Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

The queen has returned.

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 has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. 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.

The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world. (Goodreads)

Obviously after reading Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows had to be read! Especially because I had it waiting for me to finish reading Heir of Fire! I really enjoyed this book and I literally cannot wait till the next book comes out!

I finally got useed to calling Celaena Aelin. It took me a while, but I got used to it. I actually prefer it because I feel like Aelin represents something that Celaena never did. Aelin was a queen – she was there to do what needed to be done and to protect her people the best way she could. Celaena represented the person she was before when she was trying to excape everything that happened to her and in her past! Reading the book, I was worried the Aelin was going to maybe slip back to the way she was before because of the way the people around her *cough* looking at you here, Chaol *cough* were treating her/speaking to her. I didn’t want her to slip back into that shell she had before. She didn’t (everyone can relax now).She stayed strong and she became the queen that she needed to be. She also stayed true to her ways as she went through the entire change… I mean, really… yu had to go an provoke Manon!!

Aedion literally bugged me half to death at the beginning – after her was reunited with Aelin. He became petulant, almsot like a child when he didn’t get his own way and I just felt like slapping him and then some!! At least he changed throughout and got a grip on himself and accepted what had happened wasn’t going to change and he started being an addition to the team rather than someone who was there to bug me to death!

Can I just say Rowan? Do I really need to elaborate? He didn’t change and I loved him for it! He was exactly as he was in the last book and I think he is just absolutely swoon worthy!

Is anyone else of the opinion that we need to get Manon and Aelin to team up? I mean – they would make such an awesome team it is unreal? Of course, we have to get Elide together with them as well.

I was not expecting that ending! I basically sat there, catching flies, wondering what the hell I was going to fo with my life after that ending! The King, Chaol, Dorian, Manon, Aeling – the whole lot of them! I don’t want to give too much away in case you (like me) are seriously behind in reading this series, but I just … I need to sit. Possibly have a lay down. A lay down sounds fantastic right about now!

I literally cannot believe this book took me this long to read! I am seriously kicking myself for not catching up to this series sooner! I mean, it’s Maas! I should have known better. I loved this book and I don’t think I can wait for the next instalment! I gave this book 5/5 stars.