Throne of Glass

Really liked this story, though it does feel like it's mainly setting up the books to come (which, as I understand it, is the case?). 
There are some pacing issues and often descriptions are a tad sloppy or read weird. This is YA fiction, though, and the author was pretty young herself when she wrote it. With that understanding, it's a good (but mostly harmless) read that left me wanting to learn more about the characters. Will continue reading the series. 

I've loved the ACOTAR series by Sarah J Maas and there is a constant frenzy about the Throne of Glass series and how it is better than the adventures of the inhabitants of Velaris so I had got curious. After all, if so many people say something is good? You tend to believe them.

Whilst I found Throne of Glass to be far easier to get into than the prequel I had previously attempted, I did wonder just why so many people say this is better than Maas's other works. I did find book one to be an enjoyable read, and one that I could get lost in whilst reading but it's not phenomenal (yet) but I'm also aware that the series doesn't get really good till book three so I will be sticking with the Throne of Glass series to find out if it is indeed worth the hype. (I really hope so as I have all the books!)

I do agree with others (and I wish to clarify that I only read reviews after I have read a book because I don't want to be swayed one way or another) that Celaena Sardothien as an assassin is confusing as she's unafraid to show people what she's capable of. I would have thought, that an assassin shouldn't be so egotistical and extroverted in her mannerisms, even if it's stressed people think the infamous assassin is older than Celaena is. She also just seems mediocre in this book, I was waiting to see some kick-ass, fierce and determined young woman who can make a grown man cry because Maas does write phenomenal female characters (Bryce for one) but it wasn't there. Yes, she fights and she is clearly better than the men around her who are fighting to be the King's Champion but let's be honest? 95% of said men just think she's a girl who is lucky and she manipulates that for her advantage and I don't blame her doing that.

It's all a little too predictable in that regard and to be honest, whilst yes, she is left with no option in taking part? It makes zero sense why anyone would want to make a renowned assassin become so well known. Everyone is going to recognise her going forward because she's going to be working for the King and not in the shadows...

The world building is good, I think the characters need work in this book and I hope that they grow and become less one dimensional going forward. I enjoyed Throne of Glass, I really did but it just could have been more.

There was so much potential that seemed to walk into the proverbial wall and promptly fade away and it infuriated me. But I have faith.... book two will give me hope for an improvement and less holes in the plot and predictability.

A good, fast-paced read, but not quite as good as Maas's later work; certainly feels the Y in YA. Can be read as a standalone but is probably better if you continue on to read the whole series (I assume).

To summarize it briefly: Celaena, a proficient assassin, has been in the salt mines for a year when she is taken out by Prince Dorian and his guard captain Chaol to be the prince's candidate in a competition to find the next King's Champion. But someone, or something, is picking off candidates even outside of the competitions designed to winnow out the unworthy. Celaena's heart is also pulled into two directions, between the overtly romantic Dorian and the steadfast Chaol.

The major drawback to the book is that it's so clearly written to be part of a series. For instance, from very early on, I started to suspect that Maas was pulling a Megan Whalen Turner and Celaena was more than she seemed. I think Maas was fairly clever about this, and if I hadn't read The Thief multiple times I might not have caught all of the clues. (And then later on there was a kind of stone maze and supernatural elements that also recall The Thief.) I had to check the description of later books in the series to confirm it, as it isn't resolved in this one, which was moderately frustrating. But on the opposite side, the love triangle appeared to be gearing up to be an even bigger part of a larger storyline - while Dorian is clearly the "winner" of the triangle through the book (I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say this) given his active romance with Celaena, Chaol's feelings for her were pretty much unresolved. But in checking Wikipedia to find out the other thing, I saw that this triangle is completely abandoned in favor of a totally different love interest who doesn't appear in the book! That was frustrating to find out, as I was getting pretty invested in the romantic tension (and I do not usually like love triangles much). I don't really understand why Maas did this and it retroactively make the book go down a lot in my estimation.

There is a strong female friendship, which I loved! Princess Nehemia is a kind of hostage at the court and she has her own secrets, but she is a genuine friend and equal of Celaena and I'm very interested in her as an individual and in her future plotline. The Strong Female Friendship thing often feels pasted in in a lot of books, but not here - it's organic and I love it.

The mystery plotline is ... I don't think it's something to pick up the book for. The person doing the killing is pretty obvious, although there is a twist at the end that was worth reading!

Love it! Mystery, Suspense, Romance, and Fantasy all in one! I am so inspired by the perseverance and courage that "Lillian" showed throughout the whole book. She is definitely one of my favorite heroines. I love how she's rebellious, but not overly so; and cares about her appearance, but isn't like those "pompous buffoons" in the court. All-in-all, Celaena Sardothien is a wonderful role model for young woman today (aside from the killing part, of course). She doesn't give up even when it seems like it's the end. She's smart and funny and enjoys teasing others. I can't say enough about her, she's just awesome.

Thank you Sarah J. Maas for giving me a character to relate to, a character that leaps out of the page and reminds me that life has its many ups and downs but I can still smile and laugh through it all.

I know who I am and "I will it be afraid."

P. S. I love the name Nehemia gave Celaena so much it's going to be part of my pen name! Yes!

Eh. A below average book, not what I had expected.

The only 18-year old super assassin Celaena Sardothien is freed from the salt mines by the gorgeous Crown Prince to be his contestant in some kind of odd contest where the evil king is picking a champion from amongst a number of assassins and other criminals. During the contest, contestants die mysteriously, and Celaena finds out that she is speshul because of magic. Or something.

Surprising exactly no one, she has a thing for the Crown Prince, while at the same time the handsome but gruff Captain of the Guard wins her heart.

Yeah, it's exactly as Mary Sue as this whole bit reads. You don't get a lot of backstory for Celaena that would actually explain why she is the super assassin she apparently is. The only reason I will likely keep reading is that apparently the series really picks up in the later books. We'll see about that.