Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6)

The Throne of Glass series is a romantic, epic fantasy series by Sarah J. Maas that encompasses many points of view yet centers around an infamous assassin named Celaena Sardothien, with a secret past as Aelin Galathynius, the heir to the throne of Terrasen. Set in a world plagued by parasitic demons called the Valg—who belong to another dimension and travel worlds via Wyrdgates unlocked by obsidian shards called Wyrdkeys—the series follows Aelin and her allies’ fight against the ancient evil who seek to conquer their world. While two of the three Valg Kings have been long since banished, the final Valg King Erawan remains—possessing the body of Duke Perrington, a loyal advisor to the King of Adarlan who is also possessed by a Valg Prince.

The series is set primarily in the Northern Continent of Erilea, which consists of many kingdoms: the Western Wastes, the Deserted Land, Ellwye, Melisandre, Terrasen, and Adarlan. Heir of Fire (2014) explores the Eastern Continent where faerie kingdoms—Doranelle and Wendlyn—reside, and Tower of Dawn veers toward the Southern Continent, home to the Torre Cesme (a school for magic healers) and where a government called the Khaganate reigns.

The series begins with Throne of Glass (2012). Celaena is pulled from enslavement in the salt mines of Endovier and offered freedom by Prince Dorian Havilliard of Adarlan and his Captain of the Guard, Chaol Westfall. She competes—and wins—a tournament to become the King’s Champion—the personal assassin for Dorian’s father, the tyrannical King of Adarlan. In Crown of Midnight (2013), Celaena serves as the King’s Champion but only appears to do his bidding, fabricating proof of the kills she does on his behalf. Celaena also befriends Princess Nehemia—from the nation of Eyllwe, brutally conquered by the King of Adarlan as Terrasen had been years prior—and develops a romance with Chaol.

Celaena learns about an ancient runic language called Wyrdmarks that can be used to cast unique magic and discovers the Valg infestation within her world. When Nehemia is murdered, Celaena and Chaol become estranged. In Heir of Fire (2014), Celaena reveals her identity as Aelin Galathynius and sails to Doranelle for more answers about the Valg. Meanwhile, the Valg discovers Dorian’s latent magic, imprisoning him in a Wyrdstone collar, which allows a Valg Prince to possess him. Chaol is forced to run and amass the forces he needs to defeat the Valg.

In Queen of Shadows (2015), Aelin returns to Adarlan to gather her court, kill the King of Adarlan, and free Dorian from infestation so he can reclaim his throne. In the battle, powerful Valg magic strikes Chaol and leaves him paralyzed from the waist down. Empire of Storms (2016) occurs simultaneously with Tower of Dawn (2017). In Empire of Storms, Aelin amasses forces from across the continent. The novel introduces many vital characters who will serve as powerful allies in the unfolding war. Battles are waged with increasing vigor, yet the novel ends with Aelin captured and imprisoned by the powerful Fae queen, Maeve. The journey Chaol and Nesryn undertake in Tower of Dawn explains their absence in Empire of Storms. They seek to gain tide-turning allies from the powerful Khaganate empire and beseech the magic healers of the Torre Cesme to aid in healing Chaol’s injuries.