A New(ish) Young Adult Fantasy Series - Throne of Glass
- Raven Sharada
- May 21, 2022
- 4 min read
Sarah J. Maas is the author of two other series I've been reading, A Court of Thorns and Roses and Crescent City. Both of these series, especially Crescent City, are for adult readers, but Throne of Glass appeals more to younger readers, in that the content is a lot more appropriate for that age group (read: less spice). Though it came out in 2012, I only started hearing about it recently so I'm calling it new. I began reading the first novel in the series, Throne of Glass, on April 15 and finished it on April 18.
Summary
This novel follows Celaena Sardothien, a trained assassin, from her enslavement in the salt mines of Endovier to a competition in the captial city of Adarlan to choose a Champion for the King. Though only 19 years of age, Celaena is already a famous assassin, known as Adarlan's Assassin - but no one knows that it's her. So she follows the prince, Dorian Havilliard, to Rifthold to take up a place in the competition of 24 contenders to become King's Champion. However, there is something darker looming behind this tournament - and Celaena will have to figure it out if she wants to survive, let alone win, the tournament. Meanwhile, the prince, Dorian, and the captain of the royal guard compete between themselves to claim her affections.
What's Important?
This book has a Hunger Games meet Skyrim sort of vibe, in that there is a tournament of 24 competing for one position, only it's not (necessarily) a contest to the death (but some may die, and the King is totally fine with it.) A lot of this book is setting up the world building for the rest of the series, but it still doesn't seem lore-heavy as one might expect. I think the most interesting part for me was seeing the character reveal of Celaena - the further into the book we got, the more we got to know her. She has redeeming characteristics, but she's definitely morally grey - she's an assassin, for one thing, and has quite the temper, but she also has a good heart. She can be selfish, rude, and vain, but she's also loyal and funny. She's a very believable character.
It also sets up the premise of the King as a tyrant and usurper. It becomes clear that the King is pure evil, and doesn't care who he kills (or orders to be killed) or why. He has banned magic and all who practiced it, and the punishment for using any magic is death. Even though Celaena competes to be his Champion, it's clear that she doesn't want to actually help him - she just wants her freedom from the salt mines where she had been imprisoned.
Meet the Cast of Characters
Since I identified character development and creation as a strong point in this book, check out some fan art here of the main characters in Throne of Glass. All of these pictures are by the amazing artist morgana0anagrom. From left to right - Celaena Sardothien, Crown Prince Dorian Havilliard of Adarlan, Chaol Westfall, captain of the Royal Guard, and Princess Nehemia Ytger of Eyllwe.
Rating
I give Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas 4 out of 5 stars and a half of a spicy pepper.
4 stars for: character development, writing, plot elements, and readability. I would have been tempted to give 5 stars, but it felt very incomplete. While it is a series and this is the first book, I would have liked a bit more closure to this book as an individual read. Instead it feels more like a "part one" of a book than a stand-alone work.
Half a spicy pepper because there's literally one kiss and that's it for spice.
Have you read Throne of Glass? What did you think? Like and comment!
Favourite Quotes
Warning: You may encounter some spoilers here!
The Crown Prince didn't bother to show his face in her rooms again, and she only saw him during the Tests, when he usually just grinned and winked at her and made her feel ridiculously tingly and warm.
- Celaena "I-don't-have-feelings" Sardothien describing Prince Dorian
Well, 'scowling escort' is a better description. Or 'reluctant acquaintance,' if you prefer.
- Celaena's description of Chaol
While it terrified him to see her down there, a hand's breadth from Dorian's unprotected throat, what terrified him even more was that he trusted her. And he didn't know what that meant about himself.
- Chaol watching Celaena beat the Prince at swordfighting.
I can survive well enough on my own - if given the proper reading materials.
- Celaena gets me.
He [Dorian] was done with politics and intrigue. He loved her, and no empire, no king, and no earthly fear would keep him from her. No, if they tried to take her from him, he'd rip the world apart with his bare hands. And for some reason, that didn't terrify him.
- The love triangle is complete! Celaena-Dorian-Chaol. Who do you ship?
"You could rattle the stars," she whispered. "You could do anything, if you only dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That's what scares you most."
- Celaena's potential
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