Throne of Glass Review

By: Lauren Hake

“We all bear scars,… Mine just happen to be more visible than most.”

—Sarah J. Maas

Last Month, Queen of Shadows was released by Sarah J. Maas, which is the fourth book in her Throne of Glass series. I know what might must be thinking—“if there was a fourth book, there must have been a first…” and you would be correct. That is why, this month I am going to be reviewing Throne of Glass, the first book in the series. Published in 2013, this book focuses on Adarlan’s Assassin, also known as Celeana Sardothien, who was once the greatest assassin in the world, until she was betrayed and thrown in prison.

Beautiful, witty, and badass, Celeana is (in my opinion) the kind of girl that everyone wants to be. She can do almost anything and is the most amazing fighter the Captain of the Guard Chaol (who is also a serious hotty) has ever seen. Celeana is given a second chance at life when Crown Prince Dorian (another heartthrob) comes and takes her out of the labor camp. Dorian wants Celeana to compete as his entry to be King’s Champion, who is essentially the king’s pet assassin.

In the beginning, Celeana’s job seems to be straightforward, she has to be the last one standing in this cutthroat competition, but as the storyline unfolds Celeana’s life becomes infinitely more complicated. First, there is her unexpected—and conflicting—feelings for Chaol (pronounced kay-all) and Prince Dorian, who are far more than they seem. There is also a foreign princess, forbidden magic, and intrigue.

From beginning to end you will not be able to put this novel down. In all honesty, I read the first three books in the series in three days. Maas knows how to draw in her readers with interesting main characters that are not only multifaceted but realistic. I would never imagine the world’s greatest assassin to be eighteen, blonde, and occasionally petty. There is also the amazing setting of Adarlan that Maas creates. A country that is ruled by a ruthless king who resides in a glass castle (hence how the book gets its name).

I read this book back in December of 2014, and it was the first thing that I talked about when I went back to school. Before long, I had all my roommates and friends addicted to this story. We were all clamoring for more, but we had to wait for September for the fourth book to come out. You have to read this book, for I can guarantee that it will stay with you far after you have finished.

Check out what the critics are saying:

“A must-read… Sarah J. Maas has created a truly remarkable heroine who doesn’t sacrifice the grit that makes her real in order to do what’s right in the end.”– USA Today

“A welcome breath of fresh air to the oft-neglected epic fantasy field… Hearkens back to the epic and high fantasy which laid the groundwork for the YA field.”— Tor.com

“Woven in the vein of a Tolkien fantasy… This commingling of comedy, brutality and fantasy evokes a rich alternate universe with a spitfire young woman as its brightest star.”— Kirkus Reviews

“Fans of Tamora Pierce and George R. R. Martin, pick up this book! The assassin heroine’s growth and multilayered secondary characters are amazing.”— RT Book Reviews, Top Pick