Aelin Ashryver Galathynius: breaker of glass ceilings, thrones, castles, and male egos. This book really brought everything and everyone together and became essentially Game of Thrones light. And I LOVE IT! Queen of Shadows is epic. SO MUCH HAPPENS!

We start off with Aelin back in Rifthold where she finds out from Arobynn that her cousin, Aedion, is actually alive but is imprisoned and will be executed in a few days. However, Arobynn correctly informs her that his “execution” is really a staging to lure Aelin back to the King of Adarlan. Now knowing its a trap, Aelin makes a deal with Arobynn for his help with rescuing Aedion and in exchange she’ll bring one of the Valg demons to him alive for questioning. I HATE this man so much and hated every interaction. He is psychotic, creepy and completely evil. There are no redeeming qualities to this man.

Aelin’s first encounter with Chaol was such a shitshow. They both had heavy resentment towards one another and they bickered in a way that showed the reader they had deep hurt by each other that can only happen because they really cared about each other, but they didn’t have romantic tension anymore. They’re relationship always seemed to be somewhat shallow to me. Like they were both attracitve and good hearted people and that was kind of the only things they had in common. I feel like Chaol was really bitter that she wasn’t what he thought she was and was too threatened to ever grow with her as a partner. He thought she was a beautiful girl that was also badass and they could be a military couple as equals. But when he learned that she was royal and Fae and had magic, he couldn’t stomach the possibility that she could ever overpower him.

Sam and Rowan were never threatened by who or what she was/could be and were capable and willing to love her as she was. There was also never really an indication that Aelin saw a future with Chaol. Her relationship with Sam is mirrored in hers with Rowan in a lot of ways. She hated them both at first but then became close friends with them. She was also separated from them both by travel after becoming friends with them and then realizing she missed them and felt something more. Like with Sam, Aelin was not in a rush with Rowan and was happy to experience every step of their relationship. With Chaol, she never mentioned that and kind of jumped into the relationship with him. I do love that even though her relationships with Chaol and Dorian didn’t work out, they are all still friends and they really are such good guys! And the love between Chaol and Dorian is so sweet! I love their friendship.

Lysandra and Aelin’s friendship was an unexpected favorite part of this book. Like Aelin, I was also hesitant to trust Lysandra at first, but I believed her when she gave the letter written by Wesley. Additionally, when Lysandra called back to Sam being her friend too, I was reminded that Sam had the best heart and would not have been friends with Lysandra if she didn’t have one herself. While I did want an epic assassination of Arobynn by Aelin so we could be with her to experience that sweet sweet revenge- it was fitting that Lysandra got to be the one to do it. She endured him for a long time and had the least amount of power against him. I loved seeing that growth in Aelin by giving that moment to Lysandra. That moment when Arobynn thought he had control of Aelin and touched her, I was FURIOUS! Ugh, so glad we’re done with that horrible creep.

I loved Aedion and Aelin’s reunion! I do feel bad for him though. He’s the last to know everything and is just kind of backup to the Aelin and Rowan show. I’m hoping his character is fleshed out a bit more and I sense chemistry between him and Lysandra!

I loved the character development and growth for Manon. At the beginning of this book, I was not sure if I still liked her. She was so blinded by obedience and the need for approval from her grandmother that she was terrible to everyone around her. I still held out hope for her because Abraxos is kind hearted and seemed to see that in her too. The merging of hers, Elide’s, and Aelin’s storylines was so satisfying and was akin to the slowburn of Game of Thrones. I’m also sensing romantic potential between Dorian and Manon. Seemed like forshadowing for Manon to swing by to see Dorian after talking to Asterin about love. Also, Manon is totally Dorian’s type- blonde and wild.

The way everything and everyone come together in this book was so flawlessly executed. This may be my favorite in the series so far. Every scene and interaction was so good and set up what came next. Everything had a pupose and the character development was stunning. It ending with Aelin arrive home at Terassen was perfection. Our Daenerys light has reclaimed her home and has stepped into her own power and breathing fire.