like "he took a deep breath, and let her go" so I think that was not only a major character development staple, but also the last nail in the doraelin coffin

[@pxndscxm]

And I think that Dorian looked away during that moment because he saw how intensely Rowan feels for Aelin, and that it was an invasion of privacy to gawk at such a look.

[@pxndscxm]

I also think that Aelin was merely concerned for Dorian, since they've been through so much and didn't want to loose him. Completely platonically. And I also think she's jealous of Manon, not because of Dorian's attentiveness to her, but because she's not the only all-powerful female figure on the boat. Sure, Lysandra awesome and has great powers, but Manon is the only Queen that's come close to paralleling Aelin's fighting skills. Aelin is such a diva and cannot stand to share the limelight

[@bel3337]

Saaaaame! I think Manon should be a single character.

[@LAKnightAuthor]

Manon *can't* be single, she's a royal. She has to have heirs. None of the royals who are heirs to a crown/throne can be single. So her options were either be trapped in a loveless union or fall in love with a man who respects her. Those are her only two options.

[@taylabaillie1808]

But at this point they're more friends with benefits than anything. It's nice to see manon open up (no pun intended) a bit to someone outside of the thirteen and elide though

[@megan78524]

They're mates!!!!! Aelin would never love again if Rowan died! Thats like making Feyre go and marry the king of summer!! It's just not ok!

[@megan78524]

And Dorian is in love with Celaena but Aelin is meant for Rowan!

[@ceciliathorne6846]

But didn't Rowan have a mate before Aelin?

[@LAKnightAuthor]

No. Maeve admits in Empire of Storms that she tricked Rowan into thinking Lyria was his mate, but she wasn't. He did love her, but the mating bond wasn't there.

[@ceciliathorne6846]

Cathryn Martin Ohh okay. I didn't finish the book so I wouldn't have known but ty for clarifying

[@alicetimpson5801]

EXACTLY. Tell me how you imagine feyre or rhyasnd ever being able to move on? Even if they did .. it wouldn't happen in a humans life time for sure.

[@jessethereader]

I'M STILL SO SALTY ABOUT CHAOL NOT BEING IN THIS BOOK. I WAS READING IT AND JUST THINKING HOW HAPPY YOU PROBABLY WERE ABOUT HIM NOT BEING IN THE BOOK. :P :P

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

LOLOLOL

[@thebookhunter2913]

LOOOOL! I know right. I just needed one tiny chapter of him.

[@alexandra.v18]

SAME omg I was also thinking 'Christine must be enjoying this' XD

[@Ponydemminecraft]

I was laughing because he wasn't in the book and he was only mentioned like twice

[@alexandra.pulit1]

jessethereader it's okay Jesse u get a whole book about him now 😂😂you can laugh about no Dorian now

[@emmademefack6215]

Can we just talk about when Dorian said how 'this ship has an unreasonable amount of attractive people on it' 😂 thank you for mirroring my thoughts. Thank you. 😂😂

[@MamaKatTV]

I finished and came straight for your booktalk! I can't deal right now...how dare you wish ill upon King Rowan! I don't hate the idea of Dorian and Aelin together, but remember in a previous book how he couldn't really look at her when he found out she was Fae? Didn't he make some harsh remarks to her regarding that trait? That irritated me and now he doesn't deserve her. Rowan loves every piece of Aelin. He would never treat like that. Interesting how Dorian's aversion to non-humans went out the window for Manon though. I LOVE MANON! WHERE WAS CHAOL? I really really wanted that reunion to happen. And lastly, I felt like if Dorian's magic could be as strong as Aelin's they should have spent a little more time training him. I don't think he was as useful on this journey as he could have been. Step. It. Up. Dorian!

[@moonamoona17]

MamaKatTV this is a super old comment but i came across it and felt the need to answer haha.... you got it mixed up with chaol and dorian. chaol was disgusted by celaena's magic, not dorian who was already struggling with his own when he found out. in fact dorian literally told chaol he couldn't pick and choose which parts of her to love, which was one of the main reasons i had beef with chaol and loved dorian. sorry if you don't care anymore just thought i'd remind you 😂

[@okerdoker]

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, LIKE YOU LITERALLY JUST ARTICULATED THE WHOLE OF MY OPINIONS AND UGH

[@MrsNisha97]

Im living for thissssssss

[@clarab9597]

We gonna find a loophole and we gonna loop through it

[@alicetimpson5801]

That was actually my favorite line of this whole video XD.

[@nelizao]

A lot of people (including me) shipped Rowaelin since Heir of Fire so to us it didn't come out of nowhere I think because we already felt something romantic starting up between them. I shipped them so quickly because I never really loved her with either Chaol or Dorian (though I did lean towards Dorian) and I think the people who dislike or don't care for Rowan are the ones whose ships sunk and I totally get that because that has happened to me a couple times and it sucks! But luckily there are many more ships in this book to enjoy!

[@poleengigi4792]

Yes! I shipped Rowaelin from the beginning (because I never liked Choal or Dorian). So he is always my favriote. He is perfect.

[@emilyn9449]

I don't even understand how Sarah can plot and scheme for so many different characters and make it all connect. MY MIND IS BLOWN

[@nidhip_6]

Sarah J Maas is a genius!!😱The revelation that Aelin had a master plan all along to help fight the war without her being there was just incredible!! All the little encounters that led to debts owed to her which in the later book turn out to be the army she's been gathering is just INSANE! This is the best book of the series so far! Sorry for the rant 😅

[@cm1868]

ik i comment a lot but honestly it's such a relief to finally join the conversation- i mean i know no one who reads tog, plus aelin's a mastermind

[@readwithkk]

I relate to everything you said about Dorian. He's so precious and while I was reading this book, I noticed how much I missed celeana. Alein never picked up a dagger or weapon once in this book, it was just her using her magic. I feel like celeana needs to come back because I miss reading how to kill someone 50 different ways by using a chair cx

[@LAKnightAuthor]

She might come back in book 6; she'll be iron-poisoned and iron-bound, and won't be able to use her powers.

[@readwithkk]

+Cathryn Martin I hope so! She needs to an bad apple with all her assassin skills

[@readwithkk]

+Kashish no mourners, no funerals. Sorry i had to😂 but I will probably throw the book across the room I'm in if anything happens to him

[@LAKnightAuthor]

***** Dorian/Manon has been in the works since Throne of Glass. This was pointed out to me before I started the series (I marathon-ed them all in the last month prepping for Empire of Storms) so it didn't take me by surprise and I noticed all the little things in the first 4 books (and the not so little things) that pointed to it.

[@Pikachuwhereareyou]

Celeana was a ruse. It was the jagged, traumatised part of her adolescence. It will alway be a part of her history, But thinking _beyond_ just what's "cool" to _read_ about, As a character, Aelin is at a healthier place with herself, She's not perfect, But she's growing up.

[@Manariooxxo]

Spoiler**** Manon went with Aelin because shes the last crochan queen, and the crochan queen Rhiannon helped Mala forge the lock hence Manon was important because she is going to forge the lock for Aelin

[@saarah0006]

And shes also the spitting image of her ancestor crochan queen

[@AcceberSk]

But the lock is forged. It's the eye of Elena. I think there's something else

[@Manariooxxo]

Rebecca Clyburn the eye of elena is the lock and it was damaged and spoiled because of Elena hence them needing to reforge it and use the crochan to forge it and Mala's gift to activate it in a sense. As when Manon and Aelin went through the mirror and saw the whole memory Manon tells Aelin that she had the lock all along and being confused as to why Elena would tell them to find the lock if it was in Aelin's possession the whole time

[@victoriav.s.7206]

sorry, Rowaelin is everything- they are literally MATES AND MARRIED But its okay, you have your opinions, but she isn't Celaena anymore. Her name is Aelin.

[@cm1868]

yes, thank you - people change, it's literally discussed by aelin and chaol- seperately- that both of their old selves were cowards, so weren't complete. Aelin is all of her, married and magic and warrior and queen etc she has a new role, new experiences and new people in her life, but she does remember everyone and everything from her past.

[@Sophx16]

I never really fully got behind the ships that involved Chaol or Dorian because none of those two guys even remotely measured up to Sam Cortland for me so I was super happy when Rowan came along. Omg Rowan and Aelin I haven't shipped 2 characters this hard in so long. I'm still crying about the ending.

[@alicetimpson5801]

Bless your soul. I agree so hard.

[@Sophx16]

Haha yess, glad to hear:)

[@isaacabraham454]

this book in my opinion had the best ending int eh entire series so far

[@alicetimpson5801]

The most intense and heart wrenching for sure.

[@allypotter4404]

My little loophole idea is that Joffrey-whats-his-face is a Havilliard... with Mala's blood... does this not mean we can sacrifice a child to the gods? XD

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

LOL OH MY GOSH GOOD THINKING!!! YES WHY NOT HIM

[@eshanair]

Isn't Dorian's brother named Hollin? And maybe we can't sacrifice Hollin as the he was born after the valg guy took over the King?

[@saarah0006]

But Hollin is still Malas decendent. Shouldnt there be alot all over the place. Like more of Dorians cousins and stuff

[@LAKnightAuthor]

Dorian was born after the Valg took over King Havilliard, though. He was possessed when he married the queen and when both princes were born. Although Dorian's paternal cousin was murdered. :(

[@allypotter4404]

Cathryn Martin But they both still have Havilliard blood, right? Isn't it the Havilliard line that connects them to Mala?

[@Pikachuwhereareyou]

For me, I was _full-on_ Team Celorian, so transitioning was _not_ easy, But I just roared with the tide & When you reach the shore everything makes _so much sense_ ( & more so, it innately _felt _*_right_* )It's serendipitous. Letting go of my pride & reader righteousness was the hardest part, But ultimately *Rowaelin* just slowly tidal waved all the depths & now here we are. What a journey, I wouldn't have it any other way :' )

[@smuwu3336]

OMG same! Finally someone else who agrees😆👌🏼

[@GymnasticChickz]

So what's the ship name for Elide and Lorcan? Because I'm so on board. Literal trash for them.

[@LaraAntipova1917]

Elorcan!

[@melrosebooks]

I think they're my major ship in this series now. Loved all their scenes!

[@blacksparkle001]

IKR ME TOO THEIR PARTS WERE THE BEST!!

[@joaquimafonso108]

it should be LORDE

[@samdishamanchanda434]

I think it's Elorcan

[@Sweet.peach21]

NAMELESS IS MY PRICE. I just think that Aelin's magic is gonna be taken away instead of dying because she once said that healers don't make good queens. That may be a foreshadow. OR Hollin, the little ass, can die because he is also a desendant.

[@alicetimpson5801]

I actually believe this as well and I hope it doesn't happen, there's another series that SJM loves called Black Jewels that ends that when .. and honestly the parrellells would really piss me off, because they're already in place. I hope she comes up with a different loophole.

[@liushe8024]

I also think that that's a good possibility because that well of magic inside of her doesn't have a known bottom yet and is likely to get MUCH, MUCH more deeper. So, what I'm trying to say is, the price is nameless because no one knows just how far Aelin's magic can go, sooooo it's unknown.

[@Sweet.peach21]

And I also might add that Elena said that she would need every last drop of Mala's power, BUT Evalin had that drop of healing water magic. Therefore she could survive on just those last drops (pun).

[@Sheechiibii]

That's *such* a good point! I never thought of that. But using up the last of Mala's fire might not kill her as like you say she does have her very small water magic. Possibly she'd lose her immortality too, but that's fine by me.

[@Sweet.peach21]

Sheechiibii Fox It'll also be nice if she could bind herself to Rowan in someway then she can die when he does, so she wont have to suffer without him nor would he have to suffer without her.

[@melissalicari7103]

ROWAN AND AELIN ARE EVERYTHING I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

[@trixieg6888]

10:23 "Give a bitch a puppy, she's not so bitchy anymore. Give a bitch a little sister, she unbitches about fifty levels. GIVE A BITCH A DORIAN! and her transformation is complete" xD

[@Susaninha1D]

This book broke my heart. That final scene broke me apart I could barely hold back the tears when they chained Aelin and locked her away in a coffin, and Sarah actually made me understand Rowan's pain and fear so well it was as if I was a charecter in her book I have never seen a main character been broke as badly as they broke Aelin and Rowan in the last few pages. I love their relationship, and I'm certain Maas will stick to it. And I will be paitiently waiting to see them kick Maeve into the afterlife with their carranam bounded powers.

[@abbeebadooboo]

🎵 Let it go, let it go, AelinxDorian was never a thing🎵 P.S. Don't hurt my Rowan. But everything else you said, YES!

[@Sarahb6162]

yeesssss

[@j.rochellesoifua4343]

Hahahahahahhahaha yasss

[@nettleskettle]

sshhhh i have hope

[@Myr642]

Same though! The thing that made me love Dorian so much was that he let Celaena go when she obviously had feelings for Chaol in those first two books! He didn't just pine after her forever. Also, I love how those first two books were Dorian vs Chaol. Then Rowan comes in and pushes them both aside like "move boys, the mate is coming through 😂

[@Sarahb6162]

MATE AND HUSBAND

[@lexibrb]

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS NOTIFICATION FOREVER

[@aliceliu6512]

YES CLICKED THE NOTIFICATION SO DAMN FAST

[@missyvampire4123]

RIGHT ITS LIKE WHAT IS LIFE RIGHT NOW THERES ONLY THIS VIDEO

[@norah2899]

Yes I've been waiting!!

[@valeee3798]

I HAVE WAITED SINCE THE DAY THE BOOK CAME OUT

[@alexandraannika119]

OMG ARE YOU @prythianfae ON IG? I recognize your profile picture😂

[@Charlie-wm3io]

chaol being absent was wonderful

[@clockworkbooknerds9726]

team dorian!!!! literally loved that scene with manon and dorian. I was reading it at night and had to put the book down like "OKAY THAT WAS HOT AS HELL LETS END WITH THAT" and then went to all my friends at school and was like "READ THIS NOW YOU DONT UNDERSTAND READ IT"

[@deanajoyce08]

***Spoilers*** Would it be a possible loop hole that Aelin has a drop of water magic in her blood. To make the lock she needs to give up all her fire magic that she was gifted by Mala. But wouldn't the drop of water magic keep her alive? Maybe a possible? I know that nameless is the price but she has water magic from her mother side that could possible save her in the end. Why else would Sarah keep mentioning Aelin's water magic if it would not come into play later. I'm also thinking that Aelin will have to make lock but Manon or Dorian will be the ones to use it. Just a thought.

[@ZanRih]

AELIN AND ROWAN ARE MY EVERYTHING BURY ME IN #ROWAELIN I SWEAR I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

[@ZanRih]

Also: Please Christine, turn down your Rowan "I wanted him to die" hate...I wanna punch you. SORRY NOT SORRY SKSKSKS HOW CAN YOU JUST THINK SOMETHING SO TERRIBLE EEEEEEEP (no i am not hating on her*

[@snoopygonewilder]

THE LOCK: I don't think Brannon had to die to use the lock, just Mala to make it. As for why Manon needed to be there? It was because it was her ancestor, the Crochan Queen who made it, and the same blood was needed now, hence: Manon. WHITETHORN SHIPS: I was also thinking the same thing about Maeve bringing a bunch of Whitethorns to the battle. That was until I remember her saying she didn't really care about the outcome of the battle, and all her ships and the hundreds of men in them were just fodder. The battle was just busy work so that she could sneak in. In that case it makes sense that she would bring so many Whitethorns. This would have been another punishment for Rowan, having a load of his family die at war. P.S.: This is honestly the most hilarious review I've watched in a long time. Thanks.

[@joannedaroya4631]

Brenda G.P. Totally agree with you in Maeve using the Whitehorns. When her ship wasn't with her armada, and her not detecting Rowan conspiring with his family the night before, i knew she was setting a trap somehow. Gods she's evil.

[@snoopygonewilder]

Joanne Daroya This book is full of amazingly evil people. I love it. I love really getting in the head of an "evil" person, and knowing why they are, and why they do what they do. Its great. :)

[@usagitsukino9301]

It says in the book: The Three-Faced Goddess tells Elena that while Mala Fire-Bringer died to cast her powerful essence in the Lock, to be unleashed once, *there had to be somebody to unleash that Lock, with the Wyrdkeys, to seal the Wyrdgate* So she says that Brannon was prepared to drain every last bit of his magic and lifeforce to do that. Read that scene again and it will make sense. I have a feeling it was supposed to be like this: - Aelin dies to re-activate the witch-mirror with Fire-Bringer essence, like Mala-Fire-Bringer originally did. - Dorian unleashes the Wyrdkeys, sends the Gods and Goddesses home along with Erawan - Dorian dies to seal the Wyrdgate, by binding the Wyrdkeys, and depleting every last drop of his magic (Just like Brannon Galathynius was prepared to do). But it also seemed like Aelin could both power the Lock again, and seal the gate??? I'm confused, there's such a hazy descirption of what needs to be happen, and I felt like Sarah just conveniently ommited the scene where Elena explains to Manon and Aelin how to re-forge the Lock, and end everything.

[@usagitsukino9301]

Also this plan will have to change because of Maeve. (if you have read Tower of Dawn, you will know why, because of her origins). Perhaps we can sacrifice that bitch??? She seems really powerful.

[@folklorevermore13]

HoF: Eww Manon. Give me Aelin chapters. EoS: Eww Aelin. Give me Manon chapters.

[@luciapalacios358]

Yaryna 😂😂

[@luciapalacios358]

Yaryna I was so annoyed at Aelin in this book, I really wanted to love her but I just couldn't. And I feel like a horrible person for saying this, but I didn't even care about her at the last scene with her and Maeve

[@urfas.1225]

LEGIT. 😂😂😂

[@vanessastokrocki3697]

"Give a bitch a Dorian and her transformation is complete" 😂👏🏼

[@kittykat248100]

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER ALERTTTT GO AWAY IF YOU DONT WANT SPOILERS SERIOUSLY FAM, DONT DO THIS TO YOURSELF OKAYYY, I WARNED YOU had so many probs with this: -sick of the aelin worship and overuse of similar passages latent with anaphora/a million run-ons -if every ship sails, i care less and less about each ship ya feel? -same thing with the 1 million characters... last book i was in love with lysandra... this book i felt like i could compile all her scenes and they'd all fundamentally sound the EXACT SAME -wtf uncomfortably specific yet vague sex scenes and unstoppable ear nibbling?? -half the book was fillers. way way way too long -too many "plot twists" to the point where no context was developed, so they felt illogical/misplaced. like wtf lorcan? and what's with elide being all badass, but then turning into useless goop at the end just so aelin is pushed to sacrifice herself? -maas, don't abuse my love for aelin by just putting her in every worst possible situation ever!!! the plot was seriously like "omg the dark side is so strong, omg our side is so weak, jk aelin is digging her well of power even DEEPER, let us bow before the great greatness of her court, oooh look at her sacrifices and struggles" x6. which i might have been okay with if it hadn't been the plot of THE LAST 2 BOOKS AS WELL. BUT I STILL LOVED IT THO? I CRITICIZE IT CUZ I CARE

[@YouTheMine4ever]

i totally agree with all the points you made thank you, THERE WERE SO MANY FILLERS and imo all the pairings were so forced as well (elide & lorcan are bae tho) and i didnt get lysandra and aedion either. speaking of that aedion annoyed me, his attitude towards gavriel, of course i understand his anger but still?? and omg the aelin worshipping ugh stop

[@kittykat248100]

***** ugh it's so sad bc i feel like i would have loved some of the ships. like dorian x manon could have been its own book, but here, it was lukewarm at best ://

[@kittykat248100]

***** literally the whole cadre was excessive. i ended up skimming their sections because it felt like they were just thrown in and lost their significance in all the chaos. the relationship dynamics could have been so much better if all the fillers were thrown out and the book was split in 2

[@kateorourke6064]

nochu AGREE SO MUCH ABOUT THE AELIN WORSHIP! LIKE AEDION, STOP BEING A DOORMAT AND GROW UP!

[@thoughtsofaleo2916]

"IF EVERY SHIP SAILS, I CARE LESS AND LESS" THANK YOU 👏👏👏 PREACH

[@alicetimpson5801]

I'm just mildly confused as to how there is still a doraelin/celorian ship at all. Mostly because I'm so madly in love with rowan, don't get me wrong like dorian is precious and if any more crap happens to him I'm gonna loose it, but Rowan is so perfect for her. Dorian and celeana were cute and I preferred dorian to chaol but their relationship literally doesn't even compare to rowans. I'm also so confused because SJM has not even brought up ANYTHING about dorian and Aelin since book 2. BOOK 2. She is still bringing up things between aelin and chaol, she is still basically hammering home that chaol and her on happening, that it was ALWAYS going to be rowan. She isn't doing that with dorian because it's not even a question. Dorian moved on with sorsha, a relationship with aelin hasn't even been approached in the slightest. The truth is I love Rowan so I just don't understand when people don't adore him as much as I do. He is perfect and their relationship brings me life.

[@millief6299]

I actually like that in Sarah J Maas's books the first guy that comes along isn't always the only one, it seems more realistic that way.

[@leahrummel1605]

I JUST FINISHED TODAY AND I CAN NOT DEAL WITH THE ENDING SARAH J MAAS IS QUEEN SO GOOD WOW 10/10

[@BT5PavedTheWay]

This book talk is my everything! It's how I felt the entire time reading this!

[@PeruseProject]

I went down with that ship Christine

[@Zoe-iz5lh]

But is like no one gonna talk about the moment Ansel showed up. I was so not expecting either her or Ilian to ever come back. I just love how Aelin just made her own family :)

[@AllstarDirection]

Finally. Someone who shares my undying love for Dorian.

[@lexibrb]

Dorian is one of the best characters and he's so underrated shdjsjkssnsn

[@alicetimpson5801]

Honestly I don't think dorian is underrated at all. In fact I don't know if there is a single soul in this fandom (Besides maybe chaol shippers) who don't love dorian to pieces and appreciate how amazing he is and everything he's been through. I think Rowan is a way more underrated character by far, people want him to die. They rail on how he's abusive (even when there evidence can be argued and nothing like that has happened since aelin and him started being friends.) They throw him by the wayside, while he is just as complex, troubled, and beautiful a character as dorian.

[@yasmineflores5207]

Alice Timpson I'm a Chaol shipper and I love Dorian as well. You have to think about the fact that Chaol loves Dorian so much that it's like a two in one deal

[@alicetimpson5801]

I wasn't saying that all chaol shippers (or even most) dislike dorian. I understand that 100%, I feel the same way about both of them. What was being said was that dorian is underrated, I couldn't disagree more. I think he is probably the most liked character, in just numbers.. in just the sheer maas of people liking his character. The very very very few people I have come across who don't like him have been chaol shippers, that's all I was saying. Basically my point is, 99% of everyone in this fandom loves dorain. Just because they are a little hurt over the fact that dorain doesn't end up with aelin, doesn't suddenly make him underrated.

[@LeFleur80]

DORIAN ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!

[@lotusfarmer]

Yorur booktalks are the best Christine!!! You literally talk about all my feels from the book! My fave ship is Elide+Lorcan now hahahahahaha

[@ravenclaw299]

I was so happy that Chaol wasn't in this book. I love this video so relatable.

[@Sarahb6162]

ughh I hate chaol

[@ravenclaw299]

OMFG. Finally someone who shares similar regards towards him. I love how passionate Christine is about it!!! Totally agree CELORIAN!!!!

[@Sarahb6162]

I hate chaol and love dorian, but not with Aelin...I want Rowan with Aelin and man on and Dorian

[@ravenclaw299]

Yeah totally agree. But on the debate between Celorian and Choaleana , I totally stand with CELORIAN!!

[@victoriaalfieris5086]

I love Chaol. Yeah he was a bit of a jerk for about half of Queen of Shadows but I could kinda see where he was coming from and why he was thinking those things. In the second half of QoS he and Aelin make up and become friends again. Just because he went through a time where he was overreacting a little I still adore Chaol's character

[@meganbayram5092]

Was i the only one who hated aelin's attitude a bit in this book?? Like in the scene where she SLAPS manon for leaving elide? Like wtf aelin?

[@sillyleah118]

She's being completely different since she embraced her Aelin side in QoS and I hate it

[@meganbayram5092]

Ikr like she judges and decides everyone's fate and everybody else treats her like an angel from the sky. I miss celaena

[@sillyleah118]

+Megan bayram yes exactly ! She does no wrong and even she does it's like "don't worry she'll fix it, she perfect". Ugh. My best friend and I talked about this and we HATE how every guy that's with her for longer than 5 minutes falls in love with her and no guy can just be her friend except her cousin. HoF is the last book where we really got to see her and I miss her :/

[@LAKnightAuthor]

What about Luca, Ress, Mikhail, Brullo, Wesley, Rolfe, Gavriel, Lorcan, Ren, Roland, and Fenrys??? All of whom (except Roland) spent quite a bit of time with her and didn't fall in love with her. Wesley fell in love with Lysandra, for anyone wondering who that is. Also, Aedion is far enough apart blood-wise from Aelin that sexual attraction *could* happen because they're considered breedable (just like her and Galan), so his cousin-hood isn't a reason enough for him to not fall in love with Aelin. I don't like how Aelin handled Manon at all, or how Manon handled Aelin, but Aelin has been obsessed with Elide for 11 years so I can understand the slap. Actually my issue with Aedion in this book was that he *didn't* think she would pull anything off. That's how royals are supposed to work. Pledge your fealty, or don't, but once you pledge, don't back down when things get tough. Especially when your monarch hasn't given you a good reason. And yeah, she judges everyone's fates - she's a *queen.* Except for Manon (who's an enemy royal), she doesn't try to do this to anyone who isn't pledged to her or an enemy. Monarchs get to do that. That's how royalty works.

[@meganbayram5092]

Ok i get that she's a "queen" but she has a court and not telling them anything about her plans, leaving them drooling and clueless isn't the best thing to do. I don't care about that though as much as I hated how she disregarded dorian's choices and demands, they are king and queen, they both lost whatever land they had left so it's not like she has the upper hand in anything. But I guess the ending made me forget about those things for a bit, but I would choose celaena over aelin any day.

[@germainer.4028]

We are outgunned Outmanned Outnumbered Outplanned That was so accurate 😂😂😂

[@sophierudolph5192]

i just like how in Sarah J Maas' books the girl doesn't fall in love with the first person. She dates others before she meets her true love

[@fairassassin450]

WOW WOW WOW!! YOU NEVER TALKED ABOUT THE ENDING!!!WITH AELIN AND MAEVE !!!! THE ENDING!!!!!

[@manonjann5896]

I LOVE that you actually talk about things that happened in this book instead of just going like "ew the sex scenes are over-the-top" or "where's chaol" blah blah blah yada yada yada like some people.

[@HollyByGollyBooks]

LOL I forgot to read The Assassin's Blade also and I was soooooooo lost sometimes... and then all of these exciting moments where those characters would be involved I was just like, "well.... this is the part where I'm supposed to get really surprised, but... I don't know who they are so oops?"

[@saarah0006]

Theres still time to read the assassins blade. Its well worth it and my 2nd favourite in the series

[@lpequestrian46]

am I the only one who didn't read the assassin's blade but didn't feel lost?

[@maddyray9443]

rowaelin forever tho💜💜💜

[@Sarahb6162]

yess I love him SO much

[@victoriaalfieris5086]

Yassss

[@Ella-yr6du]

When Aelin was getting whipped it was BRUTAL I couldn't stop sobbing.

[@cristinasjourney]

So basically Rowan and Celeana pulled an Emma&Julian in this book.

[@nataliejohnson2337]

Omg that is perfect😂

[@TxRxAxP]

Please explain this to me

[@cristinasjourney]

It's a Lady Midnight spoiler :)

[@andreasalasbjj]

not at aaall

[@xx-ep5yt]

not gonna lie it took me like 5minutes to get it😂😂 but yES TOTALLY

[@mnkofficial209]

Finally! I've needed a booktalk to rehash all my feels.

[@MockTurtle14]

There was a part in the books where Lorcan references a dark court in the mountains. I know Maas said a wyrd key could be used to jump to the other world, so maybe something similar let Lorcan visited Velaris? Maybe where Fenrys learned to winnow?! Any thoughts?

[@maryobrien8813]

OH MY GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[@nj66666]

OH MY GOD

[@morganblanch6164]

Okay, so I read this part where Lorcan thought about a city that used barges to ship supplies, and I tried thinking about whether that was in ACOTAR because it was such a random thought. "He'd seen a kingdom, perhaps three hundred years ago, that relied on barges to sail it's goods from one end to the another. Lorcan wondered if it still existed, tucked away between two mountain ranges on the other side of the world." (pg. 403) TIME TO SCOUR ACOTAR/ACOMAF

[@kendallbaron4254]

Holy shit. You are on to something.

[@thehatter2500]

Omg you're killing me!!! ROWAN AND AELIN FOREVER, WHY WOULD YOU WANT HIM DEAD

[@Sarahb6162]

it was painful when she said she was waiting for him to die...I absolutely love him

[@thehatter2500]

I know, it's been like 4 books...it's not happening. I mean, Aelin and Rowan are married WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BREAK THEM UP

[@RuMORish94]

I feel like a lot of people don't like RowanAwlin!! Why?!! They are the best!!! Chaol and Dorian relationship with Celaena was very highschoolish!! She's a queen!!! She needs a man!! not boys!!!

[@Sarahb6162]

I'm just such a hardcore Rowan fan, but for the 1st two books I was a hardcore Dorian shipper.

[@thehatter2500]

Idk Rowan really made me like the story a lot more, like she finally had someone who knew her for her true self. They were friends before they got together and I just liked how the relationship evolved.

[@ucharlo1120]

I have been waiting for this book talk for 50 years. Finally! I loved this video so much

[@karlinasbraccia5940]

"This is one of my favorite scenes in the whole book. Why? because CELAENA is in that chair when they flip on the light. Aelin is so burden(?), I miss Celaena! " I COULDN'T BE MORE AGREE!!!

[@eshanair]

FINALLY I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOUR BOOK TALK ON EMPIRE OF STORMS SINCE SEPTEMBER 6TH

[@oliviab3566]

Am I the only one who saw the crazy similarities between this and ACOMAF!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I still really enjoyed the book, but that Watson my mind a couple of times and especially at the end

[@therese5480]

Same! I thought it was so similar to ACOMAF which was why the ending wasn't that big of a surprise to me!

[@lpequestrian46]

CELORIAN "but like isn't there something hahaha" this was just so funny to me!!!

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

GUYS IT'S CELORIAN. WHAT IS THIS DORAELIN? CELORIAN. CELORIAN!!!

[@leahdavies6501]

BUT SHE AINT CELAENA ANYMORE

[@ravenclaw299]

Yessss!! CELORIAN!!!!

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

SHE'LL ALWAYS BE CELAENA IN MY HEART

[@TaylorSophia]

Christine I love "Celaena" but it took me so long to use Aelin instead of Celaena I think if I try to go back to Celaena I will do severe damage to my brain 😂

[@TaylorSophia]

And with Doraelin, Dorian's name gets to be first How it should be

[@letsgetreckless]

Christine, I just finished EoS and I just wanna say that I absolutely love and look forward to your booktalks because your reactions and feelings are almost always the same as mine and you're hilarious.

[@amirabroekema7000]

i finished this book before you and jesus christ i the wait for your talk was hard. this book was so stressful but beautiful. lets just protect dorian lol priorities he's so pretty

[@ginnyjackson9968]

I AM FINALLY CAUGHT UP. A MONTH OF STRAIGHT READING THESE BOOKS AND I'M HERE

[@nataliejohnson2337]

I normally always agree on your opinions, but HOW could you say that you want Rowan dead??? He's so perfect! I'm also surprised that you didn't say anything about your thoughts on aelin at the ending. I was a total wreck when aelin got whipped by Maeve and couldn't stop crying.

[@nj66666]

There was only one part, one part in this whole entire book where I cried, and it was the scene at the very end when Maeve - god I was wishing all sorts of unspeakable things on her the whole book - made Cairn whip Aelin. That was the moment I truly began to hate Maeve, when she wielded Aelin's weakness against her and did to her the one thing that she knew could break her.

[@glorita8149]

i love Rowan so much and the fact that him and Aelin are mates... i just... this book was so beautifully written 😭😭😭

[@GraceUsleman]

your love for dorian makes me happier than words can express AND I LOVE HOW YOU'RE ANTICIPATING ROWAN'S DEATH SO D AND A CAN GET TOGETHER IM CRYING

[@mcbee1394]

I literally clicked as soon as I got the notification and there's already 200 views, what!?

[@mxknifefight]

manon and elide were my favourite parts of this book

[@elenipolichronakis1494]

TEAM ROWAN!!!!!!!!!!!! I am disappointed in you right now

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

i don't know why this is surprising XD i've been Celorian since my very first booktalk.

[@elenipolichronakis1494]

the disappointing thing is that you wished rowan to die

[@ericamichalikova5923]

polandbananasBOOKS you were suprisingly for Manorian in this tho! And the jealousy scenes with Aelin + Dorian XD (so on board for Manorian btw)

[@andreasalasbjj]

I get the feeling I was still wating for something to happen that would get Rowan out of the romantic picture , but I think that our ship sunk at beach after the fight at Skulls Bay iykwim haha

[@dilemmafordays8747]

Christine, no pressure but you should probably read the assassins blade before tower of dawn comes out because I'm pretty sure Chaol is going to meet one of the characters in the novella. It will also give you better understanding of characters like Ansel, Rolfe, Arrobyn and Lysandra as they're all in tab. Plus, I just re-read it, and if you're missing Celaena it's perfect. I forgot how much I love that book and Celaena honestly, it's one of my faves. It'll also introduce you to Sam who is an angel (literally I guess), and yes there's a lot of pain but it's in the best way (that definitely should not be a spoiler to anyone whose read even the first book even though it sounds like it is). Plus, if you need more encouragement (MINOR SPOILER) there's a Celorian moment (though neither of them know who the other person is). Anyways, anyone who hasn't read it, it's the best

[@gracehzhuang]

BUT ROWAN THO

[@faithalways8537]

...sucks.

[@pripriflow]

Is awesome - what’s wrong with you Rowan haters? He went through just as much crap as anyone and fits better with aelin’s personality tbh.

[@emmazayak9587]

How did you not freak out about the whole iron coffin scene?! I literally waited the whole video for it, and it never came. THAT PART COMPLETELY DESTROYED MEEEE :( :(

[@abbierigley225]

HOLY SHIT. I JUST FINISHED IT. IM NOT OKAY.

[@blackrose1097]

Abbie Rigley me neither I feel like there's a hole in my heart fml

[@abbierigley225]

THE ENDING THO!!!

[@rebeccalim2936]

CHRISTINE I NEED A PART 2 WHERE YOU DISCUSS THE ENDING CAUSE IT'S TEARING ME UP INSIDE!

[@alexisbauer1997]

All these Hamilton references are making me scream laughing 😂

[@susanallen6879]

Well, the lock requires a whole life, right? Well, why couldn't Aelin give half and Dorian give half? That way they both live. But I'm all for sacrificing Hollin.

[@sushidragonmaster3555]

I cried so much reading the book, but I laughed so much watching this.

[@ummitslindsay5885]

Theory: **spoiler warning if anyone who hasn't read Empire of Storms is for some reason reading this** I have a really sad theory that DORIAN is going to be the one that dies with the lock. He said at one point, "it's not so bad, is it, to die for your friends?" So I really think he's going to be the one sacrificed. Plus they kept saying yeah it's supposed to be Aelin I guess but Dorian is technically another option. At this point I would gladly sacrifice Aelin to keep Dorian alive.

[@aquafrosting2671]

Umm it's Lindsay me too! But I don't think Maas will be able to kill Dorian, she'll somehow find a way to make the plot line work without the involvement of death

[@shuzzlinreader5339]

Just let it go. Celorian is dead.

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

NEVER.

[@polandbananasBOOKS]

*SINGS ABOUT GOING DOWN WITH MY SHIP*

[@lexibrb]

I'll never let go Jack

[@shuzzlinreader5339]

That's fine just DON'T TOUCH MY ROWAN! This is the only time I've ever been right about an end game. I held out and was rewarded in hof

[@LeFleur80]

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭*watch them makeout in the last book*

[@afshanajd]

I think "Hello, princeling" and "Hello, witchling" were my favourite set of dialogues from this book tbh. I squealed so loud everytime they even made eye contact AGSJDJD #MANORIANFOREVER

[@livdanielle]

I love you still Christine but I don't like your shippings😂 Rowan and Aelin are endgame, I used to ship Dorian and Aelin together but DORIAN AND MANON TOGETHER so atleast we agree that😂

[@jedibookmasterivy]

I love Rowan! He's my new book crush!!! Manon is my favorite too and reading about her Dorian was pure magic!

[@actress5256]

I have to get something crazy off my chest, I am in love with #Chaolorian even though Chaol wasn't in this book. In Heir of Fire Chaol tells Dorian he loves him and all throughout that book and Queen of Shadows every single thing Chaol did was for Dorian. Then when Dorian finally comes back to himself, it's not because of anything AELIN says but because he believes his father has killed Chaol. It's tiny tidbits but I love the idea of the two of them together.

[@ellag1417]

Binged watched all the booktalk videos to get ready for Tower of dawn tomorrow!!!!! Can't wait

[@rebeccalim2936]

I really want Aelin and Fenrys to become good friends while she is still captured by Maeve since he wasn't released from the blood oath

[@MalettraJackson]

rebecca lim yes and ROWAN rescues both of them😣😣😣

[@luisadelatorre5960]

Christine has HANDS DOWN the best best reviews for these books. Nothing but pure unleashed fangirling. Yes!

[@alexandravanschie5020]

I know there are a lot of acotar/tog crossover theories about how they are in the same world. Mine's a little different. I agree that they might be in the same world, but I think that they might be in different time periods, Throne of Glass being set about a million or so years before a court of thorns and roses happened. I think that after all of throne of glass happened Fenrys travelled the world and came across prythian. I think that fenrys founded the Night Court. Think about it; this world will be remade by the dreamers, fenrys talking about 'to serve, to protect, to cherrish' and Fenrys who can WINNOW and who has powers of DARKNESS. Hmm... where have we seen there powers before...I don't know...Maybe the NIGHT COURT. Yay

[@katyounotbooks190]

the humour in this book was so freaking great though. omgosh sarah you are life

[@anjana6097]

THE HAMILTON REFERENCE

[@lpequestrian46]

finally someone who noticed!

[@katherine-nj7mb]

Also, “we are out gunned, out manned, out numbered, out planed”

[@SridharSneha]

OMG YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG I WAITED FOR THIS BOOKTALK

[@ablueparasol]

I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH IT ALMOST HURTS UGH do you realize we have to wait for ANOTHER YEAR before the last book comes out ?! Now I feel like there are no books comparable to this series :( I loved everything about them, the characters developments, the action, the suspense, the romance, the plot twists, the sarcasticness, the sass, the heartbreaks, EVERYTHING. It's like Sarah Maas ready my mind and put everything I love in a book into hers. And now I can't find anything that I enjoy as much as her series... Help D: Do you guys have any book recommendations that are not necessarily similar to the ToG series' plot, but just as enjoyable and breath taking ? Anything with like a badass and sarcastic female heroine would do haha

[@domiluvsmakeup]

The ending of the book kinda ripped my heart out , I was literally in tears 😭