Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas - Review

Here we are, the last post of #FaeFebruary. To close off this month of talking about faeries and fantasy, I wanted to review Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. Maybe the least 'fae'-novel of the month, with only hints to Fae and magic. It's a book I heard a lot about on Instagram and in the entire book-community. Since I'm the biggest fan of ACOTAR, I felt obliged to (finally) read the ToG series too. I've now only read the first book of the series because it contains 8 books, I know I don't know a lot yet. So much is hinted towards but not explained yet. Bear with me if you've read the books already, that I'm in the unknowing at this moment. Let's get into it!

In Throne of Glass, we follow Celaena, on of the best assassins in the world. Because she had been betrayed, she ended up as a slave. At the start of the book, Celaena is asked by Prince Dorian of Adarlan to become his champion in his father's competition. If she wins, she can regain her freedom after 4 years of work for the King. Celaena, of course, says yes and so the story begins. 

Is it weird if I say that I clearly see that this is an earlier novel of Maas? I think that in writing style and plot, Maas has become a better writer over the years. This month I've read a lot of her books and I do see a difference. 

I liked the story, but I wasn't as hooked, as I've been with her other books. This might be because it is only the first one. I found Celaena to be a little too arrogant for my liking, in the sense that she brags that she can bring people down, but doesn't show that really. Especially not in the earlier chapters of the novel. This made me a little hesitant to actually start liking her. The fact that she is a bookworm, I did enjoy a lot. The fact that she has these two totally different sides made her more realistic and fun to read. 

This novel is written from a third-person perspective, because of this, Maas is able to show different characters and their views. Like so, we see Celaena from both Dorian and Choal's perspective. But we also learn some motivations behind the 'villains' or evil characters. As well as hints to the larger story behind this first book. 

Together with Celaena, we are really kept in the dark about the magic and Fae in the world. We learn about Wyrdmarks, but not much more. Even though other characters do seem to know more. Her Fae ancestry is also hinted towards and from a few spoilers I've read online, I might be able to guess where the story is going. 

Overall, it was a fun story. It did feel like the 'beginning' with so much being unclear. Like all other Maas books, I read it at a fast pace. Her writing makes it so easy to flow through the pages. I wasn't as hooked as I have been in other books of her, but I look forward to the next in the series and what that will bring. Thank you for reading!

With love,

Julia

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