The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
kmoyer07's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, War, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Genocide, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Torture, and Vomit
Minor: Cannibalism and Death of parent
tabeahaefliger's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
3.75 Stars! - but there's still room to get better...
I love that TOG was really fast paced, tense and exciting, I feel like there wasn't a single page, where I got bored. I just couldn't put it down and read the last 120ish pages in one sitting because I just NEEDED TO KNOW what was going to happen next.
It was amazing, that there weren't any unneccessairy overdramatical "deep" contexts or erlse, that tends to annoy me in books really often.
The friendship and it's development between Celaena and Nehemia was so cute, it really gave the book freshness. Also I really loved seeing Chaol and Celaena together and the way they kept teasing each other, the shipping is real!
I loved the writing style of this book as well and I'm really impressed, that SJM started writing this when she was only 16 years old, I could never, but because of the "neutral" form of telling for me there wasn't a huge emotional connection to the characters happening, maybe because that made it so fast-paced but at the same time I coulnd't get investigated in them and the storyline either. So I hope that that will change in the following books, because I'm really interested in the character development that's going to happen and to really get lost in the situations and moments, that went by so quickly in this one.
I found it to be a little bit weird that apparently Celaena and Dorian like each other, but they've barely spent time together. Now I'm just asking myself where this "connection" and attraction to each other are coming from because they barely know each other right? Also the frist kiss in between them just kind of happened out of nowhere, there wasn't a lot of tension building up between them before that "long awaited kiss" happened.
All in all though I really enjoyed reading it and I had a wonderful and exciting time. Because I've heard many times that the following books get better and better I'm really excited to pick them up and see for myself where this is going to go. I hope that I will be able to connect to the main characters more than I've been able to do up until now and love them as much as you guys do!
I love that TOG was really fast paced, tense and exciting, I feel like there wasn't a single page, where I got bored. I just couldn't put it down and read the last 120ish pages in one sitting because I just NEEDED TO KNOW what was going to happen next.
It was amazing, that there weren't any unneccessairy overdramatical "deep" contexts or erlse, that tends to annoy me in books really often.
The friendship and it's development between Celaena and Nehemia was so cute, it really gave the book freshness. Also I really loved seeing Chaol and Celaena together and the way they kept teasing each other, the shipping is real!
I loved the writing style of this book as well and I'm really impressed, that SJM started writing this when she was only 16 years old, I could never, but because of the "neutral" form of telling for me there wasn't a huge emotional connection to the characters happening, maybe because that made it so fast-paced but at the same time I coulnd't get investigated in them and the storyline either. So I hope that that will change in the following books, because I'm really interested in the character development that's going to happen and to really get lost in the situations and moments, that went by so quickly in this one.
I found it to be a little bit weird that apparently Celaena and Dorian like each other, but they've barely spent time together. Now I'm just asking myself where this "connection" and attraction to each other are coming from because they barely know each other right? Also the frist kiss in between them just kind of happened out of nowhere, there wasn't a lot of tension building up between them before that "long awaited kiss" happened.
All in all though I really enjoyed reading it and I had a wonderful and exciting time. Because I've heard many times that the following books get better and better I'm really excited to pick them up and see for myself where this is going to go. I hope that I will be able to connect to the main characters more than I've been able to do up until now and love them as much as you guys do!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Suicide attempt
yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I devoured this book. It was easy to follow and even the slower parts were interesting. I was kept engaged and intrigued. I love Dorian and Celaena’s witty banter. The way Chaol cares for Celaena in his own way is amazing. Celaena and Nehemiah’s friendship is precious and I love how Elena defends Celaena.
I do wish there was a clearer distinction and more organized approach when switching POVs but it’s a fun switch.I also thought the reveal that Cain was summoning creatures was a little predictable. I was surprised to see that Perrington was controlling him and not just influencing him.
I’m excited to see where this series goes. This was a great opener.
I do wish there was a clearer distinction and more organized approach when switching POVs but it’s a fun switch.
I’m excited to see where this series goes. This was a great opener.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Gore, Vomit, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Grief and Drug use
Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, War, Torture, Alcohol, and Animal cruelty
ashleynp24's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed the strong female protagonist in this book and liked the backstory given for her.
I am reading this as the first book I’m the series, even though a lot of people say you can read it third.
I liked her relationship with Nehemia a lot and love the female friendship angle. I feel that a lot of the relationships between champions could have been built up more, especially hers with Nox.
Chaol and Celaena probably had my favorite dynamic in the book, and I like them together more than her and Dorian even though he’s kind of the main love interest. It’s giving “love triangle” for most of the book so I’m excited to see where it goes.
Great world building so far and I’m interested to see more of it as she fights for her freedom.
I am reading this as the first book I’m the series, even though a lot of people say you can read it third.
I liked her relationship with Nehemia a lot and love the female friendship angle. I feel that a lot of the relationships between champions could have been built up more, especially hers with Nox.
Chaol and Celaena probably had my favorite dynamic in the book, and I like them together more than her and Dorian even though he’s kind of the main love interest. It’s giving “love triangle” for most of the book so I’m excited to see where it goes.
Great world building so far and I’m interested to see more of it as she fights for her freedom.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Drug use, Classism, Slavery, Body horror, Violence, Kidnapping, Blood, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Rape, Grief, Death, Vomit, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, and Panic attacks/disorders
dalek_caan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Strong start to the series, several unexpected twists that kept me wanting to read more. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Violence, Confinement, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Blood, Colonisation, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and War
ashlynnlee_14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Slavery
Minor: Vomit and Torture
cameronmh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Great story, classic Sarah J Maas combination of court intrigue, romance, magic, and combat. Almost gave it 4.5 but then subtracted a quarter star because of all of the anti-corset bits that really rubbed me the wrong way. I listened to a solid 3 hours of the audiobook while wearing a corset, and I can tell you for dang sure my ribs were not being crushed!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Torture, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Gore, Violence, War, Blood, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, and Animal death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Cursing, Rape, Addiction, Alcohol, Grief, Gaslighting, and Drug abuse
There is poison! Both a theoretical poisoning (a controlled environment, but still theoretically very dangerous) and a second scene with a purposeful poisoning with an agent that can cause death. There are also hallucinations (which end up to be technically real) caused by the poisoning.amartin48's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Confinement, and Gore
Moderate: Racism, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Hate crime, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Racial slurs, and Vomit
Minor: War
poppiesrising's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is technically a reread for me, but it's been over 10 years and I didn’t remember anything about the plot. It's kind of fascinating starting this series last of the SJM set, and reading certain things and thinking to myself, "ah, I see the beginning of connections, I do, I do." (iykyk) Anyway. A fun book, definitely the best-of-the-best-from-FictionPress back in the day (which was my initial and lasting impression from that first read so long ago). There are so many things that scream this was written in the early 2010s--but I think the biggest shift is how I personally read the characters; perspective of time, huh. At 20 I found Celaena's sarcasm and Strong Female™️ shtick fun. Now I see it as a staple of the time, but also the inherent sadness in her character much more clearly. Chaol and Dorian are both kind of just there. I'm much less interested in their little triangle and actually find Celeana choosing her freedom over a relationship with Dorian the much more satisfying choice. (That's the perspective change, I think.)(also, her getting with and staying with the son of the man who had her enslaved is a No from me, gang.) Anyway, onto the next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Suicide attempt, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts
hannahcommabanana's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt