Throne of Glass - A Review
To all who are reading this,
Today, I introduce you to the first book in the Throne of Glass series by author Sarah J. Maas. And no readers, I'm not having you on - the title of the series, has the same name as the first book! Published in 2012, it is a high fantasy novel aimed at the young adult market, with many more to follow in Ms Maas has her way!
There may be spoilers.
Blurb
Meet Celaena Sardothien. Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.
In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake. She got caught. Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament - fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin's heart be melted?
I had first seen this book in the local library, and it was the cover that drew me in. I was intrigued by the concept behind it: Maas had the idea after hearing part of the score in the Disney film Cinderella (1950). Cinderella is leaving the ball at midnight, and Maas thought that the music was too intense and imagined instead, that it was an assassin fleeing the ball.
And thus, Celaena Sardothien was born.
The cover is beautiful - the front shows the deadly heroine, in all her fighting glory. Leather looking trousers and jacket, curved blades drawn, hair flying wild in the breeze. The back of the book shows Calaena from the back, outfitted in a long flowing elegant ballgown. It is a Cinderella moment - rags to riches almost.
The novel follows Celaena as she is brought out of the horrific and terrifying conditions of a salt mine in the area of the world known as Endovier. She has great lashes down her back, and her body is thin and cracked. To her shock, she is brought before Dorian, the Crown Prince of Adarlan, by the strong and able, Captain Chaol Westfall. The deal is offered on the table for all to see - represent the Prince or be thrown back into the salt mines. It is her choice. Celaena takes the offer, to try and earn her freedom, and her journey truly begins.
Celaena is beautiful. Her previous training as a reknowned assassin has given her a powerful body, but the time in Endovier has ruined her. The muscles she used to have need honing, and a strength that needs to be redirected. She arrives at a glass castle, ready to face the many challenges that are already standing in her way.
That being said, she is a little grating at times. Whilst able to turn anything such as a hairpin into a weapon, she is very cocksure of herself, sometimes letting her mouth get a little carried away in certain company. Chaol is often having to remind her to reign her temper in, whereas Dorian brings out her naughty side with slight encouragement.
The training routine leaves us tired just reading it. She trains hard with a variety of weapons and sparring. These scenes are very well written, and we sympathise with Celaena as she undergoes the gruelling and verbally abusive training sessions. The competitors around her do not know her as the assassin of legend though. Dorian asks that she use a pseudonym whilst around the castle, and so she becomes Lady Lillian Gordaina of Bellhaven, a jewel thief. In this role, she enjoys flaunting the dresses that suits a lady of the castle. Members of the court suspect that she is perhaps something else, and this also leaves the reader wanting to know more about the mysterious assassin.
Chaol takes her under his wing, insisting that they take morning runs together to keep her in shape. It is during these runs, that the two of them form an uneasy alliance, and stray thoughts of romance cross their paths. However, a competitor for her affections is Dorian - the intelligent and handsome prince. He is captivated by Celaena for who she is. There is a simply gorgeous moment where Celaena enters a masquerade ball and dances with the Prince - such as Cinderella in her glass slippers.
Danger lurks around every corner of the castle from horrific beasts, the apparition of the long dead Queen Elena, and mysterious magic. Magic, which has been forbidden by the current King of Adarlan. The King is a man used to getting what he wants, when he wants. When Nehemia Ytger, Princess of Eyllwe, is brought to the court to learn the kingdom's customs, he often thinks that someone should keep an eye on her.
All along the book, we are on Celaena's side, urging her on her way. We rejoice as she becomes friends with Nehemia, and hold our breath as she faces things the like she has never seen before.
The setting of the high fantasy world leaves much to be expanded on, such as other locations within the kingdom, and the types of magic that is suppressed. Needless to say, our curiosity is piqued.
The love triangle is good, although perhaps typical of a Young Adult novel. We only get a snippet of that, and there is more to see beneath the surface.
The writing style is easy to follow, occasionally swapping to other characters perspectives, such as Dorian's and Chaol's.
At times, we can see the plot coming from miles before it's even reached us. That being said though, it's a very enjoyable read. It had me hooked from the first page and I am eager to read more!
Celaena's story continues in Crown of Midnight (2013), Heir of Fire (2014), and Queen of Shadows which is due for release September 10 this year. There are also two further novels in the pipeline.
Prequels to the main story include The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (2012), The Assassin and the Desert (2012), The Assassin and the Underworld (2012), and The Assassin and the Empire (2012). All of these stories can be found in the omnibus edition The Assassin's Blade (2014), and also features the bonus story, The Assassin and the Healer (2014).
You can find Sarah J. Maas on the Internet in the following places:
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon
Website
Blog
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: The Blind Goddess by Anne Holt
Today, I introduce you to the first book in the Throne of Glass series by author Sarah J. Maas. And no readers, I'm not having you on - the title of the series, has the same name as the first book! Published in 2012, it is a high fantasy novel aimed at the young adult market, with many more to follow in Ms Maas has her way!
There may be spoilers.
Blurb
Meet Celaena Sardothien. Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.
In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake. She got caught. Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament - fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin's heart be melted?
I had first seen this book in the local library, and it was the cover that drew me in. I was intrigued by the concept behind it: Maas had the idea after hearing part of the score in the Disney film Cinderella (1950). Cinderella is leaving the ball at midnight, and Maas thought that the music was too intense and imagined instead, that it was an assassin fleeing the ball.
And thus, Celaena Sardothien was born.
The cover is beautiful - the front shows the deadly heroine, in all her fighting glory. Leather looking trousers and jacket, curved blades drawn, hair flying wild in the breeze. The back of the book shows Calaena from the back, outfitted in a long flowing elegant ballgown. It is a Cinderella moment - rags to riches almost.
The novel follows Celaena as she is brought out of the horrific and terrifying conditions of a salt mine in the area of the world known as Endovier. She has great lashes down her back, and her body is thin and cracked. To her shock, she is brought before Dorian, the Crown Prince of Adarlan, by the strong and able, Captain Chaol Westfall. The deal is offered on the table for all to see - represent the Prince or be thrown back into the salt mines. It is her choice. Celaena takes the offer, to try and earn her freedom, and her journey truly begins.
Celaena is beautiful. Her previous training as a reknowned assassin has given her a powerful body, but the time in Endovier has ruined her. The muscles she used to have need honing, and a strength that needs to be redirected. She arrives at a glass castle, ready to face the many challenges that are already standing in her way.
That being said, she is a little grating at times. Whilst able to turn anything such as a hairpin into a weapon, she is very cocksure of herself, sometimes letting her mouth get a little carried away in certain company. Chaol is often having to remind her to reign her temper in, whereas Dorian brings out her naughty side with slight encouragement.
The training routine leaves us tired just reading it. She trains hard with a variety of weapons and sparring. These scenes are very well written, and we sympathise with Celaena as she undergoes the gruelling and verbally abusive training sessions. The competitors around her do not know her as the assassin of legend though. Dorian asks that she use a pseudonym whilst around the castle, and so she becomes Lady Lillian Gordaina of Bellhaven, a jewel thief. In this role, she enjoys flaunting the dresses that suits a lady of the castle. Members of the court suspect that she is perhaps something else, and this also leaves the reader wanting to know more about the mysterious assassin.
Chaol takes her under his wing, insisting that they take morning runs together to keep her in shape. It is during these runs, that the two of them form an uneasy alliance, and stray thoughts of romance cross their paths. However, a competitor for her affections is Dorian - the intelligent and handsome prince. He is captivated by Celaena for who she is. There is a simply gorgeous moment where Celaena enters a masquerade ball and dances with the Prince - such as Cinderella in her glass slippers.
Danger lurks around every corner of the castle from horrific beasts, the apparition of the long dead Queen Elena, and mysterious magic. Magic, which has been forbidden by the current King of Adarlan. The King is a man used to getting what he wants, when he wants. When Nehemia Ytger, Princess of Eyllwe, is brought to the court to learn the kingdom's customs, he often thinks that someone should keep an eye on her.
All along the book, we are on Celaena's side, urging her on her way. We rejoice as she becomes friends with Nehemia, and hold our breath as she faces things the like she has never seen before.
The setting of the high fantasy world leaves much to be expanded on, such as other locations within the kingdom, and the types of magic that is suppressed. Needless to say, our curiosity is piqued.
The love triangle is good, although perhaps typical of a Young Adult novel. We only get a snippet of that, and there is more to see beneath the surface.
The writing style is easy to follow, occasionally swapping to other characters perspectives, such as Dorian's and Chaol's.
At times, we can see the plot coming from miles before it's even reached us. That being said though, it's a very enjoyable read. It had me hooked from the first page and I am eager to read more!
Celaena's story continues in Crown of Midnight (2013), Heir of Fire (2014), and Queen of Shadows which is due for release September 10 this year. There are also two further novels in the pipeline.
Prequels to the main story include The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (2012), The Assassin and the Desert (2012), The Assassin and the Underworld (2012), and The Assassin and the Empire (2012). All of these stories can be found in the omnibus edition The Assassin's Blade (2014), and also features the bonus story, The Assassin and the Healer (2014).
You can find Sarah J. Maas on the Internet in the following places:
Amazon
Website
Blog
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: The Blind Goddess by Anne Holt
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