ashleynp24'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
4.25
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.
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
hopecobblepotworld's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Pages Read: 466
% Read: 8
"Blood ties can't be broken." ~ Elena
Having just finished Book 1 - Throne of Glass, I can say I'm enthralled with this series so far. I adore Celeana and her fierceness, determination, and yet her also still tender heart.
Dorian - wow. I'm eager to see how he grows in the series. Or... does he? I don't know!
Chaol - what an up and down relationship he and Celeana have. Hot and Cold like the song goes. Although he does put up with her upchucking a lot. 🤭
Nehemia is also so fierce. A tigress. Such an interesting character. I can see her and Celeana on adventures together with Fleetfoot.
The plot - the kingdom is screwed up. I mean, many are and we Read about them but the death camps, a Fighting for the right to be the King's Champion aka Assassin, hokey religions* with ancient marks that can be used to control people.
Stars: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: ½🌶 (Passionate Kissing)
*Han Solo
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence and Torture
Minor: Drug use and Vomit
cameronmh'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? No
4.25
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.ten_telegrams'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
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Torture, Confinement, Slavery, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Gaslighting
ifoundcallie's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping, Confinement, War, Slavery, Vomit, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Torture, Genocide, Drug use, Cursing, Animal death, War, Grief, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Death of parent, Child death, and Sexual harassment
vaguely_pink's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Drug use
Minor: Alcohol, Suicide, War, Gaslighting, Classism, and Sexism
magicalinkwell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Also, keep in mind this is a YA book, not an adult fantasy book. It's comparable to GoT but it's not GoT (which is adult fantasy). There is a decent amount of telling, not showing. Again, I expect that in a YA book.
People complain about Celaena being whiney or "not assassin-like."
Spoiler
She acts like a CLASSIC 18-19-year-old girl. She didn't WANT to be an assassin. She STILL doesn't want to be an assassin. She had no choice and then was surprised with her training bill. She explicitly states this - she wanted to be a healer, but then her family was slaughtered and Arobynn found her frozen in a river. She wants legit freedom and being the best assassin was her only way out. Of course, she's going to act like a normal 18-19-year-old and choose to behave like an atypical assassin. She never wanted it in the first place and still doesn't want it.So, despite the hype, I tempered my expectations and enjoyed the book for what it is. I'm excited to read the rest of the series!
Tropes:
-enemies to lovers
-love triangle
-chosen one
-banned magic
-good vs evil
-reluctant hero
-orphan hero
Graphic: Slavery, Grief, Classism, Death of parent, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Cannibalism, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Drug use, Rape, and Sexual harassment
careohleen's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Classism, War, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Gore, Genocide, Slavery, Colonisation, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexism, Murder, Misogyny, and Grief
Minor: Vomit, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Rape, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Cursing, Confinement, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Animal death, Torture, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, and Death of parent
emmacartlidge'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
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Gore, Confinement, Physical abuse, Slavery, Death of parent, and Drug use
Minor: Vomit
zsometimesreads's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Blood, Physical abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Vomit and Drug use