Kingdom of Ash

Aelin suffers inside the iron coffin that stifles her magic, spending days either tortured or in isolation in a secluded island prison where “she would likely be forgotten” (2). Fenrys, imprisoned in his white-wolf form, is forced to witness her punishment. Aelin has lost faith that the gods care about her fate; the only thing she holds onto is a childhood story of a young princess who loves her kingdom.

In the two weeks since reuniting with his Bane soldiers, Aedion has seen no evidence of Erawan’s forces from Morath. Many allies of Terrasen have arrived, including Rowan’s extensive Whitethorn family, Queen Ansel of Briarcliff from the Western Wastes, the league of Silent Assassins, and the forces of Crown Prince Galan Ashryver of Wendlyn. The snow has recently begun to fall and Aedion believes Erawan will attack in the “dead of winter” when Terrasen’s armies will be weakest (11). The Lords of Terrasen disagree, believing Erawan will wait until spring.

For the past two months, Lysandra has been impersonating Aelin to prevent panic amongst their allies. Though Aedion is still angry with Lysandra for agreeing to do so in Aelin’s absence, he brings her along on a scouting mission to kill Valg. They take one hostage for interrogation, but the Valg only laughs when probed for information. They make haste toward Allsbrook Castle, where Lysandra reunites with her adopted child, Evangeline, who’s been staying with Lord Ren Allsbrook. The following day, Aedion receives word that Morath’s troops have attacked Eldrys, a city on Terrasen’s southeastern coast.

Elide accompanies Rowan, Gavriel, and Lorcan on their search for Aelin. They are a few weeks south of Doranelle, where Rowan has captured one of Maeve’s commanders and tortures him for information on Maeve’s whereabouts.

Aelin dreams that The Lord of the North, an immortal Dryad from Oakwald Forest, burns to death. She wakes chained to a stone altar; Fenrys is forced to remain in his white-wolf form and watch her be repeatedly tortured and healed by Cairn, a sadistic Fae male blood sworn to Maeve. Aelin is covered nearly head to toe in iron, and her food and water are laced with it as well, to sever her access to her fire powers. If Aelin swears a blood oath to Maeve, all her torture will end, but she’ll never submit to it because swearing it will “hand over everything she knew, everything she was. Become slave eternal. And usher in the doom of the world” (37).

Manon monitors the border of the Western Wastes with Dorian and the Thirteen, searching for the elusive Crochan witches whom she plans to convince to fly into battle at the Thirteen’s side. They also search for the third Wyrdkey, last known to be in Erawan’s possession. In Aelin’s continued absence, Dorian plans to sacrifice his life to forge the Lock needed to bind the Wyrdkeys and seal the Wyrdgate.

Dorian uses Wyrdmarks—magical runes that create spells—to summon the spirit of Gavin, the first King of Adarlan, and ask about the location of the last Wyrdkey. Gavin claims he cannot reveal the information, however, or his mate Elena’s spirit will vanish forever. When Dorian criticizes Gavin for being selfish, Gavin reveals the key is in Morath.

Lorcan mulls over the conflicting information they’ve gotten from Maeve’s commanders concerning Maeve’s whereabouts. He continues to struggle with Elide’s hatred. She blames him for Aelin’s capture, which he never intended but is nevertheless his fault. He hopes to save Aelin but doesn’t know if he’ll ever forgive himself.

Rowan dreams of a future with Aelin, a few years older and pregnant, with their four children surrounding her. A violent wind sweeps them away. Rowan refuses to let Aelin sacrifice her life to end the war and save their world.

Chaol is unaware that Aelin’s been taken captive by Maeve. He sails for Erilea with his wife Yrene, the magical healers of Torre Cesme, and half of the khagan’s fleet from the Southern Continent. The remaining half will follow a few weeks behind. Chaol fears the coming war because of his life bond with Yrene, which allows her to “funnel her healing power into him so he might walk when her magic was not too drained” (66). If he dies, she dies. Chaol is unaware that Yrene is pregnant.

Former Adarlan rebel Nesryn Faliq joins Sartaq, one of the sons of the khagan, and Falkan Ennar, a shapeshifter and merchant, on a scouting mission to determine where the fleets should sail.

The stygian spider Manon visited several months ago to steal spider-silk from to reinforce her wyvern Abraxos finds Manon’s camp and attacks her. It is the same Spider who took 20 years of merchant Falkan Ennar’s life in a spider-silk exchange and inherited some of his ability to shapeshift. The Thirteen and Dorian manage to restrain the spider; in exchange for her life, she leads them to the Crochan witches. Dorian wonders if he can use his magic to shapeshift and find entry to Morath.

Cairn brings Aelin to Maeve, revealing their location: Doranelle. Maeve forces Aelin to kneel on broken glass and places Faerie Queen Mab’s crown on Aelin’s head. Fenrys’s twin, Connall, calls Fenrys a disgrace before Maeve orders Connall to fatally stab himself in the heart. Aelin once again refuses to swear the blood oath to Maeve and throws a shard of glass at her. Maeve bleeds black like the Valg.

Fenrys is allowed to take Fae form to clean Aelin’s wounds. They mourn together.

Lysandra fights alongside the Bane against Erawan’s forces in Eldrys. They win the battle and move inland toward Orynth, where Lord Darrow—the man who’s ruled over Terrasen since Aelin’s family was murdered—awaits.

Nesryn and Sartaq inform Chaol that they witnessed a 10,000-strong army marching toward Chaol’s home, the city of Anielle. They plan to march on Anielle with the soldiers, cavalry, and ruks, save the city, and then take control of the Ferian Gap—a dangerous mountain pass—before reuniting with their fleets in Terrasen. Chaol and Yrene ride ahead on a ruk to warn Anielle.

Aelin loses hope, now knowing that Maeve is Valg royalty like Erawan. Aelin has visions of her mother, urging her to be brave and not yield. In a rage, Aelin hammers on the inside of her iron sarcophagus, nearly busting it open. Her outburst sends a surge of energy down her magical mating bond with Rowan, who follows its signature and realizes that Aelin is in Doranelle. Rowan and his companions plan to lure Maeve away from Doranelle long enough to rescue Aelin.

The stygian spider leads Manon, Dorian, and the Thirteen to the Crochan witches. Manon meets their clan leader—her great-grandmother, Glennis.

Two patrolling Ironteeth covens from the Yellowlegs clan attack the Crochan camp. Manon and the Thirteen defend them. When Manon assures Glennis that she hadn’t led the Yellowlegs to them, Damaris—Dorian’s ancient sword which can tell truth from lie—turns cold, detecting a lie.

Glennis introduces a Crochan witch named Bronwen as Manon’s cousin; Bronwen claims the Crochans will never recognize Manon as their queen, despite her royal blood. Dorian attempts to learn shapeshifting magic by studying the stygian spider; he learns the species is Valg in origin and kills the spider. Glennis tells Manon that only a Crochan Queen can light the Flame of War and summon the Crochans to fight, but Manon must first be accepted as queen to do so. The Crochans plan to aid their southern clans fighting in Eyllwe.

Lysandra takes Aelin’s form and meets with Terrasen steward Darrow, Aedion, the other Terrasen Lords, and their allies. Darrow is dubious of Aelin’s right to rule and of her fire magic, which has yet to be displayed. They discuss where to move their forces, but Darrow only allows the six official Lords of Terrasen to vote; they settle on retreating north to Orynth, rather than defending the southern border. Their allies make their allegiance to Aelin clear, bothering Darrow, but ultimately agree to follow the troops to Orynth. The meeting is interrupted by a Valg sent by Erawan, who attacks “Aelin.”

The attacking Valg scents Lysandra’s blood and recognizes her as a shifter; before he’s killed, the Valg sends a message down the Valg bond to notify his kin that Aelin’s troops march for Orynth but that Aelin Galathynius is not present. Aedion decides to ignore the Lords and move their troops to the southern border. Darrow’s spy and messenger, Nox Owen, knows Aelin from before—she saved his life as Celaena. He can thus tell that Lysandra is a shapeshifter pretending to be Aelin. Lysandra enlists his help in drugging the Terrasen Lords so that Aedion may move their armies south without resistance.

Chaol and Yrene arrive in Anielle, inform Chaol’s father of Erawan’s approaching troops, and develop plans for defense.

The ruks and healers arrive in Anielle, but their foot soldiers are still a week off, while Morath’s army is only three days away.

Maeve implants false memories in Aelin’s mind, telling her own story.

An ancient and powerful queen married the eldest of three kings. Using texts from his libraries, she learned to open doors between worlds and fled to another world with her spider-handmaidens. She disguised herself as a Fae queen so the kings would not recognize her. The kings created three keys capable of permanently opening gates and controlling all worlds; when they entered her world, she banished two of the three, including her husband, but the youngest remained. The queen wishes to find the keys, banish the last brother, and live in peace.

Maeve then attempts to trick Aelin into revealing the Wyrdkeys’ locations, but Aelin does not fall for it. Maeve leaves Doranelle to obtain a Wyrdstone collar, which will enslave Aelin to her will if she wears it. Cairn is tasked with moving Aelin and Fenrys to a more secure location.

Elide spreads false rumors about a captured Valg prince with a Wyrdstone collar in the area. Maeve has summoned a massive army around Doranelle. Elide plans to enter the city, ask for Cairn, and find Aelin’s location.