Yesterday we posted our review of The Assassin’s Blade, so today it’s time for Throne of Glass. We have both read this book more than once, so we were excited to dive back in again. Let’s see what we thought when we were reading this book again!

Warning: For people who haven’t read this series yet, there will be spoilers!

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 the evil before it destroys her world.

Review

Candyce: Okay, I really should’ve written this right after I finished my reread. I am afraid I’m going to start mixing up the books, haha. Oh well! Sarah J Maas was only 16 when she wrote this book and I’m still amazed.

Celaena is such a strong character. She’s been through so much and still keeps on going. She seems arrogant, but she really isn’t. I think I would be closed off towards other people after everything. Her attitude gets her in trouble, but it’s worth it. Celaena does what she says she will do.

The world in this book is so much fun, the royalty, the fights, the politics. It’s clear this story is building up to so much more. I loved the champion competition and all the tasks that they had to do. The murders in the halls at night and secret passages and all the secrets Celaena discovers.

It’s clear this book is setting up to bring us a world and adventure that will keep us on the edge of our seats. Rereading this for the third time definitely brought some hints to things that happen later on. I love how authors think of things way before we even realize that. That’s why I love rereading books so much!

Isabelle: Same as Candyce, I am the worst with writing reviews right away… Oops! I highly enjoy this series and think this first book is a great opener. There is a clear story-arc is Throne of Glass even though you will definitely want more after finishing the book. I love that this started out as a subtle Cinderella inspired story. Sarah J. Maas was wondering what would happen if Cinderella went to the ball to murder the prince and that’s how we ended up with our favorite assassin.

The world in this first installment is pretty contained and we mostly get to see the castle and the city of Rifthold. But you can already tell that the world is much bigger and there is more going on then meets the eye. I loved the competition element of the story, that’s always something that intrigues me! Apart from the interesting world and the great story arc in this book, it was also a very addictive story. I enjoyed the writing a lot and picked up the second book immediately every time I read Throne of Glass.

But what I love most of all are the characters. I will always be #teamDorian haha. Okay, okay, I don’t want Dorian with our assassin any more but he will forever be my favorite male character in the series. He is such a great person and I love the development he has gone through since the start of the series. Chaol wasn’t someone I was ever a fan of and that didn’t change this time around. Even though I LOVE Tower of Dawn and know my feelings about Chaol changed after that book, I still didn’t like him this time around haha. Nehemia is an interesting character but she’ll come more into play in the second book and I feel like we get to actually know her later on.

The most important character of all is obviously Celaena! I love her so much, I know people get annoyed by how ‘perfect’ she is and that that get’s mentioned a lot. But it just doesn’t bother me haha. I love that Celaena loves feminine things, like pretty clothes and chocolate cake and most of all I love that she’s a booklover. That might be what made me love her instantly.

“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.”

Thoughts after rereading Throne of Glass

Candyce: Once again, I’m so surprised how much I forgot! I knew the larger details, but certain things happened earlier or later in the book than I expected. This series is put together so well! I noticed little hints here and there and that got me thinking of the later books. Reading this reminded me again why I love this series so much!

Isabelle: This was my third time reading Throne of Glass and I loved it again. I was surprised at all the details I had already forgotten and like Candyce I didn’t know when things would exactly happen. There were so many ‘ooooh I forgot about that’ moments haha. Every time I read these books I’m amazed at all the little hints and details about later books Sarah managed to put in the earlier books. I had a lot of trouble sticking to reading 1 book a month for our little read-a-long as this series is just so addictive!

 

If you’ve read Throne of Glass, what did you think? What parts were your favorite?