Book Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Published August 7th, 2012
Bloomsbury
416 pages (Hardcover)

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. 

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. 

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. 

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined. (From Goodreads)

I've had my eyes on Throne Of Glass for a while.  I am so happy to say that it lived up to the hype.  Throne Of Glass had me from start to finish.  It was one of those books that makes you wonder why you had to read it right away, but you will gladly embrace the suffering until the sequel.

If there is one thing to know about me, beyond that I like reading and coffee, it's that I like a good assassin.  They're dangerous and intriguing.  Celaena is also witty.  A snarky assassin?  Sold.

But beyond Celaena, all of the characters had there own mysterious elements and layers.  I found myself wanting to figure them all out, and know they're secrets.  This book offers the perspective of multiple characters, rather than just Celaena, which left Throne Of Glass playing out like a movie in my head.

Then there is the love triangle.  I like how the romance is kind of down played, not taking much of the attention until later in the book.  It's also not overly complicated, and works out all too well for me not to suspect some SERIOUS drama in future books.

And for the record, I am fully on Team Choal.

Now off to got find me those FOUR e-novellas that were released before the book.

Much love, Samantha