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michellemybelle19's review against another edition
4.0
Bordering on 3.5 starts for this one—it took me a long time to become invested in the story
rita593's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
natasja_br's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
queenoferebor's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars!!
Sooo, the book was pretty cool, but my first impression of it wasn't good at all, to be honest.
The prose was nice, but it got a little bit too wordy in some descriptions. There were descriptive passages typical of fantasy literature, but a boring if you are not used to fantasy. And, honestly, i don't read that much fantasy as of lately.
My second problem was the characters. Celaena was annoying right from the very beginning. You get to like her as the story goes on, but my first thought was "Mary Sue". Also, I didn't like to be constantly reminded that she was beautiful and that both guys, Dorian and Chaol were drooling over her. I didn't like the love triangle either. For the time being, I'm team Chaol, just saying. So that probably means that he is going to end fucked up because I never choose characters wisely. Also, Cain. The naming of that character was not a coincidence at all.
The story was very interesting. I found it had to believe that the Assassin was 17 years old, and I never imagined her that age in my head. In addition, the mystery of the book was a little too obvious, which leaves the reader in the uncomfortable situation of knowing more than the characters and getting anxious because the characters are not keeping up with what is happening. However, the mythology that is being built in this series is very interesting and that final badass fight was amazing; confusing, but amazing.
The ending left me confused because I don't think I understood what was really happening, but I will be reading the next books very soon.
Sooo, the book was pretty cool, but my first impression of it wasn't good at all, to be honest.
The prose was nice, but it got a little bit too wordy in some descriptions. There were descriptive passages typical of fantasy literature, but a boring if you are not used to fantasy. And, honestly, i don't read that much fantasy as of lately.
My second problem was the characters. Celaena was annoying right from the very beginning. You get to like her as the story goes on, but my first thought was "Mary Sue". Also, I didn't like to be constantly reminded that she was beautiful and that both guys, Dorian and Chaol were drooling over her. I didn't like the love triangle either. For the time being, I'm team Chaol, just saying. So that probably means that he is going to end fucked up because I never choose characters wisely. Also, Cain. The naming of that character was not a coincidence at all.
The story was very interesting. I found it had to believe that the Assassin was 17 years old, and I never imagined her that age in my head. In addition, the mystery of the book was a little too obvious, which leaves the reader in the uncomfortable situation of knowing more than the characters and getting anxious because the characters are not keeping up with what is happening. However, the mythology that is being built in this series is very interesting and that final badass fight was amazing; confusing, but amazing.
The ending left me confused because I don't think I understood what was really happening, but I will be reading the next books very soon.
erin_vdk's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
hannahelennon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
eriinaceous's review
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
This was absolutely stunning, beautiful, and I just want to know how the story continues in book 2. There are twists and turns everywhere, the mystery was delightful, I loved our assassin. The romance fitted in perfectly. The ending was wonderful.
I heard a lot, really A LOT about this book, and after finding it in the library (magically) decided to read it, only then I found out this was an amazing book, so I had to buy it, because I knew I had to have this one on my bookshelves.
Normally I am not a giant fan of Fantasy, I do like it sometimes, but generally I stay away from it. Mostly it is also because of the writers making up impossible names that no one can pronounce, and which jar me out of the story. I have to say that I slightly had that problem with this book as well. Every time that our MC's name (and also a few others) popped up I was fumbling around trying to pronounce it. I know it is not a hard name (nor are the others that bad), not at all, but it is an unusual one, and I was constantly mixing up letters. :D In the end I just called her Cela-chan.
Even though this one takes mostly place in a castle, I could so imagine the world surrounding it. Not only because we started off in the world outside of the castle, but also because the world is described vividly through other characters and what they tell us about their world. Sarah J. Maas certainly did an amazing job on that part. And even the castle, I could just see it, I could just touch it. I could see Cela-chan walk around the corridors, or go through her room, or all the other places. It was so delightful, I love it when authors write a world in which you can just roam around, a world which you can just see in front of you.
Even though we don't really have much assassination or assassinating stuff going on, you could still really tell that this girl was an assassin, she knows her weapons, she knows her ways around stuff, even figuring out ways of entries by just looking at a room. She is also pretty much threatening people all the time (especially annoying characters). I do hope though that in the next book we will see some assassination or her using her skills in real (and not the competition). I would really love that.
Cela-chan was a really fun, albeit a bit grumpy character. Then again, I can imagine, with her past, and also what happened at that death-camp, she didn't have the easiest of lives. Still, unlike a lot of books, I didn't mind her snark, I didn't mind her being grumpy at times. I am not sure how to explain, but for some reason I was just not annoyed with her. I didn't wish for her to change, I already could see that happening, even if the snark stayed.
Because yes, as the book progresses you do see her change. You see her getting more healthy with each passing day, and you also see her opening herself to people. It was such a delight.
I also love a kick-ass character, and that is exactly what Cela-chan is. :D She kicks some serious butt in this whole book.
The competition, but also the whole creepy people-are-dying-left-and-right-mystery was a fun thing to read about, a bit gruesome (OK, a lot of gruesome), but still it was interesting to read about it. I wanted to know who would end up losing, who would go home (or wherever they would go back to). The end battle and what happened there? Wow, just wow. It was amazing.
There is also romance, I do have to say it just fitted perfectly. It was sweet, cute, and I was cheering loudly for our characters. They all deserved a bit of love in this world full of destruction and war.
I was a bit sad at the ending, yes it was wonderful, but there was just one thing that I didn't like. Sure, I can imagine why Cela-chan would take this decision, but I was still shouting at her, shouting that she shouldn't do it! Just go for it, and see how it goes.
Mm, what more? Ah yes, I hated that Katlain (or whatever her name was) girl. By Lord, her POV parts were just horrendous and I really had to force myself to read them. She is truly the only thing that I just didn't like about the book. I just kept hoping that whatever was eating/killing the competition would also like to eat her. Maybe not nice, but really, that girl was just so frustrating. :|
Phew, well I was thinking this would be a short review, but in the end it became quite large. I would highly recommend this book to everyone, and as for me? I bought book 2 (and also that novella collection) and I can't wait for them to come in.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I heard a lot, really A LOT about this book, and after finding it in the library (magically) decided to read it, only then I found out this was an amazing book, so I had to buy it, because I knew I had to have this one on my bookshelves.
Normally I am not a giant fan of Fantasy, I do like it sometimes, but generally I stay away from it. Mostly it is also because of the writers making up impossible names that no one can pronounce, and which jar me out of the story. I have to say that I slightly had that problem with this book as well. Every time that our MC's name (and also a few others) popped up I was fumbling around trying to pronounce it. I know it is not a hard name (nor are the others that bad), not at all, but it is an unusual one, and I was constantly mixing up letters. :D In the end I just called her Cela-chan.
Even though this one takes mostly place in a castle, I could so imagine the world surrounding it. Not only because we started off in the world outside of the castle, but also because the world is described vividly through other characters and what they tell us about their world. Sarah J. Maas certainly did an amazing job on that part. And even the castle, I could just see it, I could just touch it. I could see Cela-chan walk around the corridors, or go through her room, or all the other places. It was so delightful, I love it when authors write a world in which you can just roam around, a world which you can just see in front of you.
Even though we don't really have much assassination or assassinating stuff going on, you could still really tell that this girl was an assassin, she knows her weapons, she knows her ways around stuff, even figuring out ways of entries by just looking at a room. She is also pretty much threatening people all the time (especially annoying characters). I do hope though that in the next book we will see some assassination or her using her skills in real (and not the competition). I would really love that.
Cela-chan was a really fun, albeit a bit grumpy character. Then again, I can imagine, with her past, and also what happened at that death-camp, she didn't have the easiest of lives. Still, unlike a lot of books, I didn't mind her snark, I didn't mind her being grumpy at times. I am not sure how to explain, but for some reason I was just not annoyed with her. I didn't wish for her to change, I already could see that happening, even if the snark stayed.
Because yes, as the book progresses you do see her change. You see her getting more healthy with each passing day, and you also see her opening herself to people. It was such a delight.
I also love a kick-ass character, and that is exactly what Cela-chan is. :D She kicks some serious butt in this whole book.
The competition, but also the whole creepy people-are-dying-left-and-right-mystery was a fun thing to read about, a bit gruesome (OK, a lot of gruesome), but still it was interesting to read about it. I wanted to know who would end up losing, who would go home (or wherever they would go back to). The end battle and what happened there? Wow, just wow. It was amazing.
There is also romance, I do have to say it just fitted perfectly. It was sweet, cute, and I was cheering loudly for our characters. They all deserved a bit of love in this world full of destruction and war.
I was a bit sad at the ending, yes it was wonderful, but there was just one thing that I didn't like. Sure, I can imagine why Cela-chan would take this decision, but I was still shouting at her, shouting that she shouldn't do it! Just go for it, and see how it goes.
Mm, what more? Ah yes, I hated that Katlain (or whatever her name was) girl. By Lord, her POV parts were just horrendous and I really had to force myself to read them. She is truly the only thing that I just didn't like about the book. I just kept hoping that whatever was eating/killing the competition would also like to eat her. Maybe not nice, but really, that girl was just so frustrating. :|
Phew, well I was thinking this would be a short review, but in the end it became quite large. I would highly recommend this book to everyone, and as for me? I bought book 2 (and also that novella collection) and I can't wait for them to come in.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
cass_shank's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
fionathaggard's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced