Title: Empire of Storms
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #5
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 704
Published: 2016, Bloomsbury Publishing
My Grade: 5 out of 5 embers

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

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 who 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?

MY REVIEW

I don’t want to wait until September next year to find out how this amazing series ends! This book’s cliffhanger at the end was the worst yet. I would lie if I said I didn’t cry. I am sure Sarah J. Maas is no George R. R. Martin so the ending most likely will be a happy one. But it is hard to see right now after that horrible and shocking ending.

Anyway, this is one of the best series I have ever read and the books just get better and better, this one is the best so far! The first one, Throne of Glass, was an incredible introduction to the series which sort of had its own story and style while the next three books kind of all blend together now that I try to think back on them. It was a while ago I read them and many books have been read since. But those three right now feels like traveling books, each focusing on an important part of Aelin’s road to regaining her kingdom though, leading up to this one. I remember the fourth one was a bit confusing because a big part was focusing on new characters and I had no idea what role they would play, but in this book, all the puzzle pieces fell into place. And not just that part, but everything else so far. You read the books, love them, feel confused but eager to find out why, and this book finally has all the answers. I love that feeling and this one was full of it!

One thing that bothered me a little was the new parts Sarah added. The sex. Sure, it is entertaining to read, but this story is so amazing in itself, that it only made it feel like she wanted to try something new. I mean, the scenes were well-written and around a hundred times better than Fifty Shades of Grey. But those scenes weren’t really needed and it felt too much when the same thing happened to all of the immortal characters who have lived forever and ever and all of them experienced the best sex they had ever had at the same time, in the same group of people. It was too much.

But except for that minor thing, this book is still one of the absolute best ones I have ever read! I want to give it a grade 6, but I can’t be that silly so I will have to stick to a 5. Everyone, if you haven’t read this series, please read it now. Or wait until next summer and read all six of them right after each other, because this year-long-waiting between every book is killing me.