Dear All,
Let's take a wander back into the Throne of Glass series with Tower of Dawn.
Blurb:
Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.
His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica--the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.
But what they discover in Antica will change them both--and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.
What I Expected: I thought that I was getting into a series that was going to have my heart pounding. My fingers itchy and desperate to the turn the page. I expected some more of Celena doing her thing.
What I Got: Choel with a new character at his
side in a place that sounded a lot like Austraila in my head and what felt more political rather than action pack until I got further in.
What I Thought: I wasn't a huge fan of this one. I just felt there was to much lost in this book and there was a lot more that could be done. I felt like it dragged its feet in places and sometimes too long in other places.
4/5 Stars
Review: Interesting start with Choal and seeing how he is doing after the attack in book five of this series. I like how we are following the healers as its different. I think the emotions of Choal are well done. There is a nice build up for the healer and you MUST READ the SHORT STORIES to understand this book. Watching the struggle between professional and emotion is a very nice touch.
Yrene's discovery of the vlag magic is done really well even if its forgotten at times during this book. The tension between Nysern and Choal I think was nicely put, more of what I expect out of Sarah now. Choal tries to spot vlag but can't from his chair, can't see through the curtains which surround him. Nysern being a guard seems to be playing on her mind a bit.
Yrene gets freaked by a storm passing through, she takes books and scrolls, feels hunted. She is learning more about the Vlag. She is reminded of Aelin's words however she doesn't know its Aelin and this was never revealed. So its one of the points that annoyed me the most about this book. Through her rush to leave she finds a dead healer who looked like her. She is forced to leave her, she finds four young healers to whom she spurs to leave, they enclose around her and exit together.
The alarm is raised.
Yrene insists that he attends a self-defence class that was inspired by Aelin teaching her to defend herself but again Yrene doesn't know it's Aelin or Celena who told her so. Nesryn encourages him to ride with some help getting up and down. Some embarrassment by the young healers tearing him off the horse. Later on Yrene angry and inspired attacks, Chaol's wound with new vigour. Afterwards, she explains what he is in for. He refuses to talk about his past or open up to her. It takes her a bit of time to begin again.
Meanwhile, Nesryn takes a ride with Prince Satajah. She is hoping that he has answers for her. Nesryn doesn't really learn anything. Instead, she enjoys the hunt of his bird.
Yrene gets nowhere with her attempts to heal him. She can't forget what she went through and what she sees at Morath. An army of darkness, despite the visions she knows she is making little progress with Choal and its tied to his emotions. He raises questions within her. Yrene can't bring herself to eat with him. Yrene leaves and Choal wonders if Nesryn had a more successful night.
When Nesryn arrives she puts Choal to bed. Nesryn and Prince Satajah talk. She reveals pieces of her past to him.
Yrene struggles to understand Choal. She runs into Prince Kajah. He offers her clothes, affection, she rejects him tactfully. The following day Choal and Yrene have a verbal fight. Yrene realises the mistakes that she has made. Tells him the soldiers killed her mother, right in front of her. She begins this round of healing. Chaol in return opens up a little bit. He curls his toes, the action fascinates him. Nesryn goes to visit her family.
Princess Hasar updates Yrene on the war back where Yrene comes from. The princess insists that she has spies and that Yrene leaving might be harder than she might think. The Princess urges her to attend her party and she reluctantly agrees. Yrene fails to meet Choal. Choal rides alone to the Torre. Yrene is ill in bed from their healing session the day before. He talks to the healer on high. Offers to accompany her to future classes. She accepts.
The following morning Yrene's met by a concerned Choal with her mare trailing behind him. Choal asks her to ride for a while to clear his mind. They visit some of her patients. Yrene takes Choal on a tour of the city. She asks him if Fenharrow or Adalan can be so peaceful. The festival they attend thrown by the Princesses. Everyone is dressed up. Princess Hasar takes charge. Chaol and Yrene have more honesty between each other.
Choal and Yrene create a plan. Choal feels guilty about what he feels with Yrene when he is still with Nesryn. Choal and Nesryn return to their suite. Nesryn asks to leave with Prince Satajah to check out the mountain's, the outposts, see what she can learn. Choal is reluctant and the pair falls asleep talking.
In the morning Yrene walks in on Choal and Nesryn in bed together, there is an awkwardness about it. She fails to cover up its impact on her. Nesryn leaves. Yrene reveals what she knows about Kings and Vlag. Choal has her hid everything she took. She offers to take him into the Torre to show him a book that talks about Vlag, he agrees right away. They have a session first, but finding him in bed with Nesryn has rattled her. She says he needs to be sure the old king is really gone. This leads to a pleasant chat between Choal and Yrene. They have another session which leaves him able to move his ankles. He sees her in the garden, realises he passed out.
The story of her mother wins more movement and Yrene recounts her journey to finish. She never reveals nor does he know its Aelin she talks about. It always stops when it comes to Aelin and this is never revealed in the book. Choal asks her to eat with him as he is concerned by her appearance.
Neseryn is down about the night before so she goes to the Parrot Pit. Prince Satajah asks her to leave with him. she says she must ask Lord Westfall. he tells her he must leave soon and the urgency rests within her. Nesryn decides to go for three weeks. Leaves a note for Choal, a note freeing him of all promises he has to her. Get's on board with Prince Satajah, there is flirting, they fly for some time then take a break. She learns there's a tale about her. Proves how good his spies are. She does not want to discuss her perfect shot, because of the memories tied to it.
Yrene takes Choal to the Torre tower library, shares everything with each other. The promises she has made. She goes through a turmoil with him and leaves after an argument. Princess fills her in, Yrene goes to the slums to leave people. That is where her heart lies.
Vlag stalks and hunts Yrene, she locks Choal and herself in the suite. It says her name over and over. Choal says they do this 'together'. Palace guards come to their aid just in time. They demand Kashin come and he does. They come out for only him. Kasin insists she returns to the Torre. She says she feels safer with Choal, this hurts the Prince Kashin. He searches out the head of the guards.
Choal starts to train with the castle guards, despite his limits. Numbness in his limbs washes away day by day. He finds a new fire is lit inside him at this development.
Neseryn regrets leaving with Prince Satajah, she can't understand the kindness the prince has. They arrive at the Prince's outpost where she meets his other family. His heathen mother and sister. Nesryn notes his sister Brote is to be watched. She meets a man to whom is a shifter like her friend back in Adalan. Brote shows Nesryn where the baths are. Nesryn joins Prince Satajah for dinner.
While they wait they head up to the archery range where Brote encourages her to take part. Brote promises to braid her next time. Nesryn is unsure how to take this. Nesryn's tour aboard a Ruk. She is shocked and impressed. How children as young as five are flying Ruks. Prince Satajah takes time to ask her about her father. He asks about Rifthold, she tells him very little. Neseryn excels at archery. A challenge she answers from Brote. Prince Satajah's mother returns with bad news. Ruk's are being stolen by a creature like a spider, who are apart of the Vlag army. Nesryn has dread and fear about this. She suggests that Prince Satajah and Nesryn goes to the tower to see what they can uncover.
The towers are outposts where the Fae had fought the Vlag. Nesryn knows that the spides are waiting for them, they can't stay at t he towers after day. The spides are watching the veil between worlds. No one has ever returned from checking out these towers.
Yrene and Choal continue their therapy. She tells him the answers to where the scrolls came from and that they came from the desert. Yrene tells Choal to talk to Noosha and they do. She tells them the answers to where might learn more. The oasis in the desert. Yrene tells Choal that only the Royals can go there, its their retreat. Yrene and Choal go to dinner with the Royals to put a plan in motion to get to go to the retreat. Choal returns to work with the castle guards the next day.
Neseryn and Prince Satajah arrive at the tower where they save each other's lives. Barely escape the traps set by the Fae. A spider attacks and they are trapped in the basement. A wolf appears and attacks it. They escape where the Ruk kills the chasing spider. The wolf turns out to be Falkan a shifter they met at the outpost. He's badly injured during his attempt to save Nesryn and Prince Satajah. They pack his wounds and return to the outpost where Nesryn tells Brote all that happened.
Prince Satajah confronts Nesryn in her rooms later. He demands to know who has the Widerkeys. Nesryn has not told him about the keys and comes clean. She turns it around showing him why they need him and his family to fight with them. There is two more towers south, this becomes the new mission set by Prince Satajah's other mother. Falken, Nesryn, Brote and Prince Satajah have to go together. They leave at dawn, she is uncomfortable as things are unresolved.
Yrene and Choal continue their work. Choal continues to reach healers how to defend themselves. Later on the Princess brings up the Skull Bay attack and Choal pretends that he knew they were there. Princesses take turns getting digs in, making claims that Choal has no idea if it could be true. Yrene struggles to say nothing. The Royal's openly pick apart Aelin's tactics. They want to know what is in it for them when Choal turns it around. King ends the discussion after Choal says Aelin's advisers have seen more war than they had or ever likely to see.
Kashin breaks into Chaol's room where he tells him his destiny is North. He will go if the king orders it.
Falkin takes a long time to heal. Nesryn's put to work in the meantime tending the Ruks, training the children. She ends up singing for them one night by the fire.
Nesryn, Prince Satajah, Falken and Brote visit the towers only there is nothing there. Yeran meets them mid-flight saying he's looking for baby Ruks. Yeran's rude interaction with Brote picks up Nesryn's attention. Brote is rude right back. Prince Satajah orders them back home. He tells Yeran that the spiders are back. The sense of dread spreads through his riders.
Choal oversteps with Kungan, banned from further meetings. He attempts to see the king but is denied. He tries to beg but can't get his words heard. He just finds out that he is banned from further meetings. Choal is teeming for a fight and it leads him going to far with Yrene. Declares his desire to die on the killing fields and they argue about all the hard work she has put into him to just go and die. Choal stands, its all apart of Yrene's plan to get him walking and he does. She is thinking about her plan to use the Princess the whole time. Plans to go to the Oasis for her birthday. She needs answers,
Yrene brings Choal up to speed on her scheme, knows that it will work. Choal surprised that it's her birthday. He promises to get her something. His progress as he starts to walk on sticks.
Nesryn questions Prince Satajah why he's not married. He explains how he has not found a wife that is right for him or Kadara (Ruk). Their arrival at the spiders terrority, Prince Sataha prepares fighting over the courts his normal brides want to be a part of. They scout the spider area from a distance, they see a baby Ruk. Kadara (Ruk) make a desperate bid for the baby Ruk, they get caught in a web sending them flying into a wall and down the side of the rocky mountain gorge.
Both injured Prince Satajah and Nesryn escape with Falkan in Nesryn's pocket. They are forced into the pass and must find a way up for Kadara to get them to safety, despite her injuries she can fly. The spiders give chase.
Yrene and Choal ride with the Royal's through the desert. The Royal's choosing to race at breakneck speeds ahead. Yrene and Choal end up racing each other for a kiss. They have fun on the ride together. Chaol feels the strain on his muscles as he rides and sorts of regrets this. When they arrive at a watering hole she heals him.
At the Oasis they go exploring together, they find a tribal burial ground. They believe the head of the Tore can read the scrolls that once only Aelin could read. They believe they will hold the answers they need. Depictions of Vlag and Fae fighting is everywhere.
Later at dinner Hasar goats Choal for information, war, Aelin's love life, her status. Hasar suggests Yrene be married as apart of an alliance. Choal says no. They must let her decide. Yrene sidesteps the taunts continue on though. Yrene pushes the Princess into the pool. They all laugh, the present from the other Royal's is her life. Choalr's ready to protect her all the same.
Choarl gives Yrene a locket. He tells her that he loves her. She's glad he does not love Aelin or Nesryn. They make love, she tells Choal about what Aelin did for her (still not knowing its Aelin). Choal is grateful for her.
Nesryn and Prince Satajah race through the passes looking for a way up. Prince Satajah is captured and Nesryn mourns. She comes up with a plan, Falkan is part of her plan. She allows herself to be captured.
The spider encharges of Prince Satajah and her tells the true tale of Maeve. She is the Vlag queen hiding in plain sight. Not a fae as people are told she is. Falkan works to free Nesryn, A injured Nesryn and Prince Satajah get free and make a run for it. They are chased up onto a narrow stone pillar with what looks like no way out. Falkan makes Nesryn promise to make his niece safe, to get his riches and protect her. He jumps into a fight with the spiders, offering his soul up for theirs.
Kadara comes to the rescue, it's not just Kadara. Brote and Yeran's men have arrived with plently of Ruks. They manage to rescue Falkan who's badly injured. Kadara picks up Prince Satajah and Nesryn in her claws. Brote signals the army to help, they do. They burn the mountain and the spiders on it.
Yrene and Choal rush back, the rooms raided, theres one scroll that remains. Choal distances himself. Yrene talks to Hara about the locked up books, hoping to take them to Aelin. Hasar is not sure if this is such a good idea. She thinks Yrene might be onto something though. She finds her ancestors bell where the answer comes to her, that will allow her to heal Choal completely. How to defeat the Vlag, goes to Choal where she finally restores him. She tells him how to render it forever useless. He must forgive himself though.
Yrene finds herself when she heals Choal. They grow even closer sharing each other's memories.
Nesryn, Prince Satajah, Falkan, Brote and Yeran arrive back at his outpost. There is a breakthrough with Nesryn and Prince Satajah. She tells Falkan that she may know who his niece is and where she is. Nesryn gets a letter from Choal, needing her to return as fast as she can. They rush back.
Choal and Yrene talk where they lay all their cards on the table. They work out the Torre connections, Yrene thinks she can save Vlag hosts. She is unsure though. Hasar enters Choal's apartment, there is a conversation. They go to Torre to speak with the Healer on High, but she isn't there, she's missing. They search the Torre where they find her in the tunnels with Vlag host Princess Duva, there is a fight Choal dies.
Yerne spares the Princess, she rushes to heal Choal and is willing to pay any price to save him. He's saved. The prices is they are tethered together forever. If one dies they both do. Choal can only walk when Yrene's at full strength. Nesryn appears with Prince Satajah. He thanks her for sparing his sister. They all go before the King. They tells him everything. Yrene's last test is to save the Princess Duva and her baby. She begins, Yerne after a fashion vanquishes the Vlage princess.
Prince Satajah and Nesryn share there news. Choal shares his. They have a thousand Ruk's ready to fly for Aelin. As many ships as Hazar can bring. Yrene thanks them all. Prince Satajah meets Nesryn's family. Yrene's sadness about leaving. Two rough weeks for Choal, they set off. A lead into Aelin's story.
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Thank you all for stopping by.
Kristal
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