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emovixen92's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
fablesandwren's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great start to a series and I am ready to dive right into it.
I think one of my favorite things about this book is that it wasn't all "Wow I am automatically really good at kicking butt and doing things better then people who have practiced all their lives. And all I did was just pick up this sword." No, this girl was the Adarlan's most notorious assassin because she had been trained since she was just a girl. She wasn't given her talent, she was trained to her bone for it.
She was an assassin who was betrayed and taken into basically a death camp where she spent a whole year. She is taken out because of The Prince of Adarlan needs a champion.
The King basically wants the strongest, most cunning, and wisest lap dog to do all his bidding without questioning his intent. Here's a hint: His intent is never good.
So Celaena has a choice to either work for a country she hates or she can die in a slave camp in a few months. Prince Dorian wants to prove to his father he is fit to be king after him, so he is hoping that this former assassin is the perfect key to prove that.
So when Celaena agrees (because there wouldn't be a story without her agreeing), she is up against other murderers, assassins, criminals, and all kinds of brutes. All men. She just has to win the championship, be the king's champion for a few years, and then she gets a lot of money and is free to go.
If that wasn't enough, there is someone going about killing the rest of the competition. Celaena finds herself fighting not only for her freedom, but for her life as well.
Sarah J Maas is a tremendous writer. This was the third book I read by her, starting off with her other series A Throne of Thorn and Roses, and her writing is excellent. Her story telling is even better, even though I could tell she was holding back a lot in this starting book. If it is anything like the other series though, I know this book is just the beginning and is an introduction book to the rest of the series. I have a feeling it is about to get nuts.
A lot of people feel as if Sarah J Maas writes all her relationships in an abusive way...
and I would have to say HA to that, because I didn't feel that at all. But I do feel as if they kept Celaena under heavy guard because she is an assassin!
I loved this book. I can't wait to read the next!
I think one of my favorite things about this book is that it wasn't all "Wow I am automatically really good at kicking butt and doing things better then people who have practiced all their lives. And all I did was just pick up this sword." No, this girl was the Adarlan's most notorious assassin because she had been trained since she was just a girl. She wasn't given her talent, she was trained to her bone for it.
She was an assassin who was betrayed and taken into basically a death camp where she spent a whole year. She is taken out because of The Prince of Adarlan needs a champion.
The King basically wants the strongest, most cunning, and wisest lap dog to do all his bidding without questioning his intent. Here's a hint: His intent is never good.
So Celaena has a choice to either work for a country she hates or she can die in a slave camp in a few months. Prince Dorian wants to prove to his father he is fit to be king after him, so he is hoping that this former assassin is the perfect key to prove that.
So when Celaena agrees (because there wouldn't be a story without her agreeing), she is up against other murderers, assassins, criminals, and all kinds of brutes. All men. She just has to win the championship, be the king's champion for a few years, and then she gets a lot of money and is free to go.
If that wasn't enough, there is someone going about killing the rest of the competition. Celaena finds herself fighting not only for her freedom, but for her life as well.
Sarah J Maas is a tremendous writer. This was the third book I read by her, starting off with her other series A Throne of Thorn and Roses, and her writing is excellent. Her story telling is even better, even though I could tell she was holding back a lot in this starting book. If it is anything like the other series though, I know this book is just the beginning and is an introduction book to the rest of the series. I have a feeling it is about to get nuts.
A lot of people feel as if Sarah J Maas writes all her relationships in an abusive way...
and I would have to say HA to that, because I didn't feel that at all. But I do feel as if they kept Celaena under heavy guard because she is an assassin!
I loved this book. I can't wait to read the next!
aagigas's review against another edition
3.0
There was a review somewhere that echoed the common complaint of "where are her assassin skills?" And that's a totally fair criticism. I'm also a fan of lady killers that are smart about it, but I saw this series as more of a YA series than an action/assassin series. As is characteristic of YA, there's a romance component. That's just how most YA goes.
Now if you want to read of the assassin skills the main character has, I really do suggest reading the second book, and in particular around the chapters numbered ~30. Not a spoiler, but Celaena is given reason to kill quite a number of people, and I must say it was very satisfying. I feel like this book was underdeveloped and feels a lot like a first book, as in her first ever written. The writing definitely improves in the second book, and as more characters are introduced the actual underlying plots become better and better conceptualized.
3/5 for Throne of Glass, but I have a feeling that my ratings will go up as I keep up with this YA series.
Now if you want to read of the assassin skills the main character has, I really do suggest reading the second book, and in particular around the chapters numbered ~30. Not a spoiler, but Celaena is given reason to kill quite a number of people, and I must say it was very satisfying. I feel like this book was underdeveloped and feels a lot like a first book, as in her first ever written. The writing definitely improves in the second book, and as more characters are introduced the actual underlying plots become better and better conceptualized.
3/5 for Throne of Glass, but I have a feeling that my ratings will go up as I keep up with this YA series.
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.
See more reviews at
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