The first novel in Sarah J. Maas’s young-adult fantasy series, Throne of Glass, follows a revered young assassin on her quest for freedom. It takes place in a land known as Erilea, where magic has been outlawed and nations have been overrun with oppression, slavery, and military conflict. Celaena Sardothien, the protagonist of this novel, is only a teenager when she is forced into slavery as a form of punishment for her offenses, though she is rescued from these circumstances under one condition: if she proves herself worthy as an attendant to the King of Adarlan through a competition against twenty-three other trained killers, she will be released after four years of servitude.
On her journey, Celaena establishes a rapport with the Crown Prince (and king’s son), Dorian Havilliard, as well as the king’s Captain of the Guard, Chaol Westfall, which eventually results in a dilemma as the assassin considers the conflict between her romantic desires and sense of duty. Additionally, as the competition unfolds, Celaena learns that competitors have been dying due to a mysterious force, leading her to befriend a princess visiting from beyond Adarlan who later teaches her about a magic art with the potential to save the competition and, in turn, her freedom.
Overall, the book was engaging and beautifully written, and I do not believe simply rating it as a 4/5 would have done it justice. I have also heard from others that the series progressively improves as it introduces and develops new characters, further intensifying the immense connection readers may already have with them. Celaena is an independent, witty, and humorous protagonist, and to many, her relevance in the story is especially empowering to female readers.
The only aspect preventing me from giving the novel a perfect score would have been the anti-climactic nature of the ending. The author had utilized plot twists wonderfully throughout the book, though I felt that Celaena’s temporary suspicion of her friend was incorporated as a plot device and never ended up being fully resolved. I also would have liked for the story to provide more of Chaol’s perspective, which the novel does start to incorporate towards the end of the story. The dynamic between Dorian and Celaena seemed to be one of the primary foci, and their banter served as a much-needed comedic relief when reading through the dark and angst-heavy main storyline.
Finally, I would advise that readers take their time to thoroughly observe and understand the terminology in the novel, as they become more significant as the story advances and it can be easy to lose track of how the magic system works.
This novel seamlessly weaves a medieval fantasy setting into a relatable and funny story that appeals to a teenage audience, with elements of romance (and, yes… a love triangle) emerging later on. After finishing the debut novel, one may find themselves longing to hear more about the young assassin and her promising future.
Original artwork by @arz28 on Instagram
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