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Review

One word – EPIC!

Just wow.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Chaol’s book. I was a fan of him from book #1, and though I’ve loved the way this whole story has played out, my heart broke for him and all that he went through, so I’ve been so excited to get this own book – and when I saw it was being changed from a novella to a novel, I was thrilled!

Even having said that, I wasn’t expecting this book to be so… much! It’s everything that I love about this series. It’s clever, intricate, exciting, funny, sweet, unexpected, emotional and romantic, and absolutely enthralling! And far from being a spin-off, it is an integral part of the story which becomes more complex and interconnected with each book. Sarah J. Maas, you are a genius to plot all of this out and then pull it together the way you have. This is an absolutely amazing read!

My review is spoiler-free, but be aware that this book is definitely not a standalone and should be read in order with the rest of the books in the series.

When we last saw Chaol and Nesryn, they were setting sail for the distant city of Antica, looking to find allies for the upcoming war, and so that Chaol could meet with the healers of the Torre Cesme, seeking healing for his devastating injuries. Loyal and brave soldier Chaol has been through a lot in this series, he has lost so much and he has survived where others have not, and he feels lost – almost consumed with guilt, grief and uncertainty over his place in his world. His journey in this book is one of healing, and more than just the physical, and I thought it was perfect!

Nesryn is returning to her homeland and has her own journey to explore, and I loved the direction of her story, the excitement, imagination and wonder, and was really happy to get to know her better. And then there is the young healer assigned to Chaol – talented, feisty and brave with a pure, sweet heart, Yrene is a wonderful addition to the story – and those who have read The Assassin’s Blade (the prequel novellas to the series) will love the character tie-in which, again, makes me want to bow down to the brain of Sarah J. Maas.

The book is written in multiple POVs, allowing us to get to know the characters intimately, and though their stories are not always connected through the book, I was mesmerised by each of them and loved how they still very significantly intertwined. Each of the characters face intrigue, fear and danger, and there is also significant development for each of them as they find themselves headed down unintended paths – discovering their strengths and desires and figuring out who and where they are supposed to be. And all of it is just awesome!

You must enter where you fear to tread.

Yes, there is romance. It’s not the focus of the story, but it is a strong theme, and it was beautiful.

He didn’t understand – how could she be so delicate, so small, when she had overturned his life entirely.

And as we are introduced into a whole new cast of characters – the funny, the sweet, the arrogant and the awesome (sometimes all at once) – secrets are revealed, plots are uncovered, and one massive bomb is dropped that absolutely blew my mind. Genius! All of it! And it’s so intricately woven into the plotline of the previous book, while also providing hints and teases for the direction of the next and final book – which I am both desperately anticipating and dreading. I’m so invested and I’m not ready for it to be over!

Absolutely awesome. 5 stars.