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Maggi's Reviews > Queen of Shadows

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
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did not like it
bookshelves: full-review

01/28/16 Everyone is lowering their 2-stars rating to one star, and tbh I completely agree, this is not worth two stars.

***

times I broke down and cried: 5
times I screamed and cussed at the book: 38
fucks I give about this series right now: 0

Let’s start this review a bit different. Let’s think of an alternative title for it� how about� I don’t know� "HOW TO RUIN A CHARACTER AND HIS DEVELOPMENT THROUGH 3 MOTHERFUCKING BOOKS IN ONE BOOK". Yep, that fits perfectly!

This is not a proper review, it’s more of an incomprehensible rant with a lot of cursing.

Those who saw my updates already know how torn I am about this book. It’s still so difficult for me to form an opinion, because this book was such a mix of an amazing plot-line and ass-kicking and just real bullshit.

About the amazing plot-line, well, Sarah J. Maas comes up with the most mind-blowing plot-twists. The ass-kicking: well-choreographed fights and Aelin’s plans were just brilliant. And I love Sarah’s writing style, it kicks me right in the feels every damn time.

Now, so far it sounds pretty good, right? You may ask, why the 2-stars-rating then?

There’s one thing that ruined everything. The Chaol thing.

First you have to know that I love Chaol with all my heart. #chaoldefensesquad
From book one he was my favourite character and his development through the first three books just blew me away. He is definitely flawed, but who is not.

So the way Sarah handled his character in QOS just broke my heart. She destroyed all his development in 60 pages. That’s right, she threw away all the work she put into him in less than 9% of the book.

This just felt like such a slap in the face. The way she wrote Chaol in the first 70% was so out of character. It wasn’t even Chaol anymore, the Chaol I know and read about would never act the way he did.

You may say that he’s Sarah’s character, she wrote him and probably knows him the best. Do I have any right to say he was out of characters? Maybe not. But I was madly obsessed with him from the start, over-analysed every word he said and action he made. I dare to say that I know him enough to say that QOS Chaol was just bullshit.

Do I sound like a child throwing a tantrum? Maybe. But you know what? I. Don’t. Care.

How could someone put so much effort into developing a character, and then just destroy him and waste all the potential? It makes no fucking sense. It’s stupid. So stupid.

But there is an explanation, well, my explanation. Rowan.

I already knew about Sarah’s obsession with Rowan; every interview I watched she ended up speaking about him and how hot he is. So often she didn’t even mention the other characters.

I’m not complaining, he definitely is an interesting character and I like him.
But when an author rewrites a character (Chaol) just to benefit another one (Rowan), I can’t help but feel betrayed.

It was like the first two books didn’t even happen to Chaol, we started from zero again. And I’m just so angry.

When the conversation at page 60 happened I just broke down and cried. I couldn’t believe that this was happening. This was not Chaol, not the guy who was ready to give up everything he worked for and ever believed in to send the girl he loves away to keep her safe.
This was just a twisted version of him and honestly, I can’t believe Sarah actually came up with this. I FUCKING TRUSTED YOU.

Chaol deserves so much better.

And the worst thing is, there is no way back from this. No way to fix it. While Sarah did kind of tried to in the end, I still can’t forget this whole bullshit she put me, us Chaol fan, through. She just stabbed us and let us bleeding for some hours, then came back and gave us a band-aid for the wound. THAT WON’T FUCKING WORK.

I’m also a Chaol/Aelin shipper. I’ve been since the first couple of chapters of TOG, still am after QOS and will probably always be.

But I knew since HOF that they will not be endgame. And I came to terms with it. I was ready for them to end romantically, but I wasn’t expecting this shit.

Here then comes the second problem, Rowan and Nesryn.

Don’t hit me, but I shipped Aelin/Rowan after HOF. They made sense to me. But the way Sarah handled their relationship in QOS just weirded me out.

Rowan’s POVs were sometimes� dumb. I can’t find the right word for it, but they made me roll my eyes so often. I still like him, but not as much as I did in HOF.
I also didn’t like how fast their relationship progressed. Because in HOF they were just friends, it was one of my favourite platonic relationships, and then in QOS they went from 0 to 100. It was just too fast and kind of weird.

Then Nesryn. Oh, how much I actually love her. She’s such a strong and amazing character. But the way she was introduced ruined it all. It was as if she was just there so Chaol would have someone (view spoiler) to talk to. She didn't seem like a character who was planned from the start, but just thrown in when Sarah's started ruining rewriting Chaol.

There's something really wrong about how Sarah just cast him aside for Rowan. It's rude as fuck. It ruined the whole book for me, I couldn't enjoy the first 60% because of it. I mean, how could I, he was is my favourite character.


But there were definitely some parts I still loved about the book.

a) Manon. Oh my god guys, her chapters were pure awesomeness. Sometimes they were way more interesting than Aelin's. Her plot-line in this book is just so captivating and I fell in love with her.

b) Elide. Damn, her chapters kind of broke my heart but I admire her so much. I don't know about you but I love her so much.

c) Dorian. My baby. I'm so scared for you. His chapters were so twisted and dark, but I couldn't help but enjoy them.

d) Lysandra. Such a cutie. I loved her relationship with Aelin. BROTP FOREVER.


Here's the end of my rant. There are probably more things I wanted to talk about but can't think of right now.
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Reading Progress

November 27, 2014 – Shelved as: to-read
November 27, 2014 – Shelved
September 1, 2015 – Started Reading
September 1, 2015 –
page 0
0.0% "i'm not ready for this"
September 1, 2015 –
page 66
10.19% "We, chaolxaelin shippers, do not deserve this bullshit."
September 1, 2015 –
page 73
11.27% "the first time that I'm actually glad and happy that there's a manon chapter. can we just focus on her for the rest of the series and don't mention the other characters. thanks."
September 2, 2015 –
page 256
39.51% "Everyone is acting like a total jerk except Rowan. wtf what the fUCK W HAT TH EFUCK"
September 2, 2015 –
page 397
61.27% "Okay this was actually really beautiful. Aelin sure still knows how to kick ass."
September 2, 2015 –
page 420
64.81% "If Chaol and Aelin don't have at least one normal conversation in this book I will punch someone."
September 2, 2015 –
page 523
80.71% "Fuck you SJM. Why couldn't this conversation happened sooner. It would have saved so much tears."
September 3, 2015 –
page 656
100% "Honestly, I don't even now what to say."
September 3, 2015 – Shelved as: full-review
September 3, 2015 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-50 of 176 (176 new)


Toni I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE TITLE! Oh my I'm so EXCITED!


Maggi Anna wrote: "I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE TITLE! Oh my I'm so EXCITED!"

I didn't know too, I just saw it on tumblr, AND I FREAKED OUT. It's just the title, BUT OMG!


message 3: by isabelle (new) - added it

isabelle TOMORROW IS TOO FAR AWAY.


message 4: by isabelle (new) - added it

isabelle EEEEEEP.


message 5: by Maggi (last edited Jan 22, 2015 08:37AM) (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi IT'S KINDA REALLY BADASS AND SO CELAENA I just miss them so much


message 6: by Toni (last edited Jan 22, 2015 08:46AM) (new) - rated it 3 stars

Toni I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE QUEEN SOMETHING! Yees.
Awesome title really. Now I can't wait for the cover. What colour do you guys think it's going to be?


message 7: by isabelle (new) - added it

isabelle THE COVER. I literally can't wait to see that beauty.


anna I just shivered. Still am, actually.

OH MY LORD.


Maggi I literally just couldn't think of any title, and now I can't think of a cover. Maybe something purple?


message 10: by anna (new) - rated it 2 stars

anna Shadows? Probably black and grey...? I would love something grey, but I don't know. Do we know when we're going to have a cover?


message 11: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi Grey would be so obvious, I don't know, I think I'd love something purple with grey shadows? And I don't know when... I hope soon. I NEED IT.


message 12: by anna (new) - rated it 2 stars

anna Purple is cool. And awesome. Urgh, I don't know. Obviously if they choose purple, they have to make her wearing a purple dress on the back cover. But, I do know it's going to be awesome.


message 13: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi I'm probably more excited about the back cover, because these are so beautiful. *-*


message 14: by Toni (new) - rated it 3 stars

Toni I love how on the front of the cover she is so badass and on the other side she's feminine. Just like her.
Purple and grey would be awesome.


message 15: by anna (new) - rated it 2 stars

anna That No Chaol Show really bothered me. At least Aedion and Dorian are mentioned as cousin and friend.

AND I NEED ROWAN THERE, LIKE YESTERDAY.


message 16: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi right? I'm not such a Chaol/Celaena shipper as I was in the first two books, but I still want him to be happy.
AND ROWAN. I'm so afraid he won't be in the book, or just for a very little period of time, he is just so important to me.


message 17: by anna (new) - rated it 2 stars

anna I think after Heir of Fire everyone just... cast aside Chaol because of the choices he made there and that breaks my heart, because I believe Chaol was just as confused as everyone in that book and he was pressured by many others. I JUST LOVE CHAOL, NOBODY TOUCH HIM.

Rowan better be there for more than a quarter of the book. I won't take any less.


message 18: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi I know, and I totally get it, he has every right to be confused. I just hope that in the next book he will set his priorities straight and be less frustrating. I miss book 1 and 2 Chaol.

Yep, me too. I just kinda have this feeling he won't be around much.. ugh I don't know.


message 19: by anna (new) - rated it 2 stars

anna The waiting is going to kill us. Damn.


message 20: by isabelle (new) - added it

isabelle I'm just so, ahem, fucking sacred. (Sorry for jumping in, btw) Maas can't just cast away such a significant character like Chaol. He's been part of the plot for 3 books and if I don't see enough of him (and almost every other male lead) in this book, I'm going to be quite pissed extremely upset.


message 21: by anna (new) - rated it 2 stars

anna Preach it. I hope that he is the one (view spoiler), with the help of Rowan, of course.

Though, I smell a competition there...


message 22: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi second that. I want him to talk things through with Celaena so badly, but with all the stuff going on I'll probably be angry at them if they sit around and talk about everything instead of saving Dorian. This whole situation is just so difficult.


message 23: by anna (new) - rated it 2 stars

anna And it's only 384 long. Why is it so short? This is really short.


message 24: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi If there's gonna be a bitch fight between Rowan and Chaol it better be hilarious, and not frustrating.


message 25: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi omg, that is WAY TOO SHORT. Heir of Fire is like 100 pages longer, and it wasn't even enough. huh


message 26: by anna (new) - rated it 2 stars

anna I'm already picturing Rowan look at Chaol like: "Who is this lowlife, my Queen?" and Chaol just remaining stoic until Celaena knocks their heads together.


message 27: by anna (new) - rated it 2 stars

anna Winter is supposed to be 800 pages. Now, that is a satisfying read.


message 28: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi that'd be hilarious. And the 800 pages of Winter makes me really happy but also really nervous. so much can happen, I'm just really really scared.


message 29: by anna (new) - rated it 2 stars

anna There's too much stuff going on this year. My head will explode. But I'm still happy for all those books.


message 30: by Toni (new) - rated it 3 stars

Toni I honestly don't think Chaol is going to be cast away. Neither Dorian or Rowan was mentioned in the Heir Of Fire blurb and they were still in the book.
I don't know if I should be happy or sad about the 384 pages. While I always want more of the book I got a bit bored in Heir Of Fire (none of you kill me please). So maybe a shorter book will be a good change (or so I hope).
And I just want all of the boys in it okay. (view spoiler)


message 31: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi Okay, you've got a point there. And yes, anytime I think about Dorian, I still can't believe that that thing happened. I want him to be safe and happy, which is so strange to me, because I didn't really liked him in the first two books tbh.


message 32: by anna (new) - rated it 2 stars

anna I wouldn't have such a problem with the book being that short, if there are less sections about Manon, or none at all. Those are the parts of the previous book, that I felt like skipping many times over.

Dorian just has that personality that you hope gets to have a happy ending. But not with Celaena. Chaolena to the end.


message 33: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi I had the same problem at the beginning, I was bored to help with Manon, but then I kinda started looking forward to her POV, and I can't wait to see how she will fit in the next book.

I'm so torn about who she should end with, I just want everyone alive and happy. (I just really doubt that Celaena and Chaol will work out while she is trying to safe her people. idk why)


message 34: by Toni (new) - rated it 3 stars

Toni The Manon parts were what bothered me yeah. I liked her as a character but I got so bored with her chapters.

Ehm...I'm probably the only one of you that was never a Chaolena fan. I like Chaol and I liked their relationship but I never loved them *hides*. Now I kind of ship Celaena with all of them. And with Sam before... . I honestly don't know what will happen in the end.


message 35: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi What I just loved about Manon was the character development, and she's a real badass. I think she and Celaena would make a nice pair.

Who I absolutely don't ship Celaena with is Aedion. I mean, I want them to meet finally, and it will probably melt my heart, but whenever I see someone who ships the romantically, I just can't.
And don't get me started on Sam, he's just such a cutie, even though I knew he would die, I still was crying so much at that part.


message 36: by isabelle (new) - added it

isabelle Omg im dYing


message 37: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi RIGHT? It's just too much epicness.


message 38: by anna (new) - rated it 2 stars

anna GUYS, IT'S JUST TOO BEAUTIFUL AND I AM CRYING BITTER TEARS BECAUSE SEPTEMBER IS SO FAR AWAY.

Now, where's that pre-the-frack-order button?

Also, more than 500 pages. I approve. :B


message 39: by Marga (new) - added it

Marga It's so beautiful. I can't freaking wait. :(


message 40: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi 500 pages full of awesomeness. SEPTEMBER IS WAY TOO FAR AWAY.


message 41: by gio (new) - rated it 1 star

gio But I heard that there weren't arcs!


message 42: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi Giovanna wrote: "But I heard that there weren't arcs!"

No, there weren't, but someone got a finished copy earlier for a review or something.


message 43: by gio (new) - rated it 1 star

gio Maggi wrote: "Giovanna wrote: "But I heard that there weren't arcs!"

No, there weren't, but someone got a finished copy earlier for a review or something."


Oh, dang. How bad is it? I mean, were you completely spoiled by this review?


message 44: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi Well, not much story wise, but I know what will go down romantically and some stuff about a character...UGH I HATE THIS


message 45: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi I mean no one made me read it but I just couldn't help it


message 46: by gio (new) - rated it 1 star

gio Maggi wrote: "I mean no one made me read it but I just couldn't help it"

Ah. (view spoiler)

I know, it happened the same thing to me with Clockwork Princess. I mean I opened a page and the freaking family tree was there. Ughhhh.


message 47: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi Same, it was the most stupid thing publishers/who-ever-decided-to-do-it had ever done.

Are you sure you want to know? I won't go into detail. (view spoiler)


message 48: by gio (new) - rated it 1 star

gio Yeah, I mean it didnt ruin the book itself but...I'm still angry ._.

(view spoiler)


message 49: by Maggi (new) - rated it 1 star

Maggi (view spoiler)


message 50: by gio (new) - rated it 1 star

gio Maggi wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)


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