** spoiler alert ** 
 I didn't rate this book sooner because I didn't really know what to say. Throne of Glass is my favourite series of all time and I absolutely loved this book while reading it, I was so invested in the story and was utterly devastated by the ending, but I did not like it nearly as much as the other books in the series. after I finished reading and had time to process everything that happened and collect my thoughts, I realised there was some pretty big things I didn't like about it. 
 - Aelin is one of my favourite protagonists of all time, so I was upset to feel such a disconnect to her character in this book. I know it was due to the lead up to the dramatic ending (and all the extra POV's), but I really felt an emotional disconnect to her character and it really surprised me. 
 - (unpopular opinion warning) I really, really hated the new ships in this book. I hate Lorcan with Elide, and I hate Manon with Dorian. I feel like the ships don't make any sense, and they were just put together because they were the last single main characters. I didn't like the way Lorcan behaved and spoke about Elide, it felt gross. by the time he 'changed' at the end, it just felt ingenuine and I was very angry about his involvement in Aelin's torture. although I can totally understand Dorian's perspective going into his lust-fuelled relationship (?) with Manon, I don't understand how a self-confessed man hater, who still doubted her humanity at the beginning of this book, could do a complete character 180 and sleep with the first guy who attempts to come near her. I really wanted Manon and Elide to be together, that would have made so much sense IMO. 
 - one of my favourite ships in this series was Lysandra and Aedion, and I don't even like them together anymore. Aedion was acting horrible this entire book, and that scene on the beach when he talked about marrying her really rubbed me the wrong way - they've never even spoken to each other about their feelings, and he's saying she is so lucky to have the choice of picking when they'll get married?? dude, it's not a privilege for a woman to choose when she gets married - it's a right! 
 - umm where was chaol??????? he has been a main character since the first book????? 
 There were things I loved about this book though! like: 
 - MANON!! all her scenes were amazing, I felt so attached to her character in this book, more so than anyone else. she is so badass and is now one of my favourite characters 
 - Lysandra. she was seriously a force to be reckoned with. I love that she is developing her powers, and the scene when she became a water dragon was the best thing ever. 
 - aedion is confirmed bisexual, finally some more diversity! (although he was still so annoying this entire book) 
 - the whole ending reveal section. I definitely didn't see it coming, about the whole "nameless" plot line and everything that went along with it. I was in complete shock and awe at how Sarah has weaved the story together. it is so clever and left me wanting the next book so desperately. 
 - the ending scene when all Aelin's allies arrived. I was crying so hard, all the characters we've met through the entire series were finally all together to help her out and she wasn't even there to see it :((((( 
 even though there were some pretty big things I didn't like about this book, I still enjoyed reading it a lot. Throne of Glass is still my top favourite series and the story + the characters will always have a special place in my heart <3 I am so excited for the next book! 
 (wow this was so long - you can tell how invested I am in this story haha)