Empire of Storms

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas is the fifth book of the Throne of Glass series.

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?

The Breakdown:
1.  I simply adore Sarah J. Maas's story telling.  Her books are very hard to put down for me, and this book did not fail me in the least.  I adore the world created for this series, the magic and intrigue have me wanting more from it all the time. I feel like Maas gets better with each book, and continues to surprise me all the time.  I love that in this book that different characters she has been following: Aelin, Manon, and Elide all come together.

2.  My biggest dilemma when reading this book is which couple to ship the hardest.  Maas writes such outstanding pairs that are equal partners.  When the couple with the biggest power difference, Elide and Lorcan, manage to be equals even if she does not have the magically powers that he can wield.  I adore the all the interactions between Aedion and Lysandra.  Possibly my favorite scene of the book was between them on the beach in Skull Bay.  But I also love Aelin and Rowan finally consummating their relationship.  Then there is Dorian and Manon who I am dying to see more of.

3. Can I just talk about how amazing Aelin's planning and scheming is for a minute? She is so brilliant at that no one sees it coming until it is done.  Plus, love that many of the characters introduced in the Assassin's Blade novellas get to make an appearance in this book, and the reason for their stories all make sense now.

4.  So I know the Dark King Erawan is terrible and scary and wants to take over the world with his darkness and do terrible, but I honestly don't hate him as much as Maeve at this moment. She is definitely a character I love to hate, and hope she is killed is the most terrible of ways.

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