Review: Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J Maas

Title: Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5)

Author: Sarah J Maas

Published: 6 September 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing UK & NZ
Source: Bloomsbury Publishing UK & NZ in return for an honest review
RRP: $17.99 paperback
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: ***** 

My Review:

This was an amazing amazing read! Such a glorious continuation of this series. I was so enthralled by this latest instalment that my nails are bitten to the quick after reading the last 100 pages!

In my opinion, book 4 was a really big book in the series, with Ailin finally embracing her destiny and finally besting her nemesis, the King of Adarlan. Though we knew the big bad is down in Morath and intent on unleashing his horrific experiments on the whole of Erilea, this book was a essentially a whole new direction for the series as a whole and i wondered where this direction would lead us and whether it would live up to the first four books.

I honestly don't why would doubt Sarah J Maas' brilliance as the moment I started reading, I was home, Back with the familiar characters I have grown to love and living, breathing, following their story once more as if this was always meant to be. In this instalment, we see the story through the eyes of mostly Aelin, Manon and Elide with other smaller chapters devoted to Aedion, Dorian, Rowan and other characters. Each thread, each point of view, each different character pulled me more and more into the story and kept me invested in where the story was going. Though the previous King of Adarlan may be dead, Ms Maas still keeps the stakes high for all the characters and nothing is ever as it seems.

There were a few twists along the way that I picked to a certain degree but Ms Maas is extremely skilful at putting the puzzle pieces together in such a way, that the bigger picture formed is not at all what you expected but perfectly right. The pace and flow of this instalment is superb and ensures that once you are completely absorbed into the story from page 1 and by the time you hit the last 100 or so pages, there is no way you will be putting that book down till you reach the end.

I utterly adored this book and loving that this series is getting better and better with each book and have absolutely no hesitation in giving this book 5 huge stars!


Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J Maas

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down


Purchase: Bloomsbury Aust | Amazon | Booktopia  | Book Depository

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas

I am so excited that QUEEN OF SHADOWS by Sarah J. Maas releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful series by Sarah J. Maas, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a set of the first 3 books in the series (in paperback format). US only. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About The book:

Title: QUEEN
OF SHADOWS

Author:
Sarah J. Maas

Pub. Date:
September 1, 2015

Publisher:
Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Pages: 656

Find it: Amazon, Barnes
& Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

Sarah J. Maas's New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth volume.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

Read
Chapters 1-5 of QUEEN OF SHADOWS HERE!

Sarah J. Maas is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling Throne of Glass series–Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire, and the series’ prequel, The Assassin’s Blade–as well as the New York Times and USA Today bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses. She wrote the first incarnation of the Throne of Glass series when she was just sixteen, and it has now sold in twenty-three languages. Queen of Shadows, the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series, will release worldwide on September 1st, 2015.

A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Religious Studies. 

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest | Instagram| Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive the first 3 books (in paperback) in the THRONE OF GLASS Series. US Only.

Ends on September 11th at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J Maas

Title: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)

Author: Sarah J Maas

Published: 1 September 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury Sydney
Source: Bloomsbury Sydney
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: ***** 

My Review:

I am not entirely sure that words can describe how much I adored this book. I seriously devoured it not able to get enough.

I can honestly say this was not only everything I hoped it would be but infinitely infinitely more.

The story starts about 4-5 weeks after the end of Heir of Fire and Celaena Sardothien/Aelin Galathynius has just set foot one back in Rifthold and she is back with a purpose.

It was amazingly easy to slip right back in the world of Erilea and to pick up where the story last left off. Right away, I needed to know everything about the characters I had been waiting so impatiently to revisit and Ms Maas did not disappoint. Characters from both the series proper and the previous novellas feature prominently in this novel which in many ways helps complete this instalment as Ms Maas begins to thread previously seemingly stand alone threads together.

Ms Maas writes her characters so wonderfully well. They are vibrant and they come alive and make you feel so much for them that whenever they do anything dangerous - which lets be honest, is really the entire book ;-)- I had my heart in my mouth scared about how they were going to come out at the other end. Every twist, every turn had me hanging on the edge of my seat in worry of what might happen to *my* beloved characters.

That being said there were some characters that insisted on annoying me for a good portion of the first part of the book *cough* Chaol *cough* but even when they were being annoying, you couldn't help but love them.

And the story itself? Sarah J Maas weaves a story like no other. There are layers and twists and turns,sub plots and threads that weave together and others that seem to stand alone randomly...until they are needed when they tighten the story and pull it together just right. There is so much in this story and I am in awe at the mastery of Ms Maas to be able to hold the multitude of different threads in her head and pull on them with such perfect timing to deliver what is easily the best instalment so far.

With action a plenty the whole way through, this book had me deep in its thrall from beginning to end and I can't wait for more!

Bring on Book 5 and 5 stars for an amazing read!

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J Maas

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.


Purchase: Bloomsbury Aust | Amazon | Booktopia  | Book Depository

 

Waiting on Wednesday #12: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J Maas

Welcome to Waiting on Wednesday!  Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly featured hosted by Breaking the Spine to spotlight the not yet released books that I wish were in my hot little hands right now.

This week, like probably most of the rest of the world I am waiting on Queen of Shadows by Sara J Maas, the fourth book ( well, fifth if you include the Assassin's Blade novellas) in the Throne of Glass series.

I first read Throne of Glass  shortly after it came out in 2012 and loved it.  However a year is a long time, especially when its the year your first child is born. So by the time Crown of Midnight came out, whilst I bought a copy and then Heir of Fire the following year, I never quite got around to reading them.

It wasn't till early this year when I bought kindle/audible versions and listened all the way through from the first novella in Assassin's Blade through to the end of heir of Fire, that I really, truly fell in love with series.

Now I am joining the rest of the horde that is waiting to see what happens next to Caelena, Chaol. Prince Dorian and Rowan having already pre-ordered both paperback and hard copies :-)

 I absolutely cannot wait to get this book!

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J Maas

Sarah J. Maas's New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth volume.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

Publication Date: 1 September, 2015
Pre-Order: Booktopia  | Book Depository | Bloomsbury Sydney

What book are you 'waiting on' this week?

Stacking The Shelves #6

Welcome to  Stacking The Shelves!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga Reviews and is a meme to share those books, both print and e-book, that have been added to your shelves in the last week/s.

Not a huge week but what it lacked in quantity, it definitely made up for in quality.  One book I have been dying to read for months and one that I had been meaning to read pretty much since it came out last year :-)

Purchased:(Print Books):

I loved the Hex Hall series, of which this is a spin off so I  have been dying to read this book pretty much since i first heard it had been written and was due to be released.  Ordered it a couple of weeks ago and it finally arrived this week.  Can't wait to get stuck in to it.

School Spirits (School Spirits  #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Goodreads  | Book Depository 

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

Purchased:(E-Books):

I actually already have a hardback copy of this book but couldn't resist when I heard it was only $0.99 on itunes this week.  it also motivated me to finally get off my butt and read it ( and enjoy it) - review to come

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J Maas

Goodreads  | Book Depository 

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another.

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

So what did you add to your shelves this week?