Throne of Glass (Miniature Character Collection) (Throne of Glass Mini Character Collection) Flexibound – November 5, 2019

This review can be found at The Blogger Girls.You know when you’ve just finished a great book and you sit there thinking, “How the hell am I supposed to review this?” Yeah, well, that’s exactly how I felt once I finished Throne of Glass.To say I adored the story would be a gross understatement. I devoured this book within hours (as a slow reader that’s an amazing thing) and even bought the print editions of not just the first but the second book, Crown of Midnight, and the collection of short stories, The Assassin's Blade, right after I finished it.Throne of Glass is about Celaena Sardothien, who earned the title of Adarlan’s Assassin, before she was caught and sentenced to slavery in the Salt Mines of Endovier. Now a year after her sentencing, an unexpected offer comes her way in the form of Adarlan’s Crown Prince, who gives her the option of her freedom… for a price. All she has to do is defeat twenty-three other candidates for the role of King’s Champion. If she wins, three years of service is all that separates her from complete freedom.The story is centered around Celaena’s fight for that freedom, the numerous tests she has to compete in to advance to the next round but most of all, Celaena’s just been thrust into a new and unfamiliar world where evil magic is being used to kill off her competitors. On top of that, she has the Captain of the Guard who hates her and doesn’t trust her and the Crown Prince who’s getting a little too close for everybody’s comfort. Will she claim the title of King’s Champion or will all her efforts be for nothing?Honestly, there’s so much that happens I don’t want to spoiler any of it. Some people won’t like this book because of the simple fact it’s not strictly a romance. While I’m also hesitant to call it Young Adult (things get very gruesome at times), I will admit that there’s ‘hints’ of a romance brewing. Actually, there’s hints that a love triangle is already starting and while I normally don’t like love triangles, it worked very well in this story because the possible love interests are so different. One of them I believe suits Celaena better than the other but that’s just my opinion (and I’m also biased because I just adored Chaol ^_^). Also, readers should be aware that these characters are very young; Celaena is only eighteen, Dorian is nineteen and Chaol is twenty-two.One thing I loved about this book, though, was the characters. While Celaena is the main voice, POV shifts to multiple people that are significant to the story. Some of them I liked more than others (a personal preference because I hated Kaltain) but all were what made the story the way it is. As characters, Celaena, Chaol and Dorian are all very well in-depth. Celaena, while an assassin, is a little rusty in her skills but she’s also emotionally damaged in more ways than one. She’s surly and flippant but makes it her goal to get a rise out of Chaol or Dorian if she can. She has a lot of layers that still haven’t been uncovered but I loved being able to see some of them being peeled back by Chaol and Dorian. Most of all, Celaena is a fragile, vulnerable young woman who needs protecting in some ways and Chaol and Dorian unintentionally give her that. Dorian is the classic charming prince although he’s one that is disgusted with his father, the King. He’s not quite a man but Celaena makes him want to become one. Chaol is an intriguing mix between a sad, lost man and a severe, all business captain. All three characters are very young and, honestly, still have a lot of maturing to do even though they’ve been forced to live through some harsh realities.As a huge fan of fantasy, one of the things I look forward to the most is the new world I get to discover. With Throne of Glass, while we don’t get a full detailed description of this new place as a whole, I have no doubt we’ll get more of it as the series progresses and Celaena journeys to different countries. What there is of the world, is phenomenal. I loved that it was a mix of a historical setting and a fantasy one with a flair of magic but the brutality that has consumed the world since the King has been decimating countries was interesting to read about and also quite sad.In the end, this was an amazing story. I loved experiencing the growth in all the characters, as well as, seeing the tests that Celaena has to go through, not to mention the secondary characters made things more interesting. The mystery surrounding the evil inside the castle was a blast to uncover and while I have questions about some of the things that happened during the book, I think I’ll get my answers as we learn more about Celaena and why she’s so important to everything.I definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fantasy lover, who doesn’t mind the romance developing over several books because while there’s only a hint of it in Throne of Glass, I have a feeling it’s going to be an epic one by the time the series finishes!

Sarah J. Maas’s debut novel “Throne of Glass” blends high-stakes danger with flair, throwing readers into a world of deadly competitions, castle intrigue, and just enough magic to make things dangerous.At its center is Celaena Sardothien, an outrageously extra assassin who goes from shackled in salt mines to waltzing into court like a murderous debutante. The plot cleverly combines a medieval Hunger Games-style competition with a supernatural murder mystery, providing a refreshing twist just when the training sequences might become predictable.Celaena herself is deadly and traumatized, yet loves candy, books, and parties - imagine Arya Stark and Elle Woods creating a fashionable super-assassin. The supporting cast includes Chaol, the scowling Captain with slow-burn tension; Dorian, the charming, bookish prince with a clumsy romantic connection; and Nehemia, the foreign princess playing political chess.The love triangle doesn’t overwhelm the plot, instead adding a pleasant layer to the primary story. The world of Erilea unfolds naturally without painful info-dumps, with iconic settings like Rifthold’s glass castle and an ominous clock tower. Maas carefully sets groundwork for the series’ expansion with intriguing references to magic and Celaena’s mysterious past.While not perfect – some rushed relationships and abrupt magical elements exist – “Throne of Glass” excels as entertaining fantasy balancing darkness with ball gowns and one-liners. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy capable protagonists, engaging action, and mysteries that compel you to reach for the sequel.Rating: 3.75/5 – Not life-changing, but thoroughly satisfying.

THE STORY:Becca : WOW! I mean just WOW! What took us so long to read this Lisa?! I have no idea why I waited so long!! Throne of Glass is absolutely everything it is hyped to be! Action packed, with a hint of romance and fierce characters that are totally bad a$$! I loved everything about this book from the first page to the last!Caelena Sardothien is an assassin, or at least she was until she was captured and forced into captivity and slavery. When the Crown Prince finds her and offers her one shot a freedom, she has no choice but to accept his offer. She is to be placed into a competition (with all men) as Prince Dorian's champion and fight to become a royal assassin. will live in the castle and be trained by the Captain of the Guard Chaol Westfall. When one of the other competitors turns up dead, Caelena discovers there is a lot more going on in the castle than she expected.Throne of Glass isn't just about the competition that Cealena is in, there is so much going on throughout the entire novel! It is so full of action and from one second to the next I never knew what was going to happen! I absolutely loved it!Lisa : Right?! I really don't know why we waited so long. Well, in all honestly, I did attempt to read this last year... but I wasn't in the mood for it, and felt that I wasn't giving it my full attention. I have that issue a lot with fantasy reads. So I ended up putting it down. Picking it back up AND buddy reading it with Becca was the perfect solution, and I loved it this time around! Some books are just even more fun with friends!THE CHARACTERS:Lisa : Celaena Sardothien was some kickass heroine! I loved her spunky and unwillingness to turn the other cheek. She was a toughy, and the fact that she was going up against all men never seemed to phase her. She was determined to do her best and never give up. She gave these guys a run for their money, and never batted an eyelash in the process. Definitely my kind of girl!"Here's a lesson for you, Weapons Master," she said, stalking past him. "Give me real men to fight. Then maybe I'll bother trying."I also completely adored Nehemia and her strength and smarts. This girl had willpower only comparable to Calaena's. That's right, you read it correctly... TWO amazingly strong heroines to take part in this story!With all the guy "team" talk I've seen, I had no idea which way I would go with this one... but I'm totally Team Choal. There's just something about him I really enjoyed. Maybe his total unwillingness to accept his feelings for Calaena, or maybe how protective and strong her came off. Either way, he was totally *SWOON* in my opinion!Becca : Caelena was so totally bad a$$ and awesome! I have definitely read some fierce and heroic heroines Katniss, Tris, Penryn and Caelena definitely tops that list of amazing and unforgettable heroines! I was so captivated by her from the very beginning with her slavery in the mines and then with the competition when all of her competitors were men and she fought so hard and was full of confidence and ability!I agree completely with Lisa that Nehemia was just as amazing! Nehemia provided Caelena with a friend and confidant and I loved their friendship. Once they learned to trust each other, they were unstoppable!“You could rattle the stars," she whispered. "You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.”I have seen all the team talk as well regarding this series and I did my best to ignore it so that I could form my own opinion without preconceived notions. Although, from what I've seen there seems to be an even divide between Chaol and Dorian. After reading Throne of Glass I understand why, they are both pretty amazing! Without spoiling this for others... I am ALL team Chaol over here! I loved the friendship and trust that he and Caelena formed.Even the villains were perfect! Kane, Princess Kaltain and The King were so unlikable and despicable and I loved to hate them!“Sometimes, the wicked will tell us things just to confuse us–to haunt our thoughts long after we've faced them.”This cast of characters was amazing and Maas completely blew me away with how well she developed each one of them! She built a lovable (and sometimes not so lovable) and unforgettable cast of characters!OVERALL:Becca : Sarah J Maas built such an amazing Fantasy world and I was quickly swept into it! The characters, the world building and the story line were all addicting and I cannot wait to continue with this series! This was my first book by Maas and I am excited and eager to read more!“I like music," she said slowly, "because when I hear it, I . . . I lose myself within myself, if that makes any sense. I become empty and full all at once, and I can feel the whole earth roiling around me. When I play. I'm not . . . for once, I'm not destroying, I'm creating.”Lisa : I first fell in love with SJM when I read A Court of Thorns and Roses earlier this year. The way she forms her words into such perfection, taking us to another world completely is astounding. Since I don't read a lot of books in the fantasy genre, it's tough for me to find go-to authors that I'm confident I will enjoy. Sarah J. Maas is now my number one fantasy author! I will definitely be continuing on with this series. If only I could get my hands on Crown of Midnight , like, today!