Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, 7)
Together they will rise. Or together they will fall.
The epic finale to the complete, #1 bestselling Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, author of the Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series.
Aelin Galathynius has vowed to save her people, but at a tremendous cost. Locked in an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. The knowledge that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, but her resolve unravels with each passing day.
With Aelin captured, her friends and allies have scattered. Some bonds grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever. But as destinies weave together at last, all must stand together if Erilea is to have any hope of salvation.
Sarah J. Maas's #1 bestselling Throne of Glass series draws to an explosive conclusion as Aelin fights for her life, her people, and the promise of a better world.
Other books in this series include:
Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight
Heir of Fire
Queen of Shadows
Empire of Storms
Tower of Dawn
The Assassin's Blade (prequel novellas)
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What Bookclubbers are saying about this book
β¨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *Kingdom of Ash* provides a satisfying, epic conclusion to the *Throne of Glass* series, praised for its emotional depth, strong female le...
A satisfying 1000 page conclusion to a decent 7-book series!
π 4/5 πΆ Still too much spice for a YA series but not as bad as in some of the other books... π΄πππ of the romance in this one at least went with the story.
β
οΈ Use of the word "thrice" (SJM likes this fun word, and it appears in all of the books if I remember correctly)
βοΈ βοΈ βοΈ βοΈ βοΈ WOWOW holy crap. I can't believe my first time within this series is DONE!! π₯Ί A beautiful, amazing, PERFECT ending. I couldn't be happier with how this wrapped up and how much I enjoyed these books.
My few critiques of KoA: I honestly think this could of been two books. Maybe ending the first somewhere after the battle of Anielle and starting the next thereafter. Almost 1,000 pages for one book was steep, even for me, BUT this story was so well written (across the series) that I didn't mind the long read, it just felt like two books in one.
Selfishly, I wanted more Dorian and Manon. I am PRAYINGGGG for another installment (even just ONE book) that revisits them. My favorite couple closely followed by Aelin and Rowan.
On couplings: Lysandra and Aedion just did not do it for me. I started to dislike Aedion in EoS and it only escalated from there. I loved Lysandra, but them together just did not feel genuine nor well placed. It felt like a relationship born of convenience ("hey, you're here and so am I. Let's shake baby") and lacked the development I seen between the others. That is personal preference though and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the series itself.
I loved all the characters- I really do. But the constant POV changes and multiple storylines that followed every aforementioned character's thoughts, perspectives, and developments was just a lot. I dealt with it, and I am better for it, but it was a lot. Maas did a great job giving each their exposure, but it was a bit overwhelming. Especially in the beginning!
The trope of 'the perfect book boyfriend' and 'enemies to lovers' seemed like a rinse and repeat; not just between pretty much every couple save for Nesryn and Sartaq, but in general as a heavily used book trope. I don't MIND it per say, and usually expect it to some degree, but with the multiple fae male characters and men as primary love interests in general, it felt overused. And maybe it's the jealousy and bitter realization that these types of men are NOT real that most readers seem to like about the trope, but for me that is just annoying and kind of sad. I read too much into it, but it was just not entirely genuine to me. Of course this is a FANTASY so anything is possible. But I wish legitimate struggles between men and women were normalized instead of the constant "I hate you because you're so beautiful and I just don't know how to communicate or express my emotions" bit. The most realistic things got were, in my opinion, with Dorian. Dorian went from being a womanizer to someone with a lot of layers of grief and self doubt and fear that he ultimately had to work through and communicate with Manon, which he did, and that was a nice change of pace from the 'territorial fae bastards' who do everything right for their women, even if it's unknown to them at the time.
MOVING ON TO MY FAVS!!
I cannot and will never be over the development of Aelin/Celaena. It truly felt like two different characters, though the seamless and climactic growth she experienced across all books, and ultimately into the QUEEN she is was just β¨ chef's kiss β¨. Her whit, humor, and 'assassin swagger' was never lost, and I truly just admire her journey and evolution from orphan, to assassin, to King's Champion, to lost Heir, to Princess, to Magic Wielder, and to Queen. β€οΈβπ₯β€οΈβπ₯β€οΈβπ₯ I think she was an incredible FMC and I never disliked her.
The love stuff was decent, I just don't think the 'romanticy' is my preference for a MAIN genre, and some parts mainly in EoS and ToD leaned heavy on that over my preferred adventure and fantasy, but it was sprinkled in throughout the rest of the books that I appreciated it for the most part. The attention to detail in each relationship to make them their own was so nice, and Aelin and Rowan's especially was well done. The details down to their complimentary powers (wind feeding/complimenting fire rather than suppressing it or controlling it like, say, water) was TOO GOOD. And there was no 'rushing' of the romantic developments either, which I appreciated.
Manon and Dorian are my new obsession. I was pretty irked at the initial interactions AFTER Dorian's collar came off; as things seemed superficial and just kinda 'bleh', but I think now that was intentional because it showed their growth as characters by the end of KoA when they're both grieving and hoping for something more, and somehow come back to each other for comfort and validation in those areas. I wanted to DIE in their chapter right before Dorian leaves for Morath and Manon is crowned Queen of the Witches and they have a genuine, real connection and moment of vulnerability in his tent with no magic hands attached. AND WHEN DORIAN SAID ONLY ONE WITCH WOULD BE HIS QUEEN???? bye
And I LOOOOVED the twists towards end of KoA that Aelin and Dorian gave up some of their powers to seal the gate, which happened way earlier than I expected, and ultimately defeated evil 'on their own' and not so much with magic dependency. I fully expected Aelin to just toast the whole army, so it was pretty cool that that wasn't the case. And the fact that Yrene ended up being the catalyst for SO MUCH. The interlocked story lines, though many, came full circle SO WELL. AND the whole 'nameless is my price bit' as an ode to the ToG 'mark of Brannon' on Aelin's brow during her duel with Cain?? Masterpiece. (Not to mention, for being "Nameless" Aelin sure had a lot of names/aliases!! Such a cool detail, too)
Ultimately, I give this whole series a 4.5 stars. Solid. I deduct only slightly because there were some uncomfortable stretches in the middle that leaned too heavy on 'all inclusive' (sorry, Aedion and Elide, I don't need to know you swing both ways even it's just for two sentences.) and sometimes the writing got too repetitive or confusing. And I didn't love the attention to intimacy between characters. BUT my praise far outshines any of those subjective and personal preferences!! The storyline, Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius in all her wonder, the world building and lore, Mommy Manon and Daddy Dorian, Chaol's redemption arc, and true attention to every detail in this series is truly shine. I am already looking forward to the rereads and annotations I will experience when I come back to this. β€οΈβπ₯
My few critiques of KoA: I honestly think this could of been two books. Maybe ending the first somewhere after the battle of Anielle and starting the next thereafter. Almost 1,000 pages for one book was steep, even for me, BUT this story was so well written (across the series) that I didn't mind the long read, it just felt like two books in one.
Selfishly, I wanted more Dorian and Manon. I am PRAYINGGGG for another installment (even just ONE book) that revisits them. My favorite couple closely followed by Aelin and Rowan.
On couplings: Lysandra and Aedion just did not do it for me. I started to dislike Aedion in EoS and it only escalated from there. I loved Lysandra, but them together just did not feel genuine nor well placed. It felt like a relationship born of convenience ("hey, you're here and so am I. Let's shake baby") and lacked the development I seen between the others. That is personal preference though and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the series itself.
I loved all the characters- I really do. But the constant POV changes and multiple storylines that followed every aforementioned character's thoughts, perspectives, and developments was just a lot. I dealt with it, and I am better for it, but it was a lot. Maas did a great job giving each their exposure, but it was a bit overwhelming. Especially in the beginning!
The trope of 'the perfect book boyfriend' and 'enemies to lovers' seemed like a rinse and repeat; not just between pretty much every couple save for Nesryn and Sartaq, but in general as a heavily used book trope. I don't MIND it per say, and usually expect it to some degree, but with the multiple fae male characters and men as primary love interests in general, it felt overused. And maybe it's the jealousy and bitter realization that these types of men are NOT real that most readers seem to like about the trope, but for me that is just annoying and kind of sad. I read too much into it, but it was just not entirely genuine to me. Of course this is a FANTASY so anything is possible. But I wish legitimate struggles between men and women were normalized instead of the constant "I hate you because you're so beautiful and I just don't know how to communicate or express my emotions" bit. The most realistic things got were, in my opinion, with Dorian. Dorian went from being a womanizer to someone with a lot of layers of grief and self doubt and fear that he ultimately had to work through and communicate with Manon, which he did, and that was a nice change of pace from the 'territorial fae bastards' who do everything right for their women, even if it's unknown to them at the time.
MOVING ON TO MY FAVS!!
I cannot and will never be over the development of Aelin/Celaena. It truly felt like two different characters, though the seamless and climactic growth she experienced across all books, and ultimately into the QUEEN she is was just β¨ chef's kiss β¨. Her whit, humor, and 'assassin swagger' was never lost, and I truly just admire her journey and evolution from orphan, to assassin, to King's Champion, to lost Heir, to Princess, to Magic Wielder, and to Queen. β€οΈβπ₯β€οΈβπ₯β€οΈβπ₯ I think she was an incredible FMC and I never disliked her.
The love stuff was decent, I just don't think the 'romanticy' is my preference for a MAIN genre, and some parts mainly in EoS and ToD leaned heavy on that over my preferred adventure and fantasy, but it was sprinkled in throughout the rest of the books that I appreciated it for the most part. The attention to detail in each relationship to make them their own was so nice, and Aelin and Rowan's especially was well done. The details down to their complimentary powers (wind feeding/complimenting fire rather than suppressing it or controlling it like, say, water) was TOO GOOD. And there was no 'rushing' of the romantic developments either, which I appreciated.
Manon and Dorian are my new obsession. I was pretty irked at the initial interactions AFTER Dorian's collar came off; as things seemed superficial and just kinda 'bleh', but I think now that was intentional because it showed their growth as characters by the end of KoA when they're both grieving and hoping for something more, and somehow come back to each other for comfort and validation in those areas. I wanted to DIE in their chapter right before Dorian leaves for Morath and Manon is crowned Queen of the Witches and they have a genuine, real connection and moment of vulnerability in his tent with no magic hands attached. AND WHEN DORIAN SAID ONLY ONE WITCH WOULD BE HIS QUEEN???? bye
And I LOOOOVED the twists towards end of KoA that Aelin and Dorian gave up some of their powers to seal the gate, which happened way earlier than I expected, and ultimately defeated evil 'on their own' and not so much with magic dependency. I fully expected Aelin to just toast the whole army, so it was pretty cool that that wasn't the case. And the fact that Yrene ended up being the catalyst for SO MUCH. The interlocked story lines, though many, came full circle SO WELL. AND the whole 'nameless is my price bit' as an ode to the ToG 'mark of Brannon' on Aelin's brow during her duel with Cain?? Masterpiece. (Not to mention, for being "Nameless" Aelin sure had a lot of names/aliases!! Such a cool detail, too)
Ultimately, I give this whole series a 4.5 stars. Solid. I deduct only slightly because there were some uncomfortable stretches in the middle that leaned too heavy on 'all inclusive' (sorry, Aedion and Elide, I don't need to know you swing both ways even it's just for two sentences.) and sometimes the writing got too repetitive or confusing. And I didn't love the attention to intimacy between characters. BUT my praise far outshines any of those subjective and personal preferences!! The storyline, Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius in all her wonder, the world building and lore, Mommy Manon and Daddy Dorian, Chaol's redemption arc, and true attention to every detail in this series is truly shine. I am already looking forward to the rereads and annotations I will experience when I come back to this. β€οΈβπ₯
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