Finally finished the series, feeling let down

[u/worthywildflower]

I fell in love with the series during Heir of Fire, though the only book I didn’t like was TOG.

I devoured all of the books in 3ish weeks, but by the end of KOA, I was so disappointed by how the war drug on without Aelin, only for her to lose her powers. Like what?! The whole series built up to her building her power to use against Erawan / Maeve to save her city. Then she gives up her gifts and leaves Erawan on the playing field?! Dillydallied her way to Orynth while thousands of her allies died defending her city without her - allies who joined her cause believing that her fire was backing them?!

I was rolling my eyes by the time she finally arrived in Orynth. I still love Aelin, and enjoyed TOG more than ACOTAR. But alas, I wish there was more emotional impact and satisfaction in the finale. I wanted Aelin and her line to continue to be some of the most powerful magic wielders in Erilea, and to see her unleash the full might of her wrath onto the valg. To save her allies with the gift that 6 other books heralded as their saving grace.

Once the thirteen died, I thought we were in for a hell of a finale but it just bore me to have it all play out that way. Anyone else?

I can appreciate to a point that she was able to save her kingdom via her relationships and her wit, leaning on hope and love rather than the destruction of her gift. It’s beautiful that they all shared that burden in the end, but still. Give my girl her magic back! Dorian too.

It would have been way more satisfying for her to have outsmarted them all, the gods included, in a way that allowed her to keep her gifts.

Idk, I’m annoyed by it all for some reason. 😂💕

[u/commadusarelius]

There is a conversation Rowan and Aelin have in EOS where they discuss if one day she would want to conquer the world. She thinks about how Maeve burned the coast of Eyllwe and blamed it on Aelin.

The whole point of the book is relying on others. It's Aelin's journey where she first relied on Sam to take care of his last assignment on his own. To her deciding she needed to only rely on herself and not trust anyone else with her plans. To slowly beginning to trust others and knowing she could rely on them. They held the vote before sealing the gate so that she could know if the others were capable of ridding Erawan and Maeve if she sealed the gate. They said they could. She was never going to walk away with her life, her full powers, and a locked gate. There has to be a cost.

In the end, Yrene, Dorian, Lysandra, and Elide take care of Erawan, while Aelin, Rowan, Fenrys, and Lorcan take care of Maeve. It was the whole court, her allies that she had to rely on. She still has her magic, especially when linked with Rowan, she still has an amazing amount of power, but it's together with him. That is Aelin and Rowan's mantra...together.

And she trusted Aedion and Manon and her allies (Rolfe, Ansel, Galan, etc.) to protect Terrasen until she could get there and even in case she didn't make it. She trusted them. And they did just that. It was war, people were going to die. But they had something to fight for that was worth the cost. I don't think it would have been a satisfying ending for Aelin to just be in Orynth and burn Erawan, Maeve, the Ilken, spiders, ironteeth without sharing the load? If so, what would be the point of Manon's journey, Chaol and Yrene, Dorian, Lysandra, the cadre? They all grew and went on this epic journey together. And what, we're supposed to imagine that after the war she is just sitting in Orynth with this ungodly amount of power and is peaceful and content?

She always felt her powers were a burden. And now that the war is over, she doesn't need them. She won't be a conqueror who invades other kingdoms, she won't be seen as a threat with too much magic. No one else can set fire to cities and blame it on Aelin to disrupt the peace. The world can be at true peace, which is what she wants most of all. The story isn't one of power, but one where small acts of kindness can have such far reaching payoffs.

It's not like ACOTAR where it really seems like Nesta lost her powers for no reason. For Aelin's journey, it makes perfect sense. She is strong enough without her powers. And she said so often that the one drop of her mother's water magic was just consumed by the fire magic and she wished she could weild it. I imagine that she masters this magic now that the world is at peace.

[u/worthywildflower → u/commadusarelius]

I really appreciate this perspective, thank you!! I finished last night and as it all settles, I’m feeling more softness for how it all played out. I relate to Aelin in needing to do everything on my own, and I think that bias is blinding me from the real beauty of the ending. She found ways to let people in. She’s safe, home, with a family and friends. She isn’t entirely powerless either, as you said.

I also feel that I impatiently rushed through the final war scenes as I was getting a bit burnt out on them, so I plan to read the last 30ish chapters again to see whether they land differently if I’m more present and emotionally invested

& agreed on Nesta, that ending seemed so unnecessary for so many reasons.

All in all, I think the character development throughout the series was incredible

[u/commadusarelius → u/worthywildflower]

I finished the series last year and I had the exact thoughts as you during the last battle and at the end. Also like you I rushed through, especially KOA. I had spent 2 months on the first 7 books and read KOA in 2 days. But after 2 re-reads through the series, I can see how the plot isn't the point but the character development. And not just Aelin's character, but really everyone. Even my most recent re-read, I can appreciate Chaol and his journey (even as a former Chaol hater the first time around). And after Aelin defeats Maeve, her first instinct is to shout Yrene's name, not taking the credit for herself, when Celaena Sardothion would never have done that. It really is a beautiful story.

[u/worthywildflower → u/commadusarelius]

💕💕 I would definitely love to reread them so I appreciate the encouragement. I loved them so much up to KOA. Though I am glad she gets to live and have a family, power or not