Throne of Glass
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Published by: Bloomsbury
Pages: 421
Format: Hardback Collector’s Edition
My Rating ★★★★
Published by: Bloomsbury
Pages: 421
Format: Hardback Collector’s Edition
My Rating ★★★★
Meet the Assassin.
The #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas started a worldwide phenomenon when she published her debut novel, Throne of Glass.
To date, Sarah's books have spent more than 92 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and she has hit #1 on charts around the world.
Her books have sold more than seven million copies worldwide and have been translated into 36 languages.
The #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas started a worldwide phenomenon when she published her debut novel, Throne of Glass.
To date, Sarah's books have spent more than 92 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and she has hit #1 on charts around the world.
Her books have sold more than seven million copies worldwide and have been translated into 36 languages.
My thoughts:
Celaena Sardothien has spent the past year in the slave mines of Endovier. She's the world's best assassin, but she was betrayed…
The Crown Prince offers her a deal; Celaena represents him in a tournament to find the king a champion to use as his personal assassin, and after four years, she can finally reclaim her freedom. Celaena is all at once provoked by the prince, protected by the captain of the guard and befriended by a foreign princess… and someone starts picking off the contestants.
Basically, Throne of Glass appeals to everything I like; a strong female lead; a fantasy world; and a deep and gripping storyline.
I really did enjoy it, especially when the story really picked up in the second half. It is light-hearted, has a gripping plot and is suitable reading for adults as well as a great read for young adults. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good fantasy book for all ages.
Young adult fantasy often comes in a number of styles – some are enjoyable to read for everyone, while others are specifically written for the hormonally-charged 16-year old. I would say Throne of Glass holds a good balance, doesn’t take itself too seriously but is also an interesting and complex enough plot to keep readers of all ages engaged and entertained.
Often in young adult novels, the dreaded love triangle occurs, driving a rift between characters and starting an endless mix of opinions online, but Throne of Glass in my opinion doesn't really have one. The friendship is more of a Harry-Potter-golden-trio kind of relationship. That doesn't mean there aren't some hints at a possible love storyhowever, and I’m sure this will most likely be explored further in the following books. No sending me spoilers please – I haven’t read the rest of the series yet!
At times the style feels a little young, but mostly I enjoyed the writing very much. The short chapters seem to fly by, and there is a good balance between action, adventure and drama throughout. Maas manages to easily blend heart-breaking drama, which allows you to see right to the heart of the characters and connect with them, alongside moments of humour that keep the mood light and allow the characters to poke fun at one another. I also enjoyed the fight scenes more than usual for a fantasy novel. The fights and various tests that Celaena competes in add greatly to the plot and don’t linger too much or become tedious. The book offers a captivating storyline full of political intrigue and betrayal, all with a dash of humour and a little romance.
It might not be the height of literary achievement, but if you’re looking for a fun and quick read to provide a little escapism at this odd time, then I’d really recommend reading Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. I look forward to reading more of her books in future! Thanks to the lovely bookseller in my local Waterstones who recommended this one as my first glimpse into the world of Sarah J. Mass.
Overall reaction: