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kaitlynmcn04's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
gabby_bark's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
vsmallwood's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
wyrdweaver's review against another edition
3.0
The premise of the story had me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. I couldn't predict where it would go, and the twists and turns kept me guessing. However, Celaena's personality occasionally grated on me. While I have read the rest of the series and understand she experiences significant growth throughout it, her initial portrayal as arrogant and self-absorbed, combined with unrealistic perfection, felt inauthentic for the world’s most notorious assassin.
Despite these flaws, the world-building in later installments is commendable, and the series as a whole offers a compelling journey. Readers willing to overlook Celaena's initial portrayal will likely find the series enjoyable.
*It is worth noting that I have finished the series as I edit this review. I also read this book 1st in the series (controversial, I know). I had already seen spoilers for Assassin's Blade before I started the series, so that helped me make the choice. I am content with my choice, but I completely understand why many have read the series in written order. I read Assassin’s Blade after Heir of Fire and I personally love the way it flowed.
Despite these flaws, the world-building in later installments is commendable, and the series as a whole offers a compelling journey. Readers willing to overlook Celaena's initial portrayal will likely find the series enjoyable.
*It is worth noting that I have finished the series as I edit this review. I also read this book 1st in the series (controversial, I know). I had already seen spoilers for Assassin's Blade before I started the series, so that helped me make the choice. I am content with my choice, but I completely understand why many have read the series in written order. I read Assassin’s Blade after Heir of Fire and I personally love the way it flowed.
reader_taylor's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was really surprised by this book. It had plot twists which I always love to see. I liked the POV changes when they were necessary. While the main character is a bit too simplistic for me, I still have to admire her confidence and bravery. The love triangle threw me off even though there's a clear winner here. I really liked the description, especially during the fighting scenes which have a tendency to be boring to me. The author did a great job at building up tension. There were enough subplots going on that the book rarely felt boring. I also appreciated the multiple villians. I'm excited to continue on in the series.
veritymendes's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
aphelah's review against another edition
3.0
It was pretty average.
The main characters have nothing to do with the created world. The female character, Celaena Sardothien, is 18 years old, the best assassin in the world, she lost her family and received the best education since childhood, but she acts like a modern-day teenager.
I felt this in the author's other series, and the same thing is felt in this one too. But I do know that SJM wrote this book when she was very young, and that's pretty obvious.
The same goes for the male characters, one of them is 22 years old and has a long title like a Kingsguard something, but he acts like a child like our female lead, Celaena, and our Prince is no different.
Among the supporting female characters, I really liked our Princess. She was a character that felt real and I enjoyed reading throughout the book. I can't say the same for Kaltain, the other character from whom we get POV.
The author could have shown the rather predictable side story going on in the background from the POV of Chaol, who has something like a Kingsguard, instead of giving it the POV of a character I didn't care for at all. At least we would have read something worth seeing in Chaol's POV other than the love triangle that I hate, and we would have seen that his title had some meaning. This is actually a problem I feel with the story and the world. Titles, world's best assassin, Kingsguard something, Prince, were pretty much up in the air. The characters never behave in a way that befits their title. This prevents you from getting into the book while reading.
The love triangle gradually became stupid, unnecessary, and very, very predictable. I hate love triangles.
It wasn't surprising at all that our very young male characters, Chaol and Dorian, were attracted to the Main Character, Celaena Sardothien, although I hate it when every member of the opposite sex suddenly becomes attracted to the Main Character, it really isn't surprising considering how young our characters are. We're used to it now. But Celaena's interest in both characters is something that is so familiar, boring and so tiring to read that it made the book drag on.
Celaena never behaves the way I expect her to behave, and neither does Chaol and Dorian. It shouldn't feel like a high school love triangle set in the present day, but that's how I felt.
The bickering between the characters, which were supposed to be sweet and fun, just felt cheap. And since I don't like love triangles at all, I got tired while reading the book. I won't leave the series because I hope it will be good in the sequels and of course because I spent a fortune and bought the whole series.
I write and share my review not to bash the book, but because I want to write what I feel. It's extremely stupid and unnecessary to criticize books for the sake of criticizing them. It must be admitted that the book is average and perhaps amateurishly constructed and written. But writers improve, so of course the entire series should be given a chance.
The main characters have nothing to do with the created world. The female character, Celaena Sardothien, is 18 years old, the best assassin in the world, she lost her family and received the best education since childhood, but she acts like a modern-day teenager.
I felt this in the author's other series, and the same thing is felt in this one too. But I do know that SJM wrote this book when she was very young, and that's pretty obvious.
The same goes for the male characters, one of them is 22 years old and has a long title like a Kingsguard something, but he acts like a child like our female lead, Celaena, and our Prince is no different.
Among the supporting female characters, I really liked our Princess. She was a character that felt real and I enjoyed reading throughout the book. I can't say the same for Kaltain, the other character from whom we get POV.
The author could have shown the rather predictable side story going on in the background from the POV of Chaol, who has something like a Kingsguard, instead of giving it the POV of a character I didn't care for at all. At least we would have read something worth seeing in Chaol's POV other than the love triangle that I hate, and we would have seen that his title had some meaning. This is actually a problem I feel with the story and the world. Titles, world's best assassin, Kingsguard something, Prince, were pretty much up in the air. The characters never behave in a way that befits their title. This prevents you from getting into the book while reading.
The love triangle gradually became stupid, unnecessary, and very, very predictable. I hate love triangles.
It wasn't surprising at all that our very young male characters, Chaol and Dorian, were attracted to the Main Character, Celaena Sardothien, although I hate it when every member of the opposite sex suddenly becomes attracted to the Main Character, it really isn't surprising considering how young our characters are. We're used to it now. But Celaena's interest in both characters is something that is so familiar, boring and so tiring to read that it made the book drag on.
Celaena never behaves the way I expect her to behave, and neither does Chaol and Dorian. It shouldn't feel like a high school love triangle set in the present day, but that's how I felt.
The bickering between the characters, which were supposed to be sweet and fun, just felt cheap. And since I don't like love triangles at all, I got tired while reading the book. I won't leave the series because I hope it will be good in the sequels and of course because I spent a fortune and bought the whole series.
I write and share my review not to bash the book, but because I want to write what I feel. It's extremely stupid and unnecessary to criticize books for the sake of criticizing them. It must be admitted that the book is average and perhaps amateurishly constructed and written. But writers improve, so of course the entire series should be given a chance.
kadinelouise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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
adellama's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
makayla_18's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
slow-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
5.0