Book Review: Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas
Series Review
I jumped on this series late...as usual. Throne of Glass, book #1, came out in 2012 and I only discovered the series a couple of months ago thanks to an awesome friend with great taste.
The series was described with all of my favorite buzzwords; strong world building, fantasy, strong young adult, badass female lead, important secondaries, just enough fill without a lot of fluff.... the list could go on.
They were all 100% correct. I LOVED IT. Favorite read(s) of 2015/2016 by far!
What makes a young adult book great is when you can tell that the character is trying to find their way in the world (aka grow up) but yet refrains from whining and self-loathing about every problem they encounter. At the same time, I don't want to read about a 17-year-old who sounds and acts 40 -- because that's not real life. I like to see the character learn and evolve. Make some mistakes and make some surprisingly mature decisions.
Sarah Maas wrote this series beautifully and gave every character a growth phase. Which is quite an amazing feat really. Many times authors leave out the arcs of characters beyond the first two or three MC -- leaving the overall plot flat and the reader rolling their eyes at the fact that only the MC was able to figure out how the world works...which is selfish. Spread the wealth I say!
If you're looking for an excellent series (4 books currently available, the 5th due in September 2016) that can capture a fantasy lover's imagination from the go, check out the Throne of Glass! (Or any of Sarah J. Maas' books!)
Blurbs
Throne of Glass #1
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.
Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.
Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.
But does she have the heart of a killer?
After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. But Calaena is far from loyal to the crown. Keeping up the charade - while pretending to do the king's bidding - will test her skills in an entirely new way. And it certainly isn't the only point of confusion for the young girl. Because though she's made her choice between Dorian and Chaol, the ways of the heart are never simple...
The bestselling series that has captured readers all over the world reaches new heights in this sequel to the New York Times best-selling Crown of Midnight. Packed with heart-pounding action, fierce new characters, and swoon-worthy romance, this third book will enthrall readers from start to finish.
She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.
She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queens triumphant return.
Celaenas epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaenas story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.
I jumped on this series late...as usual. Throne of Glass, book #1, came out in 2012 and I only discovered the series a couple of months ago thanks to an awesome friend with great taste.
The series was described with all of my favorite buzzwords; strong world building, fantasy, strong young adult, badass female lead, important secondaries, just enough fill without a lot of fluff.... the list could go on.
They were all 100% correct. I LOVED IT. Favorite read(s) of 2015/2016 by far!
What makes a young adult book great is when you can tell that the character is trying to find their way in the world (aka grow up) but yet refrains from whining and self-loathing about every problem they encounter. At the same time, I don't want to read about a 17-year-old who sounds and acts 40 -- because that's not real life. I like to see the character learn and evolve. Make some mistakes and make some surprisingly mature decisions.
Sarah Maas wrote this series beautifully and gave every character a growth phase. Which is quite an amazing feat really. Many times authors leave out the arcs of characters beyond the first two or three MC -- leaving the overall plot flat and the reader rolling their eyes at the fact that only the MC was able to figure out how the world works...which is selfish. Spread the wealth I say!
If you're looking for an excellent series (4 books currently available, the 5th due in September 2016) that can capture a fantasy lover's imagination from the go, check out the Throne of Glass! (Or any of Sarah J. Maas' books!)
Blurbs
Throne of Glass #1
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.
Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.
Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.
Crown of Midnight #2
She is the greatest assassin her world has ever known.But does she have the heart of a killer?
After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. But Calaena is far from loyal to the crown. Keeping up the charade - while pretending to do the king's bidding - will test her skills in an entirely new way. And it certainly isn't the only point of confusion for the young girl. Because though she's made her choice between Dorian and Chaol, the ways of the heart are never simple...
Heir of Fire #3
Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?The bestselling series that has captured readers all over the world reaches new heights in this sequel to the New York Times best-selling Crown of Midnight. Packed with heart-pounding action, fierce new characters, and swoon-worthy romance, this third book will enthrall readers from start to finish.
Queen of Shadows #4
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But shes at last returned to the empire-for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past...She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.
She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queens triumphant return.
Celaenas epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaenas story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.
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