Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)

by Sarah J. Maas

[Stephanie]

This review was originally posted on Once Upon a Chapter



Where do I even start with this review? First of all: I'm sorry. I'm sorry that it took me so long to pick up Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I have had it for at least a year if not longer. I think that the insane amount of hype surrounding Maas's work just made me anxious. What if I was the one person who just couldn't get it? I always think this and typically I'm wrong. I end up loving it. This time; however, I had good reason to worry. I had read the first chapter or two when it first came out and couldn't get into it. It just didn't hook me the way that I thought it would.

For the most part I enjoyed the book. Celaena Sardothien is the kind of girl I want to be when I grow up. What she wants you to see is a bad ass assassin who can be as cold and clinical as a physician when it comes to murder. And she can be, but she's also a reader. A girl who loves fancy dresses and baubles. A loyal friend. A person just as capable of loving and hurting as you and I. And she's not afraid to cut a bitch if you mess with those she cares about.

Normally I don't do love triangles. I feel like too many books use it as a crutch because they can't find a better way to add conflict to the novel. In short, it's lazy...when it's the only conflict. The signs were all there and I knew we'd see a Chaol/Dorian/Celaena triangle. I dreaded it. Maas does it subtly. I'm not blind and I knew the majority of people were "team Chaol". Hell I'd never even heard of Dorian before reading Throne of Glass. I thought you were all nuts. Dorian was clearly the one meant for Celaena. Until that thing at the ring. Chaol won me over with that one act. It was heartbreaking and beautiful.

Maas has become one of my favorite new fantasy authors. She blends a beautiful world with enough realism that you feel like you could visit Rifthold. Her characters are flawed but you still want to be their friend. I don't think I mentioned the intrigue. Did I mention the intrigue? It had me pressing the page turn so quickly my thumbs were sore. I am so glad Alexa and I decided to buddy read this for Dewey's. It was just what I needed and I can't wait for the next book!