Throne of Glass Collector's Edition (Throne of Glass, 1)

Spoiler-Free Throne of Glass Book Review Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is a book that has been on my TBR for many years but I never got around to it. I'm not a big reader of YA romance fantasy things, but with how popular this series is I thought it was about time I at least gave the first book a go. Despite it definitely being tropey, I really enjoyed the book! An Intriguing Plot I'll be honest - I wasn't expecting much of a plot from Throne of Glass but I was pleasantly surprised! Not only did we get a Hunger Games-type of premise, but there is also a mystery behind the scenes. My only complaint would be that it's revealed quite a bit of the mystery events occur off-page and I think I would have loved to see some more of what was going on. I was kept on my toes, unable to guess what was coming next throughout the book. Sure, I knew generally how the book would end, but how the main character got there wasn't straightforward. Fantastic Characters Our assassin is the main character and she is fab. There were a few moments I didn't like, but they were brief and I just ignored them as through most of the book she was fantastic to follow. Like Kvothe from The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, the assassin was kind of just good at everything, so I knew she'd be fine, so perhaps she could have been a little more in danger of losing some of the tasks set for her. There was a love triangle, but it wasn't a drag to read. I thought the two guys were distinct and great characters in their own rights, developing throughout the story. What I loved is that even though there were clear character arcs, there is still so much growing and changing they can do in future books. Final Thoughts Overall I think Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is work trying, even if you're more of an adult fantasy reader like me - especially if you're looking for an easy read between those massive, complex fantasy books.

Throne of Glass has been on my list for a long time and I FINALLY got around to reading it. I really enjoyed it, and binged the last half of the book because it was so gripping. Celaena, a captured assassin, is blackmailed into participating in a competition to become the King's Champion. If she wins, she'll serve as Champion for four years and then be granted her freedom. But the road to winning the competition is filled with obstacles, not least because someone is murdering all the other contestants. As Celaena digs into the Kingdom's history, she uncovers dark magic that shouldn't exist anymore. Can she figure out how to stop it before the murderer comes for her? Oh, and the Prince is handsome, too. But she can't fall for him. Not after what his family did to her lands. Can she? I thought Celaena was an intriguing protagonist. She has a lot of interests and she's amusing to read. She does come across as three-dimensional, but a lot of what's made her who she is seems to have happened off-page so I get the feeling I'll have to read the next three books to fully figure her out. I agree with other comments that she bounces around from being deadly and wielding swords to being girly, wearing dresses and swooning over princes. But she's also a teenager, so I think you have to take that into consideration. The ending was satisfactory and whilst there isn't a great deal of pressure to continue reading the series, it's definitely not a stand alone. I felt like there was a good round up of the competition and the dark magic Celaena found, but yes, if you start this one, you're probably in it for the long haul. That said, the world is well constructed and I would be happy to read on. Give it a go if you're looking to dip your toe into a strong fantasy world. (Then maybe your ankle, knee... and well, you get the picture...)

I'm genuinely struggling to put into words how gripping and compelling this story truly is. When it comes to novels based in new worlds I normally struggle to get gripped on the story, but from page one I could easily see the world Sarah masterfully created. And from page one I was hooked. It's the kind of novel I couldn't wait to finish, but at the same time I didn't want to read it as it came to an end. Sarah created a new world, one full of mystery and wonder. The story had me hooked so much that I went through the motions with the characters, I laughed, flushed, cringed, and cried throughout. The third person, head-hopping writing perspective is becoming a new favourite reading style for me, it gave a broader outlook on the story as a whole, and gave a closer look at the characters. Celaena, she wasn't what I expected, in a pleasantly surprising way. It became quite clear early on that those in her close company could only grow to love her as I did. She was written so well she didn't feel like a character in a story. I feel like she is a good judge of character, so when she liked someone I was immediately drawn to them, and when she hated someone I felt that too. “When she missed – well, even the fires of Hell couldn't compare to the rage that burst from her mouth.” This has to be my favourite description of Celaena written from Dorian's point of view. I laughed, probably harder than I should have, but that moment was completely priceless. I love Dorian, Chaol, Nehemia and Elena in equal measure. I hope to see Nox again too. I truly cannot wait to get lost in Sarah's world once more in Crown of Midnight, also, how amazing is the cover artwork on these novels?!

This is an awful book, don't buy it thinking its a fantasy nivel because its actually a historical romance thinly masquerading as something more complex . The author has piggybacked on the current wave of fantasy novels with strong female protagonists, with her central character described as 'the worlds best assassin' with ongoing hints about a dark back story throughout the book. But sadly it fails to live up to any expecations. All the characters are two dimensional and trite, and the story is extremely weak. I just didn't care about any of them at all by the end. The most descriptive parts of the book focus on what Celeana looks like or is wearing or the increasingly boring love triangle between her, the dashing captain of the guard or the handsome prince. I'm annoyed I spent nearly £5 on it!

Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan's Assassin - feared, fierce, lethal. Everyone in Erilea knows her name, a name synonymous with death. But then betrayed, caught, tried, convicted, Celaena is sentenced to a lifetime in the unforgiving salt mines of Endovier as punishment for her many crimes. In an ironic twist of fate, she's offered the chance to compete to become the Champion of the very king who condemned her; in doing so, earning her freedom... and possibly becoming Erilea's best hope against the dark forces that would seek to destroy it. Celaena. Celaena is a character who could be considered rather... off-putting had I not read the prequel novellas that lead up to Throne of Glass. She's irritatingly arrogant, projects an unwavering confidence, she's overbearingly prideful, prickly, a bit of a know-it-all, she's selfish, spoiled, abrasive, a bit of a snob, and of course, an extremely lethal assassin. Right about now you're probably saying, "And you like her... why?" Because while she's most certainly flawed, and possibly more than most protagonists, the four novellas prior give the reader a front row seat as to the circumstances that brought Celaena to the salt mines of Endovier, and just what made Celaena Sardothien, the Celaena Sardothien. The character development these four "episodes" provide is invaluable and engenders an empathy for this tough-as-nails girl assassin who's endured so much and become so hardened in her very short life. Because although Celaena is all those things mentioned above, underneath the facade she's also an intriguing mixture of insecurity, doubt, fear, sorrow. She's a smart girl who's learned very quickly that emotion can be exploited by one's enemies and that the only person she can really count on is herself. Nothing in life is guaranteed, especially people. People leave, they die, they betray, they fail. Celaena is not a person who gives her trust, nor does she open her heart to others, easily. This is even true for the reader. While who Celaena is becomes apparent to the reader, there are certain things about her that remain a closely guarded secret. Celaena reveals about herself only what she wants to be known, though there are moments when her defenses are breached, giving the reader tantalizing clues about the mysteries of Celaena's life. So, coming into Throne of Glass knowing what I know about her, I loved Celaena. Because in addition to those other qualities she's also infectiously passionate, she's brave, perceptive, quick-witted with a tongue that's as sharp as her sword, she has a talent for reading people and situations, and she has a soft spot for the mistreated and oppressed. She's a perplexing tangle of curiously childlike and being wise beyond her years. She's a girl, who at the beginning of this novel has endured shattering betrayal and excruciating heartbreak... which made ...