Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Skleněný trůn

3 Word Mark Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 0/5 (Kissing is not spicy!)

TL;DR
WHAT IN THE EVERLOVING YA DELUSION did I just listen too????
Loved the plot... Hated the characters
DOWNGRADE TO 3 STARS...

Long Review...If I can get through this...
I have never had a book make me feel old before... I have also said for a while that I have been put off reading Young Adult and ended up trudging through this book which was the literal epitome of why I feel my reading taste and YA DO NOT mix any more. And it all comes down to the entitled, underdeveloped, childish, annoying, FRUSTRATING character Celaena Lillian Elentiya Aelin, whatever her name is!

What, you're telling me she's the best fucking assassin in the world? But she's 18 and all she fucking cares about is sweets and pretty dresses. And for being such a good assassin, she's not very good at, you know, aspects that an assassin would need. Yes. There are a couple of fighting scenes and a couple of training montages that happen, but it felt so much like we are just going to "TELL" you she is good and never show you!

Overall this was all just like high school drama llama. "Oh does he like me" "Oh but he kissed me" "I still have feelings for Sam" and any time she mentioned her time in Endovier it just felt brushed off or petulant monaing and not dealing with the trauma. I really battled to connect with her, especially with her "woe is me" attitude because I couldn't see how she was impacted "apparently" by her year as a captive. She just felt like a brat!

Given what she had gone through and experienced, the amount of time she moaned about not being pampered or not allowed to go to the court functions, or her clothing was all wrong, was EXHAUSTING!!!! I. just. could. not. with. her.

Everyone has said to wait till the end of book three to like the story... I NEED TO BE HOOKED BY BOOK 1, not read like 7000 pages before I start liking a "main character". I really cannot find anything to like about this. Celaena-Lillian-Elentiya is entirely conceited and awful. Her obsession with money and trivial objects for somebody who has seen people suffering and dying is not existent, but she's upset because she wasn't invited to a BALL!!!!

AND DO NOT GET ME STARTED on the whole love triangle in this book... all the unnecessary angst and drama llama (which is why I can't) - the push and pull of a love triangle feel like a cop-out and such a cliche plot device in a book to make the girl feel more special than she is since not one, BUT TWO men want her golden vagina... BECAUSE obviously, she is not like the other girls...

I just don't see it. I don't see the appeal. I don't see the amazingness of this book.

Will I read the rest of the series? Yes.
Because I have somehow committed to putting myself through torture and I have purchased all the audiobooks and I have nothing else to listen to...(at least until I get more credits)

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So past me apparently read this in 2018 and I HAVE NO IDEA WHY I SHE IT 4 STARS...

So since this won my Audiobook POLL sorry ZA and FBAA I guess I will find out why this had 4 stars and why book 2 was a DNF....

Also if you have a recommendation on reading order.... lemmie know... I have heard best experience is NOT publication order...

Content Warnings

kmoyer07's review against another edition

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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

yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition

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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.

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embee09's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

Content Warnings

caitlyn_kittle_kinnick's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-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? N/A

4.25

Content Warnings

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

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adventurous tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Celaena is a renound assassin who was sent to a labour camp for her crimes. When the King decides he needs a champion to do his dirty work, she is pulled from certain death by the Prince to compete for the role. As the competition progresses, participants start turning up dead. Celaena starts to investigate how the deaths and the magical ruins found on the bodies are connected.

This plot had SO much potential. I was expecting a fast paced story, but, alas, it was not. It was way too focused on the "romance" side (which was kinda cringe) and not enough on developing strong characters and world building. Much of the plot was quite predictable, and I have a good idea of where the next book is heading. That said, I am still interested to see where Maas takes the story.

Celaena is supposed to be this badass assassin. I found her to be pretty lackluster and annoying. She is tiny, beautiful? Ugh. Original. Honestly, she seems more vain and self-absorbed than anything else. Why are we being told about her obsession with dresses, dreams of kissing the prince , and her temper tantrums about not being invited to a ball? Shouldn't she be disciplined and ruthless after years of being the best assassin ever? How can she be such a cunning and masterfully trained assassin when people can sneak up on her so easily?

As it is implied that she has magic in her and is Elena's blood, I suspect that she is actually fae and probably royalty.

I really hope that her character is better developed in the next book.

I'm not a huge fan of love triangles and I have a feeling that there is going to be a lot of back and forth between Dorian and Chaol. So we will see how that goes...

I really liked Princess Nehemia. I thought she was a really interesting character and I hope that she continues to be developed in the upcoming books.

Tropes: fantasy, slow burn, love triangle, secret identity

Content Warnings

pairswellwithbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

I can’t believe I waited so long to start this series. It will put me in a book coma for sure

Content Warnings

aubrieanne's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted 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? No

3.75

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