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Book review: Tower of Dawn by Sarah J Maas

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Tower of Dawn by Sarah J Maas (first published in 2017 by Bloomsbury UK)

Tower of Dawn is the sixth book in Sarah J Maas's epic Throne of Glass series and it's probably the one that got the most hate before it was even published. 

Not very many people were looking forward to it coming out. They were either straight up hating on it or just indifferent to it. All because of one character: Chaol Westfall.

Firstly, let's just get this out of the way, I do not understand the absolute hate for Chaol. In Crown of Midnight we're all rooting for Chaol and Celaena as a couple and when the inevitable fall out happens he's seen as the ass that can't handle it. 

But no, guys, they're both in the wrong. Could he have handled it better? Of course. Do I understand his reaction?

Definitely! 

So when Chaol seemingly gets a whole book dedicated to him, a collective groan could heard across Queen Maas's fandom. But this book is about so much more than just Chaol. We’re introduced to characters and creatures who manage to creep into your heart. 

Personally I this is probably one of the best books in the entire series. Timeline wise this book happens at the same time as Empire of Storms. 

After events in Queen of Shadows leaves Chaol injured, Nesryn escorts him back to her homeland on the Southern Continent where the best healers in the world reside.

I have to say after five books in this series and three others in her Court of Thorns and Roses series, it's nice to finally see some people of colour making an appearance in her books. Even better, they seem to be based on the people of Middle Eastern descent, which means they look like me!

Chaol isn't in Antica only to get his body healed. He's there to try and recruit the Khagan to Aelin's crusade.

At first I didn't think the lack of diversity was a big deal (because I'm utterly in love with everything Sarah J Maas publishes) until I actually came across characters with names like the people in my family.

It was a pleasant surprise and really made me fall in love with the Southern Continent. And it also made me realise just how wonderful a feeling representation is.

If the Northern Continent has a Western Europe feel then the Southern Continent has a very distinctive Arab/desert vibe. You see it in everything from the architecture in Nesryn's family home and the Khagan's palace to the oasis getaways, the clothing styles and their social habits.

Once again Maas has filled this book with strong, confident women who kick ass. Literally. Even the healer, Yrene, who is assigned to Chaol can hold her own.

We pick back up with Yrene Towers in this book. The last time we saw her was in the short story, The Assassin and The Healer in the Assassin's Blade prequel collection. So it was nice to see that girl had not only arrived at her destination safely but was also basically in line to take over the whole damn place. 

She is one of my favourite characters in this book. She’s intelligent, determined and a force to be reckoned with. This means she butts heads with Chaol for more than one reason. After all he's stubborn and was the Captain of the Guard of Adarlan, so not her favourite people.

But Chaol isn't in Antica only to get his body healed. He's there to try and recruit the Khagan to Aelin's crusade. But the Khagan is in mourning and not about to go to war for a Queen he's not too sure of.

We're also introduced to the Khagan's five children. Each of them is in the running to become heir to the throne which means there is a lot of politics afoot in this court which adds a level of drama that is very welcome.

One of the son's, Sartak is a ruk rider. It seems that these giant birds were introduced as a means to combat the witches’ wyverns. The visit to the ruk riders territory is a fun and also very informative one. 

If there's one criticism I have about the book is that it's quite slow to start. The plots have a good build up though and couldn't put it down once the momentum got going. The ebb and flow of the relationships in this book are believable and real. 

That phase where one relationship ends and another is beginning is awkward and painful and Sarah J Maas captures all of that beautifully.

Purchase a copy of the book from Takealot.com

LISTEN: Tower Of Dawn audiobook by Sarah J. Maas part 1

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