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    Tower of Dawn: From the # 1 Sunday Times best-selling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses
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    Tower of Dawn: From the # 1 Sunday Times best-selling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses
    Unavailable
    Tower of Dawn: From the # 1 Sunday Times best-selling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses
    Ebook791 pages12 hours

    Tower of Dawn: From the # 1 Sunday Times best-selling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses

    By Sarah J. Maas

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    'One of the best fantasy book series of the past decade' TIME


    A glorious empire. A desperate quest. An ancient secret.

    The search for allies extends to a new land in the sixth book of the #1 bestselling Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas.

    Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq have arrived in the shining city of Antica to forge an alliance with the Khagan of the Southern Continent, whose vast armies are Erilea's last hope. But they have also come to Antica for another purpose: to seek healing at the famed Torre Cesme for the wounds Chaol received in Rifthold.

    After enduring unspeakable horrors as a child at the hands of Adarlanian soldiers, Yrene Towers has no desire to help the young lord from Adarlan, let alone heal him. Yet she has sworn an oath to assist those in need, and she will honour it. But Lord Westfall carries his own dark past, and Yrene soon realises that those shadows could engulf them both.

    Chaol, Nesryn, and Yrene will have to draw on every scrap of their resilience to overcome the danger that surrounds them. But while they become entangled in the political webs of the khaganate, long-awaited answers slumber deep in the mountains, where warriors soar on legendary ruks. Answers that might offer their world a chance at survival ... or doom them all.

    The final battle looms in this sixth book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBloomsbury Publishing
    Release dateSep 5, 2017
    ISBN9781408887967
    Unavailable
    Tower of Dawn: From the # 1 Sunday Times best-selling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses
    Author

    Sarah J. Maas

    Sarah J. Maas is the #1 bestselling author of the Crescent City, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Throne of Glass series. Her books have sold millions of copies and are published in thirty-eight languages. Sarah lives with her family in New York City. sarahjmaas.com facebook.com/theworldofsarahjmaas instagram.com/sarahjmaas

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    Reviews for Tower of Dawn

    4/5

    355 ratings178 reviews

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    • 5/5
      13/6/2014

      ITS SO GOOD
    • 5/5
      SPOILER ALERT!! I just finished this book and I have so many questions! What will happen to Celaena as the king's champion? What is going to happen between her and Dorian and Chaol? What's going to happen to Nehemia? Ahhh! just can't wait to read the second book. Unfortunately I don't have money right now:( I'm saving up to buy A Song of Ice and Fire series so I'll probably have to wait till next month to buy the second book:'( Noooooo!!!
    • 3/5
      I decided to give this book a try because I kept hearing so much about it, but honestly it just wasn't for me. I did really get into for a little while, but then just lost interest. I am not a fan of fantasy and I don't read a lot of YA, so while this book may be great to a lot of other people, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
    • 3/5
      ...This book. There is something about this book.

      On the surface, it's what I would call a typical YA Fantasy novel you'd find on the shelf these days. Sarcastic-and-dangerous-but-somehow-likable-teenage-heroine? Check. A fantasy world that is rather vaguely built but is solid enough that you could live with it? Check. Two equally-attractive-but-different-in-their-own-way males vying for the heroine's attention? Check.

      And, there are definitely some obstacles in this book. Especially in the beginning, the reader will have to do quite a bit of work to get past and/or get used to the sometimes unpolished prose, which in parts get stilted and a little dull. The dialogue is cute and snappy, but nothing to cry home about.

      But then, it morphs. You start to see fragments of Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness Quartet (which, if you grew up loving those as fiercely as I did, totally softens your heart - no matter how stilted the writing gets). And then you see threads of The Hunger Games intertwine, weaving in and out of the storyline. It's as if Alanna and Katniss crashed head-long into each other and somehow created this weird but wonderful Picasso-and-Jackson-Pollock tone. And as the writer gains more steam and finds her feet, the other characters sharpen in focus, and you stop minding that the names in this world are kind of silly-sounding (Except Chaol. I LOVE that name). After some time, you even stop minding that there is yet another love-triangle, because the rest of the story is really starting to move forward, and you start to care about things like the enslavement of the people of a place that has a nonsensical name. You start to care about whether or not the one friend the main character has might or might not be evil. And then you start to care about what will happen after she wins (because, obviously, she wins).

      And then there is that climactic last fight itself. Despite the fact that it was so OBVIOUSLY coming, despite the fact that the author somewhat crudely shoved all of the pieces in place so that really, you'd have to be a total buffoon not to see how the end would play out, it was one of the most GRIPPING things I have read all year. I feel like those couple of chapters were where we got to see the true, quite amazing, potential this story has.

      ...Lol okay. After that completely nonsensical review, I guess what I'm trying to say is - give this book a chance. Don't let the novice writing style stop you from enjoying strong characters and a plotline more fascinating than you'd think at first glance - which makes for a really fun, fantastic story.
    • 2/5
      I'm quitting this one. I read 50 pages, and did not care much for the main character. I would have liked tighter writing, but I can see the appeal for teens. I was curious about what would happen next, but not curious enough to stick with it.
    • 3/5
      Interesting character and world.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book!
    • 5/5
      Drama, suspense, secrets, abuse, friendship, and hope abound in this story. A testament to never quiting, never giving up hope. A well written story with good plot and character development
    • 3/5
      Ultimately, I’m not sure I can recommend this book. The story of an assassin who becomes the right hand of the tyrant she loathes could have been a lot better, a lot darker.I sometimes felt as though there was a lot of fluff in the prose. Descriptions felt overwrought, and sometimes didn’t shed as much clarity as I wanted. I was a little annoyed at how many different colors Chaol’s eyes were. But this book really hooked me until the end.That being said, I’m hard-pressed to say I’m very enthusiastic about this book. It falls closer into the ‘guilty pleasure’ category. It lacks many characters who aren’t white and may be completely heterosexual, though sequels may prove otherwise. (I’m big on picturing romantic pairings and couldn’t help but match Nehemia with the prince, or with with assassin. I feel like the former is more likely to happen.)There are several reasons I’m going to keep reading. First, I enjoy the feeling I get from the Wyrdmarks, which superficially resemble Chartermarks, and thus Chartermagic, which was used in the Abhorsen books, a favorite series of mine. Second, I believe the hype, and suspect that Maas will tighten things up in subsequent books as she goes on. Third, I heard a spoiler for a much later book in the series that gives me gut wrenching feelings about character development so interesting I have to keep reading. I need to know why that spoiler happens and can’t wait for the fall out drama.Also, I think the new covers make this series look that much more interesting. I’m more inclined to read a series about the angry white-haired woman on the cover of this, than the golden haired courtier on the original cover. Does Celaena wear far too many dresses in this book? Yes, but I sincerely hope that changes in the rest of the series.I described this book to a friend as though one were reading a show on the CW. The fights are awesome, the CGI is tasteful, but the soundtrack is almost perfectly chosen. Sometimes you think the characters stop doing something Very Important to have a Talk.I’m not even sure Celeana really grew as a character here… I can’t help but feel that this feels like the debut it is. I still hold out hope that the writing improves as the series continues, as it often does. The premise may be a weak one, but hopefully it pans out in the end. I want a rebellion!
    • 5/5
      It was a good thing I had today off. I picked this up for a half hour of reading at 8am I finished the book at 2.30pm. I'm looking forward to the next one!!
    • 5/5
      “Throne of Glass” is an inescapable page-turner with well-developed characters set in a place that blends reality with fantastical imagination. Celaena is a rare female heroine for the YA genre, providing both physical and mental strength as well as an independence that never weakens. “Throne of Glass” offers romance, intrigue, mystery and strength throughout and will keep you turning its pages.
    • 2/5
      Oh I really wanted to love this book. The opening scene sucks you in as you are introduced to the worlds greatest assassin. Who is she? How did she get so good? When is the action going to start? Unfortunately the action never really starts until the last few chapters. I loved the concept of this book. A female assassin with a mysterious background fighting for her freedom from a tyrant king. She is deadly, precise and tough. She has tests that she must complete against other deadly assassins and a handsome benefactor and trainer to help her. Alas, while the concept was there the author never really fully achieves it. Celaena Sardothien ends up being more of a silly vain princess like character with an attitude problem and a sharp tongue. I wanted so much more from her. The author changes her character from soft and caring to hard and dangerous to spoiled and vain so many times that I had a hard time liking her. Only during the last few chapter was I able to see who she could really be and start enjoying the story. The mysterious creature that shows up later in the book and starts killing off the other assassins is really the only thing that kept me reading this book.In addition the scene building was seriously lacking substance. There was little on the back story about the country and why the King was such a crazed tyrant with a glass castle. Tiny little tidbits were introduced like ruin stones and previous rulers, that was not enough to get me to enjoy the world in which the story takes place. Instead of building a good solid plot, characters that are believable, an interesting scene, the author focuses on a contrived love triangle that is based solely on looks and lots of fancy dresses. Gag me with a lace bodice. Now that I have shredded the book and likely earned some not so nice commentary I will say that I am not entirely giving up on the story. I see so much potential there for a great series that I will definitely read some of the second. The story is there and I think with a better editor and some hefty revising this can be a fantastic read and a complex story. I am giving the next book five chapters to make me like it. I am hoping that the author gets a new editor and creates a better second installment.
    • 5/5
      Celaena is a feared and well-known female assassin in a male dominated world set in times similar to the middle ages. After being captured and sent to a slave camp she endures great extremes that should have killed her only to be offered her freedom by the Prince if she competes and wins a competition to become the King's personal assassin. The catch is that the King is the person that sent her to the camp in the first place and she must put her personal feelings aside if she wants to see the light of day again. Along the way romance blooms with both her trainer, the captain of the guard and more significantly the Prince. Throughout the competition she must prove to all the men she deserves to be there while also hiding her true identity and trying to stay alive amidst the mysterious and horrendous murders of her fellow competitors. Her past has been locked away for years but it keeps floating to the surface wanting to reveal itself despite the danger that presents as well.
    • 3/5
      Hype is a strange beast, and one that is certainly no stranger to this long-anticipated fantasy novel geared towards young-adults. It can prime the pump for a well-deserved novel, or it can drag down an otherwise entertaining but not very well executed novel with unfulfilled expectations, as is the case here for my read of Maas's Throne of Glass. Advertised as a "Game of Thrones" for teens meets an assassin version of The Hunger Games, the similarities and comparisons to other young-adult fantasy novels (particularly Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder -be sure to check out Amanda's great comparison review!) are unavoidable and lamentable. In addition to the misplaced hype and the whole "been-there-done-that feel", Throne of Glass suffers from a wide array of issues that kept me from loving this. I've had several days to digest and work out my-not-so-happy feelings towards this (and vacillate on my rating!), and while I will inevitably pick up the sequel, I do think Maas has a lot to learn about the fantasy genre, writing a credible romance, and crafting a better method of authorial sleight-of-hand.Celaena Sardothien is a complex character, that is without a doubt, but one that is a little too enamored of her own looks, instead of worrying about, oh I don't know, LIVING. Even Katniss, for all her faults and flaws, doesn't worry about her good-looks when confronted by the people who ruined her life, and oppressed her people. I think Celaena will be divisive among readers: some will respond to her hard-edged confidence and others will be much less enthused with her inability to look at the bigger picture. There are many sides to her personality, and I will admit that she is admirably flawed and realistic for a YA protagonist. She's a strong, smart, capable, and decisive young woman, while only slightly suffering from Special Snowflake Syndrome. She's also arrogant beyond belief (though I didn't start to dislike that aspect until her arrogance about her skills was never backed up by her actions! One sparring match does not a Master Assassin make! And, after all, how many times, exactly, can Dorian sneak up on Celaena before she loses all credibility as The Greatest Assassin Ever?), cunning, deadly, and way, way, too invested in the superficial facets of Court life. The sheer amount of time clothing, especially Celaena's and Dorian's wardrobes, are described, lusted after, and compared is simply exhausting and dry. Another main issue I had while reading this was the clear and present focus on romance, a love triangle and angst instead of THE ASSASSIN-TASTIC DEATH MATCH. It's supremely frustrating to be told that Celaena is an amazing assassin and then see no proof of it, outside very few isolated events. What is the point of a Hunger Games death match between assassins if it's all offsides and offscreen? For almost the entirety of reading about the tournament, I was thinking "KILL SOMEONE, DAMNIT. Prove you're what you've been so enthusiastically saying about yourself." It's too much telling about Celaena's prowess, and far too little actual "showing" on Maas's part. The Tests and trials are glossed over, or focus on the least-actiontastic events (a poison ranking? Really? Harry Potterish much?) to the overall detriment of what was actually the most compelling aspect of the whole novel. Instead, the author ignores the good stuff in favor of awkward flirting, and endless descriptions of what every character is reading. It's a shame and a glaring misstep for any novel that seeks to be compared for the bloody and dark Game of Thrones.Maas is a capable author, but sadly not one readers will be able to call subtle after reading first-in-a-series Throne of Glass. Celaena's mysterious past and real identity are both easy to suss out, and it's remarkable that none of the other characters manage to do so in the 400+ pages of the final edition. The super-obvious obvious plotting and writing, the easy-to-spot red herrings, and not to mention the heavy-handed approach to the love-triangle that takes up 75% of the novel, make for a very predictable novel. The "mystery" of who is behind the competitors death...isn't. It's both obvious from the start and then subsequently, hilariously frustrating how long it takes Celaena to cotton on to the real culprit. Celaena's whole "Nehemia has a secret! Therefore, she must be the killer or maybe just politically savvy. Never mind that I've been lying the entire time we've known one another!!1!" subplot is particularly dumb. Be smarter than that, Celaena. Respect your readers more than that, Maas! Third-person omniscient makes it easy for the POV to rotate around Celaena, Dorian, the Crown Prince of Ardalan, and Chaol Westfall, the earnest and awesome Captain of the Guard and show a wider view of the world.It also caused me to feel distant from the characters and kept me from fully investing. (Exception: Chaol. MOAR PLEASE.) Were the other two perspectives really needed? No, but nor do they detract from the narration. The love triangle manage to do that allll on its own. You can see it forming from the first chapter, and Maas never makes it worth reading about. It's all overwrought glances and touching, with little real emotion to back up the overused trope. It's not used to illustrate that Celaena is torn between two men who genuinely appeal to vastly different sides of her character, but rather to show how beautiful and alluring she is. No, thank you. The writing itself can be bloated with overdescription (the clothes! the glass castle! WE GET IT!), but Maas does reign it in occasionally to let a plot emerge.Fun, but very flawed is my final verdict. Great ideas need great execution and that is not at all what happened here with Throne of Glass. Though Throne of Glass has been grossly overhyped and is quite often amateurish in its presentation, I can't deny that there are moments of great entertainment... but, sadly, they are not enough to earn this novel more than 3/5 stars.
    • 4/5
      I love a female lead who can kick butt. Celaena delivers.Sprung from a labor prison to be the prince's champion in a competition held by the king. A chance to win her freedom. Should be easy for a renowned assassin, but then the competition starts turning up - dead.
    • 5/5
      ...a fabulous foray into the fantastic!OK, so the day after reading Throne of Glass, or rather the morning after (because I stayed up all night to see how it would pan out), I went online and purchased the rest in the Assassins’ series. Celaena Sardothien is full of spunk, hard headed and soft hearted. ‘Was she finally to be hanged?’ Celaena wonders at the beginning of the story. The adventure goes on from here. Celaena’s story is enthralling and one feels an instant infinity for her.An enchanting and gratifying read.A NetGalley ARC
    • 3/5
      In her debut novel, Throne of Glass, Sarah Maas introduces us to the deadly Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s Assassin. Betrayed and imprisoned she is forced to work in a salt mine, until she gets a visit from the Crown Prince, who choses her to be his champion in a competition to become the royal assassin. In return she gets her freedom and a clean slate. Faced with certain death or possible freedom, Celaena agrees to be the prince’s champion.

      I got this book because I heard that fans of Hunger Games and Game of Thrones would like it. But, I think this is a bad marketing idea, especially for a debut novel, even if it already has an online fan-base from the original story. It really spoiled my reading experience because I felt I went into it with very high expectations. First, the things I didn’t like as much.

      The competition wasn’t very exciting. We go into it knowing she will win, not just because she’s the main character and the possibility of her losing is small, but because everyone else believes that Adarlan’s Assassin is the certain winner. Added to this certainty, the competition didn’t seem hard for her at all, there was never a time where I doubted that she would win. This lack of tension made it seem very long and a bit boring.

      Was that really a love triangle? I dislike love triangles in general, especially when most appear to be unrealistic and therefore annoying. The good thing about this love triangle was that even though the narrative alluded to one, it wasn’t a full blown angst-ridden triangle. Maas did a great job of steering clear of the typical. There is Chaol (the Captain of the Guard, who personally trains Celaena) and then there is Dorian (the Crown Prince). I would understand Chaol’s side, he spends a lot of time with Celaena, almost every day training, including eating meals together - which seemed unnecessary for a Captain to be doing with a prisoner. What I didn’t understand was Celaena and Dorian. We are lead to believe that Celaena hates Dorian, however, she changed her opinion rather quickly, and with limited contact. The speed at which she moved from hatred to fondness seems unrealistic, especially since Dorian didn’t perform any grand gesture. Other than that, the love triangle was more tolerable, even if it was still a bit unrealistic.

      The writing style took some time to get use to. I’m not sure what it was about the way the story was written, but something in the sentence construction seemed awkward and often jarring. We kept jumping back and forth from different character perspective, which in itself wasn’t bad, (it was clearly defined and sometimes necessary to the storytelling) however, there were times when it would have been interesting to see Dorian or Chaol through Celaena’s eyes, as opposed to what they were thinking. At those points Celaena’s perspective and observations were lost.

      All those things aside, there were a few things in this novel that I really enjoyed. Celaena is a good protagonist to read. She’s funny, independent, strong and even a little vulnerable - though, given her role this does seem odd sometimes. Her interaction with many of the characters in this novel provided some laugh out loud moments.

      The idea of Throne of Glass is intriguing. Half-way though the book, characters start dying in horrific ways and the story picks up. The fantasy side starts developing and the mystery around the deaths is interesting. I was a fan of the fantasy in this tale and I definitely hope to see more in future works. I liked that the narrative was more than just the competition, that we saw relationships develop (Celaena and Princess Nehemia - who I kept calling Nehemiah in my head) and that there is an underlying fantasy side, which, while not overpowering, was strong enough to peaks my interest.

      I’m not certain how many books this series will be, but, hopefully the story isn’t dragged out. When I finished, all the negatives stood out in my head, but, overtime the story grew on me. I liked it, and I’m hoping that there is growth in the writing on the next book. Fans of fantasy will enjoy.

      [received an ARC at BEA]
    • 5/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Suspenseful fantasy novel full of intrigue and two strong female characters.Opening Sentence: After a year of slavery in the Salt Mines of Endovier, Celaena Sardothien was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at sword-point.The Review:Celaena Sardothien was one of the greatest assassin’s her country Adarlan has ever known. Often referred to as Adarlan’s Assassin, she built up a reputation at a young age. When she was finally captured for her crimes she was sent to the Endovier Salt Mines. Throne of Glass begins with Celaena receiving a proposition, enter a competition to become the King’s Champion or live out the rest of her short days in the salt mines. Celaena would do anything to be free of the salt mines so she agrees to the competition even though she hates the King for destroying her country.Celaena is sponsored by the Crown Prince of Adarlan, Dorian Havilliard, while she will be training with the Captain of the King’s Guard Chaol Westfall. Celaena must defeat twenty-three others before she can gain the title. Not too long after training begins the first sponsored champion is brutally killed. As time passes others are found ripped open with their organs missing and brain sucked out. Chaol is in charge of finding the killer but he has no idea what kind of animal can cause such damage. Can Chaol or Celaena find out who is causing the murders before she is the next target? And can Celaena really live up to her name as Adarlan’s Assassin?At the glass castle, Celaena makes friends with Princess Nehemia. She is from a conquered land to the south. She is hoping to garner support towards her land without more slaughter while she stays at the castle. Nehemia is not at all what she seems but she and Celaena strike up a quick friendship. Can Celaena survive another friendship without the heartbreak she suffered from Ansel (The Assassin and the Desert)?Throne of Glass sets up a world where magic has recently disappeared and a tyrant rules over all. This novel starts out like an adventure but takes a turn towards suspenseful as the story progresses. Even though magic is said to have disappeared the reappearance will play heavily into this novel and the next ones. The atmosphere is dark and treacherous but also filled with a little bit of fun and humor.Celaena should be broken and defeated after spending a year in the salt mines and even though her body may be weak she is still strong minded. Celaena is one of those characters that loves to speak her mind even to the point of trouble but when she needs to tell someone information she just keeps it to herself. Celaena is not quite the selfish person that she seemed to me in the novellas but she still loves being pampered and spoiled like she had in the past. Celaena’s training played a huge part of this novel but I really want to see her in action as an assassin. I did read the novella’s going into this novel and that really helped me like Celaena’s character so much more.There is a love triangle between Celaena, Prince Dorian and Chaol. It doesn’t take much for Dorian to fall in love with her but Chaol is fighting his feelings every step of the way, even so much as stepping aside and avoiding Celaena so that she can spend time with Dorian. I already have a favorite and it is not the Prince. I really like the slow burn attractions because when they finally boil the sparks really fly. Although I was a little disappointed in how quick Celaena and Dorian’s relationship developed because I really did like Sam from the novella’s and I would have thought that Celaena would question being in a relationship after what she went through with Sam.Overall, the Throne of Glass world is so filled with treachery that it will be hard to defeat the evil in this world, even with an assassin. I hope the sequels will show Celaena acting as an assassin and showing off more of her skills. This world sucked me in and I don’t want to leave, I can’t wait for the sequel. I already wish I could get my hands on the next book, but unfortunately I will have to wait another year for the second book.Notable Scene:It was enough. Enough of the pretending and the meekness. Enough of Cain.Verin raised his sword, shaking his blond curls out of his eyes. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”She stalked toward him, keeping her sword sheathed at her side. Verin’s grin widened as he lifted his blade.He swung, but Celaena struck, ramming her fist into his arm, sending the blade soaring through the air. In the same breath, her palm hit his left arm, knocking it aside, too. As he staggered back, her leg came up, and Verin’s eyes bulged as her foot slammed into his chest. The kick sent him flying, and his body crunched as it hit the floor and slid out of the ring, instantly eliminating him. The hall was utterly silent.“Mock me again,” she spat at Verin, “and I’ll do that with my sword the next time.” She turned from him, and found Brullo’s face slack. “Here’s a lesson for you, Weapon’s Master,” she said, stalking past him. “Give me real men to fight. Then maybe I’ll bother trying.”FTC Advisory: Bloomsbury USA Children’s provided me with a copy of Throne of Glass. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 4/5
      Throne of Glass is an entertaining novel, although it didn’t have as much action, fighting, or assassin-y things as the blurb led me to expect. Instead, the story focuses heavily on the characters and their relationships. (And, yes, there is a love triangle, which features prominently in the storyline, so I wouldn’t recommend this book if that kind of shtick annoys you.)Despite my disappointment that she rarely gets to show off her assassin skills, I loved that Celaena is a strong, multifaceted heroine with contradictions and faults that make her believable and sympathetic. The other main characters - Dorian, Chaol, and Nehemia - are equally well fleshed out, each with their own histories, desires, and struggles. I have to applaud Ms. Maas for not only creating fascinating characters, but also for writing badass females who aren’t treated like damsels in distress by the men around them. For example, Elena and Nehemia are two of the most courageous and intelligent figures in the book, and Chaol openly acknowledges that Celaena can fight her own battles and doesn’t belong to anyone except herself. It’s so refreshing to read about men who don’t feel the need to be overprotective and alpha-male with the women they care about! Perhaps this is one reason why the romance was one of my favorite parts of the book. In addition, the story’s antagonists are surprisingly interesting characters, and I can’t wait to find out more about their mysterious, shady dealings in book two.Speaking of sequels, Throne of Glass is clearly just the beginning of a multi book series. Much is left unexplained about the magic system, the characters’ histories, and the villains’ long-term plans, but this book does a nice job of setting up these mysteries to be explored in subsequent installments. In addition to delving deeper into unanswered questions, I hope that future books spend more time on worldbuilding; I feel as if this story barely scratches the surface of a diverse and complex universe with a ton of unmined potential.My only real criticism is that the plot is somewhat predictable, and I couldn’t help noticing several small discrepancies in the storyline and quality of writing, as if certain scenes, plot elements, and descriptions aren’t quite as well thought out as the rest of the novel. Also, as I mentioned earlier, I would have liked to have seen more action, combat, and perhaps even an assassination or two. But, for the most part, this book kept me glued to the page with intriguing characters, mysteries, and relationships.Overall, Throne of Glass is a darkly fun, suspenseful young adult fantasy with room to grow into an awesome series. I’m already looking forward to the next installment, coming out in 2013.
    • 5/5
      Throne of Glass is a fantastic thrill ride with wonderfully complex characters and a captivating plot. I was sucked in by the end of the first page, and I could not put this book down until the very end. Be prepared to stay up all night reading with this one. Maas has created an intriguing and unique world that you won't want to leave. This book isn't even out yet, and I already want the sequel. Celaena is one of the most complicated and strong female leads I've ever read. She looks out for herself first, and she doesn't become stupid and weak when she sees an attractive man. That alone made me like her more than 99% of the female characters that I've read. Also, while she is an assassin, she still has a conscience. I know that sounds strange, but it's true. She's kind to animals, and she doesn't enjoy seeing others suffer. That's more than I can say about a lot of people who aren't killers, so in my book, she's okay. Also, she's had a horrible life, but she doesn't complain. She does what she has to do to survive, and while she's aware of her feelings, she doesn't let them interfere with logic. Additionally, her character also grows immensely over the course of the novel. Chaol (Captain Westfall) and Dorian are both wonderful. Yes, there is a love triangle, but it's not done as a plot device. It seemed to occur naturally over the course of the novel. There is no insta-love, and the two men are best friends. Obviously that complicates matters. Celaena doesn't seem to feel torn, though. She's more concerned with taking care of herself than whether or not she has a boyfriend. I honestly like both Chaol and Dorian equally, and I can't decide who I think is a better match for Celaena. On the one hand, Dorian seems to soften her some, but he's so emotionally weak sometimes. He's a bit of a baby. I think that's because he's been so spoiled. He is growing, however, and he may end up growing a set yet. Chaol is more like Celaena in temperament. He can definitely hold his own, and he understands her. However, he seems to make her personality a bit harsher at times, and he really upsets her with some of the aloof things he says. Neither choice is perfect, but that just makes them realistic. The plot is intense and action-packed. At first, we just hear about how wonderful Celaena is, and her arrogance got to be a bit annoying. Finally, we were shown how good she is. That made things more believable. Also, her work ethic is impressive. She's not just unnaturally talented or gifted, she works her butt off to be her best. That's a nice change because so many books have characters who have everything pretty much handed to them. Oh, they're naturally fast or naturally good fighters. Celaena may have supernatural advantages (that was hinted at, but not discussed in detail yet), but she still works constantly to achieve her goals. Her willpower alone is something to be respected. Because the plot revolves around murders and the Champion contest, we see a lot of fighting and action on that front. Aside from the fighting, there is also a mystery going on. I honestly had no idea who was guilty of the murders. Every time I thought I had it figured out, Maas threw in a twist and I didn't know what to think. Needless to say, by the time the big reveal came, the guilty party was one of my many suspects. The climax of the story had me white-knuckling my Kindle and sitting on the edge of my seat. I could not hit the "next page" button fast enough. I really had no idea what was going to happen and if Celaena would live to see the next day or not. Maas takes you on such an emotional roller coaster that you aren't sure if the main character will even live or not. This is uncommon in novels. Usually, I have a sense that everything will be okay in the end... at least I feel like the main character can't be killed off. However, in Throne of Glass, I just didn't know. It took all of my willpower not to flip to the end to see if Celaena lived or not. The writing is top-notch, and the POV is third person limited. It switches between almost all of the characters, and I kind of enjoyed that. It's a unique way to tell a story. Usually the POV switches between two or three characters at most, or just follows the main character. I liked getting to see other characters' motives and true feelings. I wish I could have seen more of Chaol's POV, though. Maybe in the following books. The pacing is perfect, in my opinion. Nothing moved too quickly or too slowly. There was just enough description to paint a wonderfully rich and three dimensional world without having so much description that it weighted down the plot. Overall, I'd recommend Throne of Glass to anyone. It's a fantasy book, but I couldn't decide if it was Adult or YA (which is why I listed it as both in my labels). The main character is 18, which could be considered either. Some of the violent scenes and murder scenes were a bit graphic for younger readers, but nothing was so graphic that I'd put this in the adult only category. Anyway, labels aren't important. This book is amazing, and once Throne of Glass is released Maas will become a powerful voice in fantasy literature.
    • 4/5
      Good, solid, debut fantasy novel. YA for the young protagonist. I'm not usually sympathetic to novels about assassins, but this one won me over. It reads like there might be sequels in the offing, although it doesn't need them.
    • 4/5
      I am disappointed in the US cover. For such a high anticipated fantasy, I expected more, WAY more. The model is lovely and I like the dagger but that whole arm punch just looks cheesy. Nacho Cheesy. Now, if you were to look at the UK cover, well it's obviously better. It looks, for lack of a better word, damn intimidating. Like someone is about to loose their head. Yes, a morbid thought but oh, so utterly lovely.I was one of those privileged readers to get to experience Throne of Glass before it was published. Back then, it was titled Queen of Glass and was hosted over at fictionpress.com. I remember when I stumbled across it I was both excited and dismayed. Excited, because it was obviously a good story, Ms. Maas had racked up thousands of positive reviews, and dismayed because there were ALOT of chapters. Too many, now that I think back on it. It took me a week to read them and this is from someone who can knock a book out in a day. Well, needless to say, back then Queen of Glass was amazing, one of my favorite stories at the time (yes, including the books published then) and it was obviously never forgotten.So why this back story into memory lane? Because, I was worried that reading the edited and published Throne of Glass would be a disappointment. I say disappointment because I wondered if it would ruin that first draft which is still categorized in my mind as a damn good story. It would be tragic if the publish version was a flop. So was it?Honestly, it was like reading a whole new story. Obviously, Maas did some rework, tightened some things, removed scenes, and changed aspects from that first draft on fictionpress. Am I complaining? No. It worked in the published version. Things were different, yes I admit, but that was okay because it was like reading beloved characters in an alternate setting. I got the joy of going through their world twice and the second time was just as good as the first. Technically, I fell in love with Maas' world..again. Here's the reason's why:Maas' plot was so well done that it was like drawing the clearest mental picture. Basically, I was THERE with the characters, living their lives and feeling their emotions. What's more is the the story itself flowed seamlessly together, hiding what needed to be hidden but still hinting enough to keep the me enthralled. I loathed turning each page because I knew eventually I would run out of pages, while at the same time I was excited to know what happened in the end. It was a bittersweet enjoyment and Oh, Ms. Maas, it was a cruel sweet torture you put me through. To make the whole experience even better, all aspects and components of TOG were delivered in a likely manner, never causing skepticism. This for me is a major skill when you're reading a fantasy novel since it's so easy to go adrift into the impossible. Maas pretty much painted a whole new world, that though wrought with danger, called to me. I wouldn't mind living there, even with the mean king in power.I say this because the world building was spot on, as was the pacing and descriptions. Nothing faltered in the pages of TOG, everything was pretty much on par with my expectation from before. As for the characters, I find it a pity that not all characters are like Maas' bad ass Celaena. She's my new hero and if you'd read Throne of Glass, you'd understand why. She's like the Chuck Norris of her world. . No, man needed. If anything, the men in TOG needed her. Which, leads me to why this book isn't a perfect five stars, I love the male characters that Maas created yet something was lacking in the Prince. He didn't call to me as someone with depth nor did he really stand out. Chaol on the other hand, won me over. I would probably be willing to fight Celaena over him if need be, which is really saying something considering how scary badass she is. Overall, TOG was just as spectacular as it's original draft. Thinking upon my worries, I realize I was being silly to expect the worst with Maas' debut. She was an amazing writer years ago and remains an amazing writer now. The only difference is that she's finally seen publication between now and then. I can honestly say that Maas is a author to keep an eye on. I'm positive in a few more years, her name will be bandied about as one of the YA favs.
    • 4/5
      Celaena, when we first meet her, is serving a life sentence in a salt mine. She has lasted longer than most in the salt mine, partially because of her skills, and now she's offered a way out. Take part in a competition to be the Kings' champion and win. She's up against a lot of men with something to prove, and even without the competition, where death is a very real possibility, there's someone stalking the players and killing them gruesomely. She had me when she got so excited by the library and the snark kept me happy. While she's attracted to both Captain Chaol Westfall and Prince Dorian, she is aware of the issues about possibly dating either, or loving either. Her relationship with the foreign princess is also interesting and the two of them will make a great team.The story is nicely complicated, plots are woven around and there's nothing straighforward about any of the characters and their motivations and I love that it's that complicated without being too messy. While it's billed as Young Adult there's a lot of messy life stuff that makes it very close to adult, the characters may be teenagers but their lives have made them quite adult.I also love the back cover where there's a shadowy impression of her back dressed in a gown but with the same weapons in hand and same stance as the front, this girl means business no matter how she's dressed.I recommend this book.
    • 4/5
      The Good Stuff Intriguing, well developed kick ass heroine. An assassin with a bit of a softness to her, you gotta like that (Reminds me a wee bit of Gin from Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassins series) Fast paced, had a hard time putting it down when real life needed me -- but I did cause that is the way I roll -- but it was really tempting just to keep reading Lots of little hints about Celaena's back story kept me intrigued and guessing Even though there are hints of a love triangle its not all irritating or overly angsty (Though I am definitely cheering for Chaol) Love that she is an avid reader - a kick ass book loving heroine -- that is so awesome! And a book burning evil king to hate - hello you hooked me in Ms Maas Great mystery weaved with Magic - gives the storyline an original edge in what could have been a predictable story Excellent uses of humour - love some of the snark and swagger that came out of the charactersThe Not So Good Stuff Jumps around a little and uneven at times Cover doesn't do Celaena justice - have seen another cover which gives me a much more realistic image of herFavorite Quotes/Passages "Oh, how wrong he was! Libraries were full of ideas – perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons." "Though it was the oldest and most shameless trick in the book, he reached over her and put his hand on top of the one that gripped the cue. He then positioned the fingers of her other hand on the wood before lightly gripping her wrist. To Dorian's dismay, his face became warm."His eyes shifted to her, and to his relief, he found that she was as red as he, if not more so."If you don't stop feeling and start instructing, I'm going to rip out your eyes and replace them with these billiard balls.""There was good in people - deep down, there was always a shred of good. There had to be."Who Should/Shouldn't Read Both teens and adults will get something out of it Definitely will appeal more to women than men 4/5 Dewey's I received this from Razorbill/Penguin in exchange for an honest review
    • 2/5
      I had been hearing about this book for a while, mostly because it has been around in some form for quite a long time. The author originally published chapters of this book on fictonpress.com and gained a large following from that. So when news released in 2010 that the book would be published, there was a lot of buzz. I had never read those chapters, but I kept hearing about the story and getting more and more excited for it. Unfortunately, the novel did not live up to my hopes. The premis of killers and robbers fighting for their lives and freedom in gruesome challenges is what had me so excited for this book. While I was reading the book, those parts shined through and were the reason I kept reading. Unfortunately, those plot points, which I was under the impression were the main focus of the novel, were demoted to a few pages each - at best. Some challenges only had a few sentences in their honor. Most of the story was taken up by an attempt at a love triangle that I didn't really appreciate. For one, the romance wasn't really there for me. It didn't seem real. Which could be attributed to the overlying issue I had with that triangle; both men seemed to think that they owned her. In some ways they could lay claim to her. That is fine, but to add romance to that situation just seemed weird to me. Most of the issues I had with this novel stemmed from the overlying issue mentioned above. The only other major issue I had was the language. It was modern at times, then historical, and sometimes it felt so staged that I laughed. I found myself continually pulled out of the story by the language, which was disappointing. I am not going to tear this book apart, but say simply that it wasn't for me. If you are a fan of this book, I would love to hear why.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book! I loved the world though I'm hoping to understand it more in the next novel. I loved the sheer ballsyness of Prince Dorian getting the Assassin of Adarlan, an 18 yr old girl, to be his champion and show up his dad, if it worked. I loved the intelligence behind Celaena's mind even in the very beginning of the book. She's being led up and down and round and round in shackles through two connecting towers by a man in a hood with six guards and she realizes it's all to keep her from figuring out an escape route. But she's already figured out they are going up and down the same sets of stairs and around the same tower and she's plotting how fast she can take the six guards out or should she take the hooded man out first. But then she's before the prince and she's a little flumoxed.Throughout the book, though I'm certain in all her training as an assassin so that she can fit in she knows how to act, Celaena shows a complete lack of decorum. She hates the corsets and would rather wear trousers. She eats with her mouth open and even shows her food to Captain Westfall once when he's going on about something. She was like a child in many ways. And she was delighted by the things a child would delight in, a puppy, a bag of candy. It gives you a hint into what she missed out on as a child and what has shaped her into who she is. Why she craves freedom so desperately she'll do anything, even this crazy championship to get it.If she wins the championship, she'll be the King's assassin for four years. The King she despises for sending her to the salt mines, for enslaving so many of the people of their lands, for conquering so many nations and killing innocents, for banishing magic. If she wins, she'll have to stand beside him and follow his orders to kill anyone he tells her to. But after four years, she'll have no master. She thinks it's worth it.The love interests are the Captain of the Guard, her main guard and trainer, Captain Westfall, first name Chaol and best friend to the prince, Dorian, the other love interest. It's really hard to pick a winner in the love triangle. They are both good men, but if you look at Celaena, and what she needs, Chaol is probably the best choice. At least he can fight her. I don't think Dorian is a match for her and she is not one to play princess.So, there is a lot of court intrigue and politics. Mom is trying to get Dorian to marry. HA! If she only knew. The champions are being murdered. The King is away most of the book but news of his heinous deeds reaches the castle. Some kind of magic is being worked in the castle. Celaena has two handsome men falling for her and someone is out to get her. And there are secrets in her past that we only get to see hints at in this novel. What's not to love? Oh and she hates the Glass Castle. Yes, the King built a Glass Castle. I can't see anything but bad things happening there.I was completely in love with this story. That Celaena was a bit childish was unexpected but made perfect sense. Her ability to fight men twice her size was believable because of her wit, not brawn. It was no wonder no one believed she was the Assassain of Adarlan. I cannot wait for the next book!!Thanks to Bloomsbury Children's Books and NetGalley for the E-ARC. I will be buying a copy of this for the special shelf so I can read it again until the next book comes out! The opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated for my review.
    • 5/5
      We’re a stop today on Bloomsbury’s virtual book tour for Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. Throne of Glass is Book #1 in an exciting new YA paranormal fantasy series that I believe is going to appeal to people of all ages. I know I’m hooked! With strong male and female characters, and a world badly in need of heroes, it should even appeal to some who don’t normally read fantasy. Read on to see if this one should be on your TBR list.
    • 3/5
      God, I waited so long for this book. I honestly still remember the day, a long, long time ago, when I stumbled across the author’s website and saw a video where she was giving the happy news to the world, Throne of Glass (at the time called Queen of Glass) was going to be published, and poor Sarah was crying her heart out -- from happiness, of course. I immediately added the book to my wishlist and a year later ta-dah, it arrived at my doorstep.At the time this book came to my attention because it was being sold as a Cinderella retelling (and I’m a sucker for all things fairytale) where the heroine was this kickass assassin, but at some point the story must have evolved because Throne of Glass has a lot more going on than that. To tell the truth, one can barely see traces of Cinderella in Throne of Glass, only that at some point there’s a ball and Celaena isn’t allowed to go, but she sneaks out and attends the thing anyway.But note that I’m not complaining -- I’m not annoyed that this isn’t exactly a Cinderella retelling, because I love epic fantasy and Throne of Glass certainly went down that road. The plot involves a corrupt king, magic, murder mysteries, a dangerous tournament, and of course, the kickass heroine. All this happening at the same time, giving the reader barely time to breathe.Of course I didn’t like everything about this book, thus the 3 stars rating, I almost, almost gave it a 4, but THE LOVE TRIANGLE. Ugh. I’m sorry but I can’t condone this crap anymore. From now on, love triangles will always subtract a star on my ratings. Always!Authors, PLEASE. Stop this trend. I'm so tired of this sh-t. There's nothing wrong with writing stories where there's only one love interest. NOTHING. Please, I BEG YOU. P L E A S E.It doesn’t help that I don’t like Prince Dorian, no, let me rephrase that, it doesn’t help that I load Prince Dorian, and that Celaena has the hots for him. I’m sorry, but I can’t stand the guy or the moronic relationship. HE’S AN ASS, FOR GOODNESS SAKE.That said, fear not because I will be reading the next book in the series.
    • 4/5
      I love it when a book surprises me and Throne of Glass did just that. This engaging debut fantasy novel by Sarah J Maas introduces the world of Erilea, a kingdom in conflict as the King of Adarlan ruthlessly seeks to conquer his neighbours.Celaena Sardothien was rescued near death at age eight and trained by Arobynn known as the King of the Assassins. Her talent earned her the title of Assassin of Adarlan but her capture saw her incarcerated in the Salt Mines of Endovier, a slave who is starved and beaten. Near death, Celaena is offered a reprieve, the chance to compete to become the King's Champion. Despite her hatred of the Adarlan royalty, Celaena can't resist the promise that, should she win, four years of service will earn her her freedom.Celaena is an appealing heroine, for despite her deadly nature she is exactly that. Though she has endured much pain and heartbreak she retains a sense of empathy and her vulnerabilities offset her arrogant facade. Celaena has earned the right to be proud of, and confident in, her prodigious skills, though we see little of them before the competition in Throne of Glass (There are 4 e-novellas, prequels, available that illustrate her talents). Perhaps if anything, Celaena is a little too perfect, as well as being an expert assassin she is also intelligent and beautiful, however I like that Celaena makes no apologies for who she is and in fact, uses her gifts to accomplish what she needs too.While I would have preferred less of the romantic element in Throne of Glass, which includes the obligatory love triangle, at least the attraction between Celaena, Prince Dorian Adarlan and King's Guard, Captain Chaol Westfall, develops slowly. It's a bit of a stretch to believe Celaena would be willing to fall for Dorian's charms, simply by dint of his birthright but I liked the way in which his relationship with Celaena changes him. Dorian is a promising character, he is not quite the feckless prince one might expect and I have hopes that he will come into his own as the series progresses. I thought Chaol could have been a more well rounded character, I did't feel I learnt enough about him, aside from some basic personality traits, to feel strongly about his fate.The storyline of Throne of Glass includes an engaging balance of action and magic. Erilea is still a little sketchy with the world building receiving less attention than the establishment of character and relationships, but I didn't find it lacking. There is enough information provided through out the story to form a solid impression of the kingdom and its operation and as it is just the first in a series I am sure there is much more to come. Throne of Glass has elements that are definitely skewed towards to the female YA market, the love triangle and descriptions of court gowns among them, but I do think it has broader age appeal.Throne of Glass is similar in some ways to Kristin Cashore's novel,Graceling, another YA fantasy novel I enjoyed despite not being fond of the genre in general. True high fantasy fans will probably find Throne of Glass a bit light for their tastes but I found it an entertaining and engaging escapist read.
    • 4/5
      3.5/5 stars.Throne of Glass was one of my most anticipated reads of 2012. It got enormous press, and I was intrigued by the book's history: starting out on FictionPress, then being pulled by the author in order to edit and publish it. I had heard good things about the version on FictionPress, including a kick-ass heroine, great mystery, and a swoon-worthy romance. Unfortunately, only some of that turned out to be true for me personally. Overall, Throne of Glass, while containing aspects that I did really enjoy, left me mostly underwhelmed.When the "Dear Reader" section mentioned a love triangle, I figured I was probably in for a rather painful journey. I am truly fed up with this trope, and the fact that seemingly every single YA book ever feels the need to include one. It didn't help that one of the parts of said love triangle only seemed to be interested in Celaena because of her good looks (and likewise, SHE was interested in him because of HIS good looks). I couldn't get past the womanizing, arrogant persona of Dorian, and as such, all the scenes between him and Celaena, for the most part, were tedious to read through, and some actually made me roll my eyes so hard I was worried I'd injure myself. It also probably didn't help that I was rooting for Chaol from the get-go, either. I am definitely firmly in the "Team Chaol" camp.Then there is our "kick-ass" heroine. Celaena is really good at talking herself up. She's beautiful. She's the best assassin ever. Etc. However, while her good looks are confirmed by several others, we never actually get to see her doing any assassinating; she only has flashes of brilliance that the reader gets to see, and the rest of her assassination background is hearsay or something that Celaena herself tells us, and that's only in the beginning when she's first pulled out of Endovier to try her hand at the king's competition. For the most part, all Celaena really does is read, admire beautiful clothing, and banter back and forth with Chaol and Dorian. And while I did in fact enjoy said banter - she has a quick wit and a very sharp tongue that I enjoyed reading - her arrogance made her just as unlikeable in some ways as Dorian was.And all of that probably makes you think that I really must have disliked this book a great deal. That's not really the case, as there were some redeeming factors in this book. I liked the Tests that Celaena and the other competitors had to face, particularly the one where they're required to scale the wall. I did NOT like that we didn't actually get to see all of the tests, though; I felt like they were sacrificed for more romance, and honestly, enough was enough in that regard. I also liked the mystery, and how Celaena set out to solve it. While I could see the villain from a mile away - far sooner than Celaena herself - I did like the darkness of the plot. I also liked what little we actually got to see of Erilea and its world-building; the ancient gods and goddesses, the Wyrdmarks, etc. And most of all, I really enjoyed Chaol and Nehemia, who, for me personally, were the highlights of the book. I also appreciated that Celaena was both feminine and "kick-ass", as it's not usually a popular combination. As someone who is pretty girly herself, I liked that Celaena was a bit like me in terms of her love of pretty clothes.Overall, Throne of Glass was an enjoyable read, but not one that I loved to pieces. It has some interesting concepts and a darkness to the overall plot that I appreciated. Celaena redeemed herself at the end a bit, and I am intrigued enough by the fairly open ending to see what comes next for her and the other characters. Even though I didn't love this, plenty of people did, so go ahead and give it a read yourself to see which camp you fall into! Throne of Glass is available in North America through the bookseller of your choice.An e-galley of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.