Skuggornas drottning

Celaena Sardothein ha aprendido a enfrentarse a sí misma, al dolor de sus pérdidas personales y a sus poderes, a reconocerse no solo como una asesina, sino también como la reina de Terrasen. Ahora es Aelin Galathynius, y para ello debe pasar por nuevos retos, esforzándose al máximo, renunciando a algunas relaciones y aceptando nuevas oportunidades de amor y amistad.

Este cuarto libro de la saga me ha gustado mucho, los nuevos y viejos personajes han ido evolucionando para bien y para mal, haciendo que los ame y los odie por igual. El proceso de Aelin ha sido duro, pero su valentía ha sido un gran aliciente en toda la lectura, así como la transformación de otros personajes femeninos, Lysandra, Manon entre otras. Y claro está, la permanencia y desarrollo de sus amigos Dorian y Chaol, de su primo Aedion y del príncipe hada Rowan.

Quiero unirme a este grupo de amigos, a la reina y su corte, nos veremos pronto en el quinto libro, “lo enfrentaremos juntos, hasta cualquier fin”, “unidos en la esperanza”.

Aelin, formerly Celaena Sardothien, has come a long way since we first met her in the mines of Endovier. She has unleashed her magic in the lands beyond the King’s reach but must return to Rifthold where magic is still trapped. There is one man who claims to know how to free it, the downside that it is Chaol, once her love but an irreparable chasm now exists between them. If he thinks her a monster without her powers, what could she be capable of with them?

I liked the darker side of this instalment. Previously left with a cliffhanger ending, we know that Dorian is suffering a fate worth than death, trapped in his own body. The Valg are a sinister enemy, and those who invite them into their hosts are despicable. Not to mention some of the horrors that occur in the depths of Morath.

I managed to read Heir of Fire without quite grasping that the Ironteeth witches are the enemy. I was so caught up in Manon and Abraxos’ personal story arc, I never placed them in the world as a whole. So the witches are working for Duke Perrington, who is up to some dark and evil plans with the Valg. Manon is only following orders but she is starting to question some of the things they do. Manon is such a strong and complex character, I hope she plays a big part in the future to come.

I wasn’t so keen on the romance aspect this time. The storyline has rather burnt bridges with Chaol, which is disappointing but I accept that characters don’t always end up with the ones we want them to. Given their hostility to each other, romantic reconciliation will be a bit of a stretch. There was an excessive amount of territorial posturing from Rowan and Aedion, which bored me a little. Aelin doesn’t need possessive men to look after her and it made her seem like an object to be fought over.

There’s no cliffhanger this time. It felt like a conclusion of sorts, but there’s plenty left to explore in this world, and certainly more challenges to come.

Review copy provided by publisher.