Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, 6)

Tower of Dawn is my second favorite book that Sarah J. Maas has ever written! And it is, hands down, the best installment in the Throne of Glass series, in my honest opinion. I completely and wholeheartedly loved it. This is easily one of the best books I’ve read in 2017. The first part of this review is spoiler free for Tower of Dawn, but it does have minor spoilers for the rest of the Throne of Glass series! Also, before I even start this review, I just want to say that I actually think Sarah has been listening to her readers and this book truly proves it. First off, we have a very predominant queer side character, who clearly states this from the beginning and is written very believably and seamlessly. Next, we have a full diverse cast of characters, besides Chaol, in this novel. And lastly, and the thing I was most concerned about going into this book, Sarah respectfully writes about Chaol’s disability, without ever making it seem like he must be “fixed” in order to have self-worth. (But please be aware that this review is coming to you from a white, able-bodied woman, so I am not the voice you should be listening to for the last two representations.) I also think Sarah unfortunately listened to the backlash about her “young adult” books having so much sex in them, because there is totally less sex in this book than in EoS, ACOMAF, and ACOWAR. There is still amazing angst and build up to sex, and there is one actual sex scene, but nothing near as graphic or even as descriptive as her previous works. Me, being the perverted person that I am, was a little disappointed by this, especially with how much I love Chaol. I should also preface this review by telling those of you who do not know that Chaol is my favorite character in ToG, well, besides my queen, Manon Blackbeak! I’ve never been the biggest fan of Celaena/Aelin, and I think this story (and the rating I gave it) probably really benefited from that. The last thing I will say before I actually start this long-winded review is that I cannot stress enough how important it is to read The Assassin and the Healer novella from the novella bind up, The Assassin’s Blade, before you read this book! Tower of Dawn is a story that is running parallel with the events that took place in Empire of Storms. While Aelin, Dorian, and the rest of the gang are trying to unite empires and bring them together to fight the greater threat at hand, Chaol and Nesryn left for Antica, located in the southern continent, to convince another strong empire to join them in the battle that is inevitably coming, while also seeing if the healers at the Torre can heal Chaol’s paralysis. Also, the southern continent is way more advanced than Erilea could ever hope to be. Magic is not only thriving here, but it’s celebrated. And healing is one of the most prized powers of all. And one of the three points of view in this book, besides Chaol and Nesryn, is a very talented and powerful healer named Yrene Towers. I would say the point of views are definitely equal seeming between the three, but there are two big story lines going on. The first being Chaol’s healing, and how he is hurting a lot more than just physically. Chaol is struggling with his self-worth, but I believe he’s also struggling with PTSD. He feels very guilty and that he is to blame for Aelin, Dorian, his family, his guardsmen, and also his disability. This book really showcases and highlights how mental pain and disabilities are just as hard to overcome as physically pain and disabilities, and Chaol for sure learns this lesson in true Chaol fashion: the hard way. And the second storyline is a big mixture of different ways Chaol and Nesryn are trying to sway the current khagan, Urus, to their cause. Urus has six children and when he passes on one of them will rule, because in this kingdom it is not automatically given to the first-born heir. No one knows who the ruler will be, so this can make siblings rather blood thirty for one another, and once one is chosen to rule, the others must submit or things can get really bloody. This also makes the task of winning them all over a little difficult for Chaol and Nesryn. “Your city is the greatest I have ever laid eyes upon, your empire the standard by which all others should be measured. When Morath comes to lay waste to it, who will stand with you if we are all carrion?” Urus’ six children: ➽Arghun – oldest child and enjoys power in knowledge. ➽Sartaq – second oldest and commands the Rukhin riders. ➽Hasar – third oldest and amazingly queer. ➽Kashin – fourth oldest and most loyal. ➽Duva - fifth oldest, who is married and carrying the first grandbaby right now. ➽Tumelun - the baby, and the cause of an underlying mystery. All of these side characters are very impactful to not only this book, but the greater arching story at hand, too. These characters also put a big emphasis on family for this story, and the amazing lengths we are willing to go for the people we love. Tower of Dawn not only introduces a vast array of new characters, and it also helps showcase that this book feels like a love letter to being young and finding yourself. Yet also, finding what you truly want in your life. I mean, these characters are all in their early 20s, it’s not plausible that they are all going to know what path they want to take, or that they all choose to take the path that was set for them by others. I love that this book realistically depicts that your first love won’t always be your last love, and how normal and okay that truly is. Finding yourself, and what you want from this life, is a truly beautiful story in and of itself. There is a vast amount of world building and character development within these 700 pages, and I truly believe this is such a wonderful addition to this series. Before I get into the spoiler section, I will say that there are trigger warnings for talk of suicide, grey area cheating, war themes, and violence. I will also say that the epilogue of this book will probably shatter your soul. Like, is it Fall of 2018 yet? But I loved this and it was such a wonderful and important installment in the Throne of Glass series. “The heart he’d offered and had been left to drop on the wooden planks of the river docks. An assassin who had sailed away and a queen who had returned.”

Sarah J. Maas is by far one of my most favorite authors I've ever read, and she's my top favorite Young Adult author. Anything she writes is gold. Before embarking on a new read from her, I always contemplate and wonder how Maas will top her previous book. Yet, she always does. However, I must admit I was nervous for this book. It's not a direct sequel to Empire of Storms, but a companion novel. The events of this book are said to be simultaneously happening as the events of EoS. This book is all about Chaol, one of my least favorite characters. Maas turned many readers off from Chaol when she spent a lot of time portraying him as whiny and one-dimensional, once he no longer was Aelin's love interest. Yet Maas has just published a whole book about him and his adventures. This was a very risky move on her behalf, but let me be the first to tell you when I say, it is paying off! Chaol sets off to appeal to those who rule in Antica, the infamous and flourishing Khaganate empire that many have admired of decades. Maas spent a lot of time researching Ghengis Kahn. While research shows him to be a "villain" in history, his empire was established on the acceptance of all religions. This was very progressive for it's time. Maas has recieved plenty of criticism for her Throne of Glass series and for this book. I love to include all opinions in my reviews in order to give my review a well-rounded feeling to it. Many critics have felt like Sarah appropriates culture without doing proper research. For the record, Sarah researched extensively and it shows. She also credits Ghengis Kahn at the end of her book. Critics have also complained about the lack of diversity within her work, but ironically enough, Chaol is the only white person in this installment. The new cultures introduced were very refreshing to see, and Maas portrayes them accurately, without being insensitive. I don't believe she culturally appropriates. She pays homage. Her researched and careful portrayal depict this. There's a difference. Maas spends a large amount of time world-building and introduces us to vital new characters that will play a major role in the next installment in the book series. The depiction of the Khagan family, particularly the Princes and Princess, were so overwhelming fantastic. They created such an interesting dynamic to the story and each character was so different from the next, despite being related to each other. With the introduction of the Khagan family, also comes the ruk-riders. I don't want to reveal too much, but we can see a clear foe for the Ironteeth witches and their Wyvern mounts in the ruk-riders. The inevitable battle between these two groups is definitely one to look forward to. Chaol hopes to convince the ruler of the Khaganate to ally himself along side King Dorian and those that fight against the evil Valg King, Erawan. But that's not all that drives Chaol to the Southern Continent. Chaol has also come to seek out Antica's famous healers. At the end of Queen of Shadows, Chaol suffered from a devastating spine injury, which has left him paralyzed from the waste down. We meet Yrene, Antica's best healer, a girl with a troubled past with an even troubling view on Andarlan and those like Chaol, who supported it's previous sadistic King. Yrene hates Chaol at first, and their relationship begins with a lot of fiery dialogue. Another major criticism that Maas has had to deal with is her depiction of Chaol's disability. Very reminiscent of Veronica Roth and the backlash she had to deal with, with her character from Carve the Mark, Maas has been accused of ruining Chaol's character and trampling all that he stood for. Chaol's journey through Tower of Dawn is dark. I won't sugarcoat that. He begins his journey full of hatred and he's resentful. He spends most of the book coming to terms with what happened to him both physically and emotionally, and Yrene is the one to help guide him through the darkness. Chaol hates to rely on others and often times it was painful to watch Chaol deny the help he so desperately needed. One of the quotes that grabbed my attention about Chaol's disability is, "He knew—Chaol realized the guard knew just how it felt to have the chair touched, moved, without being asked." Maas has a firm grasp on the nuances of what it means to be disabled because it's obvious she did her research, yet again. People are critiqued her harshly, but she has been very good at accurately describing what it means to be disabled, even if she isn't. Maas spent months in conversationg with sensitivity readers, as an author should when writing about very sensitive characters/world. Chaol's journey is raw and honest. The ending in particular was such a beautiful thing to watch. The way his relationship develops with Yrene is organic. It rejuvenated Chaol as a person and literally brought him back to life---and to the light. We see how Chaol has grown throughout the series and throughout the book through this quote, “He could still speak with dignity and command whether he stood on his feet or was laid flat on his back. The chair was no prison, nothing that made him lesser.” I won't dive too deeply into this quote because I don't want to spoil anything, but Chaol's mindset is no longer disabled like his body. He finally realizes his potential and that his circumstances have not dimished the person he once was, if anything, it has made him better. Chaol learns to change his outlook and comes to understand the value and worthiness of himself. Also, if it wasn't for those horrible circumstances, he wouldn't have fallen in love with Yrene. Maas and this book are not an ableist. Like Veronica Roth was not an ableist either. Book critics, be kind to who you throw under the bus, especially if you yourself don't do your research when you're ironically accusing the author that they didn't do theirs. We not only see the strength a person has even while disabled, in Chaol, but the strength of Yrene who supported him through that terrible ordeal. Her strength is not one we've come to know throughout the series. She's not a fierce fighter like Manon or Aelin, but she isn't less bad-ass than they are either. Her compassion for Chaol and for others is something worthy to note. She may not have been disabled like Chaol physically, but she walked hand-in-hand with Chaol on a path towards healing and recovery. She was broken too, just in a different way. Chaol healed her as much as she healed him. It's that kind of bond that Maas has created between these two characters that is just beyond amazing. "If he had not broken, then she would not break—not in seeing him as anything but what he was. What he’d served." Maas spirits us down a path with Chaol that is rife with pain, darkness, and turmoil. We are thrust into his journey of healing and we come to love Yrene, the only one that is there to support him in his time of need. We see a love blossom in a way we haven't seen done before in a Maas' book. Some have stated that this book doesn't need to be read on account of it being a companion novel and not a sequel, however I disagree. It contains one of the BIGGEST plot twists in the ENTIRE series, so PLEASE go out and read it. You will not be disappointed.

No spoilers in this rapid review of Tower of Dawn. (There will be mild spoilers for the previous five books in this series. And can I even call this a rapid review since it’s so long? Sorry!) 😉 I give this book 4.5 stars. I had flashbacks to Sarah J. Maas’s glory days while reading this book. The writing style and plotting were on par with her early books (the first two in this series as well as the Assassin’s Blade novellas), which, in my opinion, are her best work. Her words immediately immersed me in this new land, full of intriguing characters and fascinating culture. And who am I kidding? It’s about my favorite Throne of Glass character, Chaol, which didn’t hurt. Tower of Dawn takes place basically concurrently with Empire of Storms. At the end of Queen of Shadows, Chaol and Nesryn left Aelin’s group for Antica (on the Southern Continent). Chaol is now the hand of King Dorian, and Nesryn took Chaol’s former position as captain of the royal guard. They have two main purposes in Antica: try to gain allies for the coming world war and find a healer to help Chaol recover from his injuries. They are received by the royal family, though it’s not exactly a warm welcome. Tragedy has recently struck their ranks and the battleground seems far from home, so their ruler is not ready to entertain ideas of war. And while the best healers in the world hail from Antica’s Torre Cesme, there is no easy solution to what Chaol’s body and mind have endured. Chaol and Nesryn face a hard road as they try to accomplish their goals and maneuver in the Antican royal court. Maas’s strength lies in her ability to build on foundations she laid long ago. She introduces characters and drops hints long before their usefulness is revealed and their purpose is capitalized on. We met Yrene Towers long ago in the second Assassin’s Blade novella and never thought she would become a key player later on. There were messages hidden in the tapestry in Celaena’s palace bedroom that I never dreamed had not yet been revealed. It is so fun to watch these puzzle pieces fit together as the story unfolds, and these are just the first two that spring to mind. It’s all one big wonderful jigsaw. 🙂 Yet if you go back and read my Empire of Storms review, it’s no secret that Maas has really ticked me off at times in this series. My annoyance started mildly in Heir of Fire, became full-fledged in Queen of Shadows, and grew even more in Empire of Storms. I didn’t like what she did to Chaol’s relationships, and I have grown frustrated with the person Aelin has become. I hope Aelin does things that redeem her character in my eyes in book 7. Whether or not this happens, I will give her this: Maas has created characters who feel very real to me. That’s the reason I react so strongly to them. Two more gripes, and then I’m done. The writing was still indulgent at times, although not nearly as much so as in Empire of Storms. Maas got back much closer to her earlier tone and level of description. And while most of the story progression in Tower of Dawn was logical and natural, I found the scene where Nesryn discovers a key piece of ancient information hard to buy into. The reveal seemed quite unlikely from someone who has guarded the secret for many, many years. Enough about the flaws already, right? I rated this book 4.5 stars after all, and I definitely recommend it!!! It is a page-turner from the beginning because of the characters, even the brand new ones. The world building in this book alone is as much as some entire YA series contain. And the drama in the climax, the tie-ins to previous books in the series, and the hints at what’s to come in the finale are simply incredible. So will book 7 be 2,000 pages long? How can Maas give appropriate page time to each character she has created and each storyline that needs to be satisfied? I can’t wait to see how she does it! Does anyone else think a key player or two is going to die in the final installment? The cast of main characters is huge, and it will be unrealistic if they all live. I have a prediction of who might not make it. Do you? If so, please sound off in the comments! And please mark them if they contain spoilers. My prediction contains a spoiler, but I’ll share it in the comments below if anyone is interested. One last caveat: As seems to be the trend with Maas’s recent books, the tone is not consistent with YA. While Tower of Dawn is cleaner than her last few publications, the language and adult situations are not meant for young readers! Search for 'Book Series Recaps' to see more of our reviews as well as our full book recaps.

I’ve held off for so long on reading Tower of Dawn and Kingdom of Ash. I didn’t want the series to end, but I knew it was finally time to finish this series. It’s been four years since Tower of Dawn was released, and I was a little skeptical at first reading this book. I’m not a big fan of Chaol, but this book may have changed my mind a bit about him. I think it’s due to Yrene. No, I’m positive it has to everything to do with Yrene. Storyline/My Thoughts: Okay. This will be a complex review to type since this book was over 668 pages, and I definitely don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read the book. (Like I did, by waiting four years to read it.) First, I was a little worried since this book wouldn’t involve Aelin, Rowan, Lysandra, etc., but I now know why Sarah J. Maas wrote this book. I mean, if you read the previous book, you would want to find out what happens next to Aelin. Sarah J. Maas left me hanging, dang it! Although, after reading this book, I now can read the Kingdom of Ash with some further disdain for Maeve and Erawan. Grrr! Nope, no spoilers, I promise. This book has Chaol and Nesryn going to Antica to have the healers of Torre Cesme healing Chaol, hopefully. He’s not able to walk, and he wants to get better, so he can help with the war that is about to happen with Erawan and someone else, too. Chaol gets help from Yrene, which she was introduced to in The Assassin and the Healer. Yrene doesn’t want to help Chaol because he’s from Adarlan, and she has issues with them for what they did to her mother. These two are enemies at first, but only one-sided. Chaol wants to find out about Yrene. He’s having issues at the beginning because he has feelings for Nesryn. This was one thing that drove me crazy in the story with Chaol and Nesryn. These two have emotions, but in this book, everything changes. There was also the issue of Chaol and his past with Aelin. I won’t get into that drama. I enjoyed the banter of Chaol and Yrene. Yrene knows how to handle him. She is determined to heal him. She ends up being in danger, and Chaol believes it has something to do with Erawan. Chaol becomes very protective of Yrene, but what he doesn’t realize is she can handle herself. I adored her character in this book, and she changed Chaol for the better. In the meantime, Chaol and Nesryn are to convince the rulers of Antica to ally with them against Erawan. They are in mourning over one of their daughters dying. Chaol is tasked to find out what truly happened. When the truth is revealed, it’s a big doozy. I was not expecting it all. I love when Sarah J. Maas surprises me with twists and turns in her stories. It’s one of many reasons why I adore her novels. This book unveils so much in this book that it left me in shock. I was not prepared for what happened in this book. I had a moment of ‘I friggin’ knew it’ when I read the shocking moment. Nope, again I’m not spoiling. Let’s not forget about Nesryn, too. She was off on her own adventure with Sardaq. He’s one of the Princes’ of Antica. I liked him immediately. Nesryn has been one of those characters for me that she had to grow on me, too. I didn’t know what to think of her, especially when she was with Chaol. Chaol and Nesryn, I don’t think we’re ever meant to be with each other. There was a scene between Nesryn and Sardaq that had me worried. I thought Sarah J. Maas was going to make me cry. It was a happy and sad moment. I swear Sarah J. Maas knows how to keep me on the edge of my seat when reading her books. I could go on and on, but I don’t want to have a super long review. (Actually, this review is already too long, but oh well.) I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I give it 4.5 stars, and now I have to excite myself to read the Kingdom of Ash. I know the next book is going to be a tearjerker of some kind. I know some moments in this book made me tear up a bit. I’m so glad Chaol has finally grown on me. Thanks to Yrene. She is one kick-butt healer, and I look forward to seeing what she does in the next book, especially after she realizes who Aelin truly is to her. Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Throne of Glass series, and I highly recommend reading in order. Would I recommend this book? Yes, especially if you have read the previous books in the series. This series is categorized as Young Adult, but I would actually have it as New Adult. If you enjoy YA Fantasy/NA Fantasy, then you’ll enjoy this book/series. Again, this book surprised me on how much I adored it. I’m so glad I finally read it.

The first part of this review will be spoiler free, just my general reaction to the novel. Sarah has done it again! I was kind of on the fence about this novel, not really being a fan or interested in Chaol's story. I'VE NEVER BEEN SO GLAD TO EAT MY WORDS. I LOVED this book. The world that Sarah has created for these characters - the amount of detail is astounding. I wish it were possible to visit Antica, The Eridun Aerie, The Torre Cesme and basically every other place in The Southern Continent. I loved Chaol. I loved Yrene. I loved Sartaq. I loved Nesryn. Basically I loved all the main characters. I loved how Choal and Yrene had the "enemies to lovers" relationship, and I loved how Srataq was basically a fanboy of Nesryn. I just thoroughly loved this book, and I never thought that I would be excited to read an entire book in this world without Aelin & Co. featuring heavily. Waiting for the final book has be dying in anticipation and drowning in dread for how it's all going to come to an end. Okay, so here comes the spoiler-y part of this review! * * * * Last chance to look away! * * * * THIS BOOK. I regret waiting until this month to pick it up, but I guess that just means less of a wait for the final book. While by the end of the book I did love all the characters, at the beginning I often found myself wanting to skip over the chapters on Nesryn. It sounds bad, I know, but I just wanted more Chaol and Nesryn. By the time Nesryn and Sartaq left for the Eridun Aerie I couldn't decide which story I wanted to read more. The rich world that Sarah created blows me away every time I read one of her books. Antica felt like such a lively magical place that would be so interesting and fun to visit. I could easily picture the busy, crowded, spice scented streets. I wanted to be able to visit The Torre Cesme - it had a slight almost Hogwarts vibe. A place to learn how to use magic (to heal people), but still a place to learn how to control a magical gift? Sign me up! Back to Chaol and Yrene - oh my god did I love them. I loved them when they were constantly at odds. As much as I loved them when they finally got together, I loved the tense moments between them. I felt so bad for him the first time Yrene brought him to the Torre, and I can understand why she didn't see anything wrong with teaching the young girls. Their exchange after, when he's silently furious, and she doesn't understand is probably one of my favorite scenes, because of the emotion and the hurt and the misunderstanding, and the pain. Yrene clearly didn't mean to make Chaol feel inferior or incapable, but it happened, and it allowed for Chaol to open up about emotions that he most definitely didn't want to acknowledge, let alone talk about. For a guy who laid around almost naked for weeks, bearing his emotions was more revealing and painful, and it made my heart ache. I loved seeing them open up to each other, and grow. They had ups and downs, and leaps and setbacks like any two people will, and it was wonderful. Oh my god, can Sartaq be any more amazing? A legend himself, and he's enamored with a girl from Erilea, before he even meets her. Nesryn is more than a myth or legend to Sartaq - she's his equal, his counterpart, one of the few people Sartaq seems to trust his life with. For Nesryn, Sartaq is that myth and legend, but it doesn't take her long to realize that he is all those things, but he's also just a guy. He's everything that she has envisioned her home to be. Having grown up in Erilea, with a father who hailed from the Southern Continent, Nesryn has stories upon stories of Antica, and The Khagan and his children. Sartaq opens up the Southern Continent. The RUKS! I want one! How cool is it that the ruhkin ride giant birds? Sarah never ceases to amaze me with the unique and fantastical elements that she weaves into her stories. My heart swelled and broke so many times during this book. I feel deeper in love with so many characters, and grew to love new characters. I'm so glad that both Chaol and Nesryn found their counterparts and are happy - for now, because we all know that they are coming back to chaos. Lastly, THAT FINAL CHAPTER. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. FIREHEART. FIREHEART. FIREHEART. I was so excited when I saw it. I was thrilled, because it's been awhile since Empire of Storms and we still have to wait until October. Then I read it. And then I was screaming. NOW I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER TO FIND OUT HOW IT ALL ENDS. I had come to terms with the fact that the final book would be a ways off, and Tower of Dawn would just have to tide me over in the mean time. WELL NOT AFTER FIREHEART. I'm looking at the chapter now, since the book is open next to me, and oh my god - I cannot wait for the final book. It will probably kill me, but I cannot wait. If you couldn't tell, I really loved this book, and if you haven't yet, you should definitely read it and fall in love with Chaol, Yrene, Nesryn, Sartaq and the Southern Continent. And if you've made it this far, and haven't picked up any of these books, sorry about the spoilers, but you were warned, and GO READ THE THRONE OF GLASS SERIES.

*spoilers for previous books in the series* This series is probably my favorite series ever, second only to Harry Potter and well that series has some serious nostalgia attached to it, but Throne of Glass is one of those series I am ridiculously invested in and read over and over. Tower Of Dawn was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it’s also one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. I’m just so invested in this world and these characters, that as I was reading the book I yelled out loud in my empty apartment to these characters telling them what to do or what they don’t know and I stress over their lives and I love every single second of it. Look, I’ve always loved Chaol, I’ve gotten mad at him at times, but I’ve always loved him and I’ve always appreciated how he grew and changed over the book. But here is the thing, my love for Chaol is not tied to whether he winds up with Aelin or not. In the end, I just want him to be happy and I think we all know that while Aelin and Chaol were nice for a while, they both grew into different people who no longer fit. So what I loved about Tower Of Dawn, is that we got to see Chaol go down this new path and learn to cope with his past and he went exactly where he needed to go for a number of reasons and I was so so proud of him in this book. And now for Yrene. I’ve been waiting for her to make an appearance again and the wait was so worth it. I adored Yrene. I adored the woman she became and that she took a chance a stranger gave her and made it count. Yrene is so so strong and I forever love Sarah J. Maas for giving us no shortage of versatile and badass heroines to look up to. Speaking of badass heroines brings me to Nesryn, who I somehow love even more now. Nesryn really comes into her own in this book and I frickin love this woman. She doesn’t let anything stop her and I loved watching her finally make choices for herself and to make her happy. She was great in Queen of Shadows, but she shines in this book. And along with these characters, we meet so many new faces and even get a surprise visit from someone we haven’t seen in quite some time. There will never ever come a day when I am not amazed by how Maas weaves together all of these details and how seemingly unimportant things are so so important. And there is so much that happens in this book and some huge huge revelations are dropped. Game changing information happens here and now I just cannot wait for that next book to see how the buildup from these six books finally pieces together. I’m going to agonize waiting for that final book. Tower Of Dawn was an amazing read and even though I missed some of my favorite Throne Of Glass characters, their presence is still very much felt throughout the book and these characters definitely fill the void. This book really changes the game and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Tower of Dawn, the sixth installment in Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series, runs parallel to Empire of Storms—but stands entirely on its own. What begins as a side quest for Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq soon becomes the emotional and thematic heart of the series, delving into healing, identity, and personal transformation. I opened the book with skepticism—how could a story centered on Chaol measure up to Aelin’s arc? But in the quiet hours spent on the Southern Continent with a broken captain and a guarded healer, I found myself moved in ways I never anticipated. Maas adopts a slower, more introspective rhythm here, mirroring the characters’ emotional journeys. Through Chaol’s physical and internal reckoning, and Yrene Towers’s quiet, powerful presence, the novel becomes a meditation on strength redefined—not as dominance, but as vulnerability and acceptance. Their romance is slow-burning and transformative, rooted in mutual healing. Nesryn, free from Chaol’s shadow, reconnects with her heritage and emerges in her own right. Her bond with Sartaq is understated, but her story deepens the series’ themes of belonging and identity. Meanwhile, the Southern Continent’s rich cultures, politics, and diverse cast—especially characters like Hafiza, Shen, and the rukhin—expand the series beyond traditional Western fantasy tropes. While it may seem like a detour, Tower of Dawn delivers major revelations—most notably Maeve’s true identity and Yrene’s pivotal role in the coming war. It reshapes the larger narrative and proves that healing can be as powerful as fire or steel. Ultimately, this is a story about transformation in all its forms. It reclaims Chaol, elevates Yrene, and enriches the world with cultural and emotional depth. For those willing to slow down and sit with its quiet magic, Tower of Dawn offers profound reward. Rating: ★★★★ (4/5) A soulful, introspective detour that reshapes the series with emotional depth and quiet power.

I absolutely love SJM and her TOG series is phenomenal!! It’s kinda ruined me for other fantasies as it’s so well written. Super great story line with a plot that hooks you with allllll the feels…. Laughter, tears, thrill, anger, spice…. You name it and it’s got it. I love her the MC isn’t a damsel in distress but a kick ass heroine. So damn good! Absolutely a series I’d read again.

Muy buen libro y muy buena saga, super recomendado

Ik heb helaas een andere versie gekregen dan staat afgebeeld.. Jammer want nu past die niet bij de rest van de reeks die ik al gekocht had :((

So good but a little slow. A lot of ppl say you can skip this one but I don’t think you should. It all comes together in the end.

I was tempted to skip this book since it is not part of the primary storyline, but it is necessary for the conclusion in the following book. Maas has created a beautiful land with new, exciting characters and a wonderful love story. This is a lovely addition to the Throne of Glass series that will make you excited for the conclusion.

Where do I even start!! All the plots and Chaol and Yrene🫠😍...am really glad I stuck to the order of the series as many people said to skip this one. Am glad I didn't!! Loved it