Queen of Shadows

Throne of Glass is an eight-novel epic fantasy series set in a world infested by parasitic demons called Valg. Duke Perrington and the King of Adarlan ally with the Valg to seek the three Wyrdkeys, which contain enough power to conquer the world.

The series mainly takes place on the continent of Erilea, which consists of the Western Wastes and Deserted Land as well as the kingdoms of Terrasen, Adarlan, Melisande, Fenharrow, and Eyllwe. Adarlan has been secretly under Valg control for over a decade and has systematically conquered its surrounding nations. Most significant among these are Eyllwe, whose inhabitants have been cruelly slaughtered and enslaved, and Terrasen, which has been nearly entirely dismantled due to its high population of Fae and magical beings. After Adarlan outlaws magic, those with powers abandoned the continent or went into hiding.

The Assassin’s Blade, a prequel to the series, provides context for the series. Its five novellas describe Aelin’s past as an assassin under the mentorship of Arobynn Hamel and her rivalry with Lysandra. In Throne of Glass, we meet Aelin as Celaena Sardothien, an infamous Adarlan assassin—an identity that conceals the fact that she is the presumed-dead heir to Terrasen. After being enslaved, Celaena is chosen by Prince Dorian Havilliard and Captain of the Guard Chaol Westfall to compete to become the King of Adarlan’s assassin. During the contest, Celaena befriends Nehemiah and falls in love with Chaol, while uncovering the sinister plot of the Valg demons inhabiting her world. In Crown of Midnight, as Dorian discovers his latent magic despite the obsidian towers blocking all magic on the continent, Celaena sails to the eastern Fae continent to train her magic and prepare to confront and defeat the Valg. In Heir of Fire, series antagonists Duke Perrington and the King of Adarlan build a Valg army in Erilea, which includes Ironteeth witches riding dragon-like creatures called wyverns. Meanwhile, Celaena—now Aelin—amasses allies, including Rowan and his Cadre.