Throne of Glass Book Review: Is It Worth Reading?

Have you ever been reluctant to start a series because of all the hype surrounding it?

Well, this series was definitely that for me. I put it off for so long because after reading the ACOTAR series, I was over romantasy. If it wasn't for a friend of mine who wanted to buddy read the Crescent City series, I think my desire to read Throne of Glass would not be there. I only desired to read it because I wanted to see how all the series are connected.

I did not want to be disappointed, and I felt like I had outgrown Sarah J. Maas's writing style. It became too predictable. But I have to say, I am glad I decided to join my best friend in finally reading this series. I would have to say that if you enjoy stories with a strong female lead, competition, and interesting characters, this book is for you.

Celaena's journey in this book is about friendship and loyalty. It may take some time to get used to the pacing because of the worldbuilding, but stick with it. This series is definitely different from her other two series. So, go into it with an open mind, and I think you will like it.

Curious to know more? Read the rest of the review to discover what I liked and disliked about this book.

Throne of Glass

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Book Details and Content

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What is The Throne of Glass About?

"Throne of Glass" is about an assassin named Celaena Sardothien. While serving time in a slave camp, she is offered a deal to win her freedom. To do so, she would need to compete in a contest. The winner of the contest will become the King of Adarlan's Champion. The winner has to serve the king as his personal assassin for 4 years and then is able to be free afterwards.

My Spoiler-free review

When I first read "Throne of Glass," I remember thinking that it was not what I was expecting. Since then, I've read other books from other fantasy writers that made this book seem a bit boring. But now that I am nearing the end, I am still curious about what the author has in store for us, and I hope it gets more interesting.

Celeana, I feel, is your typical main character in a fantasy book. She was not very interesting at first. It took me time to like her and care about her well-being in the story.

Chaol was my favorite character in this book. He was very loyal and a great friend to Dorian. I loved all the moments he had with Caleana. Dorian was quite a bore for me in this book. Anytime he was mentioned, I wanted to skip that part. It's not because he was unlikeable; he was just not interesting enough for me to care about him. I didn't grow fond of him until later books. I didn't care much for the other characters as well, except for Nox. I am hoping that as I finish the rest of the books in the series, it will live up to the hype.

My Overall Thoughts

I was very skeptical of this book. After finishing it, I wasn't convinced I would like this series. When I decided to reread this book with my best friend, I noticed a few more things, and my feelings changed a bit. Let's talk about what I liked and disliked about the story.

What I Liked

Celaena's Strength: she is badass! Although it took me a little while to care about her character, I am glad that she was strong and takes no BS.

Chaol Westfall: Chaol, the Captain of the Guard, is my favorite in this book! His loyalty is what stood out to me. I enjoyed the parts of the book the most where he and Celaena were interacting with one another. It was also nice to see someone who cares so much about doing the right thing.

The Villains: If you can get me to really hate a character, then you know I am invested.

Worldbuilding: I think this is a given, but sometimes authors do too much or not enough. I feel that Sarah J. Maas did a great job of giving you enough information about the world as you get to know the characters and the story, which I appreciated very much.

What I Disliked

Prince Dorian: To me, Dorian was trying too hard to be liked by Celaena. He came off as dull, and every time he was mentioned, I wanted to skip it.

Love Triangles: I am not a huge fan of this trope. I do not like when feelings are not clear and to the point. You can thank the Twilight saga for me hating it. It makes me cringe at the very thought of it.

Other Characters: Besides Celaena, Chaol, and Nox, I didn’t connect much with the rest of the cast. They just didn’t stand out to me as much as I hoped.

Would I recommend it as a Christian?

Yes, I think "Throne of Glass" is okay to read but more so for a mature Christian. I say that because of the darker themes and because you can discern the good from the bad.

I wouldn't recommend this series to new believers. Simply because one might feel that it glorifies murder and occult magic. Which I feel can be blurred during certain moments. With that being said, I think with any book it all comes down to conviction. So, with the information I provide and guidance from the Holy Spirit, you can determine whether this is for you or not.

There are times when characters stand up for what is right even when it's tough to do, which teaches courage and bravery. My favorite moments in the book are when the characters are developing friendships. These moments teach great lessons on loyalty and how important it is to be there for friends when they need it.

What I liked most about this book is that characters learn to change for the better because of their experiences. This reminds me of forgiveness and getting second chances. So there are a lot of things in this book that align with Christian values.

Things to Consider

There are some things you would want to know before you decide to read this book. This story does have supernatural elements to it. This could be a cause for concern for those of you who are against any depiction of spells, runes, and divination. However, the darker elements are clearly portrayed as evil and not good. Also, the supernatural powers are used for good and defeating darkness.

There are fight scenes and murder. Oftentimes, killing is glorified because the main character is an assassin, but she does have a moral code of not killing the innocent. The violence in the story can be intense at times, but the majority of it is moderate. The violence is not without a purpose; it pushes the plot forward. Also, there are intimate moments with characters that depict kissing, flirting, and romantic tension. Those moments are not explicit at all and are very mild.

But if you like stories about bravery, friendship, and sacrifice and are okay with a bit of darker themes with supernatural elements, "Throne of Glass! might just be the book for you.

Summary

Celaena was a famous assassin; for her crimes, she was sent to work in the salt mine slave camp of Endovier.

One day, a young crown prince named Dorian shows up at the prison camp where Celaena is being held. He tells her about a deal: to compete in a contest to win her freedom. The winner has to work for the King for several years, and once that is complete, the winner will be free.

Celaena agrees and travels to the glass castle, which is where the competition will be held. She gets help from Chaol, the head guard, who trains her for the competition. Chaol is also best friends with Prince Dorian. To conceal her identity, she enters the competition under Lilian Gordaina (Jewel Thief). She has to defeat 23 other competitors in different types of trials. While she is training and competing in the trials, she also becomes romantically involved with Prince Dorian and befriends the princess of Eyllwe, Nehemia.

Ten years ago, the King banned all magic, but during the competition, weird and strange things start happening in the castle that seem to show that magic still exists. Also, the competitors are being mysteriously murdered. Celaena secretly investigates the mysterious murders so she can keep her new friends safe.

Celaena finds a hidden door behind a tapestry in the room she is staying in, which leads to secret tunnels in the castle and a secret tomb of Elena (The first queen of Adarlan) and Gavin. She encounters the spirit of Elena and is warned by her of the evil lurking in the castle. Elena gives her a magical protective amulet (Eye of Elena) and also tells her that she needs to win the competition and defeat whatever evil is dwelling in the castle. If she doesn't, a portal will rip open and creatures will come through.

Calaena teaches Nehemia the common tongue of Adarlan in exchange for learning Ellywe. During their time together, they form a close bond. Calaena learns more about ancient symbols (wyrdmarks) that seem to always be around the murders. During her research, she finds out that they can be used to summon a creature, and that creature grants its summoner strength with each victim it kills.

One day, Calaena runs into Nehemia at the library and suspects Nehemia is the murderer because of the sketch of a wyrdmark she left behind. Worried that Nehemia will attack again, she keeps watch on her. While exploring the secret passageways, she finds Cain, not Nehemia, performing a ritual. The ritual summoned an evil creature. She is attacked by the evil shadow beast creature (Ridderak).

She was able to kill the Ridderak with an ancient sword from the tomb, but is severely injured by the Ridderak's bite. Nehemia finds her and heals her wound. Calaena reveals her identity to Nehemia and what's been going on in the castle. Nehemia admits to knowing more than what she has led people to believe about her.

Before the final duel, Duke Perrington convinces Kaltain to put poison in Calaena's wine cup to sabotage her in the final battle. When fighting Cain, she is feeling the effects of the poison while also battling other monsters from another realm. The spirit of Elena and the power of Nehemia are helping Calaena defeat Cain. When the poison weakens in Calaena's body, she is able to stab Cain and win the duel. After being announced the winner, Cain tries to kill Calaena behind her back, and Chaol jumps in and protects her by killing Cain.

While healing, Nehemia tells Calaena that she was protecting her this whole time by using wyrdmarks. The same way she protected her by opening a portal for Elena to come and help her during the fight with Cain. Dorian tells Calaena that he wants to be more than friends, but she declines his offer. She signs the contract to be the King's Champion for 4 years. A start to an epic journey for Celaena Sardothien.

Why You Should Read Throne of Glass

If you like mystery with brave heroes like Celaena Sardothien, strong friendships, and cool fantasy worlds, you might really enjoy "Throne of Glass." It's a story that is a great start to characters you will eventually fall in love with.

What are you waiting for?

Happy reading!