QUEEN OF SHADOWS 💕Booktalk

[@danielleoliver1734]

Caelena/ Aelin seems to go from zero to 100 in all her relationships, she hated Sam for years then suddenly they were soul mates, she slept with Chaol once and suddenly it was love and they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other. There is always a friendship build up in each of the relationships (except Sam who she hated until she realised he loved her) but once it reaches a tipping point she’s all in. I think the relationship between Aelin and Rowan had to happen in this book to show that her and Chaol were 100% over before he is injured and leaves for his own story.

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Hmmm I actually hadn't noticed that but you're definitely correct. She really does go from friendship to in love. It actually kind of annoys me but also makes me feel a little more comfortable with how her and Rowan's romance progressed!

[@missuncover3851]

Manon chapters were definitely my favourite this book. Also I feel like Aelin grew as a person because she talks about her feelings. She allows herself to care more about people

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Yes! I agree!!

i like manorian but *girl MANON AND ELIDE* !!❤️😭

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

I mean as a friendship FOR SURE!! I actually had never heard of a train for them and I could definitely see it but I hadn't noticed it until you mentioned it! haha

Brittany Nicole hey i ship manon&elide so much, i wish it was real😅❤️

[@DearlyFrances]

Loveeeeee your booktalks and Manon is one of my favorite characters and all the scenes you mentioned were the exact ones that made me love her!

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Aww yeyyy I'm glad!!!

[@withcindy]

i can't watch the full video because i still haven't read any SJM books but i do think i will try out throne of glass before her ACOTAR series! seeing all these videos and everyone hyping up the series gets me so excited!

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

I would!! That's honestly how I did it and I feel like it made me appreciate throne of glass more. Since ACOTAR's writing is slightly better it would almost be a step down to read that series first, you know?

[@alicetimpson5801]

Just food for thought. The problems with aelin and chaol always made sense to me because chaol never really addressed his feelings (mostly his hurt) of aelin moving on, I've going from "I will always choose you" to finding Rowan. QoS he was bitter and they didn't ever talk about it. ToD he isnt still angry with her they fixed that, but he was still hurt. A.k.a. why he talks/thinks about it all the time with Nesry. I don't think sjm forgot the friendly terms they left on, chaol just still hadn't dealt with those hurt feelings yet, imo.

[@bellab5680]

Yeah I agree I think although he was trying to grow he never really internally worked through it until he met a certain someone who helped him

[@embrianne2286]

Okay so definitely my favorite book in the series so far! I can understand Chaol's anger throughout, I believe it had more to do with him deflecting his emotions on how he feels about himself rather than him disliking Aelin. There was a part in the book where he mentions how no one could probably dislike him more than he disliked himself, so I see it as him being upset at himself for not helping Dorian; I also believe it was needed to push past him and Aelin's romantic past. I am also so happy Rowan and Aelin are happening, I shipped them in Heir of Fire before I even knew that she and Chaol weren't actually going to work (thank goodness haha). Idk, Manon actually annoyed me at a lot of points throughout the book. I understand why she acted the way she did, but every time she would demote Asterin I was like really hun.? However, I sense a Dorian and Manon ship coming on which I am pretty cool with :). I am curious to see where Elide is throughout EOS. Also, it got me thinking: I forgot that one girl's name (the one who was the healer in Assassins Blade), but I am curious if she is going to be in Torre Cesme (I've noticed a trend that Maas likes to bring in past occurring characters but idk I could be wrong). The whole book got me pretty hooked from the start! I feel that my favorite books are a lot different from most that I have heard talk about this book lol. My top being QOS, my second being COM (bro I know this book gets hate but I really liked it), third being the novellas, Assassin's Blade (The assassin in the red desert did it for me :)), and TOG and HOF are actually tied at last. I know shocking lol.

[@xoxFerniexox]

I’m currently re-reading the series before KoA comes out, I’m on Heir of Fire just now and your point about Kaltain had me thinking. In Heir of Fire when Aelin first comes to Mistward Luca tells her of a pretty girl who walked in with raw magic and was taken straight to Doranelle - perhaps this was Kaltain and Maeve was the one who orchestrated the move to the kings castle as part of her plan? She couldn’t find Aelin so she used someone else in her place?

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

That would be SO intriguing!! To me it had sounded like the girl with Raw magic had been a while ago which is why I thought it might be her mother. I've also seen theories on this saying that Maeve would never let go of someone with raw magic, so she likely still has her in Doranelle. But your theory would be so intense!!!

[@malloryrosier9305]

Also, I'm enjoying your booktalks for Throne of Glass so much, I'm currently also rereading the series and love to hear somebody else's thoughts! 💓 much love all the way from Austria

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Oh yey!! I'm glad! Happy reread 😊

[@bookswithalyssaj449]

i could only watch the non-spoilery bits, but definitely need to pick up this SJM series soon (i loved acotar!)

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Ooo I hope you love Throne of Glass as well! 😊

[@valeriaq1810]

YESS! I was waiting for this! I love your reviews you're so talented!

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Aww thank you so much! I hope you enjoyed😊

[@ansleyburnett592]

Okay so I just finished QoS and I thought it was super interesting how the witches with "blackbeak eyes" like scared the valg away. We see this happen twice. The first time being with Roland. The valg inside of him starts sending these terrible visions to all of the witches with "normal" eyes but it didnt affect anyone with blackbeak eyes. When manon looks into his eyes, Roland is able to "come out." Then we see it with dorian and we see the valg prince hissing and telling dorian to get away from her. But a big question on this was WHY is this happening? Witches are half Valg and half Fae so why would a Valg Prince cower away from these "blackbeak eyes"? Then also could this affect anything in KoA? We dont know what is happening with Aelin... Would manon be able to help her or anyone with valg inside them?

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Ahh yes, I didn't really comment on it in this video because that's something that's revealed in Empire of Shadows!! So I didn't want to spoil anything haha but that's an AMAZING thing you noticed!

[@ceriw604]

Just finished QoS! I definitely noticed more and felt differently about certain characters this time around. I completely agree about Chaol. I HATED him at the beginning, but I felt he did redeem himself as the book went on, which I don't remember feeling on my first read. I did feel that he left things on very good and positive terms with Aelin at the end. I've never read ToD, so I'm a bit worried about that now 😕 I felt the opposite to you re Rowan, however. In my first read I remember feeling relatively indifferent, kind of how you said you felt in this video. This time I was way more into it and am complete Rowaelin trash 🤷 I enjoyed being able to watch your video right as I finished. Looking forward to the next one!

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

It's so interesting how a reread has left us feeling differently than our original thoughts!! I think the main reason I wasn't as into Rowaelin in this round is because I haven't been AS into romance in books as I used to be! But we'll see if that changes in Empire of Storms haha!

[@judiths.7573]

Unpopular opinion: Aelin in this book is the biggest hypocrite and Chaol is literally in the right. Aelin pretends like she was never friends with Chaol and Dorian and she's ready to sacrifice hundreds of people for the sake of saving Aedion (and sometimes Rowan). When Chaol says she is unpredictable and dangerous - that's true. She'd burn down everything if she could, not realizing that most people who live in Rifthold (and the castle) are innocent. The argument that Chaol should have stayed with Dorian in Heir of Fire -if he did that, he would have died too and he wouldn't have been able to help the rebels and Aelin rescue Aedion.

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

It's always nice to see the other side of the argument! I do agree that Aelin was a bit all or nothing in this book but I think I justidified it by all the pain she'd had to deal with at the hands of the kingdom. Both sides seem accurate in my point of view, I think a big reason people turned against Chaol in this one was largely for his over the top pride and that his character had become generally unlikeable. Unlike with Aelin (who we can see being rude and crazy but then we get to glimpse her generous side) we never see Chaol be good in this book, until the end. It's likely because we didn't get to spend as much time with him as we did Aelin, but I also think that his character was just too sad and hurt and prideful to show much good at all.

[@blessedtobealive]

Omg I completely agree. I find it hard to find books these days where the main character doesn't think she's the sh!t and thinks she's all so powerful.

[@crazy_elise]

Spoiler: down below Why I feel that Rowan was needed, was because Aelin and Chaol were having difficultys and the second Rowan came back, Aelin felt more secure and just more herself. Also, he was one major factor why Arobynn went that far, because he was jealous of Rowan and how Aelin didn't even pay him attention when Rowan was with her. He, all and all, played a big part in this storyline, if you just concentrate enough. You have to notice the small things he did that pushed other people to do the things they did.

[@daniwhite9840]

I'm going out to buy this series lol 😁

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

YESSS! Lemme know how you like it!

[@adrianakoehn8047]

Dorian has blue eyes because of Gavin

[@MoniqueChambers]

Brittany I got city of lies and city of ghosts and vicious and the second book too I can’t wait I got 28 books coming in the mail when I get home I’m on vacation with my family and I’m reading physical book dreamcatcher by sk and listening to queen of shadows by Sarah j. Maas

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

That's an amazing haul!! Happy reading!

[@MoniqueChambers]

Brittany the Bibliophile I’m on the last book tower of dawn and about finish with it and the October 23, 2018 book 7 out I preordered it and waiting on it in the mail u want to read it together? Let me know

[@kephinadupuy9236]

Leighton Meester is that you ? 😂

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

THIS IS SO SWEET!! THANK YOU

[@KatiesBookNook426]

wooo so happy I can finally watch your book talks now that I've read the books!! this definitely makes me want to already do a re-read and take detailed notes because I feel like there's SO much you can pick up on a re-read!!! I loved your theory about Kaltain and how she might not be dead and we don't know who her mother is but she has ~golden fire magic~ - soooo interesting. And even though she supposedly burned alive with The Keep, whenever Aelin burns a place up she isn't usually harmed by her own flames so I totally think its possible that she's still kickin'. QoS is definitely the book where Manon started to grow on me - I loved her subtle realization that she was forced to be bad but could choose another path for herself. You definitely picked up on so many small details and interesting talking points, great book talk 💕

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Yeyyy! I'm so glad you could finally join 💕 And yes!! It's crazy how much more I've been able to see in my reread, I think annotating has really changed the game for me too, because it's like critically reading and forcing myself to notice every detail.

[@malloryrosier9305]

I think the thing with Chaol is that he himself isn't sure about his feelings towards Aelin, which is why he keeps switching around like that. Like, in the heat of the moment (eg. their reunion when Aelin is back from Wendlyn) he says all these horrible things and has all this hate for her. But then when he talks about it with Nesryn he's like ”maybe I was too harsh and wrong for saying these things". And then they kinda get along and team up for QoS, but when he has time to think about it (eg. the long ass boat ride to the Southern Continent at the beginning of ToD) doubts creep in again. Idk I never liked him until ToD either but I do kinda understand the mood swings bc I'm like that sometimes haha

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

I can definitely see that! I feel like it just makes him an unlikeable character even though I know I've had mood swings like that as well! Maybe I'm just being too judgy haha

[@MoniqueChambers]

I am on the assassin’s blade now I’m getting there

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Yeyyy! Assassin's Blade has some amazing information in it!

[@MoniqueChambers]

I finished it

[@Sophiek2221]

EXCELLENT VIDEO!!!!

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Thank you love!!!💕

[@dstodd]

Hi Brittany! I absolutely love your videos and have probably seen almost every single one. You're just so beautiful and kind and inspiring, and that's why I wanted to know if there was any way to contact you for advice with this problem i'm having :/ either way thank you for just being you and have a good day!

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Of course! I think the easiest way would be through Twitter DM's? My twitter is @bncbibliophile and if you wanted to send me a message I'd be more than happy to see if I could help!

[@katiemorris5985]

I know this was a year ago but I’m going to comment anyways. I thought that maybe Maeve might be related to Dorian and also Kaltain. I don’t know if it’s because of the dark hair or because they all have magic. But maybe the woman with raw magic who was sent to I think doranelle years ago might be dorians mom because of the raw magic and a distant relative from Maeve and somehow Kaltain is related.

[@mynameisalmahassan]

GURL I love you and your channel

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Thank you 😊💕

[@eslix4579]

I think sometimes people are really harsh on Chaol. Like he is the only actual human with no powers rep in this book and I understand why he is so scared of the magic or why he sometimes feels so useless and powerless because he knows that when magic came back he will be like a shadow to these other people and I think his past with the king, he being loyal to the king and captain of the gard makes it hard for him to not see magic as a threat because of all the propaganda the king has done and he was relatively young when he started to work with king so it's kinda woven into him. And another thing I would like to mention is that Chaol didn't make up a lie and then fell in love with Celeana. After killing Cain he was in tatters of what he had done and he took assurance or comfort that Celeana had killed so many people but was still sane and loving and that's what I think made him fall in love with her. And why nobody mentions if Aelin forgave Chaol for Nehemia's death or not?

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

I understand that! I just feel that for most of this book the way he goes about being afraid is quite toxic! Being afraid is not a problem as long as you're not hurting the people around you. I think he realizes in the end that he definitely had fallen in love with Celaena for who she was, but he accepts that it was only a version of her that he could accept. He could never fully love her, for all her flaws and magic and secrets. And by make up a lie, that's what I meant - is that he invented this perfect version of Celaena in his head and always thought that she would eventually become that. Not on purpose, just because he was hoping she wasn't the kind of person he knew he wouldn't be able to love.

[@eslix4579]

@@BrittanytheBibliophile Thanks for replying! It's actually my first time reading the books and still haven't read Tower Of Dawn, where maybe I will get a better look to his thoughts and feelings. Regardless you studying psychology and making a educated comment for his behaviours is quite insightful. And I agree still his behaviour towards Aelin was toxic and not good. Love your vids!❤

[@rosieluck7954]

Why do you tag sections in the book? Im just curious 😊

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Each color actually means something different for me! It's normally scenes that really stand out, whether they're shocking or perfect or I think it might be foreshadowing. I'm trying to get an annotation video up later this month 😊

[@rebekkajacobsen1117]

What if Asterin didn't give birth to a stillborn, but that the baby actually lived. Maby the grandmother sent the baby away because the baby didn't have "witch powers" since the father was human... ? (Not really shore how that works😅) If I am right I think Marion is the daugher, and that Asterin is Elide's grandmother.

[@eddie_asante.1]

How has no one seen this? So I just finished queen of Shadows and I don’t know if this is true or not but I kinda hope it is.

[@theannaedition2252]

I totally felt the same way about Asterin's baby. I just feel like there's something more to it. I think I'm so suspicious because Asterin says the grandmother was incredibly excited and... caring (??) when she found out. That seems absolutely out of character, especially given how little she seems to care for the witchlings now. I thought that maybe Elide was Asterin's child at first. It explained why Asterin had an interest in her in the beginning. But I guess it wouldn't quite fit as Asterin's love interest seemed to be a poor hunter rather than a lord. And I was so, so disappointed in Chaol in this book. I was so fervently team Chaol in Crown of Midnight. This book made him to be such an ass. He slowly got better throughout but he will never again be so dear to me. It is grievous.

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

YES!! I feel that, it's like the grandma can't go from caring so much about witchlings that she carves awful things in the mothers stomach and leaves them to die - to just handing over an entire coven to make demon witchlings!! But yeah, I think the thing with Asterin happened long before Elide was born, plus I really feel like there's a big connection between Elide and her mother and I don't think her father would have ever cheated. And yeah, Chaol's persoanlity was just all over the place and he was super frustrating to read from.

[@mimzeykhan4533]

Can we read it as a stand alone?

[@hira900]

Heyy...this video isnt in the playlist.... Nice tho...😙🙂

[@BrittanytheBibliophile]

Oh yeah! I completely forgot to add it! I'll put it in!