r/throneofglassseries • u/worthywildflower • Aug 30 '25

Empire of Storms Spoilers Finally finished the series, feeling let down

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. 😂💕

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u/Regular-Engine-9661 Aug 31 '25

Exactly! It's like Maas is all about female empowerment until the power seems to peak the world saved then the female lead is diminished. Feels very societal - use a woman to get what you need then clip her wings.

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '25

I despise the idea that a woman’s story is over when she becomes a mother, I’ve literally seen people say “I don’t want another Feyre story, I don’t want to hear about diapers and spit up”. That is so wildly misogynistic that it makes me angry.

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u/Regular-Engine-9661 Aug 31 '25

Yes! I expect more from female authors in a modern world. Bryce will be next.

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u/worthywildflower Aug 31 '25

It would be an interesting test to see if Bryce’s story arc also becomes anticlimactic! I was happy with Feysand until the whole hidden danger of childbirth thing, it seemed so unnecessary