Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)
by: Sarah J. Maas
Published: August 7th 2012 by Bloomsbury USA Children's
E-ARC-Received from publisher
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.
Well, it was wayyy back in 2002. I was sixteen years old, and at home one night, listening to the soundtrack to Disney’s Cinderella. Upon hearing the music that accompanies the moment when Cinderella flees the ball, I thought that it was pretty dark and intense—and way-better suited for a story where Cinderella had done something REALLY bad. Like…steal from the prince. Or—even better, what if Cinderella was an assassin sent to the ball to kill the prince? Thus Celaena Sardothien (the heroine of Throne of Glass) was born.
2) What's one thing my readers would be surprised to learn about you?
Hmmm. I was in a Goosebumps book when I was younger. Yep. R. L. Stein’s kids went to my elementary/middle school, and for the annual fundraising auction, he donated a prize to have your kids’ names in his next Goosebumps novel. Well, I was a R. L. Stein fanatic, so my parents were awesome and bid on it—and won. So, Sarah Maas will forever be the heroine of The Curse of Camp Cold Lake (my little brother, Aaron, also got to have his name in the book).
3) What are you working on right now?
Book Two of the Throne of Glass series! I’m just starting revisions based on my editor’s feedback! And, as always, I’m just fiddling with a bunch of other, secret, non-TOG projects. ;)
4) What have you found to be the most difficult in the writing process ie: the writing, or the promoting?
Finding a balance between writing, promotion, and having a healthy social life. I think I’m still figuring out how to juggle it all, honestly.
5) What books have you read lately, any recommendations?
Recent releases?
Melina Marchetta’s Lumatere Chronicles (starting with Finnikin of the Rock).
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard.
Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo.
Legend by Marie Lu.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer.
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson.
Um, I could go on and on and on, because there are so many fabulous YA books out there right now.
6) I read that you grew up in New York, what a great experience. What would you say is your favorite NYC attraction(s)?
If I had to pick just one…Well, for me, it’d be the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center. It’s where the American Ballet Theatre performs, and it’s probably my favorite place in the whole world. Growing up (and until I moved to California), my family had season tickets to ABT, and I just have the most lovely memories associated with the Opera House.
and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (such a mysterious, magical place).
7) Dream Sequence: Your book has been opted for a film, what actors would you like to see played as your characters?
Celaena: Jennifer Lawrence
(she was my perfect Celaena BEFORE she was cast in The Hunger Games!)
(she was my perfect Celaena BEFORE she was cast in The Hunger Games!)
Dorian: Drew Roy
Chaol: Sam Worthington
Princess Nehemia: Kat Graham
8) Think about your favorite film, now you’re inside that movie, what character would you be, and why?
9) If you could travel anywhere, real or fantasy world, where would you go and why?
Gahhhh. Tough question.
Let’s just keep it to this world, so this answer isn’t a million pages long. There are so many places on earth that I’d love to go to—so many things to see and people to meet that I honestly can’t pick one.
But…My grandma is a holocaust survivor—and as a child, she was smuggled around Europe, hidden in people’s houses and in schools and churches. I’d love to someday follow the path she took, and try to find the descendants of the people who risked everything to get her to safety. It’d be the trip of a lifetime—and an honor.
10) Finish this sentence: I can't live without __________?
COFFEE. (Not even joking.)
OK, here are some fun questions:
This or That
Summer or Winter? Autumn! Ha, sorry. Autumn is my favorite season—I’ve never been that into summer or winter (though now that I live in California, we don’t even have seasons.)
Coffee or Tea? COFFEE.
Cake or Pie? Cake!!!
Harry Potter or Twilight? Harry Potter, please! :)
Little Mermaid or Snow White? Little Mermaid, all the way!
TV or Movies? Oof. Um. UM. Movies. No. TV. Agh. Both. BOTH! (This is the most impossible question ever!)
Captivating and thrilling! You will fall for Miss Maas writing style, with fantastic world building, you will become lost within the pages of Throne Of Glass
Celaena, a heroine that I adore and wouldn't mind befriending, has spent countless days as a prisoner in the salt mines of Endovier, as a prisoner/slave, whom manages to survive day by day in this ghastly place, where prisoners usually die within 3-6 month time span.
When all seems to be lost and all hope gone, for our heroine, hope comes in the form of a group of men, and a proposition that may be too hard to refuse. This proposition, involves a death match of sorts, and freedom granted from the King himself . So, of course Calaena is eager to start but she must train vigorously and must sparr with the worst of them, she also must stay in the Kings castle, heavily watched over by numerous guards. Celaena is none to happy over being in the ice castle and is defiant verbally with those whom are trying to help. Slowly, Celaena builds relationships with the Captain of the guard, Chaol, Prince Dorrian, and Princess Nehemia.
When all seems to be lost and all hope gone, for our heroine, hope comes in the form of a group of men, and a proposition that may be too hard to refuse. This proposition, involves a death match of sorts, and freedom granted from the King himself . So, of course Calaena is eager to start but she must train vigorously and must sparr with the worst of them, she also must stay in the Kings castle, heavily watched over by numerous guards. Celaena is none to happy over being in the ice castle and is defiant verbally with those whom are trying to help. Slowly, Celaena builds relationships with the Captain of the guard, Chaol, Prince Dorrian, and Princess Nehemia.
With the tournament under way with twenty participants, whom will, one at a time be eliminated after each round. A participant's death has surfaced within the castle walls, then the mystery begins of the who? what? where? is killing more of them off. More mysteries come into light and I found them highly enjoyable as Miss Maas weaves an intricate story, that will have you enjoying every minute of it.
With a killer on the loose, Celaena is in full detective mode. She comes through with answers and manages to raise suspicion within her friends or foe. She is a strong, likable protaginist, who I just enjoy reading about.
Keenly away of her surroundings and highly mature for her age, we do see glimpse of Celaena's softer side and we actually see Celaena enjoying herself at times, as well as being her naturally carefree self.
Keenly away of her surroundings and highly mature for her age, we do see glimpse of Celaena's softer side and we actually see Celaena enjoying herself at times, as well as being her naturally carefree self.
A blossoming relationship seems to be really budding in this book, and I highly enjoy the bantor of the Prince and Celaena, but that may be as far as we get as the relationship between these two is forbidden, but I'm not sure anything or anyone can pull these two apart.
I really enjoyed reading all 4 novella's as well as this book and I am a fan of Sarah's, now as well, I am highly awaiting book #2 in the series to see Celaena's adventure continue.....
Thank you Bloomsbury for inviting me on the tour and for the review arc of Throne Of Glass.
5/5 Stars
Since I loved this book I decided to share my love with a giveaway!
Check out the rules below, Good Luck!
- Enter to win 1 copy of Throne Of Glass
- Must fill rafflecopter form
- Must be 13 yrs. older
- Winner will have 48hrs. to respond to winning e-mail
- Open to all (INT)
- open 8/22-9/14
