(MAY CONTAIN SPOLIERS)
'THRONE OF GLASS' (series) - Sarah J. Maas
BUY SET FROM:
* WHSmith - Paperback Box Set - currently on sale for £57.60
(all copies from WHSmith are currently on sale for the price stated next to it).
Rating: 5/5
This series was amazing! I am going to link each book individually below with a little review of each. I fell in love with the characters and Sarah J. Maas' writing, there just aren't enough words to describe HOW MUCH I adore this series; it's joint first with Harry Potter for my favourite books haha!
There are also a couple of ways to read this series. I have to admit that I didn't actually read the prequel containing five novellas until after I'd finished reading the series; it didn't come in the set I received for Christmas so I didn't realise it actually existed until I started reading! I don't think it meant I missed anything, but it did introduce characters that appear later on in the series and add a little bit more of the backstory. Yet on the other hand, it was nice to revisit the characters after finishing such an epic series. There is also the option to do a tandem read of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn because they run along the same timeline but focus on different protagonists (sounds off putting but trust me it was 100% worth it). Some people say this is too confusing, but personally I found it fine, and I'm glad I did because otherwise I'd've wanted to skip straight from EoS to Kingdom of Ash. Here are the two ways people often recommend reading the series in:
PUBLICATION ORDER:
Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight
The Assassin's Blade
Heir of Fire
Queen of Shadows
Empire of Storms
Tower of Dawn
Kingdom of Ash
PURIST ORDER:
The Assassin's Blade
Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight
Heir of Fire
Queen of Shadows
Empire of Storms
Tower of Dawn
Kingdom of Ash
The Assassin's Blade:
BUY FROM:
When I re-read this series I will probably read it in the romantic order and start with these novellas! As I've already said this was an amazing book and a really good introduction to the characters that will be introduced later on in the series too.
SYNOPSIS:
Celaena Sardothien is her kingdom's most feared assassin. Though she works for the powerful and ruthless Assassin's Guild, Celaena yields to no one and trusts only her fellow killer for hire, Sam. When Celaena's scheming master, Arobynn Hamel, dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, she finds herself acting independently of his wishes-and questioning her own allegiance. Along the way, she makes friends and enemies alike, and discovers that she feels far more for Sam than just friendship. But by defying Arobynn's orders, Celaena risks unimaginable punishment, and with Sam by her side, he is in danger, too. They will have to risk it all if they hope to escape Arobynn's clutches-and if they fail, they'll lose not just a chance at freedom, but their lives . . .Throne of Glass:
BUY FROM:
I read this first book in a day! I was hooked from the beginning, it was an amazing page-turner and I loved the concept of the tournament to win her freedom and the introduction to the protagonist Celaena. I must admit that I was an avid Celaena/Chaol shipper over Celaena/Dorian in the first few books. I felt that the world building was really good for a YA fantasy and not confusing to follow along with either.
SYNOPSIS:
Meet Celaena Sardothien. Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness. In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake. She got caught. Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament - fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin's heart be melted?Crown of Midnight:
BUY FROM:
Out of all of the books in this series, this is probably my least favourite (yet I still rated it 5 stars)! It's not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination, it's still amazing, but after reading the entire series I have others which I favour over this one. It does feel a little bit slower than ToG, but I think that's because it's moving away from the tournament set up of the first novel. This one however, left me heartbroken and I was desperate to start the third!
SYNOPSIS:
The action-packed, heart-wrenching and fantastically addictive sequel to Sarah J. Maas's epic YA fantasy debut THRONE OF GLASS. Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien is bold, daring and beautiful - the perfect seductress and the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But though she won the King's contest and became his champion, Celaena has been granted neither her liberty nor the freedom to follow her heart. Celaena faces a choice that is tearing her to pieces: kill in cold blood for a man she hates, or risk sentencing those she loves to death. Celaena must decide what she will fight for: survival, love or the future of a kingdom. Because an assassin cannot have it all ... And trying to may just destroy her.Heir of Fire:
BUY FROM
This is probably my favourite book out of the series! I loved the character development in this and the introduction of the new characters is just *chefs kiss*, and I enjoy having multiple POVs to demonstrate how everyone's story in this is intertwined. This book is where the action diverges from what you think the plot is going to be (from how the first two books are set out) but wow it is one hell of a rollercoaster.
Also, if you love the slow burn enemies to lovers trope, and every single variation that entails (e.g. the "who did this to you" scenario) then this is for you! Whilst it's not a romance novel, the romantic sub-plot is amazing.
SYNOPOSIS:
Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed? The bestselling series that has captured readers all over the world reaches new heights in this sequel to the New York Times best-selling Crown of Midnight. Packed with heart-pounding action, fierce new characters, and swoon-worthy romance, this third book will enthrall readers from start to finish.Queen of Shadows:
BUY FROM
This book really delves into the multiple POVs and is really the bridge between Celaena fighting for her life in Rifthold, and the start of the war for her (as Aelin) to win back her kingdom. Again, I loved it!
SYNOPSIS:
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire-for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past... She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight. She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return. Celaena's epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena's story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.Now, to the tandem read! I am going to include a hyperlink to a separate blog post as to the order I read this book, I found a list on Pinterest but found it blurry so here is the clearer version.
Empire of Storms:
BUY FROM:
WOW. This book was heartbreaking, heartwarming, shocking, tear-jerking (both bad and good) - all the feels basically - and jam packed with plot twists. Without a shadow of a doubt, this book has 5 stars!
SYNOPSIS:
Kingdoms collide in Sarah J. Maas's epic fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series. The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't. With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear. Aelin will have to choose what -- and who -- to sacrifice if she's to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.Tower of Dawn:
BUY FROM:
* WHSmiths - Paperback - £7.37
After being inundated with book-tok's collective distaste for this instalment, a main factor in me deciding to do the tandem read because otherwise I would've most likely skipped this and gone straight to KoA, I begrudgingly began the read.
I don't know what book book-tok have read but it cannot be the same one I did because it was incredible! Whilst it isn't my favourite, and I do prefer the Aelin focused novels, this was amazing. Personally, I think this book allows Chaol to undergo the best character development of the entire series. I also fell in love with the new characters we were introduced to, Yrene especially. Do not skip this one, I know it's tempting!
SYNOPSIS:
Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since Aelin shattered the glass castle, since Chaol's men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken. Now he and Nesryn sail for Antica - the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire and of the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme. It's Chaol's one shot at recovery, and with war looming back home, Dorian and Aelin's survival could depend on Chaol and Nesryn convincing Antica's rulers to ally with them. But what they discover there will change them both - and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined. Kingdom of Ash:
BUY FROM:
This last book left me with a serious book-hangover. It was one hell of a rollercoaster, and probably my second favourite book (HoF reigns supreme) out of the entire series. I can't lie, it was sad to put this series to bed and finish the story, it was perfection.
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