Tower of Dawn

Throne of Glass

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Book Synopsis

Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq have arrived in the shining city of Antica to forge an alliance with the Khagan of the Southern Continent, whose vast armies are Erilea's last hope. But they have also come to Antica for another purpose: to seek healing at the famed Torre Cesme for the wounds Chaol received in Rifthold.

After enduring unspeakable horrors as a child, Irene Towers has no desire to help the young lord from Adarlan, let alone heal him. Yet she has sworn an oath to assist those in need—and will honor it. But Lord Westfall carries shadows from his own past, and Irene soon comes to realize they could engulf them both.

In this sweeping parallel novel to the New York Times bestselling Empire of Storms, Chaol, Nesryn, and Irene will have to draw on every scrap of their resilience if they wish to save their friends. But while they become entangled in the political webs of the khaganate, deep in the shadows of mighty mountains where warriors soar on legendary ruks, long-awaited answers slumber. Answers that might offer their world a chance at survival—or doom them all . . .

The Hook

I'm really struggling to get into Tower of Dawn so far. Don't get me wrong, I love this fantasy world that Sarah J. Maas has created, but Chaol Westfall is just such an unlikable protagonist after the way he treated Celaena/Aelin in Heir of Fire. His terrible attitude and the way he wallowed in self-pity was infuriating. I need to see him really own up to his mistakes and redeem himself in a big way before I can get fully invested in his story again. His character arc better have one heck of a turnaround in this book.

The one saving grace seems to be the new characters like the healer Irene Towers and the former rebel Nesryn Faliq. I was really intrigued by Nesryn in Heir of Fire - she seemed like such a capable, no-nonsense badass. So, I'm holding out hope that her interactions with Chaol, and the introduction of Irene, can help carry the story even if Chaol himself continues to be a drag. But if this book doesn't course correct Chaol's character soon, I may lose my patience with him entirely. Redemption better becoming for this former Captain of the Guard.

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Book Review

By Blogger:

Dee Szuba

I'm still reeling from the disappointment I felt while reading Tower of Dawn. As a long-time fan of Sarah J. Maas's work, I was hoping to see some redemption from Chaol, but unfortunately, it seems that he's stuck in his ways. His character remains dismissive and hard on Aelin, still blaming her for everything that went wrong in the past. It's infuriating to see him still harbor so much resentment towards her, even when she's nowhere near him. The fact that he wouldn't even swear on Irene's life that Aelin wouldn't turn on the people of Elway just shows how deeply entrenched his biases are. It's almost as if he's more concerned with proving his own point than with working towards the greater good.

But amidst all the disappointment, there is a glimmer of hope. Irene, bless her heart, is an absolute rockstar. She's kind, compassionate, and genuinely cares about those around her. Her interactions with Nasrin and Sirtek are some of the highlights of the book, and I found myself rooting for them as a couple. Nasrin deserves someone who loves and accepts her for who she is, and Sirtek is that person. Chaol, on the other hand, is just a jerk who doesn't deserve anyone's affection. I'm just glad that Irene is around to bring some balance to the story and show Chaol what it means to be a true leader.

Book Spoilers

Disclaimer: This section might contain Spoilers about the book because, as we read the books we try to provide readers with information that might catch them off guard and/or trigger them to in one way or another. This is the main reason for this blog was created.

As a reader, I found the book to be generally inoffensive, with no major concerns regarding explicit or graphic content. While there may have been subtle references or implications related to sensitive topics like abuse or sexual violence, these were not overly prominent or gratuitous. The author seemed to handle such themes with care and discretion, avoiding graphic descriptions or unnecessary sensationalism.

Overall, I felt that the book maintained a respectful tone and did not cross any major boundaries in terms of disturbing or triggering content. Of course, individual perspectives may vary, but in my personal experience, I did not encounter anything that raised significant concerns or caused me to feel uncomfortable while reading.