Empire of Storms
2016
- magic
- ya
- quest
- high fantasy
- fiction
- romance
- fantasy
- royalty
- court
- assassins
The story
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. With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear. In this breathtaking fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, Aelin will have to choose what -- and who -- to sacrifice if she's to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.
What it’s like
Sweeping, stormy and dense with gold and bloodred imagery: candlelit court halls, salt-wind decks, frost-glazed ruins and fires that flare across battlefields in the prose. The voice is brisk, third-person and close, shifting between several characters, with plenty of snappy banter that softens the grimmer passages. Its vibe is epic but affectionate, a long adventure best read in big unhurried chunks on a weekend with a mug of tea or a flight that stretches past midnight. The pacing runs fast in the action set pieces and slower in the quieter exchanges between friends and lovers, which tend toward earnest, emotional confessions. Intensity is moderate to high: battles with named deaths, brutal wounds, torture and dark magic, though rendered more with urgency than lingering gore. Romance is heated, with some sensual scenes that stay mostly behind the door. For readers who love a sprawling, character-driven high fantasy with court intrigue, a headstrong heroine and a sense that everything might be lost.
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