Throne of Glass: 1

I'd like to start this review by congratulating Bloomsbury UK on such a kick ass cover and one that in my humble opinion, far exceeds the US cover (if only they could have made it hardback!!!!) I'm now thinking there should be a special UK hardback edition, yes? I really don't know where to start other than saying that I thought Throne of Glass was EXCELLENT - the characterisation, the character arcs, the plot, even the bloody book cover is SPOT ON and this has definitely become one of my favourite YA novels of all time. In case you haven't figured it out yet, Throne of Glass is a YA fantasy novel told from the eyes of a teenage girl called Celaena but she's no ordinary teenage girl. She's one of the fiercest assassins in the land with a reputation to match but she's currently locked up as a slave in the deadly salt mines. One day, the prince makes her an offer she can't refuse - to act as his champion in a contest to find a royal assassin. If she wins, she serves the kingdom for three years and then, she's free to go. But it's not that simple, especially when other contestants start dying in mysterious circumstances. Throw in a couple of suitors by way of the Captain of the Guard and the prince himself, as well as a sprinkle of magic and you've got a hell of a story on your hands. This book was epic and I'm very proud to say that I did not need the pronunciation guide on Sarah's website. With regards to the love interests, it was very difficult to decide which team to be on. Before you get your panties in a twist, there isn't a love triangle as such but the prince and the Captain of the Guard cannot help but feel attracted to the beautiful assassin. She unwittingly captures both of their attentions and each of them has something to offer. Prince Dorian has a charm about him, a confidence in a way although he gives himself away with his occasional blushes which are ADORABLE by the way. And then we've got Chaol (the Captain of the Guard) who falls for her against his better judgement although really, I'm not sure either of them realise that. I love the fact that we can see it in the words unspoken. Prince Dorian is more unguarded with his feelings, more boyish whereas Chaol is cautious as ever as experience has taught him to be. There weren't a lot of secondary characters that really stood out for me besides Nehemia and really, I'm just glad that Celenea found an ally in her. I'm not going to say very much about the plot but trust me when I tell you that you have to discover it yourself and what you find, will surprise you. Can I just say as well that it's fantastic to have such a strong, female character and I enjoyed every second of her story. Throne of Glass was an impressive debut that far exceeded my expectations. I loved everything about the book and I can't wait to dive back into this world when the sequel Crown of Midnight is published this year.

This was a bit like reading two separate books in a way. I found it difficult to connect with the characters and the story in the first half, and it really dragged in parts. Now, I understand and fully agree that first books in a series will always be a little slower as the world is revealed and the characters are introduced and developed, and I made allowances for that, but this was just way too slow-moving in general. Given that blurb, I was expecting lots of kick-ass action which failed to materialize until the latter part of the book. However, once I hit the half-way point the action ramped up, the romance kicked in, the suspense intensified, and I became totally HOOKED. So much so that I finished the second half rather quickly! Initially, I didn't warm to either Celaena or Dorian. Honestly, she was so cocky and arrogant and he was so cocky and smarmy. Pretty much a match made in heaven. I liked Chaol from the get-go and I found his character to be the most consistent. By the end of the book I did like both Celaena and the Crown Prince, and in fact, I was most upset for Dorian in the last few chapters with how flippantly Celaena seemed to dismiss him. She seemed to resume her non-caring persona again which aggravated me on his behalf. The fantasy element of the plot has me totally entranced and it was so mysterious and magical right up till the last page. I freaking LOVED it. I also love how bad-ass Celaena is and how she trounced all the other competitors. You go girl. Part of my disappointment with the earlier part of the novel was how limited the action was and little opportunity for Celaena to showcase her skills, but the latter part more than made up for that. I'm expecting way more action in the remaining series and I can't wait to see what happens next. The secondary characters were decent with a fair share of baddies and goodies, and confusion over who could be trusted. Love that in a book! The writing, I felt, was a little amateurish in parts at the beginning but it flowed much more smoothly as the book progressed. I loved the slow-developed romance between Dorian and Celaena but the love triangle is a mess. Not sure if you could even call it that yet. Guess I'll have to wait and see how it pans out. Overall, by the end, I really enjoyed the book and I'm glad I stuck with it. I'm looking forward to continuing the series. Actual Rating: 3.75 stars. This review will be posted to my blog in due course: My YA NA Book Obsession

amazing plot, amazing characters i love it

続きが速く読みたくなる。寝不足になるくらいおもしろい

I just love this series. It's beautifully written. I can kick myself for not starting it sooner.

Molto carino per gli amanti della saga!

Love this book Just wish for paper packs they would add a bit more protection so that it wont get small minor dents and scratches