Title: Tower of Dawn
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication Date: Originally published in 2017
ISBN: 9781639731053
Synopsis:
Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq have arrived in the shining city of Antica to forge an alliance with the Khagan of the Southern Continent, whose vast armies are Erilea’s last hope. But they have also come to Antica for another purpose: to seek healing at the famed Torre Cesme for the wounds Chaol received in Rifthold.
After enduring unspeakable horrors as a child at the hands of Adarlanian soldiers, Yrene Towers has no desire to help the young lord from Adarlan, let alone heal him. Yet she has sworn an oath to assist those in need, and she will honor it. But Lord Westfall carries his own dark past, and Yrene soon realizes that those shadows could engulf them both.
Chaol, Nesryn, and Yrene will have to draw on every scrap of their resilience to overcome the danger that surrounds them. But while they become entangled in the political webs of the khaganate, long-awaited answers slumber deep in the mountains, where warriors soar on legendary ruks. Answers that might offer their world a chance at survival . . . or doom them all.
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This next book in the Throne of Glass series takes a completely different turn than the prior books in the series and what I thought would be a slow and distracted novel was actually a welcome turn of events with a different style of pacing and an excitingly different vibe from what we’ve seen in this story so far. Turning away from Aelin, Dorian, Elide, Rowan, and Manon in book 6, this novel focuses solely on Chaol and Nesryn as they venture across the sea in search of alliance and forces to support the army, but primarily to aid Chaol as he recovers from a grave injury in the final battle of the previous book.
I could immediately see starting out why so many people choose to complete the tandem read of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn. Without the tandem read, Tower of Dawn is such a sudden departure after the intensity of the novel prior to it. With the cliff hanger, it took ever ounce of my strength not to jump right to Kingdom of Ash. I’m glad I didn’t. There was so much information that this sixth book offered that was so central to the overarching plot. It doesn’t seem critical, but there is so much at play in this story that informs what happens next in the series. I’d actually attempt the tandem read next time around, but I enjoyed getting to experience this book and the steady reprieve and info dump it offered.
Throughout this book, I actually came to admire and enjoy Chaol much more than I had throughout the series up until this point. Readers get to stop and slow down and get to know him at his lowest point and follow him through his confrontation of his past and his demons as he works towards recovery. We also meet Irene who carries baggage of her own from a very dark and traumatic childhood. This is a story of life, healing, and true dedication when the world around them is rife with death and the kingdom they know threatens to crumble around them.
I did race through this book in the anticipation of making it to Kingdom of Ash, but I tried not to miss a thing. It was enjoyable to meet new characters and to discover even more cultures and cities in this world that Maas has built. Her world is so expansive and continues to grow and grow with every book.
This series has quickly shot to the top of my favourites list. The more invested I am and the more this world explodes, the more I love it. Maas is a masterful writer and her characterization and world-building is unparalleled. This is truly one of the most gripping fantasy series I’ve ever encountered and it will have to be one I returned to again and again. An absolutely must-have in the book collection.
Happy reading!
Worn Pages and Ink 