Author A. N. Horton

This was my first Sarah J. Maas book.

I KNOW! DON’T COME FOR ME, BOOKSTAGRAM.

But here’s the deal.

I started this book years ago. YEARS. Before I had a proper appreciation for the fantasy genre. I’ve tried to read this book on four separate occasions and only this last time did I get through it. 

Surprisingly, I found myself wondering why I never finished it before. Celaena isn’t likable, not by a long shot, (and if you know me, you know that’s a big deal in whether or not I continue reading. If I like the characters, I can abide by nearly any plot) but she’s not supposed to be. Her entire personality is that she isn’t likable. She can’t be. She’s a rose who uses her thorns to survive. And that intrigues me.

I have to give it a lower rating because of how many times I started reading and failed and for a few other reasons. I didn’t think there was enough about the actual championship events, not enough chances to show that Celaena truly was this skillful assassin that everyone said she was, and too much about the will-they won’t-they between her and two male suitors. Which I’m all for, of course, but… this is a fantasy novel, yes? Not a romance? Would have preferred more fantasy.

All in all though, a good read and I’ve definitely already moved on to reading the second.

Q FOR THRONE OF GLASS READERS: Dorian or Chaol? 😏