Throne of Glass

#0.1-#0.5 The Assassin's Blade ★★★★★
#1 Throne of Glass ★★★★★
#2 Crown of Midnight ★★★★★
#3 Heir of Fire ★★★★★
#4 Queen of Shadows ★★★★★
#5 Empire of Storms ★★★★★
#6 Tower of Dawn ★★★★★

reread update — 2023:
I'm surprised to say this, but I loved this so much more than I remembered. I'm finally upping this to a 5-star read. I know a lot of that is chalked up to sentimental value, but it's my review and I do what I want!

original review — 2018:
I have been so hesitant and nervous to officially start this series, with how much I love the ACOTAR books, but after reading The Assassin's Blade a few months ago, I was feeling just a touch more certain that I would enjoy the world, as well as Celaena's character. That said, so many people warned me about the writing in this book not matching up to the level that SJM is at right now, that I half expected it to read quite poorly in 2018. Thankfully, while it certainly is my least favorite of her books, I still found it to be a solidly enjoyable read!

“You could rattle the stars,” she whispered. “You could do anything, if only you dared.”

expect

that

“My name is Celaena Sardothien. But it makes no difference if my name's Celaena or Lillian or Bitch, because I'd still beat you, no matter what you call me.”

a lot

capable

“I can survive well enough on my own—if given the proper reading material.”

Still, the image haunted his dreams throughout the night: a lovely girl gazing at the stars, and the stars who gazed back.

She was surprised that her hands had not forgotten, that somewhere in her mind, after a year of darkness and slavery, music was still alive and breathing. That somewhere, between the notes, was Sam. She forgot about time as she drifted between pieces, voicing the unspeakable, opening old wounds, playing and playing as the sound forgave and saved her.

strongly

The Assassin's Blade.

Throne of Glass