Kingdom of Ash! What can I even say? I have dedicated so, so many hours of my life at this point to the Throne of Glass series and it all ends here, with the eighth and final book, Kingdom of Ash. Was it everything I hoped it would be? Yes. Is it the biggest physical book I’ve ever read? Yes (over 900 pages!) Have I been thinking about it all the time since I finished reading? Yes. Will I be recommending this series to literally everyone? Very much, yes.
Opening sentence: He had been hunting for her since the moment she was taken from him.
An epic conclusion
Plot-wise, when you’ve spent seven previous books leading up to the events here, there’s obviously a lot of anticipation as a reader. But believe me when I say it delivers.
Kingdom of Ash picks up after the events that ended Empire of Storms (with Tower of Dawn being an interlude with a focus on different characters). So, yes, we’re thrown back into Aelin, Rowan, Manon and Dorian’s stories. And Lorcan, Fenrys, Elide and Lysandra’s stories.
By this point, it will come as no surprise to hear that I care deeply for so many of the characters in this series. What Kingdom of Ash does so well (in fact, what is done amazingly throughout the series) is juggle and layer the stories of all the characters, taking this far beyond just being Aelin’s story (although hers is obviously brilliant and pivotal to this whole thing).
Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius does indeed get to the end of her path on her quest to save her Kingdom and rid her world of Maeve and Erawen. But, naturally, things never pan out the way you imagine and there is so much happening to surprise, delight and entertain us.
Fireheart, her mother had called her. Not for her power. The name had never once been about her power.
All the emotions
To say Kingdom of Ash is beautifully written is an understatement. Put it this way: It’s been a very, very long time since a chapter in a book had me sobbing while reading. But that’s what happened here. It broke me, I was shocked, distraught, in awe. Other chapters had me crying in a slightly less intense way and laughing too, this to say, Kingdom of Ash delivered on all the emotions. It’s this combination of feelings that the book (let’s be honest, the whole series) evokes that makes it so powerful.
I’m genuinely so sad that it’s over and would happily read more books about the characters (yes, looking at you Manon). When it comes to Throne of Glass, believe the hype. If you’re looking for an emotionally-led, world building epic with layered characters, moral messages and, under-pinning it all, a glorious celebration of female friendship, pick this series up immediately.
If I ever hear anyone disregard this storytelling masterpiece as ‘faerie-smut’ ever again, I will be having strong words.
- Get your copy of Kingdom of Ash here;
- Published by Bloomsbury 2018;
- 987 pages;
- My rating:
