Throne of Glass FanGuide 4: What to Know Before Kingdom of Ash

Summary

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Fantasy Fangirls - TOG Fantasy FanGuide Episode 4: Kingdom of Ash

Hosts: Nicole & Lexi
Podcast Date: February 23, 2026

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Brief Overview

In this grand finale of their Throne of Glass FanGuide series, sisters Nicole and Lexi take listeners on a deep-dive into Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas, the epic eighth and final installment of the Throne of Glass series. The episode is split into two parts: Part One remains spoiler-free for Kingdom of Ash, designed to prepare readers for the finale with comprehensive recaps, character breakdowns, lore, and worldbuilding essentials from Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn. Part Two heads into full spoiler territory, offering emotional analysis, critical discussion of character arcs, major battles, favorite moments, and the book’s (multiple!) endings—all with the duo’s signature blend of laughter, incisive insights, and dynamic sisterly banter.

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Episode Structure & Timestamps

• [01:05] Welcome, Spoiler Policies, and Network Updates
• [06:08] Part One: Spoiler-Free Recap (Empire of Storms & Tower of Dawn)
• [20:00] TOG Cheat Sheet: Where Everyone Stands at Start of KoA
• [38:08] Allies of Terasen & Key Political Players
• [46:53] Magic, Lore, and Major Prophecies
• [48:30] Kingdom of Ash: Expectations and Book Ranking
• [64:00] Part Two: Full Series Spoilers Begin
• [64:53] Kingdom of Ash: Beat-by-Beat Summary
• [74:39] Character Deep Dives: Aelin, Rowan, Dorian, et al.
• [128:27] Top 10 Series Highlights & Favorite Moments
• [167:38] Series Reflection & Farewell

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Part One: Spoiler-Free Recap & Fan Guide

(Covers all TOG books except KoA; designed to prep readers for the finale)

The State of the World [20:00]

• Aelin is Maeve’s prisoner, trapped and tortured for the word keys’ location. Before capture, she passed the keys to Manon.
• Rowan, Gavriel, Lorcan, and Elide are hunting for Aelin. Rowan is “a husk of who he is and 100% focused on getting his wife back.” (21:32)
• Aedion & Lysandra (posing as Aelin) lead the Quiet in Terasen, joined by Silent Assassins and Ansel of Briarcliff.
• Manon, Dorian, & the Thirteen are seeking the lost Crochan witches to unite all witch clans against Morath.
• Dorian holds the keys, with Manon. “Our princeling has taken responsibility to find the third word key … which is probably in Morath.” (27:25)
• Kaol & Yrene bring Antica’s armies and healers north, having formed political and personal bonds (they’re married, life-bonded, and expecting).
• Erawan is “paranoid about healers” and poised to unleash war, with his new beautiful, golden-haired vessel.
• Maeve is revealed as an ancient Valg Queen, not Fae—a huge lore bomb from Tower of Dawn.

Major Lore & Prophecy [30:29, 34:19]

• Maeve’s twist: Not a Fae Queen but a Vulg Queen, long hidden on this world, with deep manipulations of Fae history.
• The Gods: Set up by SJM to require a descendant of Brannon (Aelin or Dorian) to “pay the price” and forge a new lock—a sacrifice entwined with the phrase “Nameless is my price.”
• “Nameless is my price”: Repeated prophecy throughout the series tying Aelin’s fate to ultimate sacrifice and anonymity—a motif echoed through her masked imprisonment.
• The Role of Healers: Yrene is uniquely empowered to eradicate the Valg, marked by goddess Silba.
• Spider myths: Stygian spiders (Karan Kui) play into cross-world lore, bargains, and reveal Maeve’s identity.

Recaps of Key Books

Empire of Storms (06:08)

• Aelin’s “Support My Kingdom” tour; city battles; Dorian and Rowan’s magic lessons; Elide and Lorcan’s alliance; Lysandra’s sea-dragon heroics.
• The Witch Mirror: Aelin and Manon learn Elena’s tragic error with the lock and her heavy, inherited guilt.
• Shocking finale: Maeve kidnaps and imprisons Aelin, Lysandra steps in as a “fake queen” in Terasen.

Tower of Dawn (10:29)

• Kaol seeks healing in Antica, meets Yrene; they (and Nesryn) uncover Maeve’s true origin (via spider monologue).
• Duva revealed as Vog-possessed princess; Yrene’s healing powers proven as Valg kryptonite.
• Kaol and Yrene marry and life-bond, sailing north to join the war effort.

Setting for Kingdom of Ash [20:00+]

• Aelin is missing; her allies scattered and mobilizing.
• The armies: Terasen’s rebel forces, pirates, Fae, witches, the Southern Continent’s massive host, and more.
• Three word keys: Dorian holds two; the third is suspected to be in Morath.
• Maeve’s motivation: Torture and control, seeking the keys for herself.
• “You do not yield”—Aelin’s rallying phrase, ready for a high-stakes, high-emotion conclusion.

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Part Two: Spoilers, Deep Dives, and Emotional Payoffs

(SERIES SPOILERS from here on!)

Kingdom of Ash: Our Epic Finale Recap [64:53]

Major Plot Summary (Selected High Points)

• Aelin’s Torture & Escape: Bravely endures months of physical and psychological torture at Maeve’s hands. “You do not yield” becomes her inner mantra. Her escape, enabled by Fenris’s breaking of the Blood Oath (at great cost), is a harrowing, iconic sequence. (130:06)
• The Search Party’s Mission: Rowan, Lorcan, Gavriel, and Elide’s desperate, trauma-heavy journey to rescue Aelin, culminating in a self-driven escape.
• Political Turmoil: Aedion, Lysandra, Ansel, and the Bane navigate fraught alliances, morale battles, and public deception (“fake Aelin”).
• Manon’s Mission: Uniting the witches, defeating the Matrons, claiming her crown, and the gut-wrenching sacrifice of the Thirteen to destroy the witch towers (113:13).
• Dorian’s Growth: Deep inner journey, masterful use of shapeshifting, strategic infiltration of Morath, and crucial role in retrieving the third key.
• The War: Relentless sieges, shifting fronts (Anielle, Orinth), culminating in massive, multi-front final battles.
• The Final Bosses: Threefold climax—Aelin and Dorian forging the Lock (and facing the gods and Elena); Irene, Dorian, and Elide defeating Erawan; Aelin, the cadre, and allies ending Maeve.

Character Analysis & Notable Quotes

Aelin Galathynius

• “You do not yield.” (75:53) Aelin’s psychological endurance is as vital as her magic, clinging to her mother’s words in the darkest moments.
• Post-escape, battles trauma and loss, forced to lead without the full strength she once wielded.
• Themes of sacrifice, identity, and the cost of leadership pervade her journey.
• “She is a survivor of torture who chooses to keep fighting for herself and her people and her kingdom.” (76:53)
• “Her name was Aelin Ash River Whitethorn Galathinius, and she would not be afraid.” (155:01)
• Crowning moment: “No longer an assassin, no longer a rogue princess. And when Aelin lifted her head to survey the cheering crowd ... she burned bright as a star.” (84:04)

Rowan Whitethorn

• Defined by loyalty and desperate love for Aelin.
• “His love and support for his mate—you can feel it through the pages.” (85:37)
• Touching scenes emphasizing non-physical intimacy and deep partnership.
• His cunning and strategic mind shine (“map tattoo out of word marks interwoven within the old language story of him and her's relationship…” (88:25)).

Dorian Havilliard

• Massive arc: kingly agency, mastery of raw magic (and shapeshifting), self-forgiveness, and willingness to sacrifice.
• “He must first learn who he wants to be within himself before he can be free to be what he wants on the outside.” (92:57)
• Kaltain’s ghost scene allows Dorian peace for the first time; gives his father's name back at the climax (98:51).

Manon Blackbeak

• Completes a journey from brutality to true moral leadership.
• “She is the last Crochan queen, born to unite her people.” (108:33)
• Shows mercy, compassion, and wisdom (110:00).
• The sacrifice of the Thirteen: “Their last act, honoring their leader, Manon, and what they have collectively worked toward this series.” (113:13)
• Honored by a magical bloom, echoing the series’ central curses and blessings.

Kaol & Yrene

• Kaol’s arc: inner healing, leadership, finally letting go and rising above his father’s abuse (104:53).
• Yrene’s pivotal role: “I love that for SJM to have the villain defeated not by destruction but by healing was brave, and it pays off tenfold.” (104:53)
• Yrene slays Erawan: “You have no power over me.” (104:53)

Aedion & Lysandra, Lorcan & Elide

• Aedion’s anger and journey to humility and lasting change, especially after Gavriel’s death (122:10).
• Lysandra’s steadfast courage, isolation, and ultimate recognition.
• Lorcan’s redemption through actions and devotion; Elide’s unwavering resourcefulness and compassion. Their bond is hard-won, deeply mutual (123:28).

The Cadre, Allies, and Ensemble Cast

• Elise and Fenris’s trauma-forged bond (130:06, 132:36).
• Gavriel’s sacrificial love for Aedion and the motif of making the hard choices.
• Silent Assassins, Ansel, the Bane, Rolf and the pirates, little folk, and forces from every land converge for the final showdown.

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Top 10 Memorable Moments

[128:27 onward - Each segment detailed with context and emotion]

1. Aelin’s Escape from Maeve: Painstaking detail in how this harrowing escape mirrors her earlier struggles, driven by blinks with Fenris. (130:06-132:36)
2. Aelin’s Iron Mask: Her panic and trauma are rendered in a viscerally real scene—“take it off”—showing the rippling effect of abuse and recovery.
3. The Sacrifice of the Thirteen: Both momentous and devastating; full character roll-call; Manon hears her matrilineal prophecy fulfilled as a bloom appears for the first time in centuries. (135:28)
4. Dorian and Manon’s Goodbye: Complex, layered relationship—crown-on, no-strings, heartache and hope. (137:23)
5. Aelin Saving Anniel: Expends all her magic on saving a city rather than seeking vengeance—her heroism, leadership, and selflessness on full display. (137:43)
6. The Reunion Trio: Aelin, Dorian, and Kaol together at last, each having grown deeply, forging a new unity. (140:50)
7. Lorcan’s “What He Did”: Running joke with euphemisms, culminating in a hilarious, memorable segment. (143:01)
8. The Three Endings: The forging of the Lock, the gods’ betrayal/Elena’s fate (150:31), Aelin’s cross-world tumble (Crescent City/ACOTAR multiverse cameo; 154:17), Maeve/Erawan’s defeat, and the series’ coronation/closure.
9. Side Characters’ Roles: Gavriel as a peacekeeper and father, Evangeline for a child’s war perspective and courage.
10. Beautiful Symbolism in the Epilogue: Lysandra’s acceptance as Lady of Caraverre, Aelin’s unique crown, the King’s Flame blooming on the plain—a new era of peace and hope.

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Notable Quotes (Speaker Attributions & Timestamps)

• “You do not yield.” —Aelin’s mantra, repeatedly referenced throughout the episode (75:53)
• “Her name was Aelin Ash River Whitethorn Galathinius, and she would not be afraid.” (155:01, Nicole)
• “This is by far the most impressive book.” (49:58, Nicole)
• “I cannot even imagine writing a book like this with so many character POVs, storylines, secrets, romances, character traumas, the gods coming in there, relevant historical events…” (51:24, Lexi)
• “Not all relationships are straight and narrow. … it reminds us that people can grow.” (119:12, Nicole)
• “Yrene is the final boss. Go medical professional!” (104:53, Nicole)
• “I have a very platonic appreciation for every character.” (127:55, Lexi)
• “You have rattled the stars.” (84:04, Nicole quoting from the book)
• “I feel like Dorian's character arc at the end of this book, really the series, can be summarized in this one quote: ‘Dorian smiled and found himself for the first time in a while, looking forward to tomorrow.’” (101:02, Nicole)
• “Live, Manon, live.” —Asterin's last words before the Yielding (113:13)

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Series Reflection, Rankings, & Farewell [167:38 – End]

• Both sisters reflect on how this reread and deep-dive increased their appreciation for TOG, placing it nearly level with ACOTAR in terms of personal favorites.
• Queen of Shadows remains the top-ranked book for both, with Tower of Dawn, Heir of Fire, and Kingdom of Ash closely contested for runner-up spots.
• The hosts express gratitude and emotional closure, not just for the series but for the entire podcast journey alongside SJM’s complex world.

Nicole: “I did not expect to love this series as much as I did at the end of this fan guide, but this book has now jumped up multiple spaces just because of how gut-wrenching it is. I fully see how some people's lives are before and after... It feels very similar to me in A Court of Mist and Fury...” (50:01)

Lexi: “Throne of Glass is now one of my all time favorite series. Yeah. Wow.” (56:29)

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The Fantasy Fangirls Trademark:

• Sisterly Banter: Deep literary analysis laced with good-natured sibling ribbing and plenty of memes (“He launched his meat missile…” (143:01)).
• Pop Culture Connections: Multi-verse speculation and Sarah J. Maas meta-lore included (e.g., Kingdom of Ash → Crescent City/ACOTAR cameos, 154:17–155:01).
• Emotional Honesty: Trauma, mental health, healing, and hope are handled with nuance and candor.

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Useful for Non-Listeners

This summary provides an immersive, step-by-step breakdown of the episode for both series newcomers and diehards, recapping major plot points, emotional arcs, and SJM’s worldbuilding intricacies. Whether you’re prepping for the Kingdom of Ash finale or seeking to relive its emotional roller coaster, this guide delivers all the context, key moments, and critical analysis you need—minus spoilers, until the clear warning point, and packed with all the big feelings and fun that Nicole and Lexi bring to their fandom.

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Next Up: The sisters are shifting podcast gears to deep-dive “When the Moon Hatched”—so if you’re ready for another trip through the fantasy multiverse with passionate, thorough guides, follow along!

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For more detailed timestamps and fan resources, see the show notes and links included by the hosts.

Transcript

[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

Foreign.

[Nicole]

Welcome to the Fantasy Fangirls Podcast where two sisters dive deep into beloved fantasy lore, character themes, series and more.

[Lexi]

I'm Lexi, older sister and fantasy lore nerd.

[Nicole]

And I'm Nicole, younger sister and romantic at heart.

[Lexi]

And and today is our final Throne of Glass Fan Guide as this episode four wraps up our unique journey through this epic fantasy series. As always, please listen closely to our spoiler warning because it is very specific and different for each of these fan guide episodes. These Throne of Glass fan Guide episodes are split into two parts. This episode four, Part one contains plot spoilers for every book in the series except for Kingdom of Ash. Specifically, we'll be focusing on spoilers from Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn. If you have not read Kingdom of Ash, this part 11 is for you. It's all about setting ourselves up for the finale. Then part two includes whole spoiler series. Remember, this is the case for all of these Throne of Glass Vanguard episodes. We'll give you an obnoxious spoiler warning so you know when we move from part one to Part two in case you have to jump off. Part two discusses the end of the series with emphasis on our characters journeys in Kingdom of Ash. While we're on spoilers, these Throne of Glass episodes do not include spoilers for Acotar or Crescent City, though we might be hinting at a few things today. Because we can't. Not if you want our mask verse conversations. We have a three hour compilation for you to listen to from our 11 months of deep diving Acotar. Link to that episode is in the show notes.

[Nicole]

So with all of that said, if you know that Maeve is a vog queen. What? Thank you, Stygian Spider. You are safe to listen to part one, but if that's all you know, that's all you're allowed to listen to. You're not allowed to listen to part two. Like Lexi said, we will have a big old spoiler warning for you as we move into whole series. Spoilers Next.

[Lexi]

We of Fantasy Fangirls are adults who say adult things about adult books. In other words, friends, this podcast is

[Nicole]

rated R. Friends, we are discussing what Lorcan did and you're gonna want to be mindful of those little listening ears.

[Lexi]

Yes, indeed. Additionally, we are so excited to see you at upcoming live events.

[Nicole]

On April 8, we are partnering with the Denver Nuggets and Rebecca Yarros for a fourth Wing themed basketball night at

[Lexi]

Ballerina plus, we are so excited to do a live show at the neptune Theater on April 19th in Seattle. Tickets are on sale now for you to dive deep into how to train your dragon with us.

[Nicole]

Check out our website or the links below for more information and more events. And in case you missed it, the Fantasy Fangirls Network be boppin'.

[Lexi]

First up, Fantasy Fanfellas has officially launched their Season two where booktok star Stephen Walker and our very own Hayden Sanity Manager are diving deep into Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn the well of Ascension.

[Nicole]

Season one of Fantasy fanfellas covering Mistborn. Book one is out now on the Fantasy fanfellas feed and Season two is well underway. Be sure to give them a follow link in the show notes and we've

[Lexi]

got another new show coming to you in late March. Fantasy Fan Reads will be hosted by the delightful Jess of Lost Books of Jess, where this podcast will be all about celebrating the joys of reading with author interviews, cozy coffee, conversations and more. Follow Fantasy Fan Reads on social media and we can't wait to share more details with you soon. Last thing before we jump into this Throne of glass Episode 4 if you love Fantasy Fangirls and want more events, more content, more community and so much more, please check out Fantasy Fan Club, which just grew to add media network offerings.

[Nicole]

We have six membership tiers that you can join, three that are network wide and three that are Fantasy Fan Girl specific. So if you Love Fantasy Fangirls, you you can look at number one, the Hive Mind, which includes access to our BoP and Discord live Q&As from Lexi and I book clubs, often featuring the authors themselves for a live Q and A community events including Throne of Glass Trivia which is happening this weekend promo codes for live events plus 20% off and access to exclusive merch that is $6 a month. Or you can join the Spice Watchers which includes everything from the Hive Mind level plus early access to ad free episodes, our full episode outlines and special voting privileges. That is for $10 a month. And then we have our Feral Fans which includes everything from the previous two tiers plus more behind the scenes content, a welcome gift, giveaways, private Discord channel, and your name shouted out on the podcast. That is for $25 a month. And friendly reminder, every single one of those Fantasy Fangirls tears has an accompanying Fantasy Fangirls Network tiers where you get all of those goodies. But for every show on the network,

[Lexi]

join the party@fantasy fangirls.com fan club. And really and truly thank you so much for supporting us as we've turned this podcast into a network. It's such a dream come true and it's all because of you. Thank you.

[Nicole]

And now we are Here we are with you.

[Lexi]

Who's ready for Nicole to recap Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn gather round as she highlights what happened in these two books.

[Nicole]

First up, Empire of Storms we kick things off with a road trip to Tarasen where Aelin brings her hello, it's been a while Support My Kingdom Tour, AKA lobbying with the lords who've been running the place for the last decade like an HOA board. Meanwhile, it's the last season of Game of Thrones. The witches roll into Rift hold and sack the city. Lost boy Dorian almost kidnapped, but luckily Manon says absolutely not, kills a witch, Oops. And helps Dorian escape with Rowan. Dorian and Rowan peace out to Skulls Bay, bonding over trau and magic lessons. After getting a DM from the Little Folk and Brannon, Aelin heads to Ilium with the crew Illium to reclaim the ancient Mycenaean temple. Cute Epic battle montage. Aylin casually consults Brandon's ghost like he just popped in as the Obi Wan Kenobi hologram. He tells her to find the lock in the Stone Marshes, explains the keys must seal the word Gate and Erewhon immediately pops up via Possess and Dovia overseer like a horror movie jump scare. Elide is on a solo mission with Kaltane's Word Key with Essence of Aum and treks through the forest looking for Aelin Celaena until she is found by Lorkhan, who absolutely could leave her alone, but chooses chaos and feelings. They travel together, become friends, and arrive at the Stone Marshes with Aelin's crew. Highlights include Elide's resourcefulness, which is Queen behavior. Lorcan's protectiveness. Sir Be calm. The cloth strips for Elide's cycle because Sarah J. Maas said realism, a promise that Lorcan might someday have a home. Cue emotional damage. Mind Lorcan's I don't know. Smash cut to the Witches where the Council decides Manon's punishment for killing a witch is killing another witch, AKA Astrin. But psych. Manon goes straight at Mother Black Beak fists first and leaves the fight with a new title. Last surviving Kraken heir. What? But Manon, severely wounded, escapes with Abraxos and the thirteen ride off like absolute legends. Back at Skull's Bay, the gang tries to convince Rolf to join the Anti Arowan alliance and let them use the magical map tattooed on his hands. Maeve sends Gavriel and Fenris to kill Lorkhan. Awkward. Even more awkward when they don't. Meanwhile, Aelin summons the Volg to Skull's Bay as leverage against Rolf. Help us resurrect the Mycenaeans or enjoy Volg induced doom. Rolf agrees. Chaos battle ensues. Lysandra turns into a sea dragon. Choosing aquatic dominance saves everyone and reminds us all why she is an icon. She is the moment Aden promises to marry Lysandra someday and let see and I collectively scream let her have her moment. Adien. Aelin's plans go sideways when she accidentally invites Goddess Diana into her body. Not in the fun way, especially not when Deanna nearly nukes the town, drains Aelin's power and drops the ominous phrase quote the queen who was promised cool, cool, cool. But love saves the day and bang, bang, bangity bang. I said oh, why are you fucking on sand of all places? Bang. Congratulations, Aelin and Rowan. Also, who's your daddy, Adyen? Aiden meets his dad Gavriel and immediately decides to hold a grudge like a pro. Aelin summons Elena and we lear some very important information that, shockingly, elena held back. TL Dr. Finding the lock is urgent. Man, you know when this would have been nice to know. I don't know. Like any of the previous four books would have been great. Anyway, the crew sails towards the Stone Marshes and Abraxos shows up carrying an injured Manaan like a good boy. Everyone immediately helps her, albeit reluctantly. Unless you're Dorian, who, when possessing exactly one functional brace, all focuses it all on Manon. Upon reaching the marshes, Aelin annihilates some Ilkin in a jaw dropping power display. But instead of the lock. They find an all knowing witch. Mirror, mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the angriest of them all? Me. At Elena. Because while Aelin and Manon are in the mirror, they see Elena and Gavin not defeating Erewhan. Nope. They trap him using the eye of Elena, AKA the lock.

[Lexi]

Yay.

[Nicole]

We found it. Or rather, we had it all along. But damn it, the lock only works once. And Elena used it selfishly to save her people on a very temporary situation.

[Lexi]

Whoops.

[Nicole]

And the gods are fatal. Furious because Elena used the lock wrong. Like they're the board watching a new employee struggle to figure out the company's website punishment. You're not fired. But someone from your bloodline must die to forge a new lock. And you, lucky Elena, must guide the sacrifice. I don't know if HR approved this. Also, Nehemia and Elena were working together this whole time? The whole time. And Aelin actually died when she was 8. But she was brought back.

[Lexi]

Surprise.

[Nicole]

Meanwhile, a massive sea battle breaks out against Maeve's forces, which luckily are fewer because Rowan convinced his fam Bam to turn on Maeve, but. But they're still losing. It's a bird.

[Lexi]

It's a plane.

[Nicole]

It's the 13 flying down like a cavalry from hell. Aelin and Manon don't pick number three. Don't pick number three, my lord. And are spat out of the mirror, only to find Maeve, who is holding Elide hostage. What are you doing here, Maeve? Oh, Lorcan invited you here. Lorcan? You weren't in charge of invites then. A lot happens at once. Maeve and Aylin go head to head in a full. There can only be one showdown. Lorkin and Gavriel go full let's freedom ring. And Maeve breaks their blood oath. Hmm. I might be missing something. Oh, what is it? Oh, yeah. Maeve admits that she mind hacked Rowan, installed a fake mating bond with Lyria, and did it purely for emotional damage. Jail, Maeve, jail. And Aelin, desperate to save a lead, surrenders and is locked in an iron coffin and taken away. So that's all of the surprises, right? Right. Where's my wife? She's gone. And here's your new wife. Lysandra Lynn. Aelin. Lysandra doesn't work for me, doesn't work for Aden, and doesn't work for Rowan. So Lysandra, Aelin addition, takes the allies to Tarasen, while Rowan, Lorkhan, Gavriel and Elide abandon their plan and go feral searching for the real Aelin. Tower of Dawn God. Kael and Nesrin are in the Are we dating? Era and sail to Antika, where Kael hopes to fix his spine, his guilt and internal politics all at once. They meet up with the Khagan and his intimidating line of heirs to pitch an alliance with Team Aelin. The Khagan says no, but allows Kael to access the Torre Chesme, AKA the magical Mayo Clinic. Enter Irene Towers, heir to the healer on high of the Taure. She is assigned to heal Kael despite loathing Otterland, its people, and everything Kael has ever done. Love that for them. Kael spirals hard about his identity as an injured soldier, confronting guilt, rage and literal demon trauma. Irene drags him into emotional and physical healing. It's like therapy, but make it magical. And surprise healers are basically vog kryptonite. All the while, someone is starting to hunt Irene to stop her research on how to cure Kaol and murders another healer by mistake. Nothing like some casual horror. Meanwhile, Nesrin decides main character independence. Hello, Sartak. It's nice to meet you. Why, yes, I'd love to visit the Rukin Ares with you. Who doesn't love a dragon Adjacent bird? With the Rukin, we learn that they've got stygian spiders aplenty. Bad, bad. What's worse, they're stealing rukh hatchlings. Leave the babies be. Smash cut to two people who want to smash. Irene is making nice progress on Kaol's injury, and Kaol is trying his darnd to heal without any inner work. You know what helps me feel connected to my emotions? A spa day at the hot springs. K O and Irene confess their feelings for each other over a locket. And bang, bang, bangity bang. I said a nothing like a ted cock. Can we get better surfaces, please? Bang. Let's get ready to rumble after taking a hot bath. Kale, how dare you. It's time for Irene to go in and obliterate his injury. Which means Kale has to face his inner demons. Aelin. Hate. Get out of here, Dorian. Guilt. Get out of here, Irene. You. You can stay. And he's Heale, but that's enough happiness. Because Nesrin, Sartak and Falcon, a shapeshifter and Lysandra's uncle, fall directly into a spider trap. My nightmare, everybody. Then a spider casually strolls in from stage left like it's auditioning for a Broadway play and drops a full Shakespearean level lore monologue. Maeve is a vog queen, but she ghosted her husband and his bros in the vulg Realm because apparently happy endings are overrated. Luckily, our crew escapes, returning to Antika just in time for the healer on High is taken by none other than Duva. Don't remember her? It's okay. Nobody does either. She's been possessed by a vog princess and has been a serial killer the whole time.

[Lexi]

The whole time.

[Nicole]

The whole time. In her wrath and pregnancy hormones, she lashes out with dark power and mortally wounds Kaol. But it's a good thing we've got some healers. Irene pulls Kale back from literal jaws of death, but apparently fate is petty and insists on a receipt. Kale and Irene are now officially life bonded. One dies, the other dies. No take backs, no refunds. If Irene's magic weakens, Kael regresses, but it's okay. Kaol has healed and doesn't care if he's fighting on a chair or on his feet so long as Irene is by his side. Everyone agrees it's time to sail north to help Aelin wreck the vog. But always love wins. Sartak confesses his feeling about Nesrin to his father and is instantly named Heir Wannabe Empress Nesrin and Kaol and Irene get married and with their gold couch in tower, set sail to Aralia. 2 out of 3 for 2 out

[Lexi]

of 3 we'll dive into this fan guide setting up what's next in the series with no plot spoilers After a quick word from our sponsors, we all have big plans for our days.

[Nicole]

We want to cross off that to

[Lexi]

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I am so excited and relieved every

[Nicole]

time we have FACTOR in our house.

[Lexi]

First of all, every single meal is so delicious. One of my personal favorites is their pot roast with the mash. And it's really funny actually because Nicole and I often do co working sessions or like take a break during recordings to eat some food and more often than not we both show up with our Factor meals and we're just like

[Nicole]

happily eating them here together. We use factor and you should too. Head to factor meals.com fantasyfangirl50off and use code fantasy fangirl50off to get 50% off and free breakfast for a year. Eat like a pro this month with Factor New subscribers only. Varies by plan. One free breakfast item per box for one year while subscription is active.

[Lexi]

You know the saying, new Year, new me.

[Nicole]

Well, let's tweak that a little bit

[Lexi]

and go with new year, new space. And there's no better way to revitalize your space than shopping on Wayfair.

[Nicole]

From bedding and mattresses to store storage solutions for every room in the house, Wayfair is your one stop shop. I decided to marry the furniture and the storage together. And Brett and I just got new nightstands. We have been using like super cheapo tiny little nightstands for many, many years of our lives. And we just got these beautiful like three tier drawer nightstands. They have like a plug at the top for our electronics. I am so excited. And one of my favorite parts about Wayfair is, you know, with furniture, sometimes it like takes a long time to come in. These come in on Sunday. I ordered these yesterday. It is Friday today. I'm so excited to set them up and just make our room a little bit cozier and much more storage efficient.

[Lexi]

Like Nicole's saying, we love how convenient Wayfair is. They have everything from room decor to furniture and even storage for your space. Like wonderful nightstands. Wayfair has you covered no matter your budget.

[Nicole]

Get organized, refreshed and back on track this new year. For way less, head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. That's W A Y F A I R.com Wayfair Every style, every home.

[Lexi]

Hi, this is Hannah Berner, co host of Giggly Squad. Let's be honest. We've all done things in our lives that may have just followed the crowd, like drinking matcha. Even if you think it tastes like grass or pretending skinny jeans were actually comfortable. Have we been doing the same thing with Zero Sugar Cola? Last year, people across America took the Pepsi challenge. No labels, no bias. Judged on taste alone, 66% of participants agreed Pepsi Zero Sugar tastes better than Coke Zero Sugar and Pepsi Zero Sugar won in every single market. Go out and try Pepsi Zero Sugar today. You deserve taste. You deserve Pepsi.

[Nicole]

You know what's wild? Most people are still overpaying for car insurance just because it's a pain to switch. That's why there's Jerry. Jerry's the only app that compares rates from over 50 insurance in minutes and

[Lexi]

helps you switch fast.

[Nicole]

With no spam calls or hidden fees, drivers who save with Jerry could save over $1,300 a year. Before you renew your car insurance policy, do yourself a favor, download the Jerry app or head to Jerry AI Acast

[Lexi]

hi, I'm Darina, co founder of Quo.

[Nicole]

You might know us as openphone.

[Lexi]

My dad is a business owner and growing up he always kept his ringtone super loud so he'd never miss a customer call. That stuck with me. When we started quo, our mission was

[Nicole]

to help businesses not just stay in

[Lexi]

touch, but make every customer feel valued

[Nicole]

no matter when they might call.

[Lexi]

Quo gives your team business phone numbers to call and text on your phone or computer.

[Nicole]

Your calls, messages and contacts live in one workspace so your team can stay fully aligned and reply faster.

[Lexi]

And with our AI agent answering 24.

[Nicole]

Seven, you'll really never miss a customer. Over 90,000 businesses use Quo.

[Lexi]

Get 20% [e-mail] business that's qU-U-O.com business

[Nicole]

and we can port your existing numbers over for free.

[Lexi]

Quo no missed calls, no missed customers it is time to turn to our Throne of Glass cheat sheet, AKA what this fan guide is all about. Once again, we are preparing ourselves for what we need to know as the world continues expanding in the Throne of Glass series. As always, due to the nature of this fan guide, we are sharing basic information from Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn about the world, politics and goals, characters, a whole bunch of stuff here today. It is intended to help you feel ready and oriented as you start reading Kingdom of Ash. So let's get started. Kingdom of Ash will open with a two month time jump from the end of Empire of Storms, so let's go through what all has happened in those two months. Aelin is Maeve's prisoner, trapped in an iron coffin with chains around her body and an iron mask locked to her face. Sad to say, she's enduring torture at the hands of Maeve's new psychopath Karen, who replaced Rowan as a member of Maeve's cadre and he's bad to the bone. Maeve wants the word keys and plans to torture the information out of Aelin. Luckily, Aylin at least sneakily passed the word keys to Manon back on the beach before she was imprisoned, so she does not have them. But yes, she does have information about the word keys that Maeve desperately wants. Additionally, in Maeve's twisted way, she sees this as saving Aelin from sacrificing herself to forge the new lock. Maeve would much prefer to have Aelin as her own tool to be wielded all that power would be wasted on sacrifice when Maeve thinks that she can harness Aelin under her control. It's also unknown where Maeve is holding aen.

[Nicole]

On the road looking for Aelin is Elite, Lorcan, Gabriel and Rowan. Rowan has basically just become a husk of who he is and he is 100% focused on getting his wife back. Because yes, they're married. Rowan and Aylin got married the night before Aelin and Manon went into the Witch Mirror and only Lysandra and Adien were witnesses and the kids. The captain was performing the ceremony on the ship. While the intention was to, yes, celebrate their love, but make Rowan the official king consort to Tercen, what Rowan didn't know is that Aelin highly suspected that she might need to die in order to forge the lock. And by having Rowan as king consort, he is there for Tercen no matter what, especially with a fake Aelin by his side. Again, unbeknownst to Rowan, Aelin and Lysandra had concocted a plan where in case Aelin has to die or here be taken by Maeve. That was unknown though. Lysandra will shapeshift into Aelin and pretend to be the Queen of Terasen while Adien sires their babies. It was an unpopular decision that I went into all last episode during the spoiler section. Adien is furious, I'm furious, and Rowan is not accepting it. Last episode you mentioned Lexi. It's like he already lost Lyria and now he's not going to lose Aelin too. It's that truly sums up where Rowan is in a nutshell. He is determined to go get his wife and his mate because they're not only married. We also learn at the end of Empire of Storms, Maeve has been pulling some weird psychological shit and she knew that Rowan and Aelin would be mates, and very powerful ones at that. So she broke into Rowan's mind, convinced him that Lyria was his mate, and then had Lyria killed. So Rowan would basically be pledge himself to Maeve via the blood oath. Then Maeve has been hounding the Galathinius house to bring Aelind around Doranaal for forever in the hopes that Aelin would meet Rowan, see her mate locked into a blood oath with another, thus basically making AEN eating out of the palm of Maeve's hand. Lorcan and Gavriel, who have both now had their blood oaths severed from Maeve too, are joining this mission because to be honest, Rowan cannot be alone right now and they're going to be here to help their brother. And Elite is here partially because she feels respectful, responsibility, and she wants to tag along. But she also owes so much to Aelin. She's about as loyal as you can be to the Queen of Tercen without having a direct blood oath to the queen while we're on a lead. She hates Lorcan's guts because she blames him for Aelin's capture. I mean, well, Lorcan, seeing the ships coming in and readying for the attack, called Maeve to their location on the beach of Ilway, thinking that having her there would then protect a lead and make sure she did not become a casualty of the fight. Now you're thinking, why would he do that? Lorcan and everyone else on Aurelia for that matter, have no idea that Maeve is a Vog queen. Don't worry, we're going to get to that download very, very soon. Lorcan has been nothing but blindly faithful to Maeve because she is who he's known all along. He loved her for a long time and he basically sees her as his one and only salvation. And. And boy, oh boy, he done know that he fucked up. Especially when his blood oath was severed and he was seen crawling to Maeve on the beach. Yes, a lead is fucking pissed. Then we have Aden and Lysandra, who are with the Silent Assassins of the Red Desert. Ansel of Briarcliffe and Galen Ash river, who is the Crown Prince of Wendland and Aelin and Aiden's cousin. They all battled together at the end of Empire of Storms in the battle of Ilway against Maeve's forces and are now heading to Tereza with Aelin, AKA Lysandra. The only people who know that Lysandra is cosplaying Aelin in this group is Adien. And he is pissed at this girl, which again, I am not opening that can of worms.

[Lexi]

Manon, Dorian and the 13 are journeying to find the Kraken witches and rally their forces with the intention that once when they find the Kraken witches and bring them onto their side, they'll all meet up north with the rest of our friends in Terrassin to fight.

[Nicole]

Switching over to Rift hold, the capital of Otterlin. It was sat by the witches at the top of Empire of Storms and is not looking so great. Even looking worse because Dorian has left. The people of Rift hold don't know that he left with Rowan to go save the world with the word Keys instead are not very thrilled with their king Calling him a traitor for leaving them. And you can imagine how this guilt weighs heavy on our boy Dorian.

[Lexi]

Then we have the Tower of Dawn crew sailing from the southern continent to fight for Irelia. The Khaganate's forces coming to ally with Terrasson are an armada led by Princess Asar, a cavalry led by Prince Kashin, 1000 Rukin led by Sartak, and 300 healers led by Irene and the healer on High Hafiza. The best part, this host is only half of their forces. The second half is still rallying in Antika before they travel to Aurelia. This was kind of short notice. Everybody should be ready in a few weeks. Irene and Kaol are married and returning to their friends. This means Irene will see Aelin again after their fateful encounter years ago, when the mysterious young assassin sent Irene toward her destiny of becoming a healer. The price of saving Kaol's life after Valk, Princess Duva's attack was a shared life force between him and Irene. As Irene's magic gets drained, so does Kael's strength. So he will lose the ability to walk the more Irene works as a healer. And thanks to his inner healing, he's okay with all that. And if one of them dies, so does the other. Hmm, that's a little nerve wracking heading into war. But with this force coming from Antika is Nezren and Sartak too. They're engaged to be married. Married? And then become Emperor and Empress of Antika. But first, they plan to defeat the Vog army and free the northern continent by leading the Rooks into war. And the Antika Group does know that Maeve is Vog, unlike the Aurelia Group, of course, we have our. Where's the Word? I said a word.

[Nicole]

Word.

[Lexi]

Word. Where is the Word Keys? Where are the Word Keys and who has them? Dorian. Dorian has the Word Keys. Aelin gave them to Manon, who is with Dorian. Dorian carries two Word keys with him. The one hidden in the Amulet of Orinth and the one elite handed over from Caltain. Our princeling has taken the responsibility to find the third Word Key. He thinks it's the way that he can best help to keep the two Word Keys far away from Maeve and to find the third, which. Yep, is probably in Morath.

[Nicole]

Since we're talking about Word Keys, the objects Arowana's looking for, like his life depends on it, so he can bring back his brothers into the world. Let's do a quick update on this here. Big Bad. We know that Erewhon is paranoid about the healers because he knows there's one who's blessed. Quest by Silba, AKA Irene Last book in Tower of Dawn we learned that Erewhan sent a vog ring and it took over Duva with the intention of taking Irene to Arowan, who wanted to leverage her powers for his own twisted uses, making it so that the highest chance of him being killed or the Volg healed out of him is wiped off the table. Erewhon remains in Morath, but Parrington's body has been fully shed. Now he is is seen as a beautiful young man with golden hair to match his gold eyes. He's working on getting witch mirrors up and running towers that basically amplify shadow Fire and will basically obliterate everything in their path.

[Lexi]

And we can't forget about the huge reveal we also got in Tower of Dawn about Maeve. She's not a Fae Queen, she's a Vulg Queen who is not from this world. TL Dr. Long ago in another world, three Vog King brothers fell in love with Maeve, but she married Orcus, the oldest and most powerful, instead of Mantix or the youngest Erewhon. But Orcus, he wasn't around very much, which left Maeve alone on the homeworld and she began finding information for herself on how to travel between worlds in a handy dandy library. Eventually she figured it out and escape, landing in Irelia with her handmaidens the Spiders through the Wordgate in the southern continent. The Spiders stayed in the southern continent to guard the Word Gate they traveled through and they've stayed loyal to her all this time, waiting for their Vaal Queen. When Maeve arrived in the Immortal Lands in the northern continent at the dawn of time, she ripped into the minds of the Fae sister Queens Mora and Mab, along with their people to make everyone believe there had always been three Fae Queens instead of two. Maeve hid her true identity well, so even the Vaal Kings wouldn't know who she was if they ever came to this world. And so Maeve ruled as the eldest Fae Queen and outlasted the other two Fae Queens since they gave up their immortality for mortal lovers. But guess what? The Vaal Kings found this world in their search for Maeve. Long story short, Maeve helped defeat the Vulg Kings and sent two of them back to their world, all without revealing her true identity as the missing Valg Queen. According to her, she does not want to destroy this world. She's just a twisted ruler who wants everyone under her control.

[Nicole]

How did we learn all this? Giant spiders, of course. Stygian spiders, or the Karan Kui, as they're called on the southern continent. They're massive beasts, the size of a horse. Bleh. And they resemble Black Widows. And thankfully, they can talk. They can talk? They can talk. Two variations of these stygian spiders exist. Ones on the northern continent lurk in the woods of the ruined mountains and are more peaceful. But that's not saying much because they're still quite ruthless for their bargains for the softer than air, stronger than steel spider silk. We've seen their bargains twice so far in Throne of Glass Falcon, who is a merchant from Assassin's Blade. Then we also meet again in Tower of Dawn. We learn that he's a shapeshifter and Lysandra's uncle. He traded 100 yards of spider silk in exchange for 20 years of his life. So he is technically in his 20s, but he looks like he's in his mid-40s. Then Manon almost had to trade off her beauty for spider silk for Abraxos Wing back in Era Fire. But she tricked the spider Muahaha, and she did not have to give up her beauty. Then we have the spiders on the southern continent. They guard the original Word Gate that Maeve passed through in order to get into this world, protecting it so that it if when their queen wishes to come back.

[Lexi]

And one more time for emphasis, we also learn at the Tower of Dawn that extra, extra powerful healers, Irene have the magical ability to eradicate the Vulg from this world, including Erewhon. Ten years ago, when Erawan was rising to power in the shadows as Duke Parrington, and with the King of Otterland under his control, magic was outlawed and magic users were hunted down and eradicated. Yes, including healers. This was very intentional. This was a year before the magic actually disappeared, which the King of Otterlin was personally responsible for. As we talked about last episode, to protect his son, 12 gods accidentally came into the world of Irelia and became trapped here after passing through a temporary Word Gate. They've been eager to get back to their own world for a very, very, very, very, very long time. Which Nicole will explain shortly how that that fits into the plot. I'm not going to go through all 12 gods, because to be honest, this episode is already too long and we have to keep this high level. But the prominent gods are Hellas, the dark God, the God of death, and ruler of the burning Realm of the underworld. Oh, my gosh. My Masperous eye is twitching. Lorcan believes that he has been guided by Hellas his whole life. And his powers are a gift from this God. Then we have Aneth, consort of Hellas, the Lady of wise things and goddess of of slow deaths. And it has been guiding Elite her whole life. You get it? Helis and Annette. Lorcan and Elite. It's so good. We're familiar with Diana, Goddess of hunting, maidenhood and the moon. Her symbol is the golden arrow, which Celaena was given back in throne of Glass, but she's since given it to Nezrin. Diana and Mala were rivals and sisters, but they have both watched over Aylin all her life. It is believed, though untrue, that Fae Queen Mab was reborn as Deanna. Which I know can be confusing, but at least to my understanding, they are indee separate entities. Which brings us to Mala. Firebringer, the Goddess of the sun and lady of Light, Learning and fire. Mala was once mate of Brannon and gifted him her fire magic. Brannon and Mala were parents to Elena. And Mala had to give up her mortal body, AKA her life, to become the lock. The Eye of Elena. Mala is Aelin's ancestor and Dorian's too. Hence why both of them have such powerful magic. Dorian has her brute raw magic that was passed down through Elena. And Aelin has her fire magic. Then there is Silba, the goddess of healing healers and gentle deaths, who we learned quite a bit about in Tower of Dawn. Irene is blessed by her gifted with powerful healing magic.

[Nicole]

Okay, so I went through the Witch mirror download with Elena and the gods all last episode. But it is so important as we go into Kingdom of Ash, so it's worth doing another quick TL doctor In the Witch Mirror, Aelin and Manon witness a memory of Elena sealing Erewhon in an iron sarcophag using the Eye of Elena, which is the lock legesp. But because Elena drains the lock fully, the gods are pissed. They'd planned to use that lock to bind the word keys together, open a word gate and return themselves to their og God home world. They made the deal that they would also banish Erewhon from this world in the process. But with Elena's actions to use the lock to entrap Erewhon, she technically wasted the lock and robbed the gods of that opportunity. And the gods are pretty pissed because they know that this was only a temporary solution. Erewhon will rise again. He's not dead. Something Elena is willing to now pass along to whatever descendant of hers. Oh, Elena. The gods tell Elena that her punishment for wasting this lock and, you know, wanting to pass along a burden onto someone else when Erewhon wakes up, is that Elena will have to walk said person through their fate and watch them die in the process in order to forge the new lock. Which we can see how that weighs on her. And now she feels guilty about it because she's gotten to know Aelin and she sees how good Aelin is. I mean, it's because of Elena that Aelin was resurrected when she was eight years old, when she actually did die on the riverbank. And Elena.

[Lexi]

Oh, woof.

[Nicole]

This is such a tough look for you. But either Aelin or Dorian, as a descendant of Brannon, will have to pour all of their magic into the lock, reforge it, and die in the process. Then, only then will the gods be allowed to go through the gate back to their home. And they promise they will take Erewhon with them.

[Lexi]

So, Nicole, I have to ask. Do you think that the next SJM series that we're getting, if we get a fourth one, would that be this rumored Twilight of the Gods or something along those lines?

[Nicole]

I could 100% see the gods being a part of it, especially thinking about how the mass verse as a whole all do revolve around gods, and not the same ones, necessarily, but I could see how that would cause some overlap. And then maybe this is like a totally separate world. I don't know. I'd be really curious.

[Lexi]

I do, too. I think it would be a separate world, like potentially even that OG home. And anyway, I just love thinking about all the possibilities.

[Nicole]

But this brings us to a very important phrase quote. Nameless is my price. In Crown of Midnight, it is Baba Yellow Legs who says, nameless is my price, but gold will do for now. For the first time, then, in Empire of Storms, Aelin realizes, while Elena is talking, that the price is death and the Nameless has to pay it. So it's been here the whole time. Brannon was bastard born in Wendland and wears the Bastard mark, AKA the Nameless Mark. The first time we see this Mark of the Nameless is actually in book one, when Celaena is fighting Cain and the mark on her brow begins to light up. So this is now Aelin realizing that she is the Nameless who must be sacrificed. Side note, beautifully tragic symbolism that she is the Nameless and Empire of Storms ends with her having an iron mask covering up her identity, literally making her Nameless again.

[Lexi]

Oh, and in the Fireheart epilogue of Tower of Dawn, she is only called the Princess. She is not named. She is nameless. Just like Dorian had been as well as his father when they were possessed by the Valk. I know that's a different scenario from what Aelin is going through, but this concept of nameless is so tangled up with the Vog and needing to defeat them. Yes.

[Nicole]

Oh, it's so good.

[Lexi]

Let's shift our whole attention to the allies of of Terrasen after Aelin called in her debts and everyone is rallying around to show up to fight for a better world. To defeat Erewhon. In no particular order, we have Ansel of Briarcliff, the current Queen of the Western Wastes and symbolized by a wolf. Tercen and the Wastes have always been allies. And yes, if you're like. But wait, I thought the Western Wastes used to belong to the Witch Kingdom. And Manon is the last Croc and witch, so it's inherently her land to rule. Even if as a witch, she can't live get there. You are correct. That is a subplot that I am breezing over right now. Ansel showed up with a hundred ships in the Stone Marches toward the end of Empire of Storms. How the heck does she have ships? Well, she had sacked the territory of Melisande, which was allied with Morath, and its queen yielded to Ansel. So she now has their fleets and now leads a large army. It is split up right now, though Ansel and Adien are strategizing where to bring her army once when it's whole again. Remember that Ansel was Aelin, Celaena's first meaningful female friend. Back in Assassin's Blade, where they bonded in the Red Desert. Except then Ansel betrayed said friendship and the Silent Assassins. Celaena allowed Ansel 20 minutes to escape before she was going to fire an arrow to take her down. Then ended up sparing Ansel's life by firing the arrow after 21 minutes. So it purposefully missed as Ansel escaped. Well, Aelin is calling in that debt. She saved Ansel's life. And now Ansel and her army are coming to the Queen of Tarasen's aid. Then there's the Silent Assassin of the Desert, led by Illis, the Mute Master's son. Again, friends of Celaena's from Assassin's Blade. This was the group that Ansel betrayed. But now they're all on the same side. So we're good. The Silent Assassins are legendary at being, well, assassins. So a good group to have as an ally. Then we have the Bane, who are an elite force Previously Slash currently led by Adien. Compromise of rebels, former Ardaladian soldiers and survivors. Hidden by Adian. Second in command of the Bane is is Killian. They typically operate in the Staghorn Mountains and the group is generally faceless, but defined by their fierce loyalty to the Ash river line. Aelin also has some allies from the eastern continent. Prince Galen, Ash river of Windland's forces. Galen is Aelin's cousin on her mother's side. Aelin sent him, not his father the king, a letter earlier in Empire of Storms bluntly saying quote Tercen remembers Evelyn Ash river which is her mother. Do you I fought at misword for your people return the gods damn favor.

[Nicole]

I love that.

[Lexi]

Galen showed up on the beach outside Eelweight claiming of course they remember. And he has brought his fleet to fight for Terasen. Also from the eastern continent are Fae allies, specifically the Whitethorns, after Rowan convinced them to switch sides and fight for good versus stay with Maeve. This is Rowan's relatives and Doranel, who led part of Maeve's armada in until they chose to fight alongside Rowan and his queen.

[Nicole]

Then we have the pirate lord, Rolf. Rolf rules over Skulls Bay and most of the dead islands. He has a heavily tattooed hand inked with a map that magically changes to show treasures, enemies and ships. That is so sick. I love this. Aelin got him onto their side back in Empire of Storms when she oops. Lured the Volg into the bay. Making Rolf reluctantly agree to fight for Tarasen in the war in exchange for Aelin saving their asses in the bay. He also will get the title of Lord of Ilium and King of the Archipelago.

[Lexi]

We also know that Rolf is heir to the lost Messenian people, banished 300 years ago. So he has been off searching for the Messenians wherever they are hiding nowadays to be allies of Aelin.

[Nicole]

As part of this deal, any Morath ships that these pirates sack, they will get to keep whatever gold or treasure is on board. While any weapons or ammunition will go to the front. Honestly, a pretty sweet deal for any pirates. Then rounding out the northern allies, we have the 13 who have officially yeeted out from under the Iron Teeth Matron's control and have gone rogue. Last book it was them who swooped in and basically saved the day from the sea battle. And as a friendly reminder, here are the members of the 13th. We have Manaan, the leader. Asterin, Manaan's cousin and second, she's my favorite. She's awesome. And she has held that position for Over a century. Then we have Sorrel, who is Manon's third. She's known as the Stone to Manaan's Ice and Asterin's Fire. We have Vesta, who is the only member of the 13 with red hair. We have Falleen and Fallon, who are demon twins. Edda and Briar, who are cousins, both known as Manon's Shadows. They rarely speak, and they're basically trained to blend in with the dark. We have Theia and Kaya, who are partners. We have Lienna or Lyn, as she's preferred, and she will attack you if you call her anything but Lyn. Then we have Ghislaine, who is the oldest and most cleverest of the 13. And lastly Imogen, who mostly keeps to herself. Then we've got the southern continent. We have the military of the Khaganate, the cavalry led by Kashin, the armada led by Princess Asar, and the Rooks led by Sartak, heir to the throne and the individual clan hearth mothers. And of course, we have the healers of the Torchesme led by Her Feza and Irene. Honestly, a lot of allies. Aelin's kind of. I mean, she's not in a great position, but she's also. Her warriors.

[Lexi]

Well, they need every last person, huh?

[Nicole]

They really do.

[Lexi]

Let's go back to those witches, though. Manon is the disowned heir of the Blackbeak Clan, and the 13, along with her matron, Black Beak, believes Manon to be dead or severely injured after Helman left with a fatal stomach injury earlier in Empire of Storms. And by the end of the book, the 13 appeared on their wyverns to help save the day in the battle on the southern coast. Now they fly with Manon to search for the Kraken witches. Which brings us to. Manon is the last living Kraken queen. Born of two parents, an Iron Teeth witch and a rare Kraken prince created her out of love and hope to break the curse of the Iron Teeth and unite their people. And Manon is on a mission to find and rally the Kraken witches and join Aelin's cause. It is how she can contribute to the war effort and honor the old Terrassin and Witch Kingdom alliance. But it's proving hard to find the Kraken witches these past two months to try and convince them to fight for a better world. Manon believes that they really can make a difference in this war, especially against the Iron Teeth Legion, who will be fighting for Erewhon. Quick TL Dr. On the Kraken witches Where Iron Teeth take after the witches Volg ancestors, the Kraken take after the Fae ancestors. Meaning to basically put it they're more peaceful. During the first Demon War, the Krakens fought with Brandon against the Vog Kings. The Kraken dynasty ruled the Witch Kingdom before they were over overthrown by the Iron Teeth Witches. For the past 500 years, the Krakens have scattered across the lands living nomadic lives, disguising themselves as wise women and healers. During that battle between the Iron Teeth and the Kraken. Five hundred years ago, the last Kraken queen, Rhiannon cursed the Witch Lands after she held the kingdom gates for three days and three nights. Thanks to her, the Iron Teeth may have won the war, but they would never win the land. The exact verbiage of the curse is blood to blood and soul to soul. Together this was done, and only together can it be undone. Be the bridge, be the light. When iron melts, when flowers spring from fields of blood, Let the lands be witness and return home. The Iron Teeth have been hunting the Krakens ever since and sufficient to say they are enemies. But Manon has been believed to be the one who can unite their people, being a child of both witch bloodlines, to lead them into a battle for this world and hopefully reclaim their land. If you're wondering how Manon is related to Rhiannon, the last kraken witch from 500 years ago, allow me to explain. Rhiannon's child survived the Iron Teeth overthrow and several generations later, Rhiannon's descendant was a rare born male Kraken witch named Tristan. Tristan's love was Manon's mother and they had her. Later on, he would have a daughter with a Kraken witch who is Manaan's half sister. She killed back in Heir of Fire accidentally. She didn't know it was her sister. Once his other daughter named after Rhiannon died, Manon became the sole living bloodline of Kraken royalty, and therefore the last Kraken queen. I also want to highlight the importance of the Kraken's Crown of Stars, an ancient heirloom to the Kraken witches. But it was stolen by Baba Yellow Legs from Queen Rhiannon's body when the witch Kingdom fell 500 years ago. This Crown of Stars is a silver band with nine glowing stars. And yes, we did first see it in Crown of Midnight when Baba Yellow Legs was wearing it in her caravan. But after Celaena killed Baba, it's unknown how it Made its way back to the Yellowlegs clan.

[Nicole]

Since Dorian is traveling with the witches, let's do a quick tldr on what we know about his magic so far. Dorian has what is called raw magic and a hell of a lot of it, which means he has a well of power vast enough that he could sacrifice himself and forge the lock again. This is because he's a descendant of Brannon and Mala. What does Ra magic mean, though? It means everything. His magic can take the shape of. Of really anything he wishes. Sarah J. Maas was really like, you're gonna have basically the most op power in this entire book, but all of the emotional damage. You're welcome. He tends to favor ice shadows and phantom hands. But with him right now holding on to two of the three word keys, that power is basically like humming inside of him. He's vibrating, if you will. And of course, we have Manon and Dorian, who are banging like rabbit While they're not head over heels in love with each other. There's no long walks on the beach or candlelight dinners with heart to heart conversations. There is absolutely a physical attraction. Dorian is still healing from Sorsha and he needed someone unbreakable, as he puts it. And we'll see Dorian tap back into that flirtatious prince we met back in book one. He's really going back to that. That Dorian we know and love. For Manon, Dorian is the only person she really lets dominate her. She is going through a journey of softening her hard exterior to the world and basically being a villain. So this is a big deal that she's also softening and submitting during intimacy. I love that they're both firsts for each other, but in different ways. It's so cute.

[Lexi]

Yeah. Before we move into our whole series spoilers segment, we have to close out this fan guide part one with the all important, important question. What are our thoughts about the final book, the end of the series? And I'm actually going to have a follow up question in here as well after we talk about this.

[Nicole]

Kingdom of Ash, in my opinion, is what I would call a perfect final book. It is the perfect end to this series, which it cannot be overstated. How big of a deal it was for Sarah J. Maas to stick the landing of a series. She started writing when she was was 16 and she stuck the land like that is insanely hard to do.

[Lexi]

I wholeheartedly agree. It is so incredibly hard to stick the landing for a series, whether it's a TV show or a book or whatever that might be. And this epic fantasy, I love it. I can't imagine it ending any other way. And I feel so complete by the end of it. And I think that's really a good sign of a wonderful series where you feel sad that it's over, but also just like settled and it's like, okay,

[Nicole]

yeah, I'm good with that.

[Lexi]

Like, that was wonderful. Yeah.

[Nicole]

So while Kingdom of Ash is many people's favorite book, I gotta admit, it's not my fave. But in a huge but italicized, underlined, bolded. I think that this is by far the most impressive book.

[Lexi]

That is such a good way of putting it. Yes.

[Nicole]

Now I do feel like on my previous reads of this series, Kingdom of Ash is actually my second to least favorite book. But again, another big but this fan guide deep dive jumped. I mean the series up in my appreciate. Like this series is now God tier to me. Like I. I did not expect to love this series as much as I did at the end of this fan guy. But this book has now jumped up multiple spaces just because of how gut wrenching it is. I fully see how some people's lives are before and after. Like before I read Kingdom of Ash is the time in their lives and then they have the after I read Kingdom of Ash as the time in their lives. It feels very similar to me in A Court of Mist and Fury. I feel like I don't read a lot of books that have these epic battles in it because let's be real, they are intimidating. But Sarah J. Maas just nails it in this series. This book rips your heart out over and over and over and over again. And while there are some storylines that in my opinion aren't the most engaging or end in ways that I might disagree with, I just, I, I am locked in. I'm so locked in, especially on the storylines I feel really connected to. A Lin's is one of them that you just, you read and you're just like holy. And to be honest, I don't know how much else I can say without word vomiting spoilers. So I'm just gonna leave it there.

[Lexi]

So last episode we were talking about plot verse, character driven books in the series and I believe for how high stakes, how many battles and moving pieces there are in this book, it does such a great job of balancing character development and giving them their space to shine along with everything else going on in the story. Like there is room for relationships to breathe amid everything else that is going on and it just fits so effortlessly. I cannot even Imagine writing a book like this with so many character POVs, storylines, secrets, romances, character traumas, the gods coming in there, relevant historical events. It is by far one of the most impressive books I've ever read, if not one of the most impressive ones. Like I think about Lord of the Rings with the two towers. It is that kind of level of mastery here. And by the end of this book, this series, we've all been with these characters for so long, it's hard to leave them. We don't want to because look at what we've been through with them. Okay, so, Nicole, now I have my follow up question for you. We've done our abbreviated version of the Steep dive, and I just love how we've done this. First of all, it's been so different, so much fun. What are your book rankings within this series after we've gone through all of this? This.

[Nicole]

Oh, God. Okay, so Queen of Shadows still remains my top book. Tower of dawn is my number two. And then the next three are like. I'm gonna pretend like they're neck and neck. So this is all number three. Crown of Midnight, Air of Fire, and Kingdom of Ash. I literally, as you were talking earlier, I was like weaving things around. I was like, no, it's actually Kingdom of Ash. That's number three. No, it's actually a fire. No, it's the same thing. So all of those are on the same playing field. I'm sorry, I will not pick. Then I have Empire of Storms, followed by Throne of Glass and last but in my opinion least, Assassin's Blade.

[Lexi]

I hate having to make this decision because I'm sure it'll change depending on the mood. But again, similar. When we're ranking these just a God

[Nicole]

tier series so hard, it's because like, everything, like, even putting a Throne of Glass at the very end, it's like it is is all there. Like we have the eye of Elena and Damaris, like all of these things, it's just like, how can I put that second to last when it has all this setup, but it's also second to last in my book. I don't know. So hard.

[Lexi]

So mine is Queen of Shadows as well as number one. Then it is Heir of Fire followed by Kingdom of Ash. I actually did switch Kingdom of Ash and Tower of Dawn after I finished reading Kingdom of Ash this time. Then fourth is Tower of Dawn followed by Empire of Storms, Throne of Glass, Assassin's Blade, and last but not least, in my opinion, Crown of Midnight.

[Nicole]

Okay, I'm curious why Crown of Midnight is Last in your book.

[Lexi]

Besides everything with Nehemia, it was a little bit forgettable. Like, when I think about all the storylines in the series, that one, to me is the most forgettable. So that's. That's why it's last. Yeah.

[Nicole]

Okay. That's super. I. I will never forget finishing Crown of Midnight and getting the she is Aen Ash River, Calathinius.

[Lexi]

Oh, absolutely.

[Nicole]

That moment I was like, oh, my God, I love the baba yellow leg stuff. But no, I do it. Like, there's so much that happens in these series where it's just like.

[Lexi]

It's so.

[Nicole]

It's so hard. It's so hard. They're all good.

[Lexi]

For me, I love Assassin's Blade because it is literally all set up. And it's like when you're reading it, I love how everything still matters so much, even though you don't know it in the moment. And for me, like, how you're saying with the Crown of Midnight, the ending, for me, it was the ending of Assassin's Blade and how it propels everything forward for our main character. Yeah.

[Nicole]

I will say this. This. This abbreviated deep dive has made me appreciate Assassin's Blade. And again, I am not a short stories person. I think that is why it ranks last for me. And I do appreciate where that book is as a part of this series. Rather than feeling like it was kind of like, oh, it's bonus. Like it's there. Oh, it's not bonus. And now I don't feel that way. And now I don't feel that way.

[Lexi]

Good, good, good. And Kingdom of Ash, I. After this reread again, I read it for the first time. This is only my second time reading so fast. When we were so in the weeds of starting ffg, there was a million things happening and I couldn't truly appreciate the series. It was really having to read it as fast as I could because I was getting spoiled left and right. And this reread, even though I have done it very fast as well. I have been able to go on this journey and really immerse myself in it in a way that I wasn't able to previously. And this has made Throne of Glass. Now, I had previously loved Acotar more, mostly because it was my first fantasy, you know, here as an adult and all the emotional ties it has, my book boyfriend and all of that. But Throne of Glass, it's so much more than just a better plot at this point. Now for me, like, I have such a greater appreciation for the character development and just how masterful and epic it is. And so I think Throne of Glass is now one of my all time favorite series. Yeah. Wow.

[Nicole]

I think for me as well, I don't think it has topped a Court of Mist and Fury. For me, that still remains my favorite Sarah J. Maas book. But I think for series, no, I think Acotar still remains my favorite series. But Throne of Glass is nearly up there with it. Yeah, that's a big deal for you. It was my least favorite and it was for very similar reasons. Like I never felt that connected to the characters because I was just binging it so fast and then I was binging it for our ACOTAR coverage and it just felt like I had one foot out the door always when I was reading it. And this time being able to it put, put both feet fully in this world was just like a whoa. Oh my God. So I'm, I'm so glad we did this because it has made me fall in love with this is now one of my new favorite series.

[Lexi]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

All right, friends, we are about to begin our Throne of Glass full spoilers for the last time. Oh, I'm sad.

[Lexi]

So if you have not read all of Throne of Glass, all eight books, this is your time to say goodbye. But first, some housekeeping items.

[Nicole]

This may be our final throw in a Glass episode. But next Monday we are switching over to one of my favorite series of all time, one of my top books of all my entire life, when the Moon Hatched. As we prep for that deep dive, next Monday will be our no spoilers fan guide and intro to Deep diving When the Moon hatched. And episode one covering the prologue through chapter 15, which is, I think our longest chapter first episode to date is airing on March 9th.

[Lexi]

We'd love to give the biggest warm welcome, welcome, welcome to our newest feral fans. And Deep Divers is a fan club. Thank you so, so, so much for being here.

[Nicole]

Welcome, welcome, welcome. Sammy Stephanie S. Brittany S. Lauren M. Gilded Tale Sarah A, Rachel L. Valerie R. Caleb Courtney mv Martha S, Iris Lauren K, Christine V. Lore D. Jamie B. Holly R. Kasey S. Jody Kelly, Aubrey P. Christina, Zach and Cheyenne Haley D. Corey, Kira L, Christy M. Shannon S. Malick C, Nancy Charmin MG Kate, Marilyn, Aurora, Danielle, Janelle, Jules P And Jensen. Welcome, welcome, welcome. Holy.

[Lexi]

And if you're like, hey, I want my name, shout out on the podcast and be shot with all this love too. Join our Fan Club at fantasyfangirls.com Fanclub link is also in the show notes. We are very active on social media with many fan guys and lots more. So please be sure to follow us on Instagram and slash our TikTok at fantasy fangirlspod. And if you're watching this on YouTube or want to watch on YouTube, pretty please hit that subscribe button. To keep following along while you're hitting

[Nicole]

buttons, Please hit that 5 star rating button on whatever podcast platform you are listening on. You all, I cannot express how helpful it is to take 30 seconds, not even two seconds of your day and just hit that five star button. If you want to take 30 seconds, you can write a little love note in the review section as well. All right, before we move into our spoilers section, let us take a quick break for a word from our sponsors. This podcast is brought to you by Squarespace. I remember when we first started FFG in the back back in my day when we first started FFG and honestly one of the best decisions we ever made was to put some real time and attention into our Fantasy fangirls website. Websites are an essential part of any small business success. That's why just recently when I was making my author website, I used Squarespace.

[Lexi]

And you all know me with my marketing brain. I have pretty high standards for website tools, but Squarespace delivers in every single way. One thing I love is their integrated Squarespace SEO tools. Every website is optimized to be indexed with meta descriptions, an auto generated site map, and more. So you show up more often on search engines and bring in more of your ideal customers.

[Nicole]

Yes. Plus Squarespace's email campaigns give you all the tools you need to engage clients, promote your services and grow your business. There's all kinds of automations and email scheduling that helps take the mental load off off staying in touch with your customers and your community.

[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

Kids want want Mac and cheese, sugary snacks, juice boxes. They're gonna eat what they're gonna eat. Thrive Market gives you versions with less sugar, fewer sketchy ingredients, and way more nutrition.

[Lexi]

Oh my kids had the Goodles Mac and cheese last night.

[Nicole]

They ate it up.

[Lexi]

Absolutely loved it. Healthy Mac and cheese for the win.

[Nicole]

I had healthy vodka sauce last night and it was so on pasta and it was so good. I loved it. For me personally, the Thrive Market membership gives me access to brands that I don't, I don't ever see at my local store, which is a big deal because it gives me even more options for tasty food that even works around my dietary restrictions. Like, I would never have known that vodka sauce was gluten and dairy free last night. It was so good.

[Lexi]

We like to think of it this way. Thrive Market is about peace of mind. For $5 a month, we get access to so many food options that we know are free of sketchy ingredients. It takes the worry out of grocery shopping. And instead of paying fees on every grocery delivery order, you only pay once for the year and benefit from it every single time you shop.

[Nicole]

We use Thrive Market and you should too. Ready to make some healthy swaps and become a member? Join Thrive Market with our link thrivemarket.com FFG for 30% off your first order plus a free $60 gift. Huzzah. Knock knock.

[Lexi]

Ooh, who's there?

[Nicole]

A Boost Mobile expert here to deliver and set up your all new iPhone 17 Pro designed to be the most powerful iPhone Apple. You called that a knock knock joke? This isn't a joke. Boost Mobile really sends experts to deliver and set up your phone at home or work.

[Lexi]

Okay. It's just that when people say knock

[Nicole]

knock, there's usually a joke to go with it. Like I said, this isn't a joke. So the knock knock was just you knocking? Yeah, that's how doors work. Get the new iPhone 17 Pro delivered and set up by an expert wherever you are. Delivery available for select devices purchased at boostmobile.com, terms apply. You know what's wild? Most people are still overpaying for car insurance just because it's a pain to switch. That's why there's Jerry. Jerry's the only app that compares rates from over 50 insurance in minutes and helps you switch fast. With no spam calls or hidden fees. Drivers who save with Jerry could save over $1,300 a year. Before you renew your car insurance policy, do yourself a favor. Download the Jerry app or head to Jerry AI Acast. Carvana is so easy. Just a click and we've got ourselves a car. See so many cars. That's a clicktastic. Invent and check out the financing options payments to fit our budget.

[Lexi]

I mean that's Clickonomics 101 delivery to our door.

[Nicole]

Just a hop, skip and a click away.

[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

Friends and fellow readers, this is our official warning that we are about to enter our Throne of Glass. Spoilers Part of the episode where we discuss character journeys for the final book and our favorite highlights Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers for the whole series.

[Nicole]

So in case you missed it, if you have not finished all eight books in the Throne of Glass series, respectfully, lovingly, we are not going to spoil the ending of Kingdom of Ash for you. And yes, we are going to be going through the multiple endings this book has. So please leave.

[Lexi]

You only have one more book to read. Go read that.

[Nicole]

It's only a thousand pages.

[Lexi]

Then come on back to these part twos. We're going to so excited for you to join us for these part twos. Okay, Nicole, we can't recap every book of the series and not Kingdom of Ash, right?

[Nicole]

Right. As long as you're ready for me to talk for 30 minutes on this episode.

[Lexi]

So Nicole, please do us the honor of summarizing the eighth and final book of this masterful series.

[Nicole]

First up, we have our most traumatized search party. Rowan is out here leading a grim little road trip with Gavriel, Lorcan and a lead searching searching for Aelin like it's taken, but with more trauma and fewer cell phones. Meanwhile, Aelin is having the worst two months of her life being either locked in an iron coffin or tortured by Kairne like it's his full time job because it is. Also, Maeve is trying to get her to swear the blood oath so that she can use her as a magical nuke. Meanwhile, on the not hunt for the Kraken witches, Dorian travels with the 13 while learning to control his magic, swiftly becoming the most dangerous Disney prince with daddy issues alive, he uses his sword Damaris to summon Gavin Havel Billiard's ghost. Like hey King, quick question about the world ending artifacts. Gavin says that the third word key is in Moraf. Skrrrr. A spider attacks in what is Nicole's Nightmare 101, but it accidentally leads our crew to the Kraken witches. Thanks Terrifying spider Surprise. Manon's great grandmother Glennis is alive and surrounded by Krakens who really don't trust Manon. I mean, understandable. Dorian pulls a big brain move by sensing the spider's magic magic, copying its magical blueprint and teaching himself how to shapeshift. First step spider, second step boobies. Then he summons Kaltain spirit who also confirms yes, the word key is in Morath. See previous email Then across the lands Adien is running the war effort while Lysandra pretends to be Aelin, which has completely obliterated any hopes of relationship, but just to put the nail in the iron coffin. But Adien, angry, throws a healing Lysandra out in the snow naked. Where's the rest of the Red flag guy from TikTok? Lord Darrow orders Aiden back to Orinth, the capital of Tarasen. Aiden says I won't go to Orinth and instead sneaks the army to Peranthe with a little help from Nox Owen. Throwback. Well, the battle goes terribly. Lysandra shifts into Aden to inspire morale, but gets injured, which then Aiden realizes, my love, I almost lost you. And Lysandra says, you threw me out in the snow, you bitch. But secret's out, she's not Aelin and Adien is in trouble, getting demoted and losing his emotional support. Sword of Oryth. I'm not gonna say good, but good. Back to the witches. The Iron Teeth Witches attack the Kraken clans, so Manon kills the Yellow Legs matron who shows up wearing a Kraken crown like an absolute clown, spares the Blue Blood heir Petra and intimidates Grandmama Black Beak into fleeing with her tail between her legs. Gladys crowns Manon Queen of the Witches. Dorian decides it's time for him to go all Mission Impossible Mouse Edition and heads to Morath for the third and final word Key while Manon and the witches travel to Terasen to offer aid back to Aelin, who's kneeling in shattered glass while Maeve forces Connell, Fenris's twin, to kill himself on Maeve's orders because Maeve woke up and chose psychological warfare. Maeve then feeds Aelin fake memories like like she's editing her brain on Canva and follows it up with a casual threat of Evolk collar, you know, as a treat. Meanwhile, outside of Dorana, Elite is doing what she does best, quietly being the most competent person in the room, getting intel on where Aelin is being held, and the group immediately goes all Ocean's Eleven mode to plan a rescue. The day before the rescue, Maeve convinces Aelin that Rowan has fully ghosted her. Like block deleted left on red, never coming back. This emotional devastation is so powerful that the mating marks straight up peace out of existence girl. Aylin decides she's done and she plans to provoke Karen into killing her. Fenris, however, clocks this plan and says absolutely not. He breaks the blood oath. Casual God level defiance to attack Cairne. Chaos ensues. Aelin escapes the camp running out of it just as Rowan and co are running into the fray like they're Jack Sparrow on the beach with the tribe running after him. But the mission is is twofold successful, they retrieve a broken and dying Fenris from Karen's tent and bring him to Aelin, who saves his life by making him swear a blood oath to her and commanding him to live. Girl really said no dying on my watch and it worked. And Rowan tortures Karen, skins him alive and kills him. No notes 5 stars even after escaping, Aelin is deeply traumatized and struggles to believe that she's actually free, which is heartbreakingly realistic and very root of sjm. Enter the little Folk, sneaky absolute icons who help Aelin and her rescuers escape Doranaal through underground caves to Terasen. During this time, Aelin starts returning to herself and makes Lorgan swear the blood oath just to make sure it's super clear about where his loyalties lie. Do you accept these terms and conditions, sir? Cut to Kael and Irene, who roll up in Anniel with the Coggins army and immediately overrule Kael's dad because, surprise, Kael outranks him. Now nothing says character development like legally outranking your emotionally distant father and having your wife knock him down off his pedestal. Brava, Irene. Kaol takes control of the battle plans and leads the forces against Arawan's army for five straight days. Five days, sir. Please rest. Then finally, Aelin and her cadre show up. The battle continues outside the walls and Aelin makes her dramatic re entrance. The enemies don't stand at the because she's arrived dressed like a final boss. And the fashion moment Elide, continuing to be the bravest human with zero magical powers and infinite courage, races across the battlefield to save Lorcan. Yay. Shirt pads worked my guy. Just when everyone's about to drown, we find out that Aelin spent three days quietly tunneling into her powers like an emotionally damaged mole. The Queen vaporizes the incoming floodgates and saves everyone because when Aelin Galathinius shows up, she shows up with maximum drama and even bigger magic. Meanwhile, Dorian Havel, the unhinged rodent, sneaks into Morath and discovers Maeve colluding with Erewhon. I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed in you, Maeve. Then she drops her villain TED Talk, revealing her plans to offer the Karoque as hosts for the Vog princesses and admits she's basically been kicked out of Doran El. That last part was a little bit of an Overshare. Maeve Dorian, master manipulator and emotionally exhausted genius, convinces Maeve to play double agent by offering to to marry her and make her the Queen of Otterlin. Iconic behavior from a man whose solution to global catastrophe is what if I propose? Once Maeve thinks she's won, Dorian finds the word key inside another woman's arm. Clearly arrow one doesn't have a. You've already used this password. You can't use it again. On his word key. Then the king walks away alive, with Morath blowing up behind him again. What James Bond level shit this little mouse is up to. What's that? It's the final final boss playlist. Beginning in Orinth, all hell breaks loose. The battle begins, and two of the world ending witch towers are destroyed. But the third is still standing and it's an OSHA violation. Manon arrives with the 13 and 5,000 Kraken witches practically screaming.

[Lexi]

Help is on the way, dear.

[Nicole]

The final witch tower is Destroyed by the 13 who sacrifice. Who sacrifice themselves so everyone can live. Manaan live. And just like that, the book reaches through the page and punches us directly in the soul. The bloodlines of Brannon finally reunite when Aelin and Dorian come together and decide one very chill, very casual question. Should one of us. Aelin called dibs. Die and forge a lock now or later? And democracy votes now. But Aelin and Dorian decide they might be able to survive if they both go in, only to have Aelin dropkick Dorian out. Girl, have you heard of accepting help? Aen sees the dead king of Otterland who decides it's time for a little pick me up energy. And he forges the lock with Aelin. The gods come in. Elena is murdered. Sorry, not fully sorry. And Aelin is told to go home. Life is a highway. Aen falls through universes. Ooh, pretty. With the GPS in the form of a wordmark tattoo. Oh, no, she's going too fast. Thank you, Batman and Prego girl for slowing her down. I totally don't know know who you all are. And it's not the biggest holy shit moment of an Easter egg in the series. Aelin survives, but no, her fire magic is almost entirely gone. We return to Orynth, where supplies are empty, strength is done for, and hope is on the last battery bar. But wait. Riding in on the literal Lord of the North. No, not Rowan. Aelin dives straight into battle, where Gavriel seals the gates of Orinth and they truly hold the door. Moment Maeve and Erewhon arrive with the Spider Volg Princesses because the apocalypse truly needed an arachnophobia DLC after letting one conversation with Aelin change his entire battle plan, Erewhon decides actually, I'm gonna go deal with Irene and peaces out. Irene, Dorian and Nesrin in the most overqualified group project of all time, successfully trap Erewhon. Irene kills him with her magic, proving that once and for all healers are the final bosses. Go. Medical professional Maeve traps Rowan, Lorkhan and Fenris in illusions. Since she can't physically win, emotional manipulation is always an option. But the Bro himself, Fenris manages to incapacitate Maeve using Goldrinn. But surprise. A ring is also put on Maeve's finger, a ring from Silba, and basically is the opposite of Lord of the Rings. Maeve with the one ring is not ruling them all dead. She's dead. And just like that, the Vaal forces across the land crumble into dust and they force Avengers in a full Avengers in game fashion. If you don't hear the dramatic music in the background, that's on you. With the war finally over, Aen is crowned Queen of the Baddest. The end. And thus the reader closes the book, stares at the wall and sits in utter despair for approximately seven to eight business days.

[Lexi]

Good thing they have us to tune into where we can relive it all in these fan guys, right?

[Nicole]

I relived it all in this recap. Oh gosh.

[Lexi]

Let's begin with Aelin. Poor, poor Aen at the beginning of Kingdom of Ash. Gone is a swaggering, fire breathing queen we knew from the last several books. Maeve is determined to fracture Aen's identity with this psychological and physical torture, manipulating her memories and distorting the truth about her loved ones and tempting her with this false relief to reshape Aelin into Maeve's own obedient weapon. At least that's what she's trying to do.

[Nicole]

Well, and as part of Maeve's torture, she heals Aelin over and over and over again, which not only greatly confuses Aelin because it means it's harder for her to know what's reality and what's just a figment of her imagination, but also all of Aelin's scars, which have been a huge part of her journey since book one. They remind her her of who she is and how far she's come, why she's risking her life every day, and who the salt mines of Endovia shaped her to be in order to create this better world. And now they're just gone.

[Lexi]

Promises too, like with Nehemia.

[Nicole]

And the mating mark with Rowan is gone. And it's like that anchor to herself is gone with it. And while Aelin is not submitting the psychological twisting of what's real, what's not real, she is succeeding in that. And that's terrifying.

[Lexi]

But AEN does not yield. You do not yield, her mother tells her from beyond. And this comment becomes AEN's anchor. You do not yield. You must be brave a little longer. You must be strong a little longer because you do not yield. Maeve is trying to break her, but AEN cannot let herself be completely broken. Too much relies on her and she is too unbreakable within her, herself. She has done the personal development work, damn it. So Aelin survives by retreating inward, clinging to the scraps of her identity as tight as she can. Because she does not yield. Not to the bigger power trying to manipulate her and break her, not to the weakness within herself as the cracks are forming. No, she is stronger than that. She will not let this trauma define her. She will not betray her people or herself. You do not yield. And this will become a rallying cry for Aelin throughout this book, where her greatest weapon is her will, her ability to survive against every possible odd in Kingdom of Ash. Once, when she escapes, which, don't worry, we'll get to that in our top 10 moments, Aelin's leadership style shifts from what we saw in Empire of Storms. She is no longer the untouchable queen with limitless magic and flame. She is a survivor of torture who chooses to keep fighting for herself and for her people and her kingdom, when

[Nicole]

one of the most like, just gut wrenching moments is when she's in Anniel and is after she has the big reunion with Chael and Irene and everyone and then she goes to Rowan and it's just the two of them and she's like, did I convince them? Did I convince them that I was a swaggering queen again? She's like, I'm faking it and I'm trying to. And it just. Oh my God. Because for a while on the page I was convinced. I was like, yeah, absolutely. This is a look at her go. And then seeing that out of sight behind closed doors and it's just like, oh my God.

[Lexi]

I know. Well, she. Exactly. She appears on the outside to start to come out of her shell again and seeming to return to that cocky, self assured badass that we've all known and loved. But we do see that this is really a show. I think SJM did does such a phenomenal job of showing the realities of mental health, not just in this series, but in her other ones as well. How a person can betray their usual self to the outside world one moment, but be empty moments later when in private.

[Nicole]

Yes. While a small scene, we do have to talk about the Anniel battle and how Aelin emerges in gold armor. Not only was this just a moment of rejoice for all fan artists, artists out there, and if you have not looked up art around this moment, you are missing out. But this is a big moment for Aen as she transitions from Maeve's prisoner, both physically earlier in the book and then mentally after she escapes back to this Queen of Terison. She is a symbol of salvation for so many. I mean, we've been seeing that since Crown of Midnight, when Archer was like, Aelin's coming back and he lit up and she's like, like, what the fuck are you talking about? So for her to emerge from the keep archway as the Queen of Terrasson, clad in gold armor, this was the first official battle according to Aelin in her inner monologue. This was the one that would set the tone for the war and would send a message not only to Morath, but yeah, it sends a message to Morath. It also sends a message to her allies. She's not here in a crown of jewels or a diadem highlighting her queenly status. She's not behind the doors. She is wearing a headpiece of armor, quote, a crown for war, a crown to wear into battle, a crown to lead armies. This is the moment Aylin fully steps into her role as a leader of the new world. She is saying, I'm not staying behind walls. I'm here fighting with you. And it's because of that rallying cry that echoes of the Queen has come. The Queen has come begin to ripple throughout the battle. This is a neon golden sign that Terassin is ready to fight.

[Lexi]

We get to see her give up on revenge in the hope of saving lives when she uses Maeve's killing blow to save Anniel from the wave. So many times throughout the series, it has seemed that she has made revenge a priority. But in this moment, she chooses life for all. A very queenly choice, really, the only choice. Fast forward to the final battle where Aelin no longer has her magic, but her enemies don't know that. I love the little detail how her hands are shaking so much she almost drops her weapon, but she makes sure to hold firm. She is willing to face Maeve and Arawan, knowing that she won't survive both of them. But at least she can buy everyone else around her time, give a little bit of hope for others to keep fighting. In signature Aelin fashion, and also in signature Aelin fashion, she taunts her enemy, playing Maeve and Erawan off of each other and sowing seeds of doubt about Maeve's motives. At the end of the day, Aelin doesn't need her fire to defeat these two. Not when there are healers here expelling the evil Volg. Not when she has the courage to face these two and stir the pot. Not when she has friends and trusted allies to help. So, real quick, let's talk about how we feel about Aelin losing her magic, because that is definitely a big conversation and the readership and, you know, most of her magic. We all know what I mean there, right? I think this is one of those fantasy tropes that can either be done very, very well or not. It can serve a plot and the characters perfectly, or it can feel like it's only there for shock value. Character resurrection is another one, but we're not touching that right now. I'll be honest. I love that this is a consequence, a cost that Aelin experiences after everything that goes down with the word key in the Gate. She, and I'll say Dorian, too, have such tremendous power, and yet when it comes time for the final showdown, they alone will not be able to defeat Maeve and Erawan. It's not going to be that easy. And I actually really love how this happens because it is a team effort. So many storylines in the series building up to the big moments instead of relying on Aelin and Dorian to just take care of it. I think about the. The scene when Aelin and Elide are in the bathtubs together, and Aelin is saying, like, I don't have my magic anymore. I'm not who everybody wants me to be. Like, that's all everybody cared about. And Elite's like, that's not true at all. Aelin, you are our queen because of who you are, because of your humanity that you still have within yourself. Because she's also not just no longer having her fire magic, she also is no longer human. She's only Fay. And that is another thing that Aelin is really grappling with, where it's like, she feels human still, but she's not anymore.

[Nicole]

Well, and I think that one of the other reasons this particular losing of magic really works is because it's working within the magic of the world.

[Lexi]

Yes.

[Nicole]

Was set up for over a book now that in order to create the new lock, either Aelin or Dorian would have to pour their entire magic into this lock and then use their last little bit of life force to seal the gate. And that all happens, but it's just Mala giving her that last little kernel at the very end. And so because it was set up and it wasn't just like a. Oh, oh, dear. Oh, no. Yeah, it feels really appropriate for this world.

[Lexi]

It would be crazy if it didn't happen.

[Nicole]

Yes, exactly. It happens. Has been set up, and it lives within this world and how we know magic exists.

[Lexi]

Yes, exactly. Aelin's journey throughout the series has been coming into her magic and owning it as part of her identity as Aelin instead of Celaena. And yet it's not all she is. This immense fire magic that she's had, it had served its purpose. And I actually love that I say that before the big battle, because, again, other characters have their purposes in the 11th hour, too. Costs are already a big theme in this series. Nameless is my price to begin with. And I think it is so fitting that there is a cost for destroying the word keys and being caught in time and space again. Don't worry. Nicole's gonna walk us through all of that here soon. I love it. I think it works absolutely perfectly for the story, for Aen's arc and character, and for the entire cast of characters.

[Nicole]

Yep, I agree completely. And like Lexi said, we'll get into literally a beat by beat walkthrough of the the free endings this book has. But for now, it feels only right to close out our final AEN analysis with the ending coronation. Because, remember, back in Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire, Celaena was so deep in herself and the lie of her identity that she had become to basically live that ailing Allithinius was dead. This is 17 months later. That's it. That's insane. And here she is in Terrison, in a crumbled building that they rush cleaned in like 10 days, taking her rightful place as queen. Oh, my God, I'm gonna cry. Every step, every path she'd taken had led here. It is no accident that during this coronation scene, she passes by each of her allies, each and every single person who brought her here to this moment, to her crown, to her throne, to her kingdom. It's not silly, but I know it seems silly. Like, I'm proud of her. I'm so proud of her. I'm quoting this Entire thing, because it's so beautiful. Quote, it weighed on her, nestled against her bones, that new burden. No longer an assassin, no longer a rogue princess. And when Aelin lifted her head to survey the cheering crowd, when she smiled, Queen of Tercen and the fairy Queen of the west, she burned bright as a star. Congratulations, Aelin Ash River Whitethorn. Galathinius, you have rattled the stars.

[Lexi]

I love that so, so much. Let's talk about Rowan now. Oh, my goodness. His love and support for his mate. You can feel it. You can physically feel it through the pages.

[Nicole]

I feel like so much of Rowan's character in this book can be summarized in two scenes. The first is when Aela his back, and she's bathing in the freezing lake, and he asks, can I hold you? He is at a complete loss of what to do for her, and it's heartbreaking. But instead, she does not go to be held by him. She gets in the water, the steam hisses. She erupts into flames. But slowly, she starts to return to herself, and she's able to talk to him about what occurred with Maeve. And in.

[Lexi]

And it's that.

[Nicole]

That's their relationship. It's not him touching her or holding her. It's them having this incredibly connected, intimate moment even when she's 15ft away. And I think that that's what makes them so raw as a couple. I think that's so beautiful. And then the second scene is right before Aelin goes into the lock, and he's like, come back to me. Come back to me. And I'm not gonna say Rowan's story arc is entirely encompassed in Aelin in this book, because it's not, but the majority of it is. The vast majority of it is, to be honest, she kind of needs that right now. But the fact that he almost loses her more times than I can count off the top of my head in this book. And each time, he has to live with, like, her facing off with Erewhan and Maeve alone. He has to live with her going into the lock and pushing Dorian out and knowing that she's gonna die. Like, it's so tragic.

[Lexi]

It's him having to. To experience being mates with someone who is very much on a mission to sacrifice herself, because that is where she thinks that she is the most worthwhile. She was not expecting to live after everything with the word gate and lock and such. And she's like, I don't know what to do now. It's like.

[Nicole]

Well, he's like, we live.

[Lexi]

Yeah, we live together.

[Nicole]

Oh my God, I'm so happy they get their happy ending. So beautiful.

[Lexi]

Rowan really does spend this whole book just waiting for. Waiting for those moments where he can help his mate like Nicole's talking about. And many small opportunities arise and he is right there to step up to bat. His Alpha intuitions are to protect and fix, but his mate instincts tell him that she just needs his support. And that is what he tries to always listen to. This doesn't mean that Rowan doesn't argue or debate. And the decision sacrifices that she is constantly making to her detriment doesn't frustrate the hell out of him. But he also doesn't stand in her way. Like Nicole's saying here too. Or in the case of the work he destruction decision, he pushes to figure out another way. In his mind, there's always an alternative because he will not settle for the conclusions that Aelin has settled for. And together they're able to figure out alternatives.

[Nicole]

Well, I can imagine how frustrating that would be for Rowan where he's like, what if you and Dorian went in together? And Aelin's like, well, Elena didn't tell me that. And he's like, elena didn't tell you a lot of things. Are you kidding me? That's not what we're going with. I'm really proud of Aelin for listening to another voice and deciding to go about it a different way. Even if in her mind. Actually, I take that back because that's in her mind. The entire time she was thinking, well, I'm just going to push Dorian out anyway. Yeah, never mind. I'm giving her an L for that. We'll get back to that later. Because one of the things I do love in this book is that we do see that Rowan cunningness. Still, he spreads this rumor about the vog collar in the successful hopes that Maeve will will go and retrieve it and leave the camp. Now, what he doesn't know is that she's retrieving it for Aen and she's threatening his mate with it. And yes, that really stresses him out and yada yada, yada. But that reason for that rumor is the only reason she's with them or when he makes them. This. This is like one of those beautiful moments. He makes the map tattoo out of word marks interwoven within the old language story of him and her's relationship on her her back. And that's how she gets home. Oh my God, this book is so good. You know what? Maybe it is actually my. My third. And maybe everything Else is good. Maybe it'll keep going up throughout this.

[Lexi]

By the end of the book, Rowan is not the only one with a blood oath to Aelin. And real quickly, let's talk about how AEN's blood oaths are not like Maeve's, who controlled her cadre through the blood oath and used them for her own gain. That's not the intention of Aelin's blood oath at all. And as we learned back in Queen of Shadows shows her blood oath is more of a strong suggestion to do something versus an order that will kill them if they refuse. The blood oath to Aelin is by chosen loyalty. And I'm going to include Fenris in that too, because he chooses to keep the blood oath after she saves his life with it. It solidifies trust and a vow to fight for Terasen and protect the kingdom at all costs. Note how I'm not saying Aelin at all costs. It's for her kingdom. And I love how by the Endeden finally gets his blood over oath. He sought all of his life. Even his father. Gavriel in death has an honorable blood oath as he died defending Terasen and his son. And then, like I said, Fenris has the blood oath Lorkhan to prove his loyalty. These Fae warriors who have chosen to follow her into the dark and bring forth the light during the final battle, Rowan is just so proud of them. And that they are fighting for something so much bigger, something that they truly care about versus just an order that Maeve told them to do. And how they all have come full circle to this together to defeat evil.

[Nicole]

Well, and they all get to fight. I mean, obviously not Gabriel, but like, they all get to fight against Maeve for the first time together. And it's almost like this is their sweet revenge as to what this horrendous Valk Queen put them through for centuries. Oh my. Okay, we'll get into all that in a moment. Moving into Dorian, one of my favorites in this book.

[Lexi]

Book.

[Nicole]

He has what I'll call like the most in your face character development throughout this book. He's traveling with the witches. He's an outsider again. He's known as a traitor to his people of Rift Hold. He's at a crossroads. He either continues being a passenger like he was to his father, with being a royal like he was to the Vogue prince. Yes, that was against his will, but still then he was to Aelin as she was taking the reins, and he felt like he was never in charge. Having to remind the people around him that he is a king. And now he's a passenger to the 13 on their way to the Crockins. So he can either do that, continue being a passenger, or he can take matters into his own hands, and he chooses the latter. We see him with this starting to hone his raw magic, specifically around shapeshifting. The use of shapeshifting is entirely symbolizing his identity crisis. And it's perfect. After realizing that he can become anything or anyone that he wants, he realizes he has no idea what he wants to be. And in real life, when we no longer like who we've become, we can't just drop it and be anything. First, we have to identify who we want to be and how we can become them in an authentic way. And we can't just fake it. And Dorian learns this as he's trying to shapeshift. He must first learn who he wants to be within himself before he can be free enough to be what he wants to be on the outside, which. Side note, I love the scene of him shape shifting into a Kraken witch, and Manon immediately knows that it's him. And she's like, I'm surprised you're not fondling yourself right now.

[Lexi]

In his own mind, he's like, well, if I had time, I would totally go and do that, but I don't have time right now.

[Nicole]

Another time, Dorian. Another time. But it's through the shape shifting and rediscovering himself that he realizes that he has more to offer. And he realizes, I'm going to go to Morath and get the third word key. That is how I can help this war effort. Oh, fucking love it.

[Lexi]

In his way, he's called to this responsibility. Everyone else has their marching orders or have stepped into a leadership role. And Dorian seizes this extremely less than ideal task because no one else is able to do it, and he has the means to be able to make it happen.

[Nicole]

Well, and Dorian's decision to go to Morath is like him saying, finally, I in control. Because even Manon is like, please don't. Don't go, like. And he's like, no, I'm going to. I'm going after the final key. I'm going to do something that makes a big difference in this war, like all my other fucking friends are doing. And I think it's the conversation with Kaltane's spirit that really shifts things for him. Book one. Dorian was avoiding Kaltane. He believed her to be a basic daft woman of the court who was just trying to get to his Crown and dote over him. Then to see her in book two as a prisoner. And quite frankly, he just didn't really care for Dorian. There were other more important things at the time. And he didn't really consider saving her from a fate with Parrington as a priority. And then here, for the first time, he's able to apologize to someone who was directly affected by who he was at the beginning of the series. And in the scene with Kaltane's ghost, he's able to make amends for the person he was before the Caller and before Sorsha. And Dorian really needed this. But one of the things I love most about the scene is that he needed to see someone who is beyond at peace.

[Lexi]

Yes.

[Nicole]

While he doesn't bring up Sorscha to Kaltane, Sorsha is all over the page. He has this reassurance now that Sorsha is there in death and watching over him and his friends. And she's okay despite everything that happened to her. So it's like because he now has this peace that she's okay, he can go be okay too. Which brings us to Morath. I want to applaud Dorian, because even though he knows there's a chamber filled with collars that Erawan would bring him to straight to if he's caught, Dorian decides to go and be the king his father wasn't or wasn't able to be. And that was more important than the fear. And we see a different version of Dorian and Morath. There's this moment in Erwin's room where he thinks what all of his friends would do in this situation. And then he finally realizes that he needs to stop trying to be who they are and decide who he wants to be for himself.

[Lexi]

I love this scene. Honestly. I love Dorian in Kingdom of Ash. And how he starts thinking very strategically here in Morath.

[Nicole]

Well, he's a king here, actually. He's making plans. He's going behind Maeve's back, pretending to promise to make her a king of Otterland. This is an AEN style planning where she's planning 100,000 steps ahead with 12 different outcomes. This is Dorian planning. It's flirty perfection. It's Daddy Dorian.

[Lexi]

Well. And how he is able to trap Maeve in his own mind after learning from the Valk who had possessed him. He is taking that weakness, that darkness that he has understandably shied from within himself into a strength. Knowledge about how the enemy works is power. I am obsessed with how he handles things. With map. He outsmarts her well, and then he

[Nicole]

brings Morath's towers crashing down as he flies off into the sky Sunset as a wyvern with the rest of the Horde. It's brilliant.

[Lexi]

Leaving Maeve begging after him, literally begging him. It shows that she is not as powerful as she's been portrayed so far. Honestly, her entire presence in Morath is the beginning of her downfall. Showing herself to Erawan when she's been hiding from him for so, so, so, so, so, so, so long. Because alone, she can't go up against Aelin anymore. After Aelin outed her as a terrible Vault Queen to Doronel. There is an iconic sequence with Dorian and Aelin deciding together their joint power might be enough to use the three word keys and destroy the word gate they open. They need to destroy these keys now so Maeve or Arawan will not have the opportunity to take them back. Especially now that all three of the keys are together, not spread out across the continent. Dorian and Aelin are individually stubborn enough to want to be the one to sacrifice themselves. Each of them feeling that it is their responsibility. Aelin, because she is Aelin, who will never let a friend go in her stead, when she has been anticipating this to be her sacrifice for a while now.

[Nicole]

Well, I mean, think of Nehemia and how Hemia sacrificed herself for AEN. That was AEN's last straw. Or Selena's last straw. That was the thing that propelled her forward and made her promise she is going to to make Nehemia's sacrifice worth it. And that's how she sees it. I mean, literally, Elena and Nehemia's conversation at the end of Empire Storms and the Witch Mirror sealed that for Aylin.

[Lexi]

And the whole idea of, well, it can be Dorian instead, she's like, no, like, it cannot be anyone else. She has that in her head. Because if she lets it be someone else, that is her letting someone else take the fall for something. Yeah, exactly. Die instead of her. But then there's Dorian, because he is also really pushing for it to be him. He has nothing left to lose. Unlike Aelin, who has a mate, allies, a kingdom supporting her and needing her to rule. He does not feel important enough to carry on. And he's fully prepared to be the sacrifice.

[Nicole]

Really tough look for Chaol when he's like, dorian, you can't. And Fenris is like, you'd rather my queen sacrifice herself? And Kaol's like, I mean, I'd rather neither of my friends sacrifice themselves.

[Lexi]

Yeah, well, than Rowan on his end, he's like, come on, just let.

[Nicole]

Let Dorian do it. Come on. Oh, my God.

[Lexi]

But obviously, AEN will not have any of this. When they are joined by Dorian's father in the beyond. AEN pushes Dorian out because one of them will still have to rule. And she thinks that it should be him. One of them absolutely has to survive this. And when they both stepped in, they could feel just how difficult and how impossible it was going to be to return together. Their initial plan of maybe we can do this together, it was not going to work work. So, yeah, Aelin taking it upon herself to ensure one of them has a chance, it certainly won't be her. That's not her style. So she goes forward with Dorian's father to take Dorian's place as the second person to destroy this ward gate. While yes, technically this is Dorian getting sidelined again and losing some of his own magic, not as much as Aelin, but some this time it's because he's too important, not because he's not important enough. But it's not her choice that makes him grind his teeth. It's that his nameless father showed up wholly himself and not the Vog possessed version Dorian has always known. Fast forward to the final battle with Erewhon, where in his final moments, Dorian is able to do one thing for his father, who has now been erased from the afterworld too, to give him his name back that Erewhon took from him. Dorian. His father's name was also Dorian. And the one moment he remembered it was when he held his firstborn son in his arms for the very first time and gave his same name to his son. Dorian. His father hid his own name within his son. A small bit of defiance against Erewhon and for our Dorian, who has been struggling with his identity of being born of a Valk possessed king. And if that darkness is part of him, to learn that his very name is in defiance of that darkness, a reclaiming of the light, it just gives me chills. Like, what a full circle moment.

[Nicole]

I feel like Dorian's character arc at the end of this book, really the series can be summarized in this one quote. Dorian smiled and found himself for the first time in a while, looking forward to tomorrow. Like that just makes me want to cry. I'm so proud of him for figuring out who he is and why he has a reason to get up in the morning. And it's him. It's him and building a better world because he has the power to do it, not because he has the stature or the friends or anything. Like that. Like, I'm. I'm just so proud of him. Exactly.

[Lexi]

And I also love that with his character, it ends with him still having room to grow and getting past a few things, too. But like you're saying, we see just how far along in his journey he's come and that he really is heading down the right path. And then after reuniting with Manon, we see that there is quite a bit more to the relationship than distracting, empowering sex. It's new and unknown. They've both survived this, and there is potential for both of them, too. And I'm so excited for them to explore whatever that might be. I love. Who was it? Was it Elite or Irene or somebody? Somebody who's like, just get married already.

[Nicole]

It feels like a very Irene thing to say. Irene. Let's move on to the happily newly wedded couple, K All and Irene. The weight of the war is weighing quite heavily on their shoulders. I mean, Kaol needs to go to Aniel, where Erewhon is marching, which also means confronting his father, who we know from Crown of Midnight and Tower of Dawn. Kaol's got a lot of pent up anger towards this man. While Kaol was able to heal and forgive himself for not upholding the vow around his father and going back to Aniel and becoming Lord of Aniel again, he wasn't forgiving his father for who he is, which, I mean, is kind of fair. He's horrible. But just when the weight of the world isn't enough for these two, Irene is also with child. Congrats, you two.

[Lexi]

Yay.

[Nicole]

And during a war, when your husband is fighting on the front lines and you are set to drag the vog out of the big, bad, evil villain. And oh, yeah, if one of you dies, the other dies too, which means the baby's life is on the line. It's a little extra stress. Which Chaol learning about the baby from his father, stole that. That was a tough look. That was like. His dad was like, you don't. Don't see how your wife goes completely green whenever food comes around. You don't see that she's extremely tired. And Kael's like, no. It's like, kale, my guy, take a sex ed class, please.

[Lexi]

His father is such an ass. And I also love seeing Chaol stand up to his father. Kingdom of Ash is really where we see how chaos development has very positively impacted him and how he now handles situations. Like when his father reveals the letters from his mother, he recognizes this is on his father, not internalizing it as his own fault, like I do think he would have done if he had previously. Yeah. His father does not deserve his time and energy anymore. And I'm just so proud of Chaol. And then later on, we get this beautiful moment between Chaol and Gavriel where Chaol finally admits to himself that he will always want to forgive his father and that he thinks that's what's happening with Adien too. He wants to forgive Gavriel, but it's not just his father or relationships with others. It's how Kael handles himself while fighting, whether it's on horseback, when his legs aren't working because Irene is using her healing magic on the injured and Valk possessed, or when he's standing and fighting on his own. Whichever way, he is still who he is. The ability to use his legs does not define Chaol, and it's all about how he fights with honor and loyalty to his loved ones.

[Nicole]

One of the things I love about this series is how Irene is the one who kills Erawan, not our main character, Aelin. It's a character who we really only got to know a book ago. For Sarah J. Maas to do this was brave. And it pays off tenfold because of multiple reasons. Number one, we mentioned this last episode, but I'm saying it again. The fact that Erewhon fears not the people who bring destruction, but the people who bring healing is so poetic. The second reason is because I love when a big bad villain has. I'm gonna call it the choice to come back and be good, but they are so dark and twisted that they literally kill themselves almost. It's not because they're killed ruthlessly, but it's because the darkness inside them has consumed them wholly. And we see this with Erewhon. When Irene is was pulling the vog out of him, we see that he is only this dark mist, fire, flame situation, and that is what she snuffs out and kills. The third reason is that I love that Irene is not afraid. She is so full of hope and and joy for this better world and a free world for her husband and child that the darkness Erewhon is trying to fight back with in the ending battle, it can't even touch her. We needed the character that symbolizes hope incarnate to end Erewhon. And I mean the line quote, you have no power over me. That Irene says to Erewhon as she's killing him. Fuck, it's so good. And then, last but not least, yes, Aelin is our main character, but this is an ensemble cast. And I think I'm learning more. I was not a big fan of the ensemble cast before this fan guide situation. I am a big fan of it now. It has. It has completely changed my mind. And the fact that the battlefield is chanting Irene, Irene, Irene after Erewhan dies, it just shows what you were saying earlier, how everyone is part of this war and part of the battle. It's not just the Queen of Taryson.

[Lexi]

Yes. I also want to point out too, another moment for Chaol when Irene is going to be flying with Dorian. And I think Lysandra to go defeat Erewhon and Kayla, he lets her go.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

And I think back to Crown of Midnight and Throne of Glass with Aelin. And I wanted to just like be like, dude, you gotta let go.

[Nicole]

Don't control her.

[Lexi]

Exactly. And we see how far he has come again. And his relationship with his wife, it is not anything like a relationship we've seen from him before. It is right for him because he's with the right person and he's done the inner healing and he can let her go. Be big and brave and wonderful.

[Nicole]

Well, and it's a reminder that people can grow and heal and become a different person, make different choices. Inner work is important. God, I can't express that enough.

[Lexi]

Speaking of inner work, we have our girl, Manon, the last Kraken queen. What a big journey she goes on in this book. That is a compilation of her arc throughout the series. I know we're saying that so much in this part too, but it's all just so true. Especially from Anon. She knows the risks of seeking out the Krakens and showing herself to them. She's a kill on site target. But deep down, I think that she recognizes her importance in this war and the role that she has to play. Like we were saying earlier this episode, she is no longer an indecisive leader or alone or unsure of her morals. That is all very clear for her now and it makes her a stronger leader. Not just for the 13 or even the Iron Teeth previously, but now for the Krakens as well.

[Nicole]

What's a little leadership without a little scheming? As part of getting the Krakens to trust her, Manon lures the Yellowleg witches to the camp. Although she obviously lies to the Kraken, saying that this wasn't my plan all along. But the attack also costs eight Kraken witches and it also made them late to rally an ill way where a whole slew of Krakens were wiped out. Old Manon would not really have thought twice about this lie, about the losses, about the manipulation and all of that kind of things. As an iron teeth witch, she was taught to think in manipulation through violence. But that's the issue here. When she lures the yellow legs, she was thinking like an iron teeth witch. Ruthless scheming. And that guilt weighs on Manon as a result of that decision and shows her just how far she's come in distancing herself from the iron teeth way of living. The fact that she has a guilty conscience after that, the fact that Dorian is like, yo, that was not okay. Like, that was a lot. It really shows that Manon cannot think like an iron teeth witch and lead the witches into a new world.

[Lexi]

Yes. Which brings us to when she faces the three matrons. And in this fight, Manon shows brutality, kindness and mercy. One per matron. Fight. Yellow legs. Matron Dead Yellow legs.

[Nicole]

We don't like them, okay?

[Lexi]

They're mean. They're extra mean. Blue blood spared for her daughter's sake. And then Manon's own grandmother fled and Manon let her leave. And I think that we could also even look at this as symbolic of the three faced goddess that the witches honor. The young Manon, who would be the maiden would kill without thinking that's that's who she used to be. Then the older, slightly more mature version of herself, the mother, sees the value in an ally with the blue blood. And finally, the wisest, the crone version of her, knows that mercy to a coward can be more damaging than death. Because this makes her grandmother look absolutely terrible. This is her grandmother's biggest fear. She would probably kill Manon if Manon came back in the same state that her grandmother had been. And Manon after this, she crowns herself literally with a crown of stars from the dead yellow legs who it did not rightfully belong to. And ah, it is this moment that she truly shows the values of what it means to be the queen of the witches. The Kraken witch's fires burn. The crown glows. The rightful witch queen is here to lead her people. Which brings us to the heart wrenching moment in battle. The final witch tower is positioned at Orynth. And enemy Iron Teeth witches are willingly performing the yielding to implode their power as they jump into the mirror lined pit, channeling their power with that of the mirrors, magnifying it into such a destructive blast that in its wake are only ashes. Just a few blasts of this and the entire city will be destroyed. So the solution is to try and take apart the tower before another iron teeth witch jumps into this mirror pit does the Yielding sacrifices herself and causes an even worse blast through the city. And that is when the 13 all looked at one another like they'd had some unspoken conversation and agreement. Our beloved Astrun, a witch who is loved and lost, smiles at Manon with eyes bright as stars. Live, Manon, live. And then Astrun punches her in the gut to knock the wind from Manon and allow herself time to run to her wyvern before Manon can stop them. And Manon is helpless at what happens next. And as sad as it is, there is such poetry to how the scene plays out where each of the 13 are named, their sacrifices remembered as they break the line and fall, falling as they lived with triumph and fierceness and precision. Until there's only Astrin left, taking her final stand against Manon's grandmother, cutting down all these iron teeth witches who represent the restraints and evilness. Like, let's just fucking go. Astra, who has undone her shirt so her scars, unclean, are visible for the all the world to see what this black beak matron has done to her and what she has to fight for. And then it is not in darkness, but light. As Astrin makes the Yielding, taking out Manon's grandmother with her. And the Rest of the 13 perform the yielding as well. Their last act of defiance. Their last act of fighting for a better world. Their last act act honoring their leader, Manon, and what they have collectively worked toward this series.

[Nicole]

This sacrifice makes us all weep like absolute babies.

[Lexi]

I recommend listening to the audiobook on a plane, especially with your little and

[Nicole]

then it goes viral.

[Lexi]

You're welcome.

[Nicole]

We've gotten to know the 13 over the these four books, learning just how close this coven is. But it's how they are all better as one together that really makes it stick in our hearts. They have been Manon's rock against which the surf crashes for literally a hundred years. In many ways, Manon is who she is because of them. Without the Thirteen, Manon would still be under her grandmother's clutches. Touches. But they taught her how to think in a different way and how to question the ways of the world, even when it was difficult and required a fuck ton of bravery. Without them, Manon will have to discover herself again. But luckily she's got a Braxos who lost his mate Asterin's wyvern in the Yielding. Oh my God. Together they will honor the 13 until their dying breath, ensuring their sacrifice was not in vain and beyond the veil, the twelve sisters of Manon will watch her rebuild witch culture, bringing a little piece of their spirit to the Western wastes, knowing that they are watching her build a better world. For at least the first half of this book, Aiden's an ass and completely out of line. He is a walking capital L. And look, we understand why he acts the way he does. Let's go through it, shall we? Adien has spent his whole life trying to defend a land for the memory of his family that he thought. Thought were completely lost to him. Then he finally gets his cousin back and he starts to heal and forgive himself for all the things that he did with Otterlin over the years as a way to survive. Even though he is left out of plans, he is still trying to be part of something, finally fighting for what he's been desperate to get back to. And then Aelin is taken and he has failed her again. And he's angry with himself as a result. Until he finds out that the two people he loves most in the world have been planning this whole thing behind his back. Plans that involve him siring heirs and living a lie again. It is all him internally screaming that this is not what he thought this life would look like. He has spent years trying to turn any plan the King of Otterlin had for him to his advantage and avoid being his puppet. To then feel like he's being treated like a puppet of aliens. And this level of betrayal for Aeden, unsurprisingly, brings out a very visceral reaction in him, blaming anyone who is involved in the planning, most notably Lysandra. But his anger is also causing him to act out as war General, too. When Daro orders Aedian to Oryrinth and Aedeon says no, goes to Paranthe and loses the battle. And in that battle, it's revealed that Lysandra has been pretending to be Aelin. He is demoted, rightfully so, I think. Rightfully so. And loses his sword. The sword that has been his North Star this entire series. I do love that he has Ren on his side who's like, okay, wait, hold on. Like, this is like, do we need to take his sword away? Like, that's his emotional support.

[Lexi]

So I just mean Ren. And also, I will say, say too, that he has proven himself as a leader to the Bane, to his army, his small army, right? And they're like, okay, we're gonna pretend like this other guy is the general, but it still is Adian. And so he has solidified that and had that achievement there for himself. That Eden, when he is demoted, he's not in the eyes of his men. I know we've harped on this a lot, so I'm just going to leave it at this. Aiden, you get a giant neon elf, bold, underlined, italicized, on the front of a gigantic building that we can all see for miles and miles for how you treated Lysandra, especially when you sent her away from your tent when she was seeking a sliver of companionship at her lowest. And now I want to turn our attention over to Lysandra, who starts Kingdom of Ash just so alone in her mission of having to pretend to be Aelin. The only person who knows the truth is Aedian and he's not speaking to her her. She understands he needs space to be angry with her, but she also won't accept being talked down to the way that he is lashing out at her. But we see from her POV that she is losing hope in her sense of self preservation. She is internally struggling so much while having to compartmentalize it and fulfill her duties to a court. She promised her queen to make the real Aelin sacrifice worth it. To belong and to be part of something so much bigger, determined for a better world. It isn't until what they think is the beginning of their end and they both give up their hatred of each other and their previous actions that Aiden and Lysandra are able to really come together and realize that the animosity is only serving to make them both unhappy. And I was actually surprised that on this reread, as I was finishing the book, I felt a sense of excitement for Lysandra and Aiden that I have very much been on the train of. Of she deserves so much better than him. And while I still do agree with that for the majority, I do want to give Adien the same sense of grace that we are giving Chaol and I'll even say Lorcan as well, though all very different circumstances in their own ways. And Lysandra is able to be the bigger person and he is able to show her that he is sorry. And during those days of battles where they're out fighting and risking their lives every single day, and then in the evenings and in the mornings, they're able to just hug each other and they feel that with one another and I really felt that connection and that them working through all of this and coming together during the hardest times, I found that a little bit empowering really well.

[Nicole]

And I do feel like it's a good reminder for us readers that not all relationships are straight and narrow. Like, it reminds us that. That some ways that you get to be together can be very, very, very messy.

[Lexi]

Yeah. And we're not all perfect either.

[Nicole]

And it reminds us that. It was like I was saying earlier with Kale, like, people can grow. Yep. And I don't think we get enough time with the growth version of Adien.

[Lexi]

Yes.

[Nicole]

And I think that's one reason why a lot of people only see him as the old Adian, which, understandably, like, we don't see a different version of him.

[Lexi]

Well, because we get that version of Adien through Queen of Shadows and then Empire of Storms and then a lot of Kingdom of Ash. And it isn't until there are so many other things going on that the two of them have these little pockets of relationship development. And so while I do give Adien a lot of shit and there's Love Story, it's just not my favorite. I don't think it's meant to be a favorite in the series. Like, he's not not written to be an mmc, in my opinion. I do understand that there is realism to their story, maybe a little bit extreme. But, yeah, not all love stories are smooth. And we all do make mistakes, especially with those that we love. And it's kind of about how are we going to make it up to them. And I'm going to trust that Adian does start doing that and that he got his head completely out of his ass.

[Nicole]

One of the things I do love is when Aden is. Is sitting at Lysandra's side and he's like, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. She does not forgive him. She's like, I have never been more humiliated when you did that to me. And I crawled for men. And I've done all of these things, and you made me feel small. I think that if she had forgiven him in this moment, I would be like. Like, let me out. But the fact that she didn't, and that really had to make Adien go, okay, I need some lasting change. And he actually lasting changes. It. That is where I'm like, okay, sir, I trust you. This also brings me to another moment of lasting change for Aiden, and that is Gabriel's death and the impact it has on his son. Aiden has been, oh, boy. Ignoring Gabriel's existence basically since learning about his father in Queen of Shadows. He's mad that he hasn't been there his whole life. He's mad that he's connected to. To Maeve the reason that Gavriel wasn't able to be with Aiden's mother. And Aiden is mad that Gavriel just came into his life and suddenly wants to be a part of it. And then he dies in an attempt to fight off the vaal so that Aiden and the Bane can safely get behind the gates of Orinth. In Gavriel's mind, this was a way for him to save his son and finally, finally choose his son, his family. Even if it was in his final moments. And to Aiden, I personally think he subconsciously thought he'd have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years for his father.

[Lexi]

Yes.

[Nicole]

And him icing him out and putting him in the doghouse was his way of punishing him for a little while for how Aden felt growing up without a father. But eventually he knew he would have those years with him. But when those years are suddenly taken away, all because Gabriel again chose to save. Save his son, Adien is heartbroken because he does not know if his father died believing that Adien wanted nothing to do with him. And yeah, I do know that a lot of people aren't happy with him and Lysander ending up together. I'm. I'm still deciding where I lie on that totem pole. But I really want to believe that. It occurs to Aiden in this book that he needs permanent change. He has treated people entirely reaction based. Cassandra, Aelin, Gavriel. And when he realizes he'll never be able to make peace with his father fully, he learns that time is not guaranteed with those that you love. And I again, I like to think that this lesson is now inked into him, much like his father's name is added to the Teresa knot that Rowan tattooed onto his chest. So that's where I'm like, I want to believe that there is that lasting change from Aedien, but unlike K all and Lorcan, we don't see it. So that's why I think he's a harder. He's a harder sell. He's a harder sell of a character.

[Lexi]

Yes. Yes. Well, speaking of Lorcan, let's talk about him and Elite because things are not looking so good for them. At the beginning of Kingdom of Ash, we see Lorcan deeply regretting his actions and the loss of Elite's affection. He's willing to do whatever it takes to make things right. It goes right back to what we were talking about last episode, how with Lorcan, actions really do speak louder than words, and he recognizes that. And he's seeking to rectify his mistakes and gain Elite's trust and love again. Elide has every right to be angry at Lorcan, given what she believes about him having crawled after Maeve. Later, when she finds out that he was crawling to save Aelin, she refuses to admit how that changes anything. But that is when she does begin softening to him again. And then, of course, there is the epic scene that changes everything. When Lorcan is left for dead on the battlefield at Aniel and the dam is about to break. Elide is the only one who realizes that he is missing. Not even his brothers noticed that he was not among all of them. And all Elite can do is remember her promise to always find him. That's just like her mantra, just chanting, I have to find him. I have to find him. I promise, promised. And she may be mad at him, but at the end of the day, they are each other's person. And find him she does. Taking a horse named Butterfly, who has been called Hellas's horse. And it is Helas who's guided and watched over Lorcan his whole life. The poetic irony, the fact that the.

[Nicole]

Like, how have we not mentioned Farasha, the Butterfly horse? Like, how have we not mentioned Butterfly? I love that Kale specifically breaks for Rasha because he's like, I want to storm into battle against the Volg on a horse named Butterfly. Like, I just think that is such a Chaol moment. God, I love it. The moment of her in the audiobook where Elizabeth Evans has Elise voice Larkin again. It's just like, oh, God, it's heartbreaking. Elide's story has always been about overcoming whatever comes her way. And because she is always looking forward, forward, forward, forward, past hardships, past hardships. She really rarely gets to look backward and have closure. That changes when Vernon is captured and it's up to a lead to decide what to do with him, the man who has made her suffer for years in ways that are unimaginable. It would not be out of the question for her to want to do the same things to him. But a lead is always choosing the harder, more courageous high road. And she decides that, yes, yes, we need to get information out of him. And boy, do they. Like, there's a hundred thousand Volk soldiers marching on Orinth. That's bad. But when it's time, she says, make his death quick. So unlike the achingly slow death that he was determined to give her. I love that she's also guided by the goddess of slow deaths. Like, that's just so Poetic. She decides to give him a fast one until Aelin changes the plan, which I felt so with that, a lead

[Lexi]

is like, okay, sounds fine.

[Nicole]

I'm not going to lie there. There are so few things I'd like to change about this book. It is a perfect book, in my opinion. There's that one scene, though, where Aen does that where I'm like, could you have just let her have that win? Like, could you just let her have that?

[Lexi]

I am with Aen on the punishment that he got is what he deserved. And I'm all for what happened. Exactly, exactly.

[Nicole]

Not want to lead wanted. And that just makes it feel like, why did you ask her then if you're just gonna just decide anyway? This is one of the reasons why I do think Lorcan is so enamored with the lead. He is coming from Maeve, who was ruthless and heartless, and she would have chosen the slowest death possible for someone like Vernon. And to see a lead with compassion and knowing that it makes her stronger, it's a new comprehension for him. And I think it's one reason that he falls so hard for this woman. That's another thing that has changed for me in the series is Alid and Lorcan. Appreciation has skyrocketed. I no longer think he is old, saggy man balls. Like I am. My job is done. Like, is he book boyfriend material? For me, no. But I really appreciate who they are. Honestly, no one in this series, in my opinion, is like my favorite book boyfriend or anything like that. But it's like I. I feel like I know everyone and I feel like I appreciate them.

[Lexi]

I have a very platonic appreciation for every character.

[Nicole]

Yeah, no, that's exactly. I would never want to be with Cha. And yet he's my favorite. Him and Irene are my favorite relationship. Same with Rowan. And it's like, yeah, I just. Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.

[Lexi]

To me, Alid and Lorcan, they're one of those fictional couples that just work without trying too hard. They treat one another as equals, where trust and respect is so valued. He was a violent warrior and now has something. Someone to truly love and protect and fight for.

[Nicole]

All right, friends, let us finalize this episode with closing out with our 10 highlighted moments. We usually do these as foreshadowing, but because this is the end, these are more our favorite moments of that stick with us that make the series a God tier. Series number one, the entirety of Aelin escaping Maeve's clutches. As someone who is literally writing a book about torture shouts To Oath of the Chosen. I. I even squirm sometimes with what happens with Karen and Maeve and what they did to Aelin. It's honestly inspiring. But then little moments that we get from Aelin during those scenes, like the you do not yields that Lexi mentioned earlier. Or the blinks with Fenris and Aelin. How one blink means yes, two blinks means no. Three blinks means are you okay? Four blinks means I am here. I am with you. Five blinks is this is real, you are awake. And six blinks means liar. Like I just. The fact that they did all of that without even communicating is just. Oh, my God. But nothing compares to Aelin escaping and not thinking that she was going to escape. The plan was for her to antagonize Kara, turn into literally killing her. But it's Fenris, who, after hearing Aelin get thrown against the wall, making her first whimper in over two months, he breaks the blood oath and gives her the opening to make a run for it. And I love, love, love that Rowan and company are literally running earlier than planned in to save her. But it is her who gets to run away and save herself.

[Lexi]

And the little detail that Aelin knows that this must be real and not one of Maeve's visions, because Maeve never showed her Lorcan in her visions.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

So it's Lorcan's presence here that tells Aelin this is different. And, yes, this must be real.

[Nicole]

Yes. So I want to talk really quickly about how long Aelin was in Maeve's clutches, because these are actually very interesting numbers. She was in Maeve's captivity for two months. Months, three days, and seven hours. Now, the second chapter in Assassin's Blade opens with, quote, two months, three days, and about eight hours later, the clock on the mantle chimed noon. Captain Rolfe, Lord of the Pirates, was late. Then again, so were Celaena and Sam. That hour difference is not an accident. From later in Assassin's Blade, it is the difference of an hour that Selena was late finding Sam's body still warm. But here, that hour saved her life. Because if Rowan had waited two months, three days, and eight hours until the moment they had actually planned, he would have been late to save Aylin, and she would have been dead from Karen. So. Oh, my God. Like that. That's one of those things where I'm like, fucking Sarah J. Max, dude. Oh, my God. And also, her running out of Maeve's camp directly mirrors the day she tried to escape Andover. While this escape starts in the very same way, no plan for her to survive this. This time she's no longer alone and she does escape with her life. Oh my God.

[Lexi]

But we're not done yet. Because one of the most hauntingly beautiful and emotionally powered scenes in the series series is when Aelin cries take it off. Over and over and over again. With the iron mask on, there is no easy way to remove it from her until Yay. Rowan makes word marks with his blood to make them open. And poor girl has been so strong through these past few months, burrowing her emotions in fear because she does not yield. But in the safety of her friends and freedom, the panic creeps up until it's a full blown panic attack. She's clawing at her face to get out of this cage. The emotions that she goes through, only saying take it off. From rage and fear of take it off. To helplessness and feeling so small of take it off. It is such a real and raw and emotional scene that truly stays with us readers.

[Nicole]

I'm gonna again shout out Elizabeth Evans because the way she changes the take it offs, take it offs, take it offs. Even when there's not a A in text way of changing it up, she does. And it's oh my God. It is horrific and perfect.

[Lexi]

Along these same lines, Fenris, he deserves his own top 10 highlight and the bond that he and Aelinform developed from their shared trauma and horrible experiences. They were all each other had during those awful months. They created their own little language that only they shared. Maeve knew that by forcing Fenris to watch Aelin be tortured would be his own torment. And there was nothing he could do about it until he was willing to sacrifice himself and go against the blood oath, which in and of itself was supposed to kill him. And Aelin subbing in with her own blood oath and commanding him to live. And once when they're free and Aelin's fire surrounds them both as she just holds him, it is the two of them who have just been freed together. And Rowan's not the one holding her encased in the fire. No, it's Fenris and her because they were in this together and they just got out of it. And then later on she offers that he doesn't have to keep the blood oath because she wants him to have his own autonomy and freedom that he's been denied for so, so long with Maeve. But of course, a blood oath to Aelin is not the same as it is with Maeve. He can be his own person with her and he chooses to fight by her side. And how Fenris stays in his wolf form for so long, completely lost without his twin brother who died because of him. After speaking such horrible things to Fenris. Ah, my heart just hurts for him so much. Overall, we see Fenris go from this cocky, fun loving, young at heart male to a much more closed off and quiet male. The loss of his brother will always be hard on him, but given that he blames himself for it makes it just that much harder. And he also had to watch a female that he now loves like a sister being tormented for two months. Like Aelin, we see him having little moments of being his old self, but only when we're in a POV that is not Aelin's. When we are in Aelin's though, we kind of see the real side of him. What a fantastic show. Don't tell of how we hide that we are suffering from the wider world. Number three, we already honored the 13th sacrifice, but it needs a spot in the top 10 for how beautifully it is written where we are all right there, feeling the emotion and saying our goodbyes. It is so, so bittersweet. And the scene that follows with Manon at the site of where the tower used to stand. But she is not alone as much as she feels it right then, allies are behind her, all there to honor the 13 as they pay their respects. And there, a whisper on the wind, Manon can hear her great grandmother Glynnis say the words.

[Nicole]

Words.

[Lexi]

Be the bridge, be the light. When iron melts, when flowers spring from fields of blood, let the land be witness and return home. And far away on the barren lands of the Western Wastes, a flower begins to bloom for the first time in 500 years. Manon is not the only one who broke that curse. She is the one to unite the witches, bring them here to this flower fight. So I think of her as that bridge. But it is the 13 who carry out the task and bring about the second part of the cure. They are the light. They melt the iron. They are the reason that people brought the flowers to this field of blood. There's something so heart wrenchingly special about these memorable character deaths like this that are, again, I say, so bittersweet, that serves such a greater purpose. And I just. Oh, the 13, I love them so much. Much.

[Nicole]

I also love the connection that it's when flowers begin to bloom. And Abraxos loves rolling around in flowers. Like what? Like that is a symbolism and a foreshadowing literary masterpiece.

[Lexi]

Yep. Number four. The scene where Manon tries to get Dorian to stay and not go to Morath. She's afraid that he'll go there and return as something that she doesn't know, that she'll have to kill him. And what's left unsaid is that she cares for him too deeply. Her offering an alliance between them and their kingdoms, AKA Manon proposing marriage. But Dorian sees it for what it really is, a sacrifice. As much as they care for one another, she is too free spirited to be tied down by marriage, to be truly satisfied with that life. And then when he tells her to leave her crown on before they bang, I know one more time before he leaves while she sleeps. And then when she wakes up and sees that the bed is cold next to her, she'll confess to one of the 13. I thought that he'd stay and just. Oh, my heart, my heart.

[Nicole]

I. I know we really didn't have time to explore the depth of complexity between their relationships, but like they. Oh, my God, their connection is so subtextual and it's just. It's so well done. Yes, the crown on is really masterful.

[Lexi]

Leave it on. Yes, leave it on. Number five. Our character's time in Anniel, but specifically when Aelin stops the damn water. How fucking amazing. We learn that she has been tunneling into her magic for the past three months, which would be impossible under any normal circumstances. But Aelin took advantage of being unable to release her power for those two months she was encased in the iron. Maeve thought it would be her doom, but Aelin wielded it to her advantage and kept storing it, digging deeper into her bottomless well for when, if she escaped. Ah, I love it. And I love that she's saving it for the kill blow for Maeve. Very Jack Sparrow of her. But unlike Jack, she uses her shot. She's been saving to defeat her enemy, to save a city, an army and thousands of people instead. I love when they're all trying to figure out what to do in the wake of this dam breaking. And Aelin is just quiet around the chaos around her and she's thinking, realizing what she has to do and coming to terms with that. And the way Rowan uses his power to make the steam, you know, not boil people alive. Like what? Teamwork? And then I already talked about one of my other favorite moments when Elide races to go get Lorcan, so I'll skip over that here, but. Oh, my gosh, I love that so much.

[Nicole]

Well, and one of my favorite moments in Annie El is where Irene puts Lorn Westfall in his Fucking place. Kale's dad is horrible. Have we mentioned that? And the way he talks down to both Irene and Kale is despicable. And I'm quoting her entire clap back because it is perfection.

[Lexi]

Quote.

[Nicole]

I am the heir apparent to the healer on high of the toy Chesme. I came at your son's behest back to the lands of my birth to help in this war. Along with 200 healers from the Toray itself, your son spent the last several months forging an alliance with the Khaganate. And now all of the Khagan's army sail to this continent to save your people. So while you sit here in your miserable keep tossing insults at him, know that he has done what no other could do. And if your city survives, it'll be because of him, not you. Oh, my God. He's a queen. I love iron.

[Lexi]

While we're on the topic of Irene, I give her the biggest gold star for doing what she's doing while pregnant because I relate so much to her first trimester sickness. I had awful nausea and much worse my first four months with both of my kids, and I could literally barely get out of bed. I ended up almost being hospitalized. And Irene and mothers in every form are such badasses. And how Elite's like, I'm not gonna stop because Irene's pregnant and she's still going.

[Nicole]

I gotta keep up with her. Like.

[Lexi]

And Irene, like, doesn't want to use the medicine for herself. She wants to let it be for. For the others. She's like, just give me a few peppermint things. It's like, girl, I know that that's not going to help anything. Like you. Number six, the reunions between Kale, Aelin, and Dorian, they have all been apart since, what, the end of Queen of Shadows, right? Yeah. With Kale. Yeah.

[Nicole]

Even Dorian doesn't really count for that because he was awake for, like, two seconds and he was like, where am I?

[Lexi]

Yeah. Yeah. Like, three of them together with all kind of right minds for. For more than a few minutes. It's kind of been since Crown of Midnight. Yeah. Wow. So starting with Aelin and Kale, who are so surprised to run into each other in Anniel that he shoots to his feet. Feet. And tears start streaming down her cheeks. Because the first thing that Aen sees is him standing like. He's so surprised to see her that he stands up and she's so happy for him, saying over and over again, oh, my gosh, you did it. I knew you'd do it. What a difference from where they've been. Each of them healing, Kale forgiving her for himself. It's also beautiful. And their hug. And when he says he didn't heal alone. And then we have Irene and ael. And Aelin cuts in before he can even introduce his wife. And Aelin is like Irene Towers, remembering her. Irene shows her the note that the Queen wrote to her years ago and says, I didn't waste it. Not a coin you gave me or a moment of the time. The life you bought me. I didn't waste it. I'm a puddle. But we're not done weeping with the reunions when Dorian meets up with our crew. Returning from Morath with the key, he sees a rider holding a commanding seat. And as Cale Westfall dismounted and ran the last few feet toward Dorian, the King of Otterlin wept, just as Nicole is right now. Their bromance has journeyed so so far in the series. From boys pining after the same girl to all the horrors that they've endured together and apart, the challenges that they've east faced, the inner and outer trauma. And through it all, they are united. And just like the king order wrote his hand, he succeeded in healing himself and in bringing an army loyal besties till the end. Number seven. This podcast coverage would be positively incomplete if we did not speculate what Lorcan did. And I'm gonna be honest, this is probably the easiest theorizing we've ever done here at Fantasy Fangirls. Nicole, care to do us the honors?

[Nicole]

Just wipe my tears away. Hold, please. Oh, my God. So if Lorcan was going to show a lead. Everything. And I mean everything, I think it's only right that we fantasy fangirls, who uncover book's deepest secrets, decide once and for all what Lorcan did. Lorcan launched his meat missile. He bumped his ugly into Elide's ugly. He had dinner at the Y. Peekaboo with Private parts. He started a rump. I am doing a bit. He started the rump rump rodeo. He did the no pants dance. He sailed the noodle canoe. He slapped the stack of buttered pancakes. He gave her his selfie stick. He fed the kitty. He flossed. He flossed the banana slime boat. He boinked with his meat Popsicle. He tickled the taco tunnel. He hopped on the beef biscuit. He drowned in the slippery otter.

[Lexi]

He.

[Nicole]

He played pogo through the custard canyon.

[Lexi]

Nicole, were you hungry when you were doing?

[Nicole]

I think I was. And last, but certainly not least, Lorcan took his skin boat to tuna town.

[Lexi]

This is just hilarious, though. And I love their end. He binds his life to hers when they're wed, so their whole issue of of an immortal with a human, it's solved. This scary Fae warrior who used to hate to be the butt of a joke. One of the reasons he hated Aelin so much. Now he's saying he'll wear Lord Lorken lock in proudly for the rest of his life, even if the whole kingdom laughs at it. They get their happily ever after going to Ranth to rebuild. Ah, I'm just so happy with them.

[Nicole]

All right, number eight. Because so much happens at the end of this book, it would not be right if we did not go beat by beat through the three endings, starting with the lock, the gate and the Gods. Before making it to Orynth, the crew decides it is time to put it to a vote. They have the three keys finally together. Should they go ahead and seal the gate, wiping Erewhon off the board? Because remember, when the gods leave this world, they're taking Erewhon with them and killing AEN or Dorian. But really, Aylin, now the gods would be leaving too. Which also means that there's a possibility Silva, AKA Irene's powers, would leave. But this means that Erewhan would be gone and his entire Vog army might also cease to exist the moment the gate is closed and he is in another world. So that's option one. Option two, do they wait? Go north to Oryrinth as fast as possible, fighting the entire Valg army. But it would also risk Maeve or Erewhon getting their hands on the keys again. So it is time to put it to a vote. And it is decided to do it now. Which brings us to a compromise between poor, poor Rowan and Aelin. Deciding to have both Aelin and Dorian forge the new lock. Remember, in order to forge the lock and the word key sealing the word gate, either Dorian or Aelin have to sacrifice all their power, including their life. But if it's both of them, they might be able to pour half of their power to forge a new lock. So before the others have the opportunity to weigh in on their thoughts, democracy be damned. Apparently, Dorian and Aelin, along with Kalin and Rowan to watch, go and forge the gate. So here we go. Drawing the word mark for open, close, lock, unlock into the ground. The word mark she learned from the beginning of this tale. Which is crazy. Then Aelin makes a slice down her forearm and the black word keep keys Go right on inside. Smash cut to the between realm. AEN and Dorian are standing in front of an archway which leads back to their world, smelling of pine and snow. Oh, the twist. And so Aelin and Dorian begin pouring their magic into the lock. And it becomes clear in front of them, but it also becomes clear that no way is either of them surviving this. Then they hear one word. Stop. It is from Dorian's father, the original king of Atterlin. Not the father who was possessed by a vog, though. Instead, it was the father who was inside all along, fighting against the possession from Erewhon. How did Daddio get here? Damaris. Dorian was wearing damaris when he entered the word marks. And the sword decided there was apparently one last truth. He needed the truth. Nameless is mine. My price. And we finally get the double meaning behind the long since heard phrase. Yes, it meant that you're a descendant of Brannon and the bastard born mark and all of that. But Dorian's father, whose name was taken by Erewhon, is also nameless. Jumping ahead a little, because it's not here that we learn Dorian's father's name. Instead it is in the final Face off with Erewhon. Dorian orders Erawan to tell him his father's name to give it back.

[Lexi]

Back.

[Nicole]

Give it back into existence. And Erewhon shares that he wiped the name from existence, but the king remembered it only once, when he was naming his son Dorian. Yes, his father named his son after him because beholding his son for the first time was the only moment the previous king was brought back to himself. So because of this, back to the word gate, Dorian Sr. Will pay the price in Dorian Jr. Senior's stead. But Aelin will have to continue on, because Dorian Sr. Only has just enough power to cover Dorian's sacrifice. And before he can know it, Dorian is pushed back through the archway, back to Aurelia, while Aelin and Daddio continue to make the lock. It's back in the real world when Dorian tells Kaol and Rowan what happened. And Rowan realizes that no matter what, this was Aelin's plan to kick Dorian out and sacrifice herself. Quote, she had lied. His Fireheart had lied. And now he would watch her die. I'm sorry, L, Aelin again for another lie to your mate and husband. Poor fucking Rowan. Oh my God. Back in the word Gate, Aelin and Dorian Sr. Continue to pour poor, poor magic into this new lock. And j. Just as the king vanishes, so does Aelin's magic. Not a drop is left within her and the lock is reforged. Suddenly, the gods appear. Elena is held captive, ready to be summoned back to their world so they can get home at last. They're like, all right, it's time. The train was supposed to leave 40,000 years ago. Excuse me. And it is here that Aelin will have to use her last kernel of self to seal the gate gate after them, shutting them in their world. And then we get the famous line. Once upon a time, in a land long since burned to ash, there lived a young princess who loved her kingdom. And it is here where Aelin offers them a bargain to which the gods, Diana specifically, is like, a bargain. I'm 40,000 years late for a meeting in my realm, but one God offers to heal.

[Lexi]

Hear it.

[Nicole]

While we don't get her name, we know her voice is kind and loving. And we can assume that this is the goddess Mala. Aelin's bargain is as such, she will not make them take Erewhon back with them, instead leaving him here in Aurelia. This is an interesting take, Aelin. But in return, they would allow Elena to go into the afterworld, where she can spend it with those she loves. Remember, part of Elena's punishment for bringing Aelin back to life when she was eight. Eight is that Elena can no longer go spend the rest of her life with Gavin in the afterworld. She would basically be alone in the ether. Now, why on earth would Aelin do this? Great fucking question. Elena's already dead. Why would she do this? During the vote, Aelin, of course, had an ulterior motive. She wanted to hear them say that they could defeat Erewhon on their own if he was left in this world without the gods taking him whenever they leave the world. And specifically, she wanted to hear that Irene would be able to end Erewhon. And Aelin got that reassurance, thus giving her the opening to save Elena's soul from being damned and alone for forever again. Elena's already dead. I'm sorry. I don't have any remorse for her, but the gods are like, we'll be so nice. We'll be so remorseful. We'll fulfill one part of the plan. We'll leave Erewhon in Irelia. But Elena's dead, leaving Aelin alone in this in between worlds as they go strutting into their world of green meadows and grasses and cows or whatever. Assholes. They're fucking assholes. But one God decides to remain Mala Firebringer. Remember, Mala was the one who sacrificed herself to forging the original lock. The Eye of Elena. She forgot herself as a result. And she also forgot her daughter and her husband in the process. Process. But here, Mala hesitates, almost like she remembers. And more specifically, she remembers that AEN is her heir. So she asks Aelin to seal the gate. But first, she holds out a hand and offers AEN a kernel of her power. Quote. For what you offered on her behalf. For fighting for her. For all of them. With this extra power, Aelin will be able to seal the gate for the gods and still have a piece of herself left. Left so she can travel back home. But how does she get home? Where's the. Where's the nearest exit on this highway of life? But the tattoo on her back has a hidden meaning. Rowan tattooed the story of her and him onto her back in the old language. But within that story, he hid word marks that are a map for her to travel back home to him. Oh my God. This is beautiful. So right before she seals the gate behind the gods to their realm, AEN is brilliant. She taps into that eternal godlike power through the gate. And furious at them for their deceit and leaving Erewhon in the world. While poofing Elena out of existence, Aelin rips a hole in the sky in their peaceful meadow home. A hole straight to hell that she accidentally opened a portal to back at the beginning of the story. This is back in Crown of Midnight Night. And then Aelin closes the gate with just hell raining down on the gods. Brava, Aelin. Brava. Then Aelin flings out a kernel of her new power from Mala towards the loch and leaps through the gate back to her own world. But she's not suddenly back in Irelia. She is falling past world after world after world after world. Worlds of light, worlds of tower. Some large, some small. Past quote, a great city had been built along the curve of a river. The buildings impossibly tall and glimmering with lights. Hi, Lunathean. Oh my God, I love it so much.

[Lexi]

That's Crescent City.

[Nicole]

Yes, where Crescent City is. Oh my God. Then she goes past a world of rain and green and wind. Shouts to wind. Watch. Even though that's a completely different series. Past a world of only oceans. But she's going too fast, fast, fast, too fast. And then. Oh my God, I'm like covered head to toe in chills. She passes through a world of snow capped mountains under shining stars, where a winged fey male stands beside a heavily pregnant Fae female. Both of them staring up at the stars.

[Lexi]

Probably Sploogene.

[Nicole]

Huh? Oh my God. Wow. Shouts that was a throwback.

[Lexi]

That was a throwback.

[Nicole]

Aylin flings her hand out, trying to signal to the couple that she can't stop. She can't stop. And the male, who is the most beautiful man she's ever seen, he's actually just beautiful beyond reason, looks up at her and she oh my God. And lifts a hand, releasing a gentle summer's night knight power slowing her down. Now, I'm not gonna just word vomit a bunch of nasverse spoilers here, but I do want to highlight that Kingdom of Ash came out in 2018 and a certain ACOTAR book came out in 2021. There is a three year difference here. Sarah J. Maas, you psychopath. Oh my God. Now, after being slown down, Aelin sees her home, the land of pine and snow, and she throws herself back into the world, back into her own body. Brava. That could have been the ending. That could have been the ending. But it's not because we still have Maeve and Erawan to deal with. So we're going to smash cut back to Orynth. Remember, there are thousands of bolg attacking and Adien and crew are basically just holding out until the last of them die on the battlefield. When all hope is is officially, officially lost. In runs a line of golden armored soldiers, followed by a horde of flying Ruken, the fierce Dargon Horselords, the army of the Little Folk. And of course, riding in on the Lord of the fucking north is Aelinn. Dramatic entrances do not stop because with Aelin's arrival, there's not an immediate turning of the tides. Orynth is still fading and walking in together, side by side are out. Erewhana and Maeve ready to watch Terasen's downfall. Aelin runs right to them, though with absolutely no magic. She's got maybe a colonel, maybe a little kernel left, but she's going to hold the gate. Aelin is striding towards our Big Bads here. And we get, oh, we get this line quote. Her name was Aelin, Ash, River Whitethorn, Galathinius, and she would not be afraid. And this is the last time we hear that line in the series. Oh my gosh. But she's not here to end our two Big Bads. She is here to buy her loved ones time. How? By talking, of course. Joking about how she misses the Parrington form. Joking about how she spent 10 years building up to this moment. Forgive her for wanting to savor it. Taunting about how the keys are gone. Ha ha ha. And of course, outing Maeve on her plan to send Erewhon home. Surprise, Erewhon. Maeve was going to betray you all along. Understandably, this shakes up the Vaal King a little, especially knowing that there are healers upon healers upon healers in the city. Arowan's greatest fear. So what does Arowan do? He believes he can fly. And Ilkin comes in and picks him up, taking him to the healers so he can end their power once and for all. Leaving Aelin to face off with Maeve. Let's stay with these two for a second. Maeve starts off by trying to distract Aelin with illusions, convincing her that she's dreaming and that she's back to being tortured. Trying to trick Aelin into giving Maeve the blood oath. But Aelin's mind is too strong, and thankfully, she does not fall for the illusion. And then the cadre joins the fray. Rowan, Fenris and Lorgan all charge at Maeve. But her illusion magic shift shifts to them and they all begin screaming. Rowan sees Aelin's body dead on the spikes of the Gates of Oryrinth. Then Lyria standing behind him, saying, you brought this upon her too, I suppose. Calling him a lesser male, that he only brings suffering to those he loves. Fenris is trapped in wolf form, seeing his twin brother. Connell says that everything that happened to him was because of Fenris and that he didn't even mourn his twin Win. But since Fenris is a wolf, he cannot talk back. And Lorkhan sees a lead standing in front of the lofty towers of Paranthe. But she is telling him that he is nothing, he is nobody. And when he admits that he thinks she might be his mate. Vision. Elide says. Mate. Why would you ever think you were entitled to such a thing after all you've done? But then he sees old Elide on her deathbed while he remains young at her side. Side. But wait. Aelin taking the burning Goldrin sword, because. Yeah, did I forget to mention? Goldrin's on fucking fire. As she slides in with the Lord of the north, she uses the fire to burn Rowan, Fenris and Lorcan, shaking them from their visions, distracting Mei with taunts.

[Lexi]

Pull yourselves together.

[Nicole]

Aelin writes word marks she learned from the books that Kaol and Ireland Green brought back from the Southern continent. She writes them in the snow, opening a portal to the ancient tribe of the Wolf Riding Terrace and Fae, who have been long since victimized by Maeve and her Stygian spiders by keeping all of their healers chained up the wolf tribe storms in and attacks Morath's unsuspecting ranks, while Rowan, through the Karnambond, gives Aelin his magic. Though all of this time Festival Fenris is lying on the ground, and only through their four blinks does he start to come back. And then he vanishes, winnows away, reappearing right behind Maeve, and stabs her through the heart with Goldren, just to really finish her off. Then Aelin puts the golden ring, Silba's forged ring that was once Athril's. The ring goes right on her finger and she gets ripped apart from within. And then just to triple make sure, Aelin then swings Goldrinn and beheads her. But remember our wannabe bird, though. Eron searches for the healer, seeing Irene immediately going down to taunt and ready to kill her. But suddenly he can't move. Surprise, motherfucker. You are trapped and immobile in a wordmark. And Irene suddenly shifts to a man with sapphire eyes. Hello, Dorian. Who shapeshift into Irene to be baby. Irene drops onto the tower, being dropped off by Lysandra in rook form. Everyone just wants to fly today. And immediately her power glows bright. Elide plunges Damaris into Erewhon's gut. Dorian uses his raw magic in the form of healing to stagger Arawan back. And Irene gets to business, thinking of a better world and hope. And every ounce of her optimism overshadows Arawan's darkness. The parasite that is his vog does not stand a chance.

[Lexi]

Parasite is used multiple times to describe the Vulg in this series. That is all. Oh my God.

[Nicole]

Yes. How dare you bring that up and not allow yourself to just scream about that in the microphone. That was evil. When her magic slows down, Dorian barrels his own into her, replenishing her quote in into warmth and strength and joy. And finally, Irene gets to his core, the twisted, hateful creature inside of him. And she swallows it with her healing magic. Her hand squeezes until he has nothing left but a dark flame. And then she snuffs it out. Rotted gray skin immediately is burned by Dorian, and Erewhon is nothing but ashes and dead, dead, dead. The chants go wild for Irene. Irene, Irene, Irene, Irene. Really?

[Lexi]

With number nine, it. It could be its own entire episode as well, but there are just so many side characters we didn't get the chance to dive into. But I want to quickly highlight two in particular. Gavriel, the peacekeeper among the cadre. But we. We also get to see him be the father figure of that entire group as well. I like to think that it's a showing of how great a father he would have been to ad. And if he ever had the chance to know that his son existed and got to be the father that he does want, he did want to be. You know, his sacrifice for his son, in his mind, would be the greatest act of his life. I really do think that that is what was really, truly driving him to go to Terrace. And yes, of course, he appreciates and loves, loves and respects Aelin, but it was really for his son that he had that own personal motivation. And then Evangeline. By having Evangeline in the story, we get to experience what this war looks like from the eyes of a child. And while she's not on the page for very much of the series at all, she does play a vital role in winning over the ruling families of Tercen. Not even just for Aelin, but it just kind of happened because she's such a wonderful little child and she provides the reader a different perspective, especially when there's so many different POVs and so much going on with this war. She also provides the reader a different perspective, too. When she first appears in this book, we get to see her be unapologetically excited to see Aiden and Lysandra. Not just with relief, but pure joy. And at the time, the two of them, they're not feeling too great towards each other. Later, we experience her fear, but also how. How these circumstances, they're maturing her in real time. And she is not fearful for herself, but for those that she loves.

[Nicole]

I also think that her role as showing Adian as a father figure, because Adien really does take on that for. Yes, Daryl, obviously it softens this of a man.

[Lexi]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

But it really does show that Aden would be a great father figure. And especially given the relationship that he had with his father. I think that that's just a great way of softening Aen in order to make the transition from him and Lysandra not being okay to him and Lysandra committing themselves to each other.

[Lexi]

Exactly. And then like you said, though, with Daro as well, where we get to see the humanity within him and several of the other leaders as well, of Terrison.

[Nicole]

I love a grandpa softy. I love a grandpa softy figure.

[Lexi]

Oh, shoot, what's his name? Begins with an M. Oh, gosh. Grandfather did die. Yeah. Martok who did die. And yeah, that was so sad. So sad. But anyway, I just wanted to highlight those two. Of. Of course, there are so many more, but those Two in particular. And number 10. Let's close this out, folks. Last, but certainly not least, the beautiful symbolism of so many moments at the end. Lysandra walking in with her chin held high. The lady of Carver. She used to worry whether she would be deserving of this title. And in this war, Lysandra has proved herself beyond a doubt. She was essential in this fight for a better world. She's this powerful and brave shapeshifter who is respected and revered, and I just love that so much for her. The crown that Daro places on Aelin with twinning bands of gold like woven antlers, and in its center is not a gem. Not some flashy gem, no, no. But something infinitely more precious. The cut bit of crystal containing the only bloom of King's Flame from Orland's reign. It was most precious to him and his simple of peace. It was what he was so proud of that he was able to make the King's Flame bloom during his reign. And now it is bestowed upon Aelin. And then when Aelin asks her loved ones to walk out with her, all of him. Because this celebration, this win for a better world, it truly does belong to all of them. Like we've been saying this whole episode, every single one of them has contributed to this better world and fought for it and sacrificed for it and held on to hope for it again against all the odds. Aelin and Rowan with their first dance, wearing a gown of black and gold that makes me think back to the dragon dress she wore for him back in Queen of Shadows. And she's all shocked that Rowan dances really well and lighting both of them with crowns of fire. Just free and happy and in love. And chaos. Mother's letter expressing her love for him and how proud she is of her son and that she hopes she can stay with him once he and his family are settled. Kale is finally getting his family he loves. And Irene is starting a Tory Chesmee here in Irelia, because of course, she is. That just makes sense. And finally, let's bring the series home with the King's Flame blooming. I love so, so much how Aelin finally gets to experience this magical joy at the end where she sees the King's Flame blooming across the entire plane of thralles. It's a symbol of peace dating back to the reign of Brannan. And the King's Flame blooming is proof that a new era of a better world is here at last. Thanks to all of our characters and especially Aelin leading this kingdom into the light to whatever end. And there we have it. Fantasy Fangirls has officially covered the Throne of Glass series in this four part fan guide.

[Nicole]

You're welcome. People have been begging us for two and a half years. I understand, understand why.

[Lexi]

We really hope that you've loved this different approach. I know I've absolutely loved talking about this epic series and revisiting it, being reminded how much I love it.

[Nicole]

I also think that we. It's so funny because this was our first time ever doing something like this and we were expecting it to be a little bit of like, I'll call it a lower lift, but not in a way of like half assing it. Because if you know us, we don't half ass anything. It was more like a. Okay, like, like, we'll talk about, you know, like everything you need to know before X books. And then we decided to add the second part where it was much more of a character analysis, a deep dive. And when I say that this is the hardest episodes we've ever outlined, I mean it. Oh, my God. These were some of the hardest outlines because there is so much in these books that we feel like deserves these moments in the spotlight. And I think we did a good job.

[Lexi]

I like to think so, too.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

And you thank. Thank you all so much for listening and joining us. It really does mean so much. Thank you for being on this journey with us.

[Nicole]

The only thing that is making me not want to immediately go back and do a reread is because next Monday we are kicking it off with one of my favorite books of all time, when the Moon Hatched. As we prep for that deep dive, next week is a no spoilers fan guide for when the Moon Hatched. As we get so excited for our deep dive dive the following Monday, which is March 9th, covering the prologue through Chapter 15. That episode. Spoilers for the entire book. Oh, my God. Thank you to our Throne of Glass content guest researcher, Sammy, for all of her help on these fan guides. Oh, my God. It would have been impossible to do them without you.

[Lexi]

Yes.

[Nicole]

And of course, our executive producer, AKA our sanity manager, Hayden, also co host of Fantasy Fanfellas.

[Lexi]

Please give us a follow on Instagram and Slash or TikTok, antasy, fangirlspod and fantasy fanfellas and fantasy fan reads.

[Nicole]

And last but not least, share this with your fellow Throne of Glass friends, whoever you would go to whatever end for.

[Lexi]

All right, everybody, thank you so much. Bye bye.

[Nicole]

Lorcan launched his meat muscle. He bumped his ugly into a lethal missile. Oh, my God. All right. We're gonna do that again. Excuse me. This podcast is brought to you by Squarespace. I remember when we first started FFG in the back back in my day when we first started ffg and honestly one of the best decisions we ever made was to put some real time and attention into our fantasy fangirls. Website websites are an essential part of any small business success. That's why just recently when I was making my author website, I used Squarespace.

[Lexi]

And you all know me with my marketing brain. I have pretty high standards for website tools, but Squarespace delivers in every single way. One thing I love is their integrated Squarespace SEO tools. Every website is optimized to be indexed with meta descriptions, an auto generated site map and more. So you show up more often on search engines and bring in more of your ideal customers.

[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

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