Typical of SJM to render me speechless yet again after finishing this book. Everything that has happened so far in the series, including Aelin's adventures in the Assassin's Blade's novellas while she was still Celaena Sardothien finally came into full circle. Many things were cleared up, of the "whys" of the apparitions and guidance of the previous players involved in this seemingly ill-fated game that now lay rest as a burden upon the shoulders of the current players. I didn't think it was possible to genuinely love a lot of characters (Manon and Lysandra esp!) at the same time but that's exactly what happened here (welll...also in Six of Crows hehe). There were so many amazing and epic scenes that left me shaken in awe (including some smokin' parts that I do not usually find in YA books *wiggle eyebrows*) all wrapped up in one amazing helluva book. SO MANY. Epic near-death adventures, capricious settings, worse villains straight from nightmares (Oh how I loathe Maeve from the bottom of my soul--she's the worst, that bitch!), budding and stronger romance, growing friendship, unexpected alliances--- OH JUST SO MANY I COULD COUNT THE STARS.