Horn Book Review
Celaena--now Aelin, Queen of Terrasen--returns to Rifthold to free her cousin, Aedion; save the demon-possessed prince Dorian; free magic; and destroy the evil king. Meanwhile, in Morath, dark magic grows stronger as the evil Duke Perrington builds an army to destroy all human life. High-fantasy fans will enjoy this fourth volume's romantic tension, snarky quips, and energetic combat scenes. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
After honing her fiery powers under the tutelage of surly fae Rowan, Celaena now going by her true royal name, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius has returned to Rifthold to rescue Prince Dorian from the evil grasp of the Valg demon inhabiting his body, topple the king's tyrannical reign, and restore magic to the kingdom. Her return to the city is a flurry of vengeance, score settling, and surprising alliances, and Maas delivers the action in her characteristic cinematic style. Meanwhile, Manon Blackbeak, wing leader of a cadre of wyvern-riding witches allied with wicked Duke Perrington, questions her obedience to her cruel grandmother when she discovers the grotesque plans in store for her clan. Though this hefty tome could use some tightening, fans of the high-fantasy series likely won't mind the protracted story at all, packed as it is with brooding glances, simmering sexual tension, twisty plot turns, lush world building, and snarky banter. Even better, Aelin's tale is far from over: the final chapters of this installment promise more epic adventures and badder bad guys to defeat in forthcoming volumes.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2015 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up-Picking up where Heir of Fire (Bloomsbury, 2014) left off, this work follows Aelin as she returns to Adarlan to rescue her cousin from execution, free Prince Dorian from the Valg demon inside of him, and kill the King of Adarlan to set her people free. Told from many different viewpoints, this highly anticipated installment of the series will live up to every one of fans' expectations. Strong, clever, and resilient, Aelin expertly manages to rescue her cousin from the castle with minimal casualties. Then, with the help of her loyal friends and the Fae Prince Rowan, they devise a plan to destroy one of the king's towers to free magic and take back their powers so they can assassinate the evil King of Adarlan. Meanwhile, Manon, the Wing Leader of the Blackbeak witch coven, struggles with her grandmother's order to select a coven of witches to breed with Valg demons to please the mortal Duke. Aelin and Manon cross paths in surprising ways, and everything comes together in one thrilling and high-stakes climax that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. With a full cast of three-dimensional characters and a slew of emotionally riveting scenes and shocking realizations, readers will be daydreaming about this book long after it's over. VERDICT Beautifully written prose and brilliantly crafted plots come together in this entry of the awe-inspiring fantasy series that will leave readers anticipating the next volume.-Candyce Pruitt-Goddard, Sno-Isle Libraries, Marysville, WA © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Having cast off her Celaena identity, Aelin returns to Adarlan to reclaim her crown. Leaving Rowan behind after Heir of Fire (2014), Aelin arrives determined to stop the king's deadly demons, the Valg. She seeks out her former master from her assassin days, the charismatic and devious Arobynn, and also finds Chaol, but there's no happy reunion between the two. (Chaol fans shouldn't worrywhile he and Aelin may not see eye to eye, he has prominent storylines and character growth.) Aelin's most pressing priority is the rescue of her cousin Aedion, slated for execution at Prince Dorian's birthday as an obvious trap for her. As for Dorian, he's imprisoned in his own body by the Valg controlling himChaol holds hope that he can be saved; Aelin knows how unlikely that is. Meanwhile, Wing Leader Manon, head of Adarlan's wyvern-riding witch army, finds growing dissent at the commands she is given, leading to tough choices. At times believability is stretched (fugitives travel around the city freely, one or two heroes defeat large groups of enemies), but character motivations and interactionsfriendships, romances, and othersare always nuanced and on point, especially as Aelin's growing maturity offers her new perspectives on old acquaintances. The ending leaves readers poised for the next installment. Impossible to put down. (Fantasy. 14 up) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
