Book Review: Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7) by Sarah J. Maas
I dove into Kingdom of Ash with a mix of excitement and trepidation. Sarah J. Maas’s epic series has captivated so many readers, and I wanted to feel that thrill too. But as I turned the pages of this nearly 1,000-page tome, I found myself not merely reading, but enduring a hellscape of convoluted storylines and exhausting character arcs. In fact, it might have shaved a few years off my life!
The themes of sacrifice and the struggle against overwhelming darkness are certainly present, and the stakes are sky-high as our characters wage war against two formidable foes. However, what sounded like an exhilarating climax became, for me, a labyrinth of confusion and frustration. With a staggering fifteen points of view, including Aedion, Elide, Aelin, and Manon—all seemingly indistinguishable from one another by the time I reached the middle of the book—my patience wore thin. Each voice felt like just another fragment of an already crowded narrative.
Maas’s writing style has sparked both adoration and ire among readers, and I can see why. While her ability to create vast worlds is undeniable, the repetition of certain phrases—mate, ancient, and crone—became grating. A thesaurus could have been a writer’s best friend here. For an aspiring writer myself, the overuse of specific words only highlighted the writing’s inconsistencies. It felt almost as if Maas was running on autopilot at times, relying on her familiar lexicon rather than crafting something fresh or poignant.
Characterization, which initially drew many of us to the series, especially faltered here. Characters I once cherished—like Manon, a fierce and complex witch—seemed flattened by the narrative’s demands. The transformation of such well-rounded personalities into mere shadows of their former selves felt like a disservice to the rich tapestry Maas had initially woven. Did Dorian really need to morph into a shapeshifting superhuman while the stakes spiraled into fantasy-heightened absurdity? The lack of ordinary characters stripped the emotional weight from their journeys.
And don’t get me started on the pacing. Filler pages filled with petty internal conflicts stretched the narrative, eclipsing moments that should have held gravitas. It was hard to care when I was overwhelmed with chaos without clarity or direction—a battle of epic proportions played out, yet I felt no real tension or fear for the characters.
Despite all this, Kingdom of Ash does offer a flourish of action and a resolution to a long saga. For die-hard fans and those willing to overlook the numerous pitfalls, this is likely a satisfying conclusion. Yet I can’t help but feel there are far better fantasy series out there that balance heart, adventure, and clarity more effectively—maybe Holly Black’s tales would be worth exploring instead.
In conclusion, if you’re already invested in the Throne of Glass series and seek an explosive finale, then delve into Kingdom of Ash. However, for those approaching this series for the first time, tread carefully—proceed with an open mind. Reflecting on this arduous reading experience, I find myself grateful to close the cover on this saga, albeit with lingering disappointment. Here’s hoping the next literary journey will be infinitely more rewarding!
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