Throne Of Glᴀss: Why Aelin Had To Lose Her Powers At The End Of The Series

Sarah J. Maas’ debut fantasy series Throne of Glᴀss follows 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 Glᴀss, still Sarah J. Maas’ best fantasy series, focuses on ᴀssᴀssin Celaena Sardothien reclaiming her idenтιтy 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 the most powerful character in Throne of Glᴀss, 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 Glᴀss: Kingdom Of Ash’s Ending Twist Explained

Aelin Sacrifices Her Powers Instead Of Her Life To Close The Wyrdgate

Aelin losing most of her magic at the end of Throne of Glᴀss is 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 Had To Lose Her Magic In Kingdom Of Ash, Even If It’s Disappointing

Aelin Didn’t Need Her Power Anymore


The covers of Heir of Fire, Kingdom of Ash, and Throne of Glᴀss by Sarah J. Maas
Custom Image by Yeider Chacon

There are hints in Throne of Glᴀss that 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 ᴀssertion: “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 of Throne of Glᴀss is 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.

Book

Release Date

Throne of Glᴀss

2012

Crown of Midnight

2013

The ᴀssᴀssin’s Blade (prequel)

2014

Heir of Fire

2014

Queen of Shadows

2015

Empire of Storms

2016

Tower of Dawn

2017

Kingdom of Ash

2018

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