Audiobook Review – Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, Book 5) by Sarah J. Maas (2/5 stars)

Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 704 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: September 6, 2016
ISBN-13: 978-1619636071
Stand Alone or Series: 5th book in the Throne of Glass series
Source: Audiobook through Audible.com
Rating: 2/5 stars

“The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.”

This is the fifth book in the Throne of Glass series. I didn’t enjoy this book at all. I just finished A Court of Wings and Ruin a couple weeks ago and I am struggling with how similar this series has become to that one. They both have the same plot of the evil overlord destroying everything and the same tone to the story.

In addition to the above, all the characters have become very similar across both series. They all have these super tortured pasts and all the heroines are rash, desperate for love, and belligerent. All the lead males are super alpha, super beautiful, tortured, and yet secretly want to spend their time serving and catering to their rather obnoxious female counterparts.

The characters are so similar that I had a hard time remembering whose viewpoint I was reading from if I stopped in the mid-chapter.

Also, what is the drive to have every single character paired up with another one across both series? It is like a bad and trashy soap opera; but strangely with less drama and excitement. What happened to the story (which makes very little progress over this huge book)?

Lastly when did this YA series become as smutty as the late books in Laurell Hamilton’s Anita Blake series? There are frequent and very explicit sex scenes throughout this book. Additionally they are not well done sex scenes; they are repetitive and boring. Why does Maas have to use the terms “male” and “female” over and over…it’s weird and awkward (she does this in the Court of Thorns and Roses series as well). I didn’t think these books were set in the same world but the worlds have become so similar….

Overall everything about this book was disappointing to me. I ended up skimming the last third because I couldn’t force myself to read through this tripe any longer…how has this series become so awful? Between this and A Court of Wings and Ruin I am done with Maas as an author. Apparently she can only write one thing now….over and over. I won’t be reading anymore of either series.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Mount TBR Reading Challenge
– Audiobook Reading Challenge
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge
– YA Reading Challenge