This book seriously broke down absolutely everything I thought about everything, and then rebuilt it all again. I can see why a lot of people have sort of freaked or totally lost it about how much the characters have changed and how different things are, (and of course a lot of people seem to hate Rowan with a passion). I totally get it. I do. I had a little bit of an internal struggle with it all as well, BUT, I also realized that this is why this book completely wrecks everyone emotionally. 
 It's rough, but after some reflection I completely get why things had to go this way. The author could've taken the easy and expected route, and we all would've gotten a story that was good but that ultimately wasn't more than that. 
 Also, Manon's character adds a fantastic new point of view. I really did not like her at first, but over time you really start to understand her motives and her perspective, and whether you agree with her actions or not, you understand them. There's just so much depth in this book and much darker sides of all our characters are seen than you're used to, so just mentally prepare yourself for all of that and you'll be okay. 
 The spoiler part of this review mainly addresses Rowan's role in the story. 
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 I firmly believe that for Calaena to truly come into herself as Aelin, everything needed to break down. She needed to figure out who she was outside of her assassin persona and everyone's expectations for Aelin. She needed to come to terms with who she would be and figure things out the hard way, which is the way she's always figured things out. This means, that things needed to completely break down and she needed to make mistakes, which is exactly what happened. 
 Quick view on the critique that a lot of people have about the budding Rowan/Aelin ship: 
 My views on the whole Rowan/Aelin ship were so complicated. I was just as back and forth and unsure as they were. I had wanted Chaol and Aelin to revisit things, but I realized eventually that that was NOT meant to be. Aelin needs someone who can be her equal and her partner, and let her do what she needs to. She needs someone that can love all of the dark corners of herself, even when she doesn't. Rowan was a complete dick to her and that wasn't just something that was easily forgiven, but she was in a bad place herself as well. It took seeing someone more broken than him, for Rowan to snap out of the way he had been for so long. I don't view her need or want of him to mean she is dependent on him or that she is weaker for feeling that way, at all. She has been completely independent, even unhealthily so, for so long, and it's about time that she starts needing others. He isn't the only one she comes to rely on either, and I think that that shows how much she's grown. She's starting to legitimately put her trust and faith in others, and that's really what she needs in order to heal and come full circle into someone worthy of being a queen. She lived her life for ONLY herself for a long time, which is why she has so much darkness in her, but all that is changing, and it doesn't make her weaker or anti-feminist, it makes her a well-rounded individual that is capable of change and finally able to trust other people again. 
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 I thought this book really elevated all the characters to a more complex level and showed that they are changed from their experiences and damaged and not perfect, and that truly brings them to a more realistic place.