4.5 stars 
 This is my current order of favourite to least favourite books in the series: 
 1. Throne of Glass and The Assassin's Blade 
 2. Queen of Shadows 
 3. Crown of Midnight 
 4. Empire of Storms 
 5. Heir of Fire 
 Little did I know how much I would love this series, or even anticipate its plot direction, 2 years ago when I first picked up the Assassin's Blade. From Heir of Fire onwards, it has been a completely different series, but that's okay. I do somewhat miss the Celaena from the earlier books. 
 This finale is going to be epic. 
 Here are the things I want to acknowledge/vent/fangirl about: 
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 1. Elide and Lorcan. I went back and forth with this ship because I felt they were forced together, and when I finally started to ship them, the end happens, and they aren't together. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?! 
 2. GAVAN ASHRYVER- He's like a mix of Aedion and Dorian. I really hope we see more of him. 
 3. Speaking of Dorian, his raw magic is sooooooo awesome. He can shape it to anything he wants it to be. He's just as powerful as Aelin and I feel like this isn't acknowledged enough. His input is always second to Aelin's, even when he is King of Ardalan and she hasn't had her coronation yet. I feel like he isn't appreciated enough. 
 4. Aelin and Elide meeting. It was great to see Aelin humbled by meeting the daughter of the woman to whom she owes her life. 
 5. Elena, what were you thinking! What do you mean either Dorian or Aelin have to be sacrificed? Not my favourites!!!! 
 6. Manon and her Thirteen. Manon, I am so proud of you. Look at your cold heart thawing 
 7. Aelin literally telling us NOTHING. Not about the 3 armies she assembled, or her plan with Lysandra 
 8. Aedion and Lysandra. Aedion please don't be mad at her, she is being loyal and looking out for your cousin 
 9. Lysandra and her shapeshifting was amazing. She is not to be underestimated! She was such a 2D, underdeveloped minor character in the Assassin's blade but she is now one of the most complex and interesting characters in the entire series. 
 10. The reappearances/mentions of the Assasin's Blade characters: Sam, Rolfe, Ansel, Iliad 
 11. Maeve has to go. Manon's grandmother has to go. I am so mad at what Maeve did to Aelin at the end 
 12. Feysand round 2, for those who've read ACOMAF, you will know what I'm talking about. I never have and never will be a fan of Aelin and Rowan. I'm sorry if this is an unpopular opinion but I will never support the two of them. In Heir of Fire when Celaena claims that they have a platonic relationship, I was thinking pfft liar. And look where we are today. A large part of why I do not ship stems from the fact that I can't stand Rowan. I find him brooding, territorial and annoying that only serves the purpose of being Aelin's 'fated' love interest and a destroyer of my ship. 
 13. Nehemia!!!!!!!!!!! 
 14. Dorian and Aelin banter 
 15. Aedion and Aelin banter 
 16. Manon and her Thirteen joining our side 
 17. Aelin basically being so badass and taking out that army of 500 ilken with her fire, (with a bit of help from Dorian and Rowan) 
 18. The reappearance of Celaena Sardothien, in true style turning up unexpected, with a grand entrance and full of sass. This is the protagonist I loved so much. 
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 There is a reason this book currently has 4.61 stars on Goodreads. I can't wait for the epic finale. But I'm not ready to say goodbye, I don't want it to be over.