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katyjb1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use
ameydireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My very first Sarah J. Maas book and I have to say it was good. This book gives us a proper introduction to the main characters and to an interesting new world: a world where magic is forbidden. I instantly liked Dorian because of his sweet nature, and Nehemia. She commands respect, is smart enough to lay low when she needs to, and knows magic!
The overall plot was also enjoyable. An assassin (Celaena), locked up in a death prison, gets a chance to win back her freedom. The only thing she has to do is win the King’s Champion Tournament and be his champion for the next four years. Easier said than done. One would expect that a ruthless assassin would do anything to win this competition, especially when there’s so much at stake, but it seems Celaena has an altruistic side as well. She's also a woman of many talents. When some of the champions turn up dead during the tournament, she uses her investigation skills to find the killer. I'm all in for a good murder mystery, so I loved that!
I'm yet to be convinced of her skills as an assassin though. So far, she only thinks about the different ways of disarming and killing the guards, which I found really annoying. We don't see her actually use her abilities. Even when there is something big going on, she has people around that help her. I hope we'll learn more about Celaena as an assassin in the next books. There are many hints to Celaena’s past and I guess that will be covered in the prequel (Assassin’s Blade iirc).
Oh, and the love triangle… nope.
For a first book in a series, it's pretty good. There’s so much more to this world & I’m eager to explore it.
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Rape
kkellymsu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Sexism, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
unboundbooklover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent
krosebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I tried to start this series with the assassins blade (bad idea). This book really hooked me the first part. The middle was slow for me. The last quarter of the book went by fast. I like how Maas wrote the different perspectives and switched in the same chapter. I also liked the multiple romantic interests.
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
cineladeras's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
bbmaan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Rape, and Sexual assault
livvmarks's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
khymihr's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gore, Slavery, and Colonisation
Minor: Grief, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
victoria_elaine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Grief, and War