Editors Reads Verdict
Originally planned as a novella, Tower of Dawn expanded into a full novel that runs parallel to Empire of Storms. Chaol's redemption arc is the emotional core, and the Southern Continent setting provides genuine freshness after six books in the same world. Best read immediately before Kingdom of the Wicked.
What We Loved
- Chaol's disability arc is handled with more care than most fantasy narratives manage
- The Southern Continent setting provides genuine cultural freshness after six books in the same world
- Yrene and Chaol's romance is one of the most developed in the entire series
- The Valg mythology revelations here are significant for the series' finale
Minor Drawbacks
- At 662 pages it is very long for a book originally planned as a novella
- Running parallel to Empire of Storms means readers must decide how to sequence two books simultaneously
- Chaol's earlier characterization as frustrating in previous books makes some readers resistant to his redemption arc
Key Takeaways
- → Physical disability reshapes identity in ways that require genuine renegotiation, not just adaptation
- → A redemption arc only works if the character meaningfully earns it rather than being given it
- → Different cultures within the same fantasy world can have entirely different relationships to power and hierarchy
- → Healing — literal and psychological — requires the healer to understand the wound's source, not just its symptoms
- → The most interesting chapters of a long series often come from characters who felt like supporting players
| Author | Sarah J. Maas |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Bloomsbury USA |
| Pages | 662 |
| Published | September 5, 2017 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Epic Fantasy |
Tower of Dawn Review
Tower of Dawn began as a novella following Chaol Westfall to the Southern Continent — and grew, under Maas’s hand, into a 660-page novel that runs entirely in parallel with Empire of Storms. It is the most unusual structural decision in the series, and whether it works depends heavily on how much you care about Chaol.
For readers who found Chaol frustrating in earlier books — and many did — this is his redemption. Maas writes his recovery from paralysis with more care than many disability narratives manage, avoiding both miraculous cure and tragedy. His relationship with Yrene Towers, the healer at the Torre Cesme, is the central romance of the book and one of the most developed in the entire series.
What works: The Southern Continent is genuinely different — a multicultural empire that doesn’t operate like Adarlan or Terrasen, with its own power structures and mythology. The magic system revelations here are significant. Nesryn’s investigation of the Valg threat adds layers to the series’ mythology.
What to know: This book covers the same timeframe as Empire of Storms. Many readers recommend reading them in tandem (alternating chapters) rather than sequentially. Both must be completed before starting A Kingdom of Ash.
Verdict: A surprising success. Readers who approach it expecting a detour will be won over by the emotional depth and the weight of the revelations it carries into the finale.
Recommended Reading Order for Books 5 and 6
Option A (Maas’s preferred): Read Empire of Storms fully, then Tower of Dawn fully. Option B (many fans prefer): Alternate chapters from both books simultaneously using a fan-made reading guide.
Reading Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Tower of Dawn" about?
Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq travel to the Southern Continent to seek an alliance with the Khagan of the Southern Continent — and to find healers who might restore Chaol's ability to walk. What they discover in the Torre Cesme will change everything they thought they knew about the war.
What are the key takeaways from "Tower of Dawn"?
Physical disability reshapes identity in ways that require genuine renegotiation, not just adaptation A redemption arc only works if the character meaningfully earns it rather than being given it Different cultures within the same fantasy world can have entirely different relationships to power and hierarchy Healing — literal and psychological — requires the healer to understand the wound's source, not just its symptoms The most interesting chapters of a long series often come from characters who felt like supporting players
Is "Tower of Dawn" worth reading?
Originally planned as a novella, Tower of Dawn expanded into a full novel that runs parallel to Empire of Storms. Chaol's redemption arc is the emotional core, and the Southern Continent setting provides genuine freshness after six books in the same world. Best read immediately before Kingdom of the Wicked.
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