Reviews with content warning for Violence - Trono de cristal

Since I've listened to the ACOTAR graphic audios three times since January (no, I haven't cheated and counted them as rereads...they're just my comfort books now), I figured it would probably be a good idea to switch it up and listen to the TOG audios. No graphic audios of these yet (although they are coming), so it's just the standard audiobooks read by the voice of the Maasverse, Elizabeth Evans.

I really do like the story of Throne of Glass; yes, it is relatively predictable and doesn't quite give you the full depth of the 'Life or death competiton' trope, but it's an easily digestible narrative with interesting characters and clear scope for more, which is perfectly acceptable for the opening salvo in a series. I just think it's unfortunate that this was initially pitched as a YA series - it works, but it just feels like something is missing... it needs the extra grit, darkness and detail to bring out its full potential.

As always, Elizabeth Evans' narration is very good - her range of voices for each character is fab; she is almost a one woman full cast! Although there are a few voices she uses that are just a bit too similar to those used in the Crescent City audios, so there were moments where I had to remind myself which Fae world I was inhabiting!

The main issue I have with this audio is pacing. I know a lot of people listen to their audios at quicker-than-normal speeds, but I just can't do it. I might be a speed reader, but I'm not a speed-listener! The upside is that I get to be fully immersed in the world. The downside is that it makes even the most pacy books feel a bit drawn out. In this case, I found the story dragged on just a leetle bit too long for my liking. I think this book suits my reading pace better, and I certainly got more out of the visual.

But I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the series in this format. And then again in Graphic Audio format when they get her! SJM may as well have direct access to my bank account at this point...

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dr_ruby13's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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

4.5

Magical, adventurous, and mysterious. The characters have layers and the plot is intriguing. I already put in a hold for the next book in the series. I want to see what happens to the formidable and intriguing badass that is Celaena Sardothien, an assassin with moral compass.

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katiewoodard13_'s review against another edition

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adventurous challenging medium-paced

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

4.25

Really great start to a series!

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juliapatt2007's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny inspiring tense fast-paced

4.0

I've heard about this series so much! I’ve never read anything by Maas before and her writing style is a little bit different. I immediately liked the main character Celaena. Some reviews have pointed out that for an assassin she is “off her game” several times throughout the book. Most noticeably when

people enter her room at night and she doesn't notice them. I wasn’t bothered by this and I attributed this deadening of her sense to her time spent in the mines. I felt that her awareness increased as the book progressed as she grew healthier and exercised her abilities more.

I was a little disappointed how fast the relationships move in this book as I thought Celaena’s main focus should be the competition but overall it was a believable romance for an 18 year old girl.

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aliceloyallaleon's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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gphemsley's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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elizabethortiz96's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I struggled to really get into this book at the beginning but I really like the characters. I'm def excited to keep reading. This book feels like a prologue for whatever is coming next, kind of like how ACOTAR feels like a prologue for the series once you keep reading.

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tabea1409's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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