TL;DR Review
5 stars, but not as good as ACOTAR. Less romance, more politics, and much better suited for a YA audience. There’s murder, intrigue, magic, and of course, a strong female protagonist who is relatable if not sometimes frustrating. Great world-building, snappy dialogue that improves after the first book, and interesting characters and conflicts. The twists had my jaw dropping and tears falling — and that’s the kind of experience I want from a 5,000+ page book series.
This review is written from the perspective of someone who was introduced to Sarah J. Maas (SJM) by reading A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) first, and then sought out Throne of Glass (ToG) as a cure to the massive book hangover incurred by that excellent series. Read my 5-star ACOTAR review here.
Expectations vs. Reality
These Are Not Fairytale Retellings
Imagine if Cinderella was an assassin. And an orphan (with no stepmother or step-sisters to speak of). And bore no resemblance to Cinderella at all besides blonde hair, blue eyes, and a name starting with a C.
Those are the minimal parallels between Cinderella and Celaena Sardothien in the “Cinderella retelling” that is Throne of Glass. The idea of either ToG being a Cinderella retelling or ACOTAR being a “Beauty and the Beast retelling” is quite… generous… if we’re being honest.
Don’t Expect a Lot of Romance
Celaena Sardothien is a badass assassin heroine, but after reading ACOTAR, I was expecting more than just a (frankly, kind of boring) love triangle. Still, it’s a decent read if you’re in the mood for political intrigue and some sword fights. Just don’t go in expecting Rhysand-level swooniness (for the purposes of this review, we’re going to say that is a real word).
ToG is for YA readers, ACOTAR is for adults
Now, there’s been a whole kerfuffle about whether ACOTAR is truly YA Fantasy at all, and based on the later books in the series, I would contend that ToG is a true YA fantasy series while ACOTAR is definitely geared towards adults. While ToG is an excellent introduction to SJM for younger readers, I don’t recommend ACOTAR for readers under 18 years old.
Now that I’m a bookseller, I’m facing an interesting conundrum about whether to shelve the author’s books together or in separate sections, as I don’t want to be responsible for any teenagers’ unintentional initiation to *spicy* books through the SJM gateway.
Clearly The Author’s Debut Novel
Throne of Glass may be the book that started it all, but as a reader who was first introduced to Sarah J. Maas’ writing through ACOTAR, it felt quite clear that Throne of Glass was SJM’s first published book. Despite that, Maas’ world-building is impressive, and the characters are relatable and well-written. Overall, ToG is a solid start to a series that promises to deliver even more heart-pounding action and political intrigue as it goes on.
Summary
Throne of Glass is a young adult fantasy series that follows the story of Celaena Sardothien, a deadly assassin who must compete in a tournament against other criminals to become the king’s champion. If she wins, she earns her freedom. And she has no other choice since she’s imprisoned in the salt mines of Endovier.
Maas’s writing style is engaging and witty, and she creates a well-crafted world full of intrigue and danger. Celaena is a complex and fascinating character, with a backstory that slowly unfolds throughout the series. As a reader, I found myself rooting for her, even as she struggled to come to terms with her past and her present. The other characters in the book are equally well-drawn, from the mysterious and brooding Prince Dorian to the stoic and loyal Captain Westfall.
Overall, “Throne of Glass” is a well-written and entertaining book that is sure to please fans of young adult fantasy. Maas has created a world that is both familiar and unique, and her characters are complex and engaging. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is definitely one to check out.
Plot
Throughout the first book, we see Celaena’s character development as she struggles with her past traumas and tries to find her place in the world. We also see her relationships with Chaol and Dorian develop, leading to a love triangle that becomes a central plot point in the series.
The reader learns about dangerous magic present in the castle, and the outside world, and the larger forces at play controlling some characters’ fates.
As the series progresses, the plot involves even more action, magic, and political intrigue. It’s difficult for me to describe the plot in later books without giving away major spoilers and plot twists. I can say that the plot expands in scope and truly becomes an epic fantasy as the series continues.
Characters
Protagonist Celaena Sardothien is strong, stubborn, and often frustrating. Her character development throughout the series is a joy to watch, as she learns to trust others and come to terms with her own flaws. Dorian is the smooth and playful Crown Prince, who manages to be likeable and ends up being one of the most dynamic characters in the series. Chaol, the Captain of the Royal Guard, starts out a bland and loyal sidekick to Dorian, and develops into a deeply sympathetic character who I begrudgingly ended up respecting a lot.
There are quite a few more incredible characters introduced as the series goes on, but in the interest of avoiding spoilers, I’ll let you meet them yourself as you read the books.
Romance
Ah, romance! The spice of life. The icing on the cake. The…well, you get the point. As a hopeless romantic, I was excited to dive into the world of Throne of Glass and see what romantic entanglements awaited me.
First things first: yes, there is romance in Throne of Glass. But don’t expect it to be the main focus of the book. It’s more of a subtle undercurrent that adds depth to the characters and their relationships. If you’re looking for a sappy love story, you might be disappointed. But if you’re looking for a book that balances action, suspense, and just a touch of romance, you’re in the right place.
One thing I appreciated about the romantic relationships in Throne of Glass was that they felt realistic. There are no instant connections or love-at-first-sight moments. Instead, the characters develop feelings for each other over time, based on shared experiences and genuine connection.
I was going to say that it’s refreshing to see a book that doesn’t rely on tired romance tropes, but alas, there is a love triangle. Actually, there are more like three love triangles throughout the series. And they’re painfully predictable. However, unlike ACOTAR, they’re not a case of one person being clearly better than the other – they’re more a matter of personal preference.
Overall, I enjoyed the romantic elements of Throne of Glass. They added an extra layer of complexity to the story and made me care even more about the characters. So if you’re a sucker for a good love story, don’t worry – there’s enough here to keep you satisfied. But even if you’re not, there’s still plenty to enjoy in this series.
World Building
When I first picked up Throne of Glass, I was blown away by the incredible world building that Sarah J. Maas had created. The imagination and attention to detail that went into crafting this fantasy world is truly impressive.
One of the things that I appreciated most about the world building in Throne of Glass was the political intrigue that permeates every aspect of the story. The first book focuses on the kingdom of Adarlan, with power struggles and alliances constantly shifting behind the scenes. As the story progresses and the stakes get higher, the political machinations become even more intense. Throughout the series, the reader is introduced to a tapestry of kingdoms, factions, leaders, and alliances.
Of course, fans of Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series will recognize some familiar elements in the world of Throne of Glass. While the two series are set in different worlds, there are certain similarities in terms of the magical elements and the overall tone of the stories. However, I found that the world of Throne of Glass had a more grounded, gritty feel to it, which I really enjoyed.
Writing Style
Throne of Glass is Maas’ debut novel, and it shows. The story goes that ToG was originally written on an online forum and Maas edited it and submitted it to a publisher after getting great fan feedback. As the series continues, Maas really comes into her own as a writer.
However, while the world-building was fantastic, some of the dialogue between characters seemed off in the earlier books. It felt like the characters were trying too hard to be witty and clever, which made some of the conversations feel forced and unnatural.
Additionally, the drama between characters was petty and awful at times. It was hard to take some of the conflicts seriously, especially when they were over something trivial. That being said, I did appreciate the humor and wit that was sprinkled throughout the book.
The pacing in the beginning of the first book was slow. I find this to be the case with the first book in all of Maas’ series, as she attempts to delve deeply into world-building without much meaningful action. But, it picked up enough that I stayed interested and powered through the 5,000+ page series.
Maas does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing and throwing in unexpected twists and turns. I never knew what was coming next, which made the reading experience all the more enjoyable.
Conclusion
I have to say, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas definitely lived up to the hype! From start to finish, this book had me laughing, crying, and on the edge of my seat with all the action and suspense.
Equal parts fantasy and adventure, with a bit of romance sprinkled in, this book — and series — truly has something for everyone. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the world-building is top-notch. Maas has created a rich and immersive world that I couldn’t help but get lost in.
Overall, I would highly recommend Throne of Glass. Whether you’re a fan of fantasy, romance, or just a good adventure story, this series is sure to please.