Sarah J. Maas' debut fantasy seriesThrone of Glassfollows a main character with god-like powers, making the twist ending of that character losing much of her magic poignant and somewhat divisive.Throne of Glass, stillSarah J. Maas' best fantasy series, focuses on assassin Celaena Sardothien reclaiming her identity as lost heir Aelin Ashryver Galathynius and setting out to save her kingdom from dark forces, against the backdrop of other characters and royal heirs doing the same across the continent of Erilea. Luckily, Aelin is aided by an awesome and colossal fire magic.
Aelin is easily themost powerful character inThrone of Glass, destroying entire fleets of ships and vaporizing an entire tidal wave. Her power plays into different themes of the story, as she questions what kind of leader she will be, prompts fear in even her allies, and finds a partner (who is also significantly magically powerful) who she can be on the same page with.It sometimes seems like Aelin is too powerful,a critique that has been raised by fans. However,Kingdom of Ash’s ending wraps up the story and its themes in a necessary way.
Why Aelin Loses Her Powers In Throne Of Glass: Kingdom Of Ash’s Ending Twist Explained
Alongside the more physical threat of the Valg armies taking over Erilea,Aelin and her friends are searching for the three Wyrdkeys to close the Wyrdgate,preventing beings like the Valg kings and other gods from going to different realms. The gods expected that one of Elena’s descendants would send them back to their realm and forge the Lock, an effort which was a death sentence for this heir. Aelin and Dorian initially attempt this together to save each other’s lives, but she forces him out and goes forward on her own.
Aelin losing most of her magic at the end ofThrone of Glassis an indicator that the characters will experience real peace in the aftermath.
When Aelin treats with the gods, she tries to save Elena’s life but fails. However, Elena’s mother Mala is grateful and gives Aelin a drop of her own power.Aelin then uses her own substantial power combined with Mala’s gift to save herself,crossing many other realms before getting home. However, the effort burns through most of her magic, leaving her with an ordinary amount of firepower, as well as eliminating her human half and making her entirely Fae.
Aelin Didn’t Need Her Power Anymore
There are hints inThrone of Glassthat can be interpreted in different ways of the real threat Aelin would pose to Erilea in the future,perhaps overstepping in the continent and various kingdoms' governments, when she is essentially a god who can obliterate anyone who stands in her way. There is a pertinent question of whether she really should have this power if it isn’t needed to save the world. It ultimately may have caused difficulty for her as queen when it came to making allies and maintaining friendships.
She also gains some people’s respect by facing down Maeve without her power, showing a different bravery. Yet notably, when Aelin fights Maeve, she makes the famous assertion: “I am a god.” Aelin has become a legend through her unyielding ferocity, something her friends and beloved still see in her without the full extent of her magic. Aelin losing most of her magic at the end ofThrone of Glassis an indicator that the characters will experience real peace in the aftermath, while reminding us that it is now the only thing we are supposed to recognize in this character.
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