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Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)

Sarah J. Maas

Start date: May 18, 2018

Finish date: May 26, 2018

Discussion: 2018 Tracking for Challenge

Discussion leader: Jonetta

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2018 Tracking for Challenge

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What Members Thought

Aug 29, 2013 Wendy rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, audiobook

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 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.

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Mar 25, 2018 Anne - Books of My Heart rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018, audio, audio-own, favorites

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

I was headed to Apollycon at the end of March and I try to read the authors I plan to meet. I say I don't like young adult but the reality is, like historical romance, I read it if it is GOOD. Or amazing.

Somehow, the audio was on sale at a really good price and I bought it and started listening. (This means all the spellings are different than how I saw them in my head. Grrr) While some of the characters were rather immature, they were youn ...more

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Jul 17, 2014 Jacqueline rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: have-hardcopy, 365-days-of-ya-fall

I'd heard a lot about this series on the interwebs and was hesitant to start it, afraid it wouldn't live up to the hype. In November, when Amazon had a 30% off 1 book coupon, I figured, what could it hurt. If I don't like it, I'm only out $6 and I can donate it to my neighborhood Little Lending Library.

It sat on my tbr pile for a few weeks, until right before Christmas. I'd finished my cross stitch Christmas gift and was itching to get back into a book. I was enthralled from page one and only pu I'd heard a lot about this series on the interwebs and was hesitant to start it, afraid it wouldn't live up to the hype. In November, when Amazon had a 30% off 1 book coupon, I figured, what could it hurt. If I don't like it, I'm only out $6 and I can donate it to my neighborhood Little Lending Library.

It sat on my tbr pile for a few weeks, until right before Christmas. I'd finished my cross stitch Christmas gift and was itching to get back into a book. I was enthralled from page one and only put it down for obligatory family time. I finished it in 4 days and had to make a special trip to the library to pick up Crown of Midnight because I had to know what happened next.

I don't know if I've ever been so glad to be proved wrong and disappointed that I hadn't started reading sooner.

Throne of Glass stars Celaena Sardothien (aka Adarlan's Assassin), 18. She has spent the last year as a slave, doing hard labor in the brutal salt mines of Endovier, serving out a sentence for her crimes. One day she's sprung by the captain of the king's guard, Choal Westfall, and Adarlan's Prince, Dorian, on the condition she be Dorian's champion in a competition to become the King's Assassin.
She is brought back to Rifthold to live in the castle with the other champions over the course of the trial. Things seem to be going okay until one of the champions is murdered. Then another. While trying to win the competition, Celaena is navigating the dangerous world of the palace, discovering dark secrets, and trying to keep herself together.

I'm leaving a lot out to avoid spoilers, but I loved Maas's world building and characters. You learn about the kingdom of Adarlan, how it used to be a land full of magic - that mysteriously disappeared 10 years ago, the corruption of the kingdom, and the minds of those residing there.

Celaena is extremely complex and has lived a hard life in her first 18 years. There are hints about her past throughout the novel so pay attention. She's hard, witty, and fierce, but she's also an 18 year old girl with fears and anxiety.

Choal and Dorian are both easily taken with her, as is usually the case with female heroins, but it's not some cheesy teenage romance that I typically roll my eyes at in YA.

Basically, I say if you like fantasy, magic, and/or strong female characters, you'll enjoy. ...more

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