Review of Throne of Glass Series (1&2) by Sarah J. Maas
I was recently introduced to the Throne of Glass series by a friend who strongly recommended it. And despite my resolve to move into different genres, I still decided to look into the book. I went online to google the book and was slightly daunted by the fact that it wasn’t a book but 7 books along with prequels! The synopsis did not align with the praises that my friend heaped upon the books and I was a bit surprised that she’d speak so highly of such a typical romantasy plot. But hey, I still have to give the book a try. Who knows, maybe it will turn out to be quite epic…
Book One: Throne of Glass (ToG!)
Quick look at the synopsis!
“In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king’s champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.
The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass—and it’s there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena’s fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out evil before it destroys her world.”
Thoughts
The first book to the series was a bit of a let-down for me. The book placed heavy focus on the romance that unfolds between an assassin, a prince, and a palace guard – the typical high fantasy romance triangle. The tale did have an intriguing setting, but the breadcrumbs that the author placed along the way were a bit obvious, and it was all too easy to guess at what lay at the heart of the mysteries. The story was too simple overall, and it definitely wasn’t the best read.
Short excerpt I liked: Library Scene
“… large mahogany tables with red velvet chairs, a slumbering fire, mezzanines, bridges, ladders, railings, and then books — books and books and books. She’d entered a city made entirely of leather and paper.”
Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass
The author seems to have put herself right into Celaena Sardothien with little regard as to whether or not this actually made sense with the character’s upbringing. But a small part of me does celebrate the fact that I share the same appreciation for reading with Celaena, the ruthless assassin who stops at nothing (Yes, I know it’s stupid of me to like a character for something like that, but I can’t stop myself).
Book Two: Crown of Midnight (CoM!)
I was surprised by how much the second book had to offer. The plot was a lot more intricate in book two and the complexity was simply delicious. I had a much better time reading Crown of Midnight than I did the Throne of Glass. This book turned the romance levels down, and stepped back to look at the larger scheme of things. It is in this book that the empty romance in ToG is given meaning. Cupid’s tricks in ToG laid the groundwork of complications that influence (and confound) the characters and build the plot.
Quick look at the synopsis!
From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.
Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.
Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena’s world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie… and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.
Closing Thoughts
I had fun reading the first two books in the Throne of Glass series and I’m pretty sure I’ll continue to finish the series (look out for more updates!). I’m really looking forward to the character development that I heard will happen in the next few books.
Hopefully, this review hasn’t given away any spoilers for you and that you’ll have a splendid time reading!