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mxcopmy's reviews
94 reviews
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.25
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Review later, now just crying because it's done and for this ending ❤️🔥
Update 18/02/2024:
After a night of sleep, I can start my final review for the throne of Glass series. What an adventure this has been! This series will always have a special place in my heart, especially because this is my very first fantasy series that had a strong storyline and distinct characters. Throughout KoA I laughed, was angry and shed a lot of tears. Although I must admit that I had to lower my rating to a 4 after reviewing my recorded thoughts and seeing that there were quite a few parts that disappointed me. So strap in, this is going to be a very long review (including ratings at the end!).
I dove into the first part of KoA with full courage and a small heart, which got off to a good start. You also immediately notice that KoA is much more gruesome in terms of violence than the previous books. When Aelin was tortured several times by Cairn, I often had to swallow hard and look away from the pages. Especially because you built up a hellish bond with her through the books, so you could feel her suffering through the pages. There was also a huge build-up of tension throughout part 1 with the fights, the scene where Aelin escapes from the army camp and the iron coffer (I could really see everything in front of me! This was really a MASTERPIECE) and the parts where Manon found her way to her people , the Crochans. I absorbed everything in part 1 very hard and was really blown away at several moments. But unfortunately I have to admit that part 1 was one of the highlights of KoA.
First of all, I would like to agree that the romance between the characters seemed very repetitive. The couples had sufficient chemistry, but many sentences were reused to explain their love, such as: “I Will always be with you, I am always here for you” or “from the moment I saw you….” which, to me, made the relationships no longer unique. I also noticed that as the half went on that this romance also became sort of a focal point in the story and it became quite grueling. All romances were lumped together for description, while this could also be spread out over the length of KoA.
One of the biggest disappointments of KoA was how easily Dorian was able to retrieve the third wyrdkey from Morath and deceive Maeve, while Erawan and Maeve as two powerful people were usually described as 'always one step ahead'. Morath was also always described as inaccessible and how the third wyrdkey was simply in a girl's arm... SJM really let me down here. I expected more of a spectacle, because ofcourse getting the third wyrdkey back is something you've been aiming for since the very first book. So to keep it so incredibly short made me even think about whether a 7-book series was necessary to get to this point (hell, my thought?).
As a final negative point, I also thought that KoA did not show enough coherence. You felt physically and figuratively that there was a division between part 1 and part 2. It would have been nicer if the quest and war were somewhat mixed up throughout the story, because part 2 was too weak and described too quickly for me .
But back to some positive points, because you might start thinking “why the 4 stars?!”. Well, SJM made me feel emotionally connected to the characters on an even higher level for 80% of KoA than in the other books. You literally feel that you want to stay with these people or that you want to keep this series for a long time. In addition, there was so much good foreshadowing that was already given in book 1 or even in TaB and fed back in KoA. This gave you the feeling that you had fully 'experienced' Celaena/Aelin and that you were there from day one. Everything hit me a thousand times harder because of this. The amount of detail was very satisfying and felt very complete. Not a single moment throughout KoA (which was 980 pages long) did I feel like it was boring or that I wanted it to end. So with that said, KoA was the correct length for the ending!
And oh god... how Maeve and Erawan were defeated made me forget all the disappointments, because this was so phenomenally presented. I was actually genuinely happy that for once it wasn't just Aelin who was presented as 'hero', but that it was genuinely a team effort. How friendship was reflected in this... wow! This really warmed my heart and had tears streaming down my cheeks. You experience an adventure with these people in an evil world, so it was only right that they also contributed with defeating them. Simply POWERFUL! I just spent the last 100 pages crying every 5 minutes because of how beautiful the ending was and how happy I was for these characters that they have found their home, but also a bit out of sadness that I now have to leave them for a while...
With that said, KoA, and therefore the entire series, was a keeper for me. Overall a 5 star series that I would recommend to everyone. For now on, I will let these characters have their peace and let it all sink in for a while. In any case, it is not goodbye to them and their world, because I am convinced that I will grab this series again in a few months. So, see you soon…
Ranking of the books in the serie (it was so hard to rank the books, hence many shared ranks!)
1. Queen of shadows
2. Crown of midnight & Tower of dawn
3. Kingdom of Ash & The assassins blade & Empire of storms
4. Heir of fire
5. Throne of glass
Review later, now just crying because it's done and for this ending ❤️🔥
Update 18/02/2024:
After a night of sleep, I can start my final review for the throne of Glass series. What an adventure this has been! This series will always have a special place in my heart, especially because this is my very first fantasy series that had a strong storyline and distinct characters. Throughout KoA I laughed, was angry and shed a lot of tears. Although I must admit that I had to lower my rating to a 4 after reviewing my recorded thoughts and seeing that there were quite a few parts that disappointed me. So strap in, this is going to be a very long review (including ratings at the end!).
I dove into the first part of KoA with full courage and a small heart, which got off to a good start. You also immediately notice that KoA is much more gruesome in terms of violence than the previous books. When Aelin was tortured several times by Cairn, I often had to swallow hard and look away from the pages. Especially because you built up a hellish bond with her through the books, so you could feel her suffering through the pages. There was also a huge build-up of tension throughout part 1 with the fights, the scene where Aelin escapes from the army camp and the iron coffer (I could really see everything in front of me! This was really a MASTERPIECE) and the parts where Manon found her way to her people , the Crochans. I absorbed everything in part 1 very hard and was really blown away at several moments. But unfortunately I have to admit that part 1 was one of the highlights of KoA.
First of all, I would like to agree that the romance between the characters seemed very repetitive. The couples had sufficient chemistry, but many sentences were reused to explain their love, such as: “I Will always be with you, I am always here for you” or “from the moment I saw you….” which, to me, made the relationships no longer unique. I also noticed that as the half went on that this romance also became sort of a focal point in the story and it became quite grueling. All romances were lumped together for description, while this could also be spread out over the length of KoA.
One of the biggest disappointments of KoA was how easily Dorian was able to retrieve the third wyrdkey from Morath and deceive Maeve, while Erawan and Maeve as two powerful people were usually described as 'always one step ahead'. Morath was also always described as inaccessible and how the third wyrdkey was simply in a girl's arm... SJM really let me down here. I expected more of a spectacle, because ofcourse getting the third wyrdkey back is something you've been aiming for since the very first book. So to keep it so incredibly short made me even think about whether a 7-book series was necessary to get to this point (hell, my thought?).
As a final negative point, I also thought that KoA did not show enough coherence. You felt physically and figuratively that there was a division between part 1 and part 2. It would have been nicer if the quest and war were somewhat mixed up throughout the story, because part 2 was too weak and described too quickly for me .
But back to some positive points, because you might start thinking “why the 4 stars?!”. Well, SJM made me feel emotionally connected to the characters on an even higher level for 80% of KoA than in the other books. You literally feel that you want to stay with these people or that you want to keep this series for a long time. In addition, there was so much good foreshadowing that was already given in book 1 or even in TaB and fed back in KoA. This gave you the feeling that you had fully 'experienced' Celaena/Aelin and that you were there from day one. Everything hit me a thousand times harder because of this. The amount of detail was very satisfying and felt very complete. Not a single moment throughout KoA (which was 980 pages long) did I feel like it was boring or that I wanted it to end. So with that said, KoA was the correct length for the ending!
And oh god... how Maeve and Erawan were defeated made me forget all the disappointments, because this was so phenomenally presented. I was actually genuinely happy that for once it wasn't just Aelin who was presented as 'hero', but that it was genuinely a team effort. How friendship was reflected in this... wow! This really warmed my heart and had tears streaming down my cheeks. You experience an adventure with these people in an evil world, so it was only right that they also contributed with defeating them. Simply POWERFUL! I just spent the last 100 pages crying every 5 minutes because of how beautiful the ending was and how happy I was for these characters that they have found their home, but also a bit out of sadness that I now have to leave them for a while...
With that said, KoA, and therefore the entire series, was a keeper for me. Overall a 5 star series that I would recommend to everyone. For now on, I will let these characters have their peace and let it all sink in for a while. In any case, it is not goodbye to them and their world, because I am convinced that I will grab this series again in a few months. So, see you soon…
Ranking of the books in the serie (it was so hard to rank the books, hence many shared ranks!)
1. Queen of shadows
2. Crown of midnight & Tower of dawn
3. Kingdom of Ash & The assassins blade & Empire of storms
4. Heir of fire
5. Throne of glass
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
I really can't describe how much love I felt for this book, OMG! I really liked the slower pace this book had, the therapeutic impact of it. I know opinions are quite divided on this as there is sometimes some Chaol hatred, but I have never really had a problem with him (despite the fact that he can be insufferable at times, but I do have that with several characters lmao). I also remember writing in my review of TaB that I hoped so much that Yrene would show up again in the books someday without knowing that ToD was going to be almost a complete dedication to her. So, that's why I really liked it! As well as their love energy is insanely sketched, despite the enormous predictability that they will end up together.
Chaol's literal and figurative therapeutic process was interesting to follow, as well as how Nesryn welcomes her homeland. It made this fantasy series a lot more tangible and realistic in some way?
I also thought for a long time that I didn't really feel connected to Sartaq until the moment he was taken away by the kharankui. Oh god, how many tears I shed there. Huge!
The only negative point I have is that the part with the kharankui reminded me a lot of the part where Frodo in Lord of the Rings was paralyzed and taken away by the spider where he is also saved by Sam. No idea why, but it really gave me similar feelings. However, I thought this was a shame because I could not dissociate the two stories from each other... in addition, the beginning parts of Nesryn were somewhat boring and superficial. I found myself not really interested in her part of the story.
Objectively speaking, a solid 4.5/5 stars after the critical point! But a 5/5 subjectively!
And now, on to the very last thing... I'm SO not ready for this!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
I apologize if there are some translation errors in this review. English is not my first language so there may be some linguistic errors.
I apologize if there are some translation errors in this review. English is not my first language so there may be some linguistic errors.
“He realized that here, among the dunes and the stars… Here, in the heart of a foreign land… Here, with her, he was home.”
I really can't describe how much love I felt for this book, OMG! I really liked the slower pace this book had, the therapeutic impact of it. I know opinions are quite divided on this as there is sometimes some Chaol hatred, but I have never really had a problem with him (despite the fact that he can be insufferable at times, but I do have that with several characters lmao). I also remember writing in my review of TaB that I hoped so much that Yrene would show up again in the books someday without knowing that ToD was going to be almost a complete dedication to her. So, that's why I really liked it! As well as their love energy is insanely sketched, despite the enormous predictability that they will end up together.
Chaol's literal and figurative therapeutic process was interesting to follow, as well as how Nesryn welcomes her homeland. It made this fantasy series a lot more tangible and realistic in some way?
I also thought for a long time that I didn't really feel connected to Sartaq until the moment he was taken away by the kharankui. Oh god, how many tears I shed there. Huge!
The only negative point I have is that the part with the kharankui reminded me a lot of the part where Frodo in Lord of the Rings was paralyzed and taken away by the spider where he is also saved by Sam. No idea why, but it really gave me similar feelings. However, I thought this was a shame because I could not dissociate the two stories from each other... in addition, the beginning parts of Nesryn were somewhat boring and superficial. I found myself not really interested in her part of the story.
Objectively speaking, a solid 4.5/5 stars after the critical point! But a 5/5 subjectively!
And now, on to the very last thing... I'm SO not ready for this!
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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? Yes
4.0
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
I apologize if there are some translation errors in this review. English is not my first language so there may be some linguistic errors.
I can hardly believe that the next entire book I will read will simply be the end of this entire quest, of this incredible adventure that I have been able to experience. EoS, the beginning of the adventurous end…
Also a quick throw in: halfway through ToD & EoS, I decided to try the tandem read. Ultimately, I really regret doing this, because it made me feel like I couldn't sink my teeth 100% into one adventure. I blame the 4/5 stars a million percent on the tandem read, because of this I missed a lot of the emotional impact that EoS should give you. The tandem read was too big of a thing for me. It was very tiring to switch between 2 continents and have to remind yourself where the other book ended. Also, I didn't think EoS ended on the “huge” cliffhanger that was said. Okay, something very impactful has happened, but I don't get the impression that you HAVE to start KoA right away to get an answer. I also just think that the end of EoS was relatively closed and that you then have to discover further (as in every book, I think) how it goes. I would perhaps recommend the tandem read as a re-read kind of thing rather than as something you do for the first time as a reader of the ToG series.
As already mentioned, EoS did not have the emotional impact that I had thought or perhaps even hoped for. Only the ending that we know that Aelin would actually have to pay for her life to bring everything to a successful end really made me gasp for air. I also have to admit that I sometimes found it difficult to understand what happened towards the end. I also don't think I've 100% figured out where it all ultimately led yet...
Another reason why EoS wasn't worth 5 stars for me was because I felt like SJM was a bit repetitive when it came to one plot. The fact that Aelin had secretly slipped the wyrdkeys into Manon's pocket so as not to give Maeve the opportunity to receive them was so similar to the event when she saved Chaol by secretly putting the ring in his pocket during the end of QoS, I thought was a bit floppy. When I read it I thought 'not again... we already know this'. So, in other words, not strong enough to really bring it out like the OMG-feeling.
A final criticism was also the sex scenes... don't get me wrong, SJM really pulled me to a level where I was really eager to get to the more spicy books. I had the expectation that it would still be constructive and romantic, but I actually thought that they were thrown in more. For example, I found the spicy scene between Manon and Dorian to be quite intense without, in my opinion, any reason for them to come to that part so quickly. I expected SJM to start more with the romantic ending than the sex-kind-of-stuff. Except for Rowan and Aelin it was welcome, hu-hummm.
BUT as always, every SJM book is quite strong. I found it so thrilling that every page was so action-paced! Once again this book was a page turner, like almost all the others! She certainly did not disappoint me about the relationships between Lorcan-Elide and Lysandra-Aedion. I freaking love them!! Also how the ending settled you in having to continue to KoA gave me an empty pit in my stomach... I'm so curious, but also so sad that the series almost has come to an end.
But first I will read the other half of ToD before we get to the real shit! Controversial perhaps, but I'm still looking forward to having to read a slower and more character-development part now before I delve into the dark side of the ending.
I apologize if there are some translation errors in this review. English is not my first language so there may be some linguistic errors.
I can hardly believe that the next entire book I will read will simply be the end of this entire quest, of this incredible adventure that I have been able to experience. EoS, the beginning of the adventurous end…
Also a quick throw in: halfway through ToD & EoS, I decided to try the tandem read. Ultimately, I really regret doing this, because it made me feel like I couldn't sink my teeth 100% into one adventure. I blame the 4/5 stars a million percent on the tandem read, because of this I missed a lot of the emotional impact that EoS should give you. The tandem read was too big of a thing for me. It was very tiring to switch between 2 continents and have to remind yourself where the other book ended. Also, I didn't think EoS ended on the “huge” cliffhanger that was said. Okay, something very impactful has happened, but I don't get the impression that you HAVE to start KoA right away to get an answer. I also just think that the end of EoS was relatively closed and that you then have to discover further (as in every book, I think) how it goes. I would perhaps recommend the tandem read as a re-read kind of thing rather than as something you do for the first time as a reader of the ToG series.
As already mentioned, EoS did not have the emotional impact that I had thought or perhaps even hoped for. Only the ending that we know that Aelin would actually have to pay for her life to bring everything to a successful end really made me gasp for air. I also have to admit that I sometimes found it difficult to understand what happened towards the end. I also don't think I've 100% figured out where it all ultimately led yet...
Another reason why EoS wasn't worth 5 stars for me was because I felt like SJM was a bit repetitive when it came to one plot. The fact that Aelin had secretly slipped the wyrdkeys into Manon's pocket so as not to give Maeve the opportunity to receive them was so similar to the event when she saved Chaol by secretly putting the ring in his pocket during the end of QoS, I thought was a bit floppy. When I read it I thought 'not again... we already know this'. So, in other words, not strong enough to really bring it out like the OMG-feeling.
A final criticism was also the sex scenes... don't get me wrong, SJM really pulled me to a level where I was really eager to get to the more spicy books. I had the expectation that it would still be constructive and romantic, but I actually thought that they were thrown in more. For example, I found the spicy scene between Manon and Dorian to be quite intense without, in my opinion, any reason for them to come to that part so quickly. I expected SJM to start more with the romantic ending than the sex-kind-of-stuff. Except for Rowan and Aelin it was welcome, hu-hummm.
BUT as always, every SJM book is quite strong. I found it so thrilling that every page was so action-paced! Once again this book was a page turner, like almost all the others! She certainly did not disappoint me about the relationships between Lorcan-Elide and Lysandra-Aedion. I freaking love them!! Also how the ending settled you in having to continue to KoA gave me an empty pit in my stomach... I'm so curious, but also so sad that the series almost has come to an end.
But first I will read the other half of ToD before we get to the real shit! Controversial perhaps, but I'm still looking forward to having to read a slower and more character-development part now before I delve into the dark side of the ending.
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
I apologize if there are some translation errors in this review. English is not my first language so there may be some linguistic errors.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Those trying to tell me this was a bad book...GET OUT! Because I think I can already say with certainty that this was a new favorite for me from this series. I really have no words of criticism for this book, completely speechless.
I was so hooked from page 1. I was so sucked in and, let me start by saying this, if I hadn't had finals, I would probably have devoured this book in 3 days. The way Maas was able to merge the entire story into the beautiful book that 'queen of shadows' gave, gave me a satisfying feeling. Everything that I did not understand or could not appreciate in 'heir of fire' now came in or I could better understand SJM's chosen paths in HoF. QoS was honestly very impactful and exciting for me, full of new character development, coupled with hellish sadness and anger. And btw, the tension between Aelin and Rowan?! Hell yes...
I'm also very grateful for reading TaB first. As a result, QoS hit me more like a sledgehammer in the face and brought with it a lot of reminiscent emotions. From ToG onwards you will start to appreciate and understand every tiny detail and you will not be betrayed in the sequels about the plot that takes place in TaB. That's why I would also recommend reading TaB first.
And we're all just going to be honest: Arobynn honestly received too peaceful a death. For all I care, they were allowed to cut out his balls and kneecaps. Thank you and goodbye!
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
Dorian said, "so here we are."
"The end of the road," Aelin said with a half smile.
"No," Chaol said, his own smile faint, tentative. "The beginning of the next."
I apologize if there are some translation errors in this review. English is not my first language so there may be some linguistic errors.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Those trying to tell me this was a bad book...GET OUT! Because I think I can already say with certainty that this was a new favorite for me from this series. I really have no words of criticism for this book, completely speechless.
I was so hooked from page 1. I was so sucked in and, let me start by saying this, if I hadn't had finals, I would probably have devoured this book in 3 days. The way Maas was able to merge the entire story into the beautiful book that 'queen of shadows' gave, gave me a satisfying feeling. Everything that I did not understand or could not appreciate in 'heir of fire' now came in or I could better understand SJM's chosen paths in HoF. QoS was honestly very impactful and exciting for me, full of new character development, coupled with hellish sadness and anger. And btw, the tension between Aelin and Rowan?! Hell yes...
I'm also very grateful for reading TaB first. As a result, QoS hit me more like a sledgehammer in the face and brought with it a lot of reminiscent emotions. From ToG onwards you will start to appreciate and understand every tiny detail and you will not be betrayed in the sequels about the plot that takes place in TaB. That's why I would also recommend reading TaB first.
And we're all just going to be honest: Arobynn honestly received too peaceful a death. For all I care, they were allowed to cut out his balls and kneecaps. Thank you and goodbye!
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
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
5.0
what. the. fuck.
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Heir of fire is an immediate introduction to a more complex story with a top notch writing style.
I have to honestly admit that the first 250-300 pages were pretty boring. Maas throws several new characters at you only to write the book from multiple perspectives. This often left me with a "heh????" feeling which at times left me not quite grasping the story. For me personally, it then also took too long when the story had really settled down, I didn't feel throughout the story that there was a build up to a climax/end point (obviously the ending was like that, mais bon). In addition, Manon's POV was superfluous to me personally. There was no connection anywhere to Celaena's story or other parts of the world, only the very last tiny piece, which I found regrettable. Because that really pulled down the added value of the book. But don't worry, because Manon had an intriguing personality and I am already looking forward to reading more about her. Furthermore, Dorian's new romance was really only written from the bland side and Chaol's perspective really left me hungry, which really made both characters lose their accumulated charm.
Besides the boring parts, I also have to admit that this story has shed new light on the ToG series. You feel that Maas took you to a different and new level of story that really let you create a deeper understanding of who Celaena is and how the politics of the world really work. There was more work done on world building, character development, emotions and details that were a new addition to the story, so I'm really a sucker for that. The world I'm currently hiding in is one I'm far from wanting to pass up!
And, as expected, miss Maas again introduced several top plots at the end that brought the story back to the surface and had me blown off my socks again. Despite Dorian and Sorcha's shallow romance, I still shed a tear when she was killed. Her plotline was also phenomenal.
Still, I have 1 question that sticks in my mind: how could Dorian use his magic, when all magic is repressed other than black magic? Still a question I ask myself, but it's perfectly possible I missed a part in the book that explained this.
This book was still better than 'throne of Glass' itself and therefore still a sollid 3 stars!
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I apologize if there are some translation errors in this review. English is not my first language so there may be some linguistic errors.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Heir of fire is an immediate introduction to a more complex story with a top notch writing style.
I have to honestly admit that the first 250-300 pages were pretty boring. Maas throws several new characters at you only to write the book from multiple perspectives. This often left me with a "heh????" feeling which at times left me not quite grasping the story. For me personally, it then also took too long when the story had really settled down, I didn't feel throughout the story that there was a build up to a climax/end point (obviously the ending was like that, mais bon). In addition, Manon's POV was superfluous to me personally. There was no connection anywhere to Celaena's story or other parts of the world, only the very last tiny piece, which I found regrettable. Because that really pulled down the added value of the book. But don't worry, because Manon had an intriguing personality and I am already looking forward to reading more about her. Furthermore, Dorian's new romance was really only written from the bland side and Chaol's perspective really left me hungry, which really made both characters lose their accumulated charm.
Besides the boring parts, I also have to admit that this story has shed new light on the ToG series. You feel that Maas took you to a different and new level of story that really let you create a deeper understanding of who Celaena is and how the politics of the world really work. There was more work done on world building, character development, emotions and details that were a new addition to the story, so I'm really a sucker for that. The world I'm currently hiding in is one I'm far from wanting to pass up!
And, as expected, miss Maas again introduced several top plots at the end that brought the story back to the surface and had me blown off my socks again. Despite Dorian and Sorcha's shallow romance, I still shed a tear when she was killed. Her plotline was also phenomenal.
Still, I have 1 question that sticks in my mind: how could Dorian use his magic, when all magic is repressed other than black magic? Still a question I ask myself, but it's perfectly possible I missed a part in the book that explained this.
This book was still better than 'throne of Glass' itself and therefore still a sollid 3 stars!
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
I apologize if there are some translation errors in this review. English is not my first language so there may be some linguistic errors.
WHAT THE HELLL. Finally, its living up to its hype and delivering chef's kisses!
This book was the balance I was looking for in "throne of glass" itself. It was powerful, romantic, sad, fast-paced and thrilling all in one. The perfect balance between these themes. It's been a long time since I was so on the edge of my seat with every page I turned. AND THAT END! Wow! Even though I knew there were 5 more books to follow in the series, I didn't want the book to end.
1 word: it was awesome!
WHAT THE HELLL. Finally, its living up to its hype and delivering chef's kisses!
This book was the balance I was looking for in "throne of glass" itself. It was powerful, romantic, sad, fast-paced and thrilling all in one. The perfect balance between these themes. It's been a long time since I was so on the edge of my seat with every page I turned. AND THAT END! Wow! Even though I knew there were 5 more books to follow in the series, I didn't want the book to end.
1 word: it was awesome!
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
My feelings during this book with the hours: 📈📉📉📈
In "the assassin's blade" I was introduced to the brave, suspicious and sincere badass personality of Celaena Sardothien. I was immediately sucked in by her character and fell in love with the way she was portrayed, so I then immediately picked up the next book in the TOG series. As the pages progressed, however, I became confused. Celaena suddenly became hugely naive and easy going, laughed a lot (believe me, this was a miracle when she did this in TAB) and was portrayed in a feminine light. All aspects of the promised "most feared assasin of the continent" were taken away from you. I was really deeply disappointed by this. This made it very difficult for me to place myself in the book because it felt more or less like I was diving into a new character I hadn't read about in the prequel.
In addition, the story was also just... okay. The reason I had taken up the throne of Glass series was because I was promised (by social media admittedly) that romance was not considered a main topic, whereas I felt that it absolutely was here. 2-0 for the painful disappointment in my heart. The tests Celaena had to pass to become "Champion" of the King were also very superficially written out, while I thought this should be the main focus of the book. With this, the world building was again weak and a lot of details were missing. Then the love triangle became the ultimate centerpiece of this first book. Bleh.
The only thing that still pushed me through in the book were the mysterious and magical elements. Even though I was still quite perplexed by the "at random" throwing of this route in the middle, I started to appreciate it more and more as the end approached. Only in the last 150 pages did you still get the suspense you expected and the duel that was powerfully set up. So those last 150 pages just put me over the top not to give 2.5 stars as I was very hooked here!!!
To be honest, had I not read TAB as a prequel, I might not have continued the series. The only thing that still gets my hopes up is the fact that Celaena may yet change into what I had read/thought/hoped for. Then again, I did end the story with a lot of open questions that I want answered. On to crown of midnight!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
3.0
I apologize if there are some translation errors in this review. English is not my first language so there may be some linguistic errors.
"I am Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan's Assassin. If these men knew who I was, they'd stop laughing. I am Celaena Sardothien. I am going to win. I will not be afraid."
My feelings during this book with the hours: 📈📉📉📈
In "the assassin's blade" I was introduced to the brave, suspicious and sincere badass personality of Celaena Sardothien. I was immediately sucked in by her character and fell in love with the way she was portrayed, so I then immediately picked up the next book in the TOG series. As the pages progressed, however, I became confused. Celaena suddenly became hugely naive and easy going, laughed a lot (believe me, this was a miracle when she did this in TAB) and was portrayed in a feminine light. All aspects of the promised "most feared assasin of the continent" were taken away from you. I was really deeply disappointed by this. This made it very difficult for me to place myself in the book because it felt more or less like I was diving into a new character I hadn't read about in the prequel.
In addition, the story was also just... okay. The reason I had taken up the throne of Glass series was because I was promised (by social media admittedly) that romance was not considered a main topic, whereas I felt that it absolutely was here. 2-0 for the painful disappointment in my heart. The tests Celaena had to pass to become "Champion" of the King were also very superficially written out, while I thought this should be the main focus of the book. With this, the world building was again weak and a lot of details were missing. Then the love triangle became the ultimate centerpiece of this first book. Bleh.
The only thing that still pushed me through in the book were the mysterious and magical elements. Even though I was still quite perplexed by the "at random" throwing of this route in the middle, I started to appreciate it more and more as the end approached. Only in the last 150 pages did you still get the suspense you expected and the duel that was powerfully set up. So those last 150 pages just put me over the top not to give 2.5 stars as I was very hooked here!!!
To be honest, had I not read TAB as a prequel, I might not have continued the series. The only thing that still gets my hopes up is the fact that Celaena may yet change into what I had read/thought/hoped for. Then again, I did end the story with a lot of open questions that I want answered. On to crown of midnight!
The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
sad
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
4.0
I apologize if there are some translation errors in this review. English is not my first language so there may be some linguistic errors.
After the book started out slow, it was really a surprise that I could still feel so much compassion and emotion! What a strong start to dive into this series!
After watching thousands of videos and posts, I chose to read TAB first (and thus in publication order). I obviously can't tell yet if this was the best option, but I will update this review as I progress through the series! 😉
After the book started out slow, it was really a surprise that I could still feel so much compassion and emotion! What a strong start to dive into this series!
After watching thousands of videos and posts, I chose to read TAB first (and thus in publication order). I obviously can't tell yet if this was the best option, but I will update this review as I progress through the series! 😉
Updated 23/01/2024: I understand where the idea came from to read TaB just before QoS, but I still remain grateful that I read it first. On the one hand because there will be spoilers in the sequels about the plot of TaB and on the other hand because I am quite absorbed in the flashbacks. This also allowed me to understand all the minuscule details of the first 4 books, which also had, for me, more emotional impact. I do not agree with the fact that reading TaB thirdly is labeled as a 'romantic order'. I actually have the feeling that you will get much more satisfaction on a romantic and emotional level if you read TaB first, which will also allow you to anticipate the events in QoS more.
But in short: if you are someone who cares more about Celaena as a main character, wants to see her grow as a character and really wants to feel like you were there at the events, then I recommend checking out TaB first. If you're someone who cares more about the gist/core elements of the entire series, are a more plot/action related reader, and want to feel like you're getting instant answers to what happened in TaB, then I recommend you read it just before QoS.
In addition, I think it may be important to mention that it is best to read as third if you are someone who easily forgets certain events or characters.
TAB is a book divided into 5 novellas set BEFORE the TOG series. You get an inside look at the main character Celaena, with her fellow assasin Sam and brief elements of the world you will find yourself in for the next 7 books.
I have to say that the first Novella (the assasin and the Pirate Lord) was my least favorite. It took a huge amount of getting used to diving into this world and especially the fact that combat happened relatively soon. As a result, I experienced it as a bit boring ... nonetheless, I found it genuinely enriching to experience how a larger scale fight was described after all this time. I sincerely hope Maas will keep this!
When the second story (the assasin and the healer) progressed, I really started to like it. Also because it had already hinted at the magical elements that will come in handy going forward. In doing so, I have high hopes that Yrene Towers will return to the series!!!
The third Novella (the assasin and the desert) again started slow for me. However, I did not yet see the connection in the 3 stories which really lowered my hopes as to whether I would find this book good, but as soon as the story came more into its entirety I was immediately wrapped up! From this story I felt genuine emotions like anger and sadness and also felt more like I had insight into Celaena's character. From when Celaena also arrived in the red Desert the puzzle pieces started to fall together a bit more. Sincerely awesome!
And yes, I guess for those who have read TAB I shouldn't get a picture of the last 2 novellas.... absolutely heartbreaking!!! The assasin and the underworld was the beginning of a sad ending in the assasin and the empire. I had unfortunately seen spoilers for the ending, so I thought before starting TAB that I wouldn't feel enough emotions anymore, but OH YEAH! Still did shed a tear, by golly... Also how the last story closed was powerful and pure fire.
The only criticism I experienced was that the worldbuilding was not yet strong enough for me. A lot of details were missing for me to properly visualize the world. I hope Sarah J. Maas continues to do this.
In addition, I think it may be important to mention that it is best to read as third if you are someone who easily forgets certain events or characters.
TAB is a book divided into 5 novellas set BEFORE the TOG series. You get an inside look at the main character Celaena, with her fellow assasin Sam and brief elements of the world you will find yourself in for the next 7 books.
I have to say that the first Novella (the assasin and the Pirate Lord) was my least favorite. It took a huge amount of getting used to diving into this world and especially the fact that combat happened relatively soon. As a result, I experienced it as a bit boring ... nonetheless, I found it genuinely enriching to experience how a larger scale fight was described after all this time. I sincerely hope Maas will keep this!
When the second story (the assasin and the healer) progressed, I really started to like it. Also because it had already hinted at the magical elements that will come in handy going forward. In doing so, I have high hopes that Yrene Towers will return to the series!!!
The third Novella (the assasin and the desert) again started slow for me. However, I did not yet see the connection in the 3 stories which really lowered my hopes as to whether I would find this book good, but as soon as the story came more into its entirety I was immediately wrapped up! From this story I felt genuine emotions like anger and sadness and also felt more like I had insight into Celaena's character. From when Celaena also arrived in the red Desert the puzzle pieces started to fall together a bit more. Sincerely awesome!
And yes, I guess for those who have read TAB I shouldn't get a picture of the last 2 novellas.... absolutely heartbreaking!!! The assasin and the underworld was the beginning of a sad ending in the assasin and the empire. I had unfortunately seen spoilers for the ending, so I thought before starting TAB that I wouldn't feel enough emotions anymore, but OH YEAH! Still did shed a tear, by golly... Also how the last story closed was powerful and pure fire.
The only criticism I experienced was that the worldbuilding was not yet strong enough for me. A lot of details were missing for me to properly visualize the world. I hope Sarah J. Maas continues to do this.
I think Sam and Celaena are going to reverberating in my head for a long time. And by the way, from this moment on in the assassin and the healer. "Signing, she slipped into her room and bolted the door. After a moment, she slid the old chest of drawers in front of it, too. Not for her own safety. Oh, no. It was for the safety of whatever fool tried to break in - and would then find himself split open from navel to nose, just to satisfy the boredom of an errant hitman." I became truly obsessed with Celaena. And even "obsessed" is still an understatement. I look forward to the sequel!
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.5