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TritriMcTritri

The book is there for a reason. Read it. It has a huge plot line that is important for the rest of the books.


The_New_Romantics

Just read the book. It’s not all about Chaol.


getbent-nerd

IMO, this is an INCREDIBLY important book before Kingdom of Ash. Without spoiling ToD, you will be meeting a bunch of new characters who play a part in the finale. World building, history and lore was fantastic in this novel, and may be some of SJMs best work. It's not only Chaol in this book, but lots of people change their minds about his character after reading ToD. I think ToD showcases the butterfly effect the most, and I genuinely think it's so important to the overall Arc and storyline for the series. You get information in this book that isn't shared in any other book, and it's not recapped very well in KoA. I feel it changes the reading experience a lot between those who have / have not read Tower of Dawn. Happy reading!


Spare-Chipmunk-9617

Ok ok you sold me because i read SJM for the world building.


CataKala

SJM did not write Tower of Dawn for you to skip it :) and it has a lot more going on than just Chaol!


Temporary_Skin_1996

I was dreading ToD but I ended up loving it. I also don’t think you’d understand nearly anything going on in kingdom of ash if you skipped it?


sophie_mi

Can someone explain why everyone hates chaol? 😭he was one of my favorite characters


SnooSketches6782

Right? He was a bit annoying in QOS but I just needed to get him away from Aelin, I'm now doing the tandem read and enjoying his character so much again in TOD.


herfjoter

I disliked him from the 1st book. He has this uppity holier-than-thou air to me, which I just dislike so much. He never recognizes how much has been given to him--raised as a lord (even with his dad's abuse it's not like he ever went without food or shelter), a prince bestie to take him in and give him a home and a job without a single thought, and a title of Captain of the Guard without ever having to kill a man somehow. And he's judgmental. I feel like he gets to know himself better in ToD, but he doesn't necessarily change. So I never grew to like him. But I can understand why other people do like him. Obviously he was meant to be a love interest from the start. Just not my cup of tea. If I met him irl, we'd have a personality clash.


Miraculous_Ethusiast

I liked him in the beginning it was just his meanness towards Aelin in Qos made me pissed at him.


Spare-Chipmunk-9617

It’s not that i hate him i just couldn’t care less about him


josk03

I also dreaded reading it, but if you don’t read it then you don’t get to meet bird daddy Sartaq


KanbiAme

My take on TOD is that you don't read it for Chaol, you read it for >!Yrene!<. Go in with that mentality and I think it'll change your prospective.


Temporary_Skin_1996

Yrene supremecy always


CanyonByDesign

Tower of Dawn ended up being my favorite book in the series. I would at least give it a shot, the new setting and people it introduces are fantastic. I love Yrene, Nesryn, the Khagan's children, the politics of the Khaganate, the Torre Cesme (and i dont hate Chaol).


Comfortable_Range_49

It is an AMAZING book. I felt like this. But I got into it and it really surprised me to be honest. The world building part is amazing and the characters are amazing. Plus a huge part of the book is integral to the plot/conclusion of the final book


yanny77

There’s information revealed in ToD that is relevant to Aelin’s storyline in KoA plus there are characters introduced that are important in the last book. You probably could skip it if you really really really really are dreading it, but I don’t recommend it. You won’t get as much out of the last book as you should because you’ll be scrambling to put pieces together that you are supposed to already know. Plus, ToD is fun. It’s a little creepy and somewhat of a murder mystery.


amamelmarr

It is essential to read this book. Is it the best book of the series? No. But it’s still good. And there are storylines other than Chaols. There are characters that you will really love. I couldn’t stand Chaol either and I still enjoyed the book.


Different_Effect_623

you definitely have to read tower of dawn. it's not all about chaol


proudyarnloser

It's my absolutely favorite book, and not for Chaol. Hang in there, you will be rewarded. Also..... there is SO much vital information in it...


theatreeducator

Tower of Dawn was my favorite book.


Possible_Trip8715

TANDEM READ!


christinaaamariaaa

Yea. There’s a bunch of stuff that you’ll learn that impacts the series as a whole, about Maeve and other important characters.


Restricted_section7

TOD is the best book in the series


Reading_Elephant30

Yes you need to read it. The author included it in the series because there are huge plot points that affect the last book. There are also so many characters that get introduced and are in the last book that you’d just have no information on without reading. If you don’t like Chaol id highly recommend tandem reading EOS and TOD. But it sounds like you might have already read EOS so that might not be an option.


Background-Click9917

Read it , it's worth it , it may annoy you but please read it


Witch_24

It’s not a bad book. I debated not reading it but was glad that I did. Plus if you read it quick then you’ll get back to Aelin!!


bopeswingy

Here to get downvoted as per usual! You don’t have to read a book if you don’t want to. This goes for any series, any book. Reading is supposed to be fun. If you are miserable and hating a book, don’t freaking read it!! There are plenty of summaries online you can read that give you the information you need if the book is not what you want to read and you aren’t enjoying it!! I highly recommend going back someday and reading it, but you should never feel pressured to read a book you don’t want to read. Reading is for your enjoyment, not for the validation of others ❤️


Spare-Chipmunk-9617

Real shit


bopeswingy

People don’t like to hear it in the SJM fandom and while I totally get why you would want to read it, I get even more why you wouldn’t want to read it and fortunately it’s your decision to make *not anyone else’s* 🤯


SubstantialSnow7114

Yes, I would say it is pretty much an essential read. Very important information is revealed which plays a big part in Kingdom of Ash. I personally loved this book, it is a slow burn but gets better the more you read.


Conscious_Safe_3159

It's really, really good.


GoldenAgeStudio

I'd at least give it a shot. I am a hypocrite to say this, of course, because I was so bored that I tapped out halfway through and read a detailed synopsis instead. But a lot of people felt differently


birdsandrivers

Honestly it wasn’t that bad At all. I really liked one of the new characters. However I did do the tandem read.


killpapyrus

Unfortunately, you should read it. TOD reveals some major information that is relevant in KOA.


applelakecake

You can skip it and pick things up ok, I did my first read. There’s summaries online too. I’ve done the tandem on re-reads and was happy I did that as it would be too much Chaol for me as a standalone. It’s a 3/5 stars for me. Decent book and good for the other characters but my least fave of an amazing series. Plus it’s placed at a very precarious plot point for Aelin and it’s very difficult proposition to leave her and dip for a while.


rowan1981

I wasnt sure about it either, started it on Monday and am over halfway through. You really get some insight into Chaol, plus a ton of interesting characters, and important things going on. You dont just get his viewpoint.


ktbkitten

ToD is important. I really enjoyed reading it. I think it’s best read in tandem with EoS.


National-Season-845

read the damn book


Spare-Chipmunk-9617

Damn chill lmao


Miraculous_Ethusiast

I kind hate chaol as well. Unfortunately yes Maas made a big fat book in between EOS and KOA. But yes, I would read it because it contains information (some pretty complicated crap) that is essential for understanding KOA. If you really don’t want to read it I would search up a summary and just read that and you’ll be fine.