Empire of storms

Aelin successfully freed Dorian and dramatically announced her powerful presence at the conclusion of Queen of Shadows (2015), and that act has reverberated throughout the kingdom. Though whispers among the continent that Aelin, the true queen of Terrasen, has returned suggest the people are rallying behind her, uniting powerful lords in the fight to free her homeland is harder than she thought. More important, her show of strength when defeating Dorian's captors caught the attention of an even wickeder fiend, now intent on capturing her and wielding her awesome power for his own nefarious ends. Recruiting her usual allies, along with Manon Blackbeak, Aelin sets out to imprison the dark forces that plague her kingdom. Though Maas' breathy narrative occasionally feels overwrought, and a few out-of-character pairings among series favorites seem more like an excuse to include lengthy, detailed sex scenes than meaningful plot contributions, fans devoted to the series (and there are many) will be eager for this installment's cinematic action, twisty schemes, and intense revelations of secrets and legacies.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2016 Booklist

Aelin hones her power now that magic has been restored; meanwhile, the demon Erawan prepares to conquer Erilea's kingdoms. When Aelin's countrymen reject her as Queen of Terrasen, she seeks unlikely allies and a lock to bind the demon in another realm. More adventure and romance await fans of Maas's high-fantasy series in this enjoyable fifth installment of Aelin's epic journey to save humanity. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.