Author: Sarah J. Maas
ISBN: 9781599906959
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Released: August 07, 2012
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Page #: 404
Source: ARC from the publisher
Summary:
"In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.
The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. And a princess from a foreign land will become the one thing sh enever thought she'd have again: a friend. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass - and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world."
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First Lines:
"After a year of slavery in the Salt Mines of Endovier, Celaena Sardothien was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at sword-point. Most of the thousands of slaves in Endovier received similar treatment - through an extra half-dozen guards always walked Celaena to and from the mines."
Page 1
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Review:
Girl Assassin?! I'm in.
Celaena has spent her life learning from the top assassin - tricks of the trade... until she got caught. She spent the last year in a work camp... mining. Now, the Crown Prince needs a champion. Someone who isn't afraid of challenges and killing. A competition has been set up for someone to be given the job of the King's Champion. Celaena has to win - or it's back to prison for her... and certain death.
I have heard a lot about this book lately. I guess it's mostly been publisher marketing stuff, but it was totally worth it. This book really stands up to all the stuff I've seen about it. There's action, crazy monsters, scary killer-types, lovely boys ;), and unexpected friendship. So really, it has everything you could possibly want.
I really love kick-ass girl characters. Can you imagine spending your life becoming a honed assassin - and being the best there is? By Seventeen?! Crazytown! But that's what makes Celaena so amazing. She has had an amazing amount of life experience by then and she's taking on her next big challenge. To live in a castle where she's not known as the famous assassin. Where she's not appreciated the way she has been in the past. She's become almost anonymous.
And now there's a killer on the loose - and it's not Celaena. Players in the competition start dying mysteriously and brutally. No one knows what is happening, but the champions start being very careful. Celaena is always surrounded by guards and has two interesting guys looking out for her...
Speaking of them, she has both the Crown Prince and the Captain of the Guard at her beck and call. The captain is actually training with her and helping her get back her strength from her time in prison. The Prince is her sponsor. But both of them have become much more to her than that. They protect her, help her. I really enjoyed that this wasn't your typical love triangle - they didn't have that sort of relationship. It made it much more interesting for me.
Celaena also made a friend in a foreign princess visiting the castle. It helped that she already spoke the language, but theirs is a fast friendship and it keeps her grounded. I love how this friendship formed - it seemed very realistic and exactly the type of friendship you can cherish. I just thought it was well done. And the twist about the princess in the end really made it that much more solid for me.
I highly recommend this book. There are so many wonderful high fantasy novels out there and I know this one will find its place among them. Not to mention that this is only the first book! I am so excited to see where things go from here. There were so many characters to follow and I can only imagine the craziness that could be coming. I will be waiting for that one starting... well, now. :) It's a great read that you won't be able to put down.
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