Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) in The Wide Web of Friends in YA Books

Aug 03, 2013 ♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: series

This was so freaking good!!!!!

Review to come!

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Aug 11, 2012 Erika B. (SOS BOOKS) rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi-or-fantasy, ya

This was one kick butt book! Assassins and love and magic-I dig it! :-)

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Apr 02, 2012 Carie rated it really liked it

Maybe even 4.5. I really liked this book, especially the characters--both good and bad. The story’s intriguing and unique, with some very dark elements. I loved Celaena, Dorian, and Chaol--Nox and Nehemia were also interesting characters. And the King and Duke were very creepy. The mystery was great, though I knew early on that (view spoiler).

I loved Celaena’s strong, yet vulnerable personality and that she’s a big reader--and her a ...more

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Jun 21, 2012 M. rated it really liked it

Shelves: new-series, ya-pnr, swoon-worthy-heroes, august-2012-release, fantasy, strong-likeable-heroines

Finally a new YA series that doesn't suck! I started reading Throne of Glass with zero expectations. I was more prepared to dislike it immensely, actually. But the writing was good and the characters were well developed and likeable.

It seems that in YA literature there are only two type of heroines: the baddass chick and the virginal mary-sue. Throne of Glass doesn't deviate from that rule. Celaena Sardothien falls in the baddass category. However, she's not your typical formulaic baddass heroin Finally a new YA series that doesn't suck! I started reading Throne of Glass with zero expectations. I was more prepared to dislike it immensely, actually. But the writing was good and the characters were well developed and likeable.

It seems that in YA literature there are only two type of heroines: the baddass chick and the virginal mary-sue. Throne of Glass doesn't deviate from that rule. Celaena Sardothien falls in the baddass category. However, she's not your typical formulaic baddass heroine, you know, the one dimensional typical arrogant ass. Even though Celaena is good at almost everything and brags about it (besides playing pool), she has a vulnerability and innocence that makes her an endearing character. I actually liked that she wanted to show off. Why would I begrudge her that? If you have it, flaunt it.

Now, let's talk about the love interests because YA literature is not worth its salt unless it has a love triangle.

First, we have Dorian, the charming Crown Prince. Again here Sarah did a wonderful job showing that Dorian was more than just a privileged pretty face. Dorian is a sensitive and caring character fighting his own demons and I liked how his relationship with Celaena developed. No insta-love here, thank God! If I had to pick a team, I would be on board his. I just identified with him more and a potential romantic relationship between him and Celaena would be way more difficult. Unfortunately, I got a sense by the end of the book that he will not be the chosen one by the end of the series. But we'll see.

Chaol is the second love interest. He's the Royal Guard Captain and he's assigned to train Celaena. Not that she actually needs to be trained. We don't get to see much of Chaol's POV in Throne of Glass and his relationship with Celaena wasn't highlighted as much as her relationship with Dorian, at least not in a romantic sense (besides that very emotional scene at the end). I don't dislike Chaol, but I feel like a relationship between him and Celaena would be too similar to Rose and Dimitri's one from VA. Besides their relationship would be much easier as well. There could be a future for them when Celaena finally gained her freedom. Chaol could just take off with her. Of course, that is not what's going to happen, but you get my drift.

The plot was well done, not many surprises but also not so predictable either. The world building wasn't confusing nor overwhelming, which is always a plus in the fantasy genre. I didn't mind that the murders were used more as a backdrop until Celaena confronted the killer. The book focused more on the romance and that was what I needed. Some people might have wanted more action, though.

I was glad that Celaena didn't spend a lot of time being traumatized or broken because she spent a year as a slave. The few times that she remembered her time at the mines was enough for me to understand that in no way she just brushed that horrible experience off. I think if Sarah had added anything more to it, it would have dragged the story. Sometimes less is more.

Now, let's see how the second book in the series go. I hope the author doesn't drop the ball. ...more

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Aug 28, 2013 Nat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Everybody will be annoyed at me for saying this, but I actually ship Celaena and Dorian. Hear me out, I think it was cute how he always was there for her and he slowly liked her, but Dorian was always so sweet (view spoiler)

One of the things that really impressed me about this book is that when Celaena is leaving the death camps, they do not describe her as still being gorgeous, because that would just be unbeli ...more

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Apr 22, 2012 Anna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites-shelf

Wow, I was super obsessed with this book. I loved that fact that Celaena is the baddest assassin out that, she was a great heroine! I loved the concept of the story. I loved Nehemia, Dorian, Choal....

Speaking of, I'm kind of partial to Choal, not sure what that says.

I need MORE! 5 stars

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reread: All I gotta say is I still love it. Lol! ...more

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