Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Throne of Glass

Say what you want about Sarah J. Maas but I haven't been this glued to a book in a long time.
It was great and exactly what I needed right now.
Was a bit too predictable at times? Sure. But it was still pretty good!

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emilywemily6's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I really enjoyed reading this, more than I thought I would. It read very YA, but it was also well written and engaging. I was excited to dive into the world every time I could listen to this audiobook for a good chunk of time. There wasn’t as much world building as I would have liked, or depth of character, but the way this book was written makes it seem like both of those are coming throughout the series. I am so excited to continue reading!

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wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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booksalacarte's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious tense 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

First read 6/2022- 3⭐️
This is a YA book. It was an easy read. Not very fulfilling. Fluffy. I’m not really invested enough after finishing it to move on to the second book.

Things I respected:
- high fantasy, creating an entire new world, is very hard to do. I wasn’t distracted or confused by much.
- No sex scenes. The plot didn’t need it. Didn’t miss it.
- Maas wrote this when she was a teenager.

Things I didn’t like:
-the main character is only 18 (beautiful, vain, bookish…yawn) and supposedly the greatest assassin of all time after working/training for 10 years. But she still pouts when she isn’t invited to parties and balls.
-Competitions where there could be an opportunity to show off why she earned that title were glossed over or skipped all together. She is an assassin that made zero kills in the book. She has to cheat in order to win one of her challenges. Notorious assassin. Ha!
-she is so unaware of her surroundings. Sleeping through people coming in and out of her room. A heart as cold as ice, but then she befriends her maid and a princess within seconds of meeting them. She is completely oblivious. Her character is all over the place, even for an 18 year old assassin who did a year of hard labor.
-The captain of the guard is 22. Only 22?!… and got to such a high position as captain of the guard having never killed anyone… so has he never fought in a single battle? How did he earn his spot at such a young age?

There isn’t an ounce of urgency to read what comes next after book 1 is over. I could drop this series all together after this first book and not feel any pull to read the following 7 books or the prequel.
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Reread 1/2024- 4⭐️ 2🌶️

Young Adult Fantasy
Assassin/morally grey FMC
Multi POV
Trials/competition
Love triangle
Chosen one
Secret history
Murder mystery

Tw: vomit, slavery, murder, gore

There is so much for-shadowing for the whole series within the first 3 chapters. You already know that she is not just an assassin. The forest knows she is something important. That was never hinted at in Assassin’s Blade.

I completely forgot about the murder mystery aspect of this book. Actually, I had forgotten a lot of this book, leaving me with only vague ties into the overall plot of the series. I highlighted SO much.

Celaena is such a flawed character. She is vein and arrogant. Without the novellas there isn’t much to show her being a ruthless assassin, so it’s hard to put that mantle on her. But with the novellas and fully knowing about her time as assassin, you can respect her a little more. She is morally grey, but in the most honorable way!

Dorian is such a spoiled prince. And I say that with love. His chaotic good nature is something else.
Chaol is tight laced, lawful good, loyalty and honor above all else.

The two men are at such odds with themselves and their situation. It’s so good!

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scarlett_f's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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