Throne of Glass (Miniature Character Collection) (Throne of Glass Mini Character Collection) Flexibound – November 5, 2019

Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan's Assassin - feared, fierce, lethal. Everyone in Erilea knows her name, a name synonymous with death. But then betrayed, caught, tried, convicted, Celaena is sentenced to a lifetime in the unforgiving salt mines of Endovier as punishment for her many crimes. In an ironic twist of fate, she's offered the chance to compete to become the Champion of the very king who condemned her; in doing so, earning her freedom... and possibly becoming Erilea's best hope against the dark forces that would seek to destroy it.Celaena. Celaena is a character who could be considered rather... off-putting had I not read the prequel novellas that lead up to Throne of Glass. She's irritatingly arrogant, projects an unwavering confidence, she's overbearingly prideful, prickly, a bit of a know-it-all, she's selfish, spoiled, abrasive, a bit of a snob, and of course, an extremely lethal assassin.Right about now you're probably saying, "And you like her... why?"Because while she's most certainly flawed, and possibly more than most protagonists, the four novellas prior give the reader a front row seat as to the circumstances that brought Celaena to the salt mines of Endovier, and just what made Celaena Sardothien, the Celaena Sardothien. The character development these four "episodes" provide is invaluable and engenders an empathy for this tough-as-nails girl assassin who's endured so much and become so hardened in her very short life. Because although Celaena is all those things mentioned above, underneath the facade she's also an intriguing mixture of insecurity, doubt, fear, sorrow. She's a smart girl who's learned very quickly that emotion can be exploited by one's enemies and that the only person she can really count on is herself. Nothing in life is guaranteed, especially people. People leave, they die, they betray, they fail. Celaena is not a person who gives her trust, nor does she open her heart to others, easily. This is even true for the reader. While who Celaena is becomes apparent to the reader, there are certain things about her that remain a closely guarded secret. Celaena reveals about herself only what she wants to be known, though there are moments when her defenses are breached, giving the reader tantalizing clues about the mysteries of Celaena's life.So, coming into Throne of Glass knowing what I know about her, I loved Celaena. Because in addition to those other qualities she's also infectiously passionate, she's brave, perceptive, quick-witted with a tongue that's as sharp as her sword, she has a talent for reading people and situations, and she has a soft spot for the mistreated and oppressed. She's a perplexing tangle of curiously childlike and being wise beyond her years. She's a girl, who at the beginning of this novel has endured shattering betrayal and excruciating heartbreak... which made me want to give her a hug, knowing full well that I might come out of the encounter with a bloody nose and broken fingers. And though she is a ruthless assassin, she does have a sense of honor, a code by which she acts, and her line of work does indeed cause her some moral conflict. She's just a very well done, thoroughly complicated, slightly broken character, which if you've read enough of my reviews, you'll know those are the ones I love the most.Dorian & Chaol. The Crown Prince and his Captain of the Guard. A reader and a warrior. The best of friends. Both fascinated with the same girl. A very, very dangerous girl.For Prince Dorian, selecting Celaena Sardothien as his Champion in the competition was a way to thumb his nose at his father's authority while still adhering to his father's wishes. His relationship with Celaena was never supposed to get personal, but her wit, passion and snark, so different from that of the simpering court ladies, intrigues him in ways he never expected.Reserved, devoted to duty, honor and excellence, Captain Chaol Westfall's personal opinion of his prince's chosen Champion isn't very high. She's nothing but a convict, a murderer of countless people. She's manipulative, dishonorable, not to be trusted, soulless and devoid of humanity... right? However, as Chaol trains and guards the young assassin for the competition, he discovers that his initial opinion of the notorious Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan's Assassin, may have been hasty and unfair.Yes. I'll just put it out there... this is a love triangle. But the way it's developed, it's believable, and never feels overly melodramatic. Two best friends; two guys who are both very similar in values, and yet very different in personality; two guys, flawed but wonderful; two guys who both compliment Celaena well, but in different ways; Two guys like this falling for the same young woman for different reasons? I can totally see that happening. I loved the gradual change as both of them began to see Celaena as more than just a convicted criminal and as an actual person with a heart and a soul... and eventually, perhaps, as a friend. Knowing the state in which the novellas left her heart, I was a tad hesitant about the romance aspect of this book (Sam...), but it works and it's done really well... to the point where it's tearing me up a little because both guys are just so...sigh-inducingly wonderful.World. It's obvious to me that the continent of Erilea has been something Sarah J. Maas has been developing for a very long time. From climates, to languages, to landmarks, to legends and local lore, it's a very polished, beautiful and complete world that Celaena Sardothien resides in. Plus, this book got a few automatic points in its favor because it includes a gorgeously drawn and detailed map, which I put to very good use while reading.Story. There are so many things going on in this book, so many threads of things - both subtle and overt - that Sarah is weaving to create a bigger, broader picture. From the main storyline of the competition, to the mystery behind the murders of the Champions, to the unrest in the conquered lands of Erilea, to the abolition of magic, to the political maneuverings and machinations of the royal court, to Celaena's personal mysteries, plus a few threads from the novellas that have not yet been addressed - there's just a lot of story there to work with and Sarah does a fantastic job of keeping a handle on all of them and developing them simultaneously. It's an exciting, fantastic plot, with a deliciously deliberate and well-planned complexity that kept my nose glued to the page.Overall. Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass is darkly enchanting, heartrendingly romantic, unfailingly action-packed and exciting - a definite page-turner and a sure-fire favorite. So read this. Read it now... or risk the wrath of Celaena Sardothien.

The long awaited & extremely hyped series! One book down, seven to go! I really liked book one!Celaena - fierce both in action & wit. Loved her from the start. She is very young and had a huge title on her shoulders. She overcomes a lot in this first book & I’m excited to see how her journey continues.Chaol - I am slightly obsessed with the Captain. At this point, I even like him more than Dorian. Hence why I am addressing him second! I feel like he has a true connection with Celaena, one that is more than just instant attraction like Dorian & her. Chaol’s loyalty is unwavering and solid. I have a sinking feeling he’ll be left heartbroken.. but I’m also excited for his future in the series.Dorian - I don’t have much of an opinion yet! Check back with me after book 2! lolNehemia - I liked her but I feel like there’s a lot more to learn about her! I’m hoping she stays as a loyal friend to Celaena. Though I can imagine it changing between them.Overall, the storyline kept me interested and I’m itching to continue!

THE STORY:Becca : WOW! I mean just WOW! What took us so long to read this Lisa?! I have no idea why I waited so long!! Throne of Glass is absolutely everything it is hyped to be! Action packed, with a hint of romance and fierce characters that are totally bad a$$! I loved everything about this book from the first page to the last!Caelena Sardothien is an assassin, or at least she was until she was captured and forced into captivity and slavery. When the Crown Prince finds her and offers her one shot a freedom, she has no choice but to accept his offer. She is to be placed into a competition (with all men) as Prince Dorian's champion and fight to become a royal assassin. will live in the castle and be trained by the Captain of the Guard Chaol Westfall. When one of the other competitors turns up dead, Caelena discovers there is a lot more going on in the castle than she expected.Throne of Glass isn't just about the competition that Cealena is in, there is so much going on throughout the entire novel! It is so full of action and from one second to the next I never knew what was going to happen! I absolutely loved it!Lisa : Right?! I really don't know why we waited so long. Well, in all honestly, I did attempt to read this last year... but I wasn't in the mood for it, and felt that I wasn't giving it my full attention. I have that issue a lot with fantasy reads. So I ended up putting it down. Picking it back up AND buddy reading it with Becca was the perfect solution, and I loved it this time around! Some books are just even more fun with friends!THE CHARACTERS:Lisa : Celaena Sardothien was some kickass heroine! I loved her spunky and unwillingness to turn the other cheek. She was a toughy, and the fact that she was going up against all men never seemed to phase her. She was determined to do her best and never give up. She gave these guys a run for their money, and never batted an eyelash in the process. Definitely my kind of girl!"Here's a lesson for you, Weapons Master," she said, stalking past him. "Give me real men to fight. Then maybe I'll bother trying."I also completely adored Nehemia and her strength and smarts. This girl had willpower only comparable to Calaena's. That's right, you read it correctly... TWO amazingly strong heroines to take part in this story!With all the guy "team" talk I've seen, I had no idea which way I would go with this one... but I'm totally Team Choal. There's just something about him I really enjoyed. Maybe his total unwillingness to accept his feelings for Calaena, or maybe how protective and strong her came off. Either way, he was totally *SWOON* in my opinion!Becca : Caelena was so totally bad a$$ and awesome! I have definitely read some fierce and heroic heroines Katniss, Tris, Penryn and Caelena definitely tops that list of amazing and unforgettable heroines! I was so captivated by her from the very beginning with her slavery in the mines and then with the competition when all of her competitors were men and she fought so hard and was full of confidence and ability!I agree completely with Lisa that Nehemia was just as amazing! Nehemia provided Caelena with a friend and confidant and I loved their friendship. Once they learned to trust each other, they were unstoppable!“You could rattle the stars," she whispered. "You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.”I have seen all the team talk as well regarding this series and I did my best to ignore it so that I could form my own opinion without preconceived notions. Although, from what I've seen there seems to be an even divide between Chaol and Dorian. After reading Throne of Glass I understand why, they are both pretty amazing! Without spoiling this for others... I am ALL team Chaol over here! I loved the friendship and trust that he and Caelena formed.Even the villains were perfect! Kane, Princess Kaltain and The King were so unlikable and despicable and I loved to hate them!“Sometimes, the wicked will tell us things just to confuse us–to haunt our thoughts long after we've faced them.”This cast of characters was amazing and Maas completely blew me away with how well she developed each one of them! She built a lovable (and sometimes not so lovable) and unforgettable cast of characters!OVERALL:Becca : Sarah J Maas built such an amazing Fantasy world and I was quickly swept into it! The characters, the world building and the story line were all addicting and I cannot wait to continue with this series! This was my first book by Maas and I am excited and eager to read more!“I like music," she said slowly, "because when I hear it, I . . . I lose myself within myself, if that makes any sense. I become empty and full all at once, and I can feel the whole earth roiling around me. When I play. I'm not . . . for once, I'm not destroying, I'm creating.”Lisa : I first fell in love with SJM when I read A Court of Thorns and Roses earlier this year. The way she forms her words into such perfection, taking us to another world completely is astounding. Since I don't read a lot of books in the fantasy genre, it's tough for me to find go-to authors that I'm confident I will enjoy. Sarah J. Maas is now my number one fantasy author! I will definitely be continuing on with this series. If only I could get my hands on Crown of Midnight , like, today!

I've been an SJM mega-fan for a long time. I've read ACOTAR many times and have been anxiously waiting to start Throne of Glass. It did NOT disappoint. I went in knowing that this wasn't going to be like Feyre and Rysand exploding with raw sexual tension, lol. However, there are budding romances and friendships that I can already tell will stay with me long after I finish the series and will pull me back in for many re-reads!