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galactic_gabby's review against another edition
I have been waiting to read this and I'm glad I finally did.
Writing: I really liked the writing. You didn't really hear the author, you were more watching a story unfold before you. I liked seeing the characters though developments. The writing was clear and concise throughout the book. The imagery was fantastic.
Messages: I didn't really get a ton of messages from this book, unfortunately. I feel like they are there, but it would take a re read to catch most of them. I kinda got the adapt-to-survive thought and how you need to stay true to yourself but also gain support of others if you need it. That may not have been the best message in my opinion, however.
Plot: I actually really enjoyed the plot. It was nothing I was expecting. I thought it was going to be very Hunger Games-esque, but it really wasn't. Though a good portion was about the fighting and the competition, a lot more focused on the everyday/after hours life too, which I found incredibly interesting. I loved where the plot went and can I say plot twists? Excellent story development.
Characters:
Celaena: I really liked Celaena's character. Like, I really enjoyed reading her. She was such a deep character, and I was so interesting to see how she interacted with different people as well as herself. I loved her character development.
Dorian: I have to say- meh. I didn't really like his character all that much. He was pretty selfish and I did not like how much he tried to fawn over Celaena. His character, honestly, just didn't have any depth to it.
Chaol: I liked Chaol, and I'm sad that he really wasn't in the book as much as I hoped he would be. We didn't really get to go deep into his character, but I liked him. He was such a supportive person and such a great friend.
Nehemia: I liked Nehemia, but I feel like she was hiding too much and was actually pretty judge mental. I mean, I get why and its totally understandable, it just got boring after a while, her constantly judging people on every action they did.
Overall review: a well written and developed stories with pretty solid characters and a very different story than expected.
Writing: I really liked the writing. You didn't really hear the author, you were more watching a story unfold before you. I liked seeing the characters though developments. The writing was clear and concise throughout the book. The imagery was fantastic.
Messages: I didn't really get a ton of messages from this book, unfortunately. I feel like they are there, but it would take a re read to catch most of them. I kinda got the adapt-to-survive thought and how you need to stay true to yourself but also gain support of others if you need it. That may not have been the best message in my opinion, however.
Plot: I actually really enjoyed the plot. It was nothing I was expecting. I thought it was going to be very Hunger Games-esque, but it really wasn't. Though a good portion was about the fighting and the competition, a lot more focused on the everyday/after hours life too, which I found incredibly interesting. I loved where the plot went and can I say plot twists? Excellent story development.
Characters:
Celaena: I really liked Celaena's character. Like, I really enjoyed reading her. She was such a deep character, and I was so interesting to see how she interacted with different people as well as herself. I loved her character development.
Dorian: I have to say- meh. I didn't really like his character all that much. He was pretty selfish and I did not like how much he tried to fawn over Celaena. His character, honestly, just didn't have any depth to it.
Chaol: I liked Chaol, and I'm sad that he really wasn't in the book as much as I hoped he would be. We didn't really get to go deep into his character, but I liked him. He was such a supportive person and such a great friend.
Nehemia: I liked Nehemia, but I feel like she was hiding too much and was actually pretty judge mental. I mean, I get why and its totally understandable, it just got boring after a while, her constantly judging people on every action they did.
Overall review: a well written and developed stories with pretty solid characters and a very different story than expected.
gabriellejean's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
megdromeda's review against another edition
5.0
I had heard this book was initially written when the author was 16 and I was VERY aware of that while reading. Not because it felt like it was written by a teenager, but because it DIDN'T feel that way. Sarah J. Maas is truly a master at her craft and as often as I was told by book-friends that I would love this novel (and all subsequent novels in the series), I was a little skeptical. But oh how wrong I was. The FMC of this novel is Celaena Sardothien and the love I had for her sass and fun-loving attitude from the very beginning made this an easy story to dive into.
The world-building so far is already something I can't wait to learn more about and with all of the characters she has had a run-in with so far I have either loved or hated, the way that we are meant to or thought that we're meant to because I had so much trouble trying to determine exactly who the main culprit of the story would be because so many of the folks in it were suspicious in their own way! It had me gripping my blankets with frustration in not being able to figure out where the story was going by myself before the ending but that in and of itself says so much about Sarah's writing and how amazing of an author she is! I loved this story and I can't wait to keep going in the series!
The world-building so far is already something I can't wait to learn more about and with all of the characters she has had a run-in with so far I have either loved or hated, the way that we are meant to or thought that we're meant to because I had so much trouble trying to determine exactly who the main culprit of the story would be because so many of the folks in it were suspicious in their own way! It had me gripping my blankets with frustration in not being able to figure out where the story was going by myself before the ending but that in and of itself says so much about Sarah's writing and how amazing of an author she is! I loved this story and I can't wait to keep going in the series!
nightxade's review against another edition
4.0
Celaena Sardothien is the infamous "Adarlan's Assassin," betrayed and sent to slave away in the salt mines. The king had expected her to die a slow, torturous death, but he failed to break her. To her surprise a year later, she is summoned some time later to fight for her freedom in a competition that will name the King’s Champion. Sponsored by the Crown Prince Dorian, Celaena is removed from slavery and treated with almost every courtesy as a lady, and trained by Chaol Westfall, the Captain of the Guard, but warned that she must not reveal her true identity.
The balance of Celaena's moments in finery with her time in training and competition were really well done in terms of revealing her character. She is as comfortable and confident in either situation, though her sometimes overwhelming ego makes it difficult for her to hold back the truth about her identity. I appreciate that, while her time in slavery does haunt her, there is no over-indulgent brooding. Celaena maintains a level of charm and sass that makes it easy to understand why the prince, the captain and soon the visiting Princess Nehemia find her endearing as often as they find her frustrating.
As much as I loved these moments of Celaena getting to be herself with Dorian, Chaol and Princess Nehemia, I grew impatient with the repeated referrals to her as Adarlan’s Assassin as there was little but her repetition of her esteemed title that indicated her skill. While she occasionally got to display her physical abilities, the focus of the story moved away from the competition. And while I suppose I have no choice but to accept that she is an excellent assassin with a hit list to prove her worthy of the praise, her survival training seems suspect.
Still, these moments reveal that Celaena is just a normal girl beneath whatever title she may hold and whatever tortures she's been through. The moment she truly endeared herself to me was when she discovered the library and happily twirled through it. The book won me over when her follow up with the prince on this library led to him commanding her to read his favourite books that they might discuss them. I immediately developed a strong desire for Celaena, Dorian and Chaol to start up a secret book club.
Magic is initially very subtle. It has been banished, when the book begins, but it is evident that it will play a role in Celaena's future. I liked that I almost forgot about the fantasy aspect as Celaena adjusted to her new life. Maas spent a healthy amount of time developing the characters and their relationships. There is most certainly romance involved, but it does not preclude friendship. Once these bonds are strongly established, the story eases back into the major plot of the competition and the magic that will eventually alter Celaena's experience.
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The BiblioSanctum
The balance of Celaena's moments in finery with her time in training and competition were really well done in terms of revealing her character. She is as comfortable and confident in either situation, though her sometimes overwhelming ego makes it difficult for her to hold back the truth about her identity. I appreciate that, while her time in slavery does haunt her, there is no over-indulgent brooding. Celaena maintains a level of charm and sass that makes it easy to understand why the prince, the captain and soon the visiting Princess Nehemia find her endearing as often as they find her frustrating.
As much as I loved these moments of Celaena getting to be herself with Dorian, Chaol and Princess Nehemia, I grew impatient with the repeated referrals to her as Adarlan’s Assassin as there was little but her repetition of her esteemed title that indicated her skill. While she occasionally got to display her physical abilities, the focus of the story moved away from the competition. And while I suppose I have no choice but to accept that she is an excellent assassin with a hit list to prove her worthy of the praise, her survival training seems suspect.
Still, these moments reveal that Celaena is just a normal girl beneath whatever title she may hold and whatever tortures she's been through. The moment she truly endeared herself to me was when she discovered the library and happily twirled through it. The book won me over when her follow up with the prince on this library led to him commanding her to read his favourite books that they might discuss them. I immediately developed a strong desire for Celaena, Dorian and Chaol to start up a secret book club.
Magic is initially very subtle. It has been banished, when the book begins, but it is evident that it will play a role in Celaena's future. I liked that I almost forgot about the fantasy aspect as Celaena adjusted to her new life. Maas spent a healthy amount of time developing the characters and their relationships. There is most certainly romance involved, but it does not preclude friendship. Once these bonds are strongly established, the story eases back into the major plot of the competition and the magic that will eventually alter Celaena's experience.
See more reviews at
The BiblioSanctum
morgannemolseed's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
librariangie's review against another edition
3.0
Reading this alongside "Red Queen" is odd. They are almost the same story. I will reserve entire judgement when I am done with both.
Narrator Elizabeth Evans is not good, that I will say. I have been reading eBook too. Also, how can someone even write the sentence "...she said quietly, but not meekly." Then 40 pages later say"...he said quietly, but not weakly". I can't even.
Updated: The end moved a lot more quickly than the beginning. Luckily, I didn't notice anymore sentences like the meekly/weakly noted above. Overall, pretty okay.
regvegreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
a bit bland and predictable, easy to anticipate where things go next, not very well written. An easy and fun read and enough to make me want to read the next onez however a bit disappointed after hearing glowing reviews from others
smaddamma's review against another edition
4.0
This is by far my new favorite book. I loved the main characters and how real they seemed, and Maas did an incredible job of making the book impossible to put down! I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, but I loved this one because there actually wasn't a clear choice between the two guys. Also, even though it was hard to choose, Celaena wasn't consumed by it: she had her own agenda and was sticking to it whether or not the boys came along. I can't wait to start the sequel!
ariadnejm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.75