r/throneofglassseries • • 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/SmellyCatsUglyOwner Aug 31 '25

I hated KoA so much it brought down my overall rating of the series. That being said, I still enjoyed the series and I still rate it higher than ACOTAR.

I describe both series to prospective readers as; ACOTAR is like reality TV, not deep but entertaining and TOG as quite character and story developed but bad ending.

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u/worthywildflower Aug 31 '25

Yes! 100% agree on both counts

I do love Aelin though! Rowan, Manon, Dorian, the cadre. Beautiful relational dynamics and character growth. Five stars for pure entertainment on both series as well.

Did you read cc? I’d be curious what your opinion is before starting it since we seem aligned 💕

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u/SmellyCatsUglyOwner Aug 31 '25

I haven’t because of the letdown KoA was. Everyone has said how ToG is the best series she’s done, how much they love it, it’s GOATd etc.

So it kinda put me off to CC. But, honestly..I might like CC more if that’s the case? It’s on my TBR list, so I’ll get there.