Klara answers “I've heard that this book wasn't very...”

Ariana Jashari asked this question about Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1):

I've heard that this book wasn't very good, but I've also heard that the second book is Amazing. Is this series Worth Reading at all?

Klara I read the first four books and found the series over-all enjoyable. If you like traditional high-fantasy, slow-burning romance and aren't too bothere…moreI read the first four books and found the series over-all enjoyable. If you like traditional high-fantasy, slow-burning romance and aren't too bothered with occasional rough points and cliché passages. I'd say it's comparable to Twilight and Hunger Games, in the way the author seems a bit green and consequently has some problems with characterization and plot, but generally has a sincere, raw, emotional story she is trying to get across - and succeeds in doing so most of the time, making the story compelling and with a nice, quick flow.

Negative points: occasional forced dialogue makes you cringe, out-of-character behaviour for the sake of the plot, too much withholding information from the reader (and all but Celaena) till last minute, too much tell - not enough show, generally making Celaena seem too capable and doing too much of the planning/discovering, which is unrealistic due to her lack of experience etc. Not that I don't enjoy seeing a female character for once portrayed as strong, skilled, independent, head-strong, arrogant and in many ways embodying traditional "masculine" qualities (because I do), but she also has to seem credible and identifiable, otherwise you lose the point of having strong female characters.

Positive: I love that she can be badass and super feminine/vain at the same time; An 18-year old character does not need to be super consistent but can have contradictory qualities. The author, though using some romantic clichés, also avoids a lot, for instance not making a character unrealistically jealous or petty when it comes to (ex)lovers. Despite its flaws, the plot is super well driven and suspenseful, and it's happened more than once that I read 70 pages straight because I couldn't put the book down! Plus the slow burning romance parts are well built up and fleshed out. (less)

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