Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, 6)

Sarah J. Maas is by far one of my most favorite authors I've ever read, and she's my top favorite Young Adult author. Anything she writes is gold. Before embarking on a new read from her, I always contemplate and wonder how Maas will top her previous book. Yet, she always does. However, I must admit I was nervous for this book. It's not a direct sequel to Empire of Storms, but a companion novel. The events of this book are said to be simultaneously happening as the events of EoS. This book is all about Chaol, one of my least favorite characters. Maas turned many readers off from Chaol when she spent a lot of time portraying him as whiny and one-dimensional, once he no longer was Aelin's love interest. Yet Maas has just published a whole book about him and his adventures. This was a very risky move on her behalf, but let me be the first to tell you when I say, it is paying off! Chaol sets off to appeal to those who rule in Antica, the infamous and flourishing Khaganate empire that many have admired of decades. Maas spent a lot of time researching Ghengis Kahn. While research shows him to be a "villain" in history, his empire was established on the acceptance of all religions. This was very progressive for it's time. Maas has recieved plenty of criticism for her Throne of Glass series and for this book. I love to include all opinions in my reviews in order to give my review a well-rounded feeling to it. Many critics have felt like Sarah appropriates culture without doing proper research. For the record, Sarah researched extensively and it shows. She also credits Ghengis Kahn at the end of her book. Critics have also complained about the lack of diversity within her work, but ironically enough, Chaol is the only white person in this installment. The new cultures introduced were very refreshing to see, and Maas portrayes them accurately, without being insensitive. I don't believe she culturally appropriates. She pays homage. Her researched and careful portrayal depict this. There's a difference. Maas spends a large amount of time world-building and introduces us to vital new characters that will play a major role in the next installment in the book series. The depiction of the Khagan family, particularly the Princes and Princess, were so overwhelming fantastic. They created such an interesting dynamic to the story and each character was so different from the next, despite being related to each other. With the introduction of the Khagan family, also comes the ruk-riders. I don't want to reveal too much, but we can see a clear foe for the Ironteeth witches and their Wyvern mounts in the ruk-riders. The inevitable battle between these two groups is definitely one to look forward to. Chaol hopes to convince the ruler of the Khaganate to ally himself along side King Dorian and those that fight against the evil Valg King, Erawan. But that's not all that drives Chaol to the Southern Continent. Chaol has also come to seek out Antica's famous healers. At the end of Queen of Shadows, Chaol suffered from a devastating spine injury, which has left him paralyzed from the waste down. We meet Yrene, Antica's best healer, a girl with a troubled past with an even troubling view on Andarlan and those like Chaol, who supported it's previous sadistic King. Yrene hates Chaol at first, and their relationship begins with a lot of fiery dialogue. Another major criticism that Maas has had to deal with is her depiction of Chaol's disability. Very reminiscent of Veronica Roth and the backlash she had to deal with, with her character from Carve the Mark, Maas has been accused of ruining Chaol's character and trampling all that he stood for. Chaol's journey through Tower of Dawn is dark. I won't sugarcoat that. He begins his journey full of hatred and he's resentful. He spends most of the book coming to terms with what happened to him both physically and emotionally, and Yrene is the one to help guide him through the darkness. Chaol hates to rely on others and often times it was painful to watch Chaol deny the help he so desperately needed. One of the quotes that grabbed my attention about Chaol's disability is, "He knew—Chaol realized the guard knew just how it felt to have the chair touched, moved, without being asked." Maas has a firm grasp on the nuances of what it means to be disabled because it's obvious she did her research, yet again. People are critiqued her harshly, but she has been very good at accurately describing what it means to be disabled, even if she isn't. Maas spent months in conversationg with sensitivity readers, as an author should when writing about very sensitive characters/world. Chaol's journey is raw and honest. The ending in particular was such a beautiful thing to watch. The way his relationship develops with Yrene is organic. It rejuvenated Chaol as a person and literally brought him back to life---and to the light. We see how Chaol has grown throughout the series and throughout the book through this quote, “He could still speak with dignity and command whether he stood on his feet or was laid flat on his back. The chair was no prison, nothing that made him lesser.” I won't dive too deeply into this quote because I don't want to spoil anything, but Chaol's mindset is no longer disabled like his body. He finally realizes his potential and that his circumstances have not dimished the person he once was, if anything, it has made him better. Chaol learns to change his outlook and comes to understand the value and worthiness of himself. Also, if it wasn't for those horrible circumstances, he wouldn't have fallen in love with Yrene. Maas and this book are not an ableist. Like Veronica Roth was not an ableist either. Book critics, be kind to who you throw under the bus, especially if you yourself don't do your research when you're ironically accusing the author that they didn't do theirs. We not only see the strength a person has even while disabled, in Chaol, but the strength of Yrene who supported him through that terrible ordeal. Her strength is not one we've come to know throughout the series. She's not a fierce fighter like Manon or Aelin, but she isn't less bad-ass than they are either. Her compassion for Chaol and for others is something worthy to note. She may not have been disabled like Chaol physically, but she walked hand-in-hand with Chaol on a path towards healing and recovery. She was broken too, just in a different way. Chaol healed her as much as she healed him. It's that kind of bond that Maas has created between these two characters that is just beyond amazing. "If he had not broken, then she would not break—not in seeing him as anything but what he was. What he’d served." Maas spirits us down a path with Chaol that is rife with pain, darkness, and turmoil. We are thrust into his journey of healing and we come to love Yrene, the only one that is there to support him in his time of need. We see a love blossom in a way we haven't seen done before in a Maas' book. Some have stated that this book doesn't need to be read on account of it being a companion novel and not a sequel, however I disagree. It contains one of the BIGGEST plot twists in the ENTIRE series, so PLEASE go out and read it. You will not be disappointed.

Tower of Dawn is my second favorite book that Sarah J. Maas has ever written! And it is, hands down, the best installment in the Throne of Glass series, in my honest opinion. I completely and wholeheartedly loved it. This is easily one of the best books I’ve read in 2017. The first part of this review is spoiler free for Tower of Dawn, but it does have minor spoilers for the rest of the Throne of Glass series! Also, before I even start this review, I just want to say that I actually think Sarah has been listening to her readers and this book truly proves it. First off, we have a very predominant queer side character, who clearly states this from the beginning and is written very believably and seamlessly. Next, we have a full diverse cast of characters, besides Chaol, in this novel. And lastly, and the thing I was most concerned about going into this book, Sarah respectfully writes about Chaol’s disability, without ever making it seem like he must be “fixed” in order to have self-worth. (But please be aware that this review is coming to you from a white, able-bodied woman, so I am not the voice you should be listening to for the last two representations.) I also think Sarah unfortunately listened to the backlash about her “young adult” books having so much sex in them, because there is totally less sex in this book than in EoS, ACOMAF, and ACOWAR. There is still amazing angst and build up to sex, and there is one actual sex scene, but nothing near as graphic or even as descriptive as her previous works. Me, being the perverted person that I am, was a little disappointed by this, especially with how much I love Chaol. I should also preface this review by telling those of you who do not know that Chaol is my favorite character in ToG, well, besides my queen, Manon Blackbeak! I’ve never been the biggest fan of Celaena/Aelin, and I think this story (and the rating I gave it) probably really benefited from that. The last thing I will say before I actually start this long-winded review is that I cannot stress enough how important it is to read The Assassin and the Healer novella from the novella bind up, The Assassin’s Blade, before you read this book! Tower of Dawn is a story that is running parallel with the events that took place in Empire of Storms. While Aelin, Dorian, and the rest of the gang are trying to unite empires and bring them together to fight the greater threat at hand, Chaol and Nesryn left for Antica, located in the southern continent, to convince another strong empire to join them in the battle that is inevitably coming, while also seeing if the healers at the Torre can heal Chaol’s paralysis. Also, the southern continent is way more advanced than Erilea could ever hope to be. Magic is not only thriving here, but it’s celebrated. And healing is one of the most prized powers of all. And one of the three points of view in this book, besides Chaol and Nesryn, is a very talented and powerful healer named Yrene Towers. I would say the point of views are definitely equal seeming between the three, but there are two big story lines going on. The first being Chaol’s healing, and how he is hurting a lot more than just physically. Chaol is struggling with his self-worth, but I believe he’s also struggling with PTSD. He feels very guilty and that he is to blame for Aelin, Dorian, his family, his guardsmen, and also his disability. This book really showcases and highlights how mental pain and disabilities are just as hard to overcome as physically pain and disabilities, and Chaol for sure learns this lesson in true Chaol fashion: the hard way. And the second storyline is a big mixture of different ways Chaol and Nesryn are trying to sway the current khagan, Urus, to their cause. Urus has six children and when he passes on one of them will rule, because in this kingdom it is not automatically given to the first-born heir. No one knows who the ruler will be, so this can make siblings rather blood thirty for one another, and once one is chosen to rule, the others must submit or things can get really bloody. This also makes the task of winning them all over a little difficult for Chaol and Nesryn. “Your city is the greatest I have ever laid eyes upon, your empire the standard by which all others should be measured. When Morath comes to lay waste to it, who will stand with you if we are all carrion?” Urus’ six children: ➽Arghun – oldest child and enjoys power in knowledge. ➽Sartaq – second oldest and commands the Rukhin riders. ➽Hasar – third oldest and amazingly queer. ➽Kashin – fourth oldest and most loyal. ➽Duva - fifth oldest, who is married and carrying the first grandbaby right now. ➽Tumelun - the baby, and the cause of an underlying mystery. All of these side characters are very impactful to not only this book, but the greater arching story at hand, too. These characters also put a big emphasis on family for this story, and the amazing lengths we are willing to go for the people we love. Tower of Dawn not only introduces a vast array of new characters, and it also helps showcase that this book feels like a love letter to being young and finding yourself. Yet also, finding what you truly want in your life. I mean, these characters are all in their early 20s, it’s not plausible that they are all going to know what path they want to take, or that they all choose to take the path that was set for them by others. I love that this book realistically depicts that your first love won’t always be your last love, and how normal and okay that truly is. Finding yourself, and what you want from this life, is a truly beautiful story in and of itself. There is a vast amount of world building and character development within these 700 pages, and I truly believe this is such a wonderful addition to this series. Before I get into the spoiler section, I will say that there are trigger warnings for talk of suicide, grey area cheating, war themes, and violence. I will also say that the epilogue of this book will probably shatter your soul. Like, is it Fall of 2018 yet? But I loved this and it was such a wonderful and important installment in the Throne of Glass series. “The heart he’d offered and had been left to drop on the wooden planks of the river docks. An assassin who had sailed away and a queen who had returned.”

Tower of Dawn, the sixth installment in Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series, runs parallel to Empire of Storms—but stands entirely on its own. What begins as a side quest for Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq soon becomes the emotional and thematic heart of the series, delving into healing, identity, and personal transformation. I opened the book with skepticism—how could a story centered on Chaol measure up to Aelin’s arc? But in the quiet hours spent on the Southern Continent with a broken captain and a guarded healer, I found myself moved in ways I never anticipated. Maas adopts a slower, more introspective rhythm here, mirroring the characters’ emotional journeys. Through Chaol’s physical and internal reckoning, and Yrene Towers’s quiet, powerful presence, the novel becomes a meditation on strength redefined—not as dominance, but as vulnerability and acceptance. Their romance is slow-burning and transformative, rooted in mutual healing. Nesryn, free from Chaol’s shadow, reconnects with her heritage and emerges in her own right. Her bond with Sartaq is understated, but her story deepens the series’ themes of belonging and identity. Meanwhile, the Southern Continent’s rich cultures, politics, and diverse cast—especially characters like Hafiza, Shen, and the rukhin—expand the series beyond traditional Western fantasy tropes. While it may seem like a detour, Tower of Dawn delivers major revelations—most notably Maeve’s true identity and Yrene’s pivotal role in the coming war. It reshapes the larger narrative and proves that healing can be as powerful as fire or steel. Ultimately, this is a story about transformation in all its forms. It reclaims Chaol, elevates Yrene, and enriches the world with cultural and emotional depth. For those willing to slow down and sit with its quiet magic, Tower of Dawn offers profound reward. Rating: ★★★★ (4/5) A soulful, introspective detour that reshapes the series with emotional depth and quiet power.

Read it all! You will never be disappointed! One of the best series I have ever read. The characters are amazing and nothing is missed by the author.

I’ve held off for so long on reading Tower of Dawn and Kingdom of Ash. I didn’t want the series to end, but I knew it was finally time to finish this series. It’s been four years since Tower of Dawn was released, and I was a little skeptical at first reading this book. I’m not a big fan of Chaol, but this book may have changed my mind a bit about him. I think it’s due to Yrene. No, I’m positive it has to everything to do with Yrene. Storyline/My Thoughts: Okay. This will be a complex review to type since this book was over 668 pages, and I definitely don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read the book. (Like I did, by waiting four years to read it.) First, I was a little worried since this book wouldn’t involve Aelin, Rowan, Lysandra, etc., but I now know why Sarah J. Maas wrote this book. I mean, if you read the previous book, you would want to find out what happens next to Aelin. Sarah J. Maas left me hanging, dang it! Although, after reading this book, I now can read the Kingdom of Ash with some further disdain for Maeve and Erawan. Grrr! Nope, no spoilers, I promise. This book has Chaol and Nesryn going to Antica to have the healers of Torre Cesme healing Chaol, hopefully. He’s not able to walk, and he wants to get better, so he can help with the war that is about to happen with Erawan and someone else, too. Chaol gets help from Yrene, which she was introduced to in The Assassin and the Healer. Yrene doesn’t want to help Chaol because he’s from Adarlan, and she has issues with them for what they did to her mother. These two are enemies at first, but only one-sided. Chaol wants to find out about Yrene. He’s having issues at the beginning because he has feelings for Nesryn. This was one thing that drove me crazy in the story with Chaol and Nesryn. These two have emotions, but in this book, everything changes. There was also the issue of Chaol and his past with Aelin. I won’t get into that drama. I enjoyed the banter of Chaol and Yrene. Yrene knows how to handle him. She is determined to heal him. She ends up being in danger, and Chaol believes it has something to do with Erawan. Chaol becomes very protective of Yrene, but what he doesn’t realize is she can handle herself. I adored her character in this book, and she changed Chaol for the better. In the meantime, Chaol and Nesryn are to convince the rulers of Antica to ally with them against Erawan. They are in mourning over one of their daughters dying. Chaol is tasked to find out what truly happened. When the truth is revealed, it’s a big doozy. I was not expecting it all. I love when Sarah J. Maas surprises me with twists and turns in her stories. It’s one of many reasons why I adore her novels. This book unveils so much in this book that it left me in shock. I was not prepared for what happened in this book. I had a moment of ‘I friggin’ knew it’ when I read the shocking moment. Nope, again I’m not spoiling. Let’s not forget about Nesryn, too. She was off on her own adventure with Sardaq. He’s one of the Princes’ of Antica. I liked him immediately. Nesryn has been one of those characters for me that she had to grow on me, too. I didn’t know what to think of her, especially when she was with Chaol. Chaol and Nesryn, I don’t think we’re ever meant to be with each other. There was a scene between Nesryn and Sardaq that had me worried. I thought Sarah J. Maas was going to make me cry. It was a happy and sad moment. I swear Sarah J. Maas knows how to keep me on the edge of my seat when reading her books. I could go on and on, but I don’t want to have a super long review. (Actually, this review is already too long, but oh well.) I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I give it 4.5 stars, and now I have to excite myself to read the Kingdom of Ash. I know the next book is going to be a tearjerker of some kind. I know some moments in this book made me tear up a bit. I’m so glad Chaol has finally grown on me. Thanks to Yrene. She is one kick-butt healer, and I look forward to seeing what she does in the next book, especially after she realizes who Aelin truly is to her. Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Throne of Glass series, and I highly recommend reading in order. Would I recommend this book? Yes, especially if you have read the previous books in the series. This series is categorized as Young Adult, but I would actually have it as New Adult. If you enjoy YA Fantasy/NA Fantasy, then you’ll enjoy this book/series. Again, this book surprised me on how much I adored it. I’m so glad I finally read it.

This book is my favorite in the series. The characters growth from Chaol was incredible to see. Yrene made this book so beautiful. Reading the next (and last book) of the series is gonna be bittersweet.

I probably would have given this one in the series a 3.5 if I could. I did enjoy Chaol, Yrene, and Nesryn's stories, I think they all deserved the page time, however I don't think they deserved 600+ pages worth of my time. Chaol has always been one of my favorites, he's loyal to a fault and that gets him into so much trouble and causes so much heartache over the course of the series. I think this book was necessary to round out his story line, and I'm so glad for Yrene's reintroduction and while I liked Nesryn's story, I honestly could have also done without it, didn't really pull at any of my heartstrings like Yrene's or Chaol's. You can definitely tell this was a novella that got really stretched out, and the editing could have cut about 200+ pages worth and still had the same effect. I'm glad I pre-ordered it so many months in advance because it allowed me to get a fabulous deal on it through Amazon. However, if you're a SJM fan and a ToG fan, do not miss out on reading this! It does contain important storyline information, but just go in knowing that it isn't the same as the rest of the series. There were some pros though, like awesome world building. You learn SO MUCH about the history of Antica and the myths and legends, SJM did such a great job building Antica, I wish she did the same with Erilea and Wendlyn. We really only learn about Doranelle in Wendlyn, but not a whole lot else. I hope in the future we get to read more about the myths and legends of some of the lesser known kingdoms in Erilea, like Fenharrow and Eyllwe, not just Adarlan and Terrasen (maybe saved for what I'm sure will be future spinoffs). The pace of the book was steady in the beginning, a bit slow in the middle, and sped up rapidly in the last few chapters. Yrene is awesome, I cannot wait for her to appear in the final book, she's got to be one of my favorite new characters. Overall, I enjoyed the book, probably ranks near the bottom of all the ToG books, but still written well, just could have been about 200-300 pages shorter and still have the same impact.

Tower of Dawn is a beautifully written, deeply meaningful addition to the Throne of Glass series that surprised me in the best way. What begins as a quieter, character focused story unfolds into a rich exploration of healing, identity, and redemption. Chaol’s journey is raw and honest, Yrene’s strength shines, and the world building in the Southern Continent is vivid and immersive. This book proves that growth can be just as powerful as battle, and it left me with a renewed appreciation for characters I didn’t expect to love so deeply.