I knew there was a reason I fell in love with this series the first time I read them. They are extremely well-written and possess unique (and likable) characters. Let’s start off with the main character, Celaena Sardothien. She is not your typical assassin. She loves the richness associated with aristocracy. She has an unusual weakness for sweets that the Crown Prince can’t help but give her (and that in itself is hilarious because this is a girl who can kill you in seconds.) But you know what I really love about her character? Her love of books! She’s intelligent and passionate about books and the knowledge they contain and this just resonated with me so much because she sees the beauty behind them. Her interactions with Chaol and Dorian are both unique as they bond in different topics and that makes it so easy to read because everything flows smoothly. She is definitely what makes these books so great! The beauty is behind knowing when to be ruthless and when to be merciful and Celaena has that ability! It is her compassion and her drive to own her freedom that keeps her going and even what that is threatened, time and again she always does the right thing despite how it will hurt her. Not many could or would do that if in her shoes and I think it takes a great amount of strength and courage to pull it off like she did.
Celaena has a very strong moral compass and her compassion to stand up for her beliefs is astounding! We see that quite clearly when she stands up to Dorian after visiting him at the kennels for an uncooperative dog when he says that she will be put down because she’s too wild and angry. She doesn’t back down until Dorian agrees to let the dog live and it’s endearing when he gives her the dog as a gift. Celaena is way more than just Adarlan’s assassin and we see that as a common theme throughout the whole novel and I love that! Especially considering how we’ve already seen her and her abilities in the novellas comprised in the Assassin’s Blade. I love the double sided and complex nature that Celaena possesses. I’m never quite sure how she will react and that makes these books such a treat to read (that and Dorian haha)
One quote that really got to me about Celaena and the world that Maas had created in Throne of Glass was when Celeana commented about the scheming and backstabbing behaviour of Kaltain.
“I hate women like that. They’re so desperate for the attention of men that they’d willingly betray and harm members of their own sex. And we claim men cannot think with their brains! At least men are direct about it.”
I love how it took an outsider like Celaena to size up their world in mere seconds. She is definitely astute and observant! Profound too.
I loved their shared fondness for books and the intellectual banter is so cute and adorable! A girl could get use to the whole flirting over books thing haha.
Page 233 was pivotal for many Dorian fans because it was where Celaena finally confesses that she might actually like Dorian and that made my heart melt because I really do like them together!! (I know they can’t work and it makes sense as to why but who says one can’t indulge in it a little bit haha)
“She very much wanted to stand close to him and have her skin warm under his breath. She liked that. Worse than that, she realized, she liked him.”
When Dorian gave her candy at Yulemas and he caught her scarfing it down oh my god that was the best haha! I could read this scene with sugar crazed Celaena all the time! This again contributes to how great Celaena is and how real she is as a person.
Speaking of funny scenes, I loved when Celaena calls Chaol out for his scowling at patrons at the ball and how it was driving away any chance of her finding a dance partner. The banter between her and Dorian and Chaol is top notch stuff! I truly love it all! So well executed and it really makes these characters shine! I truly mean that. I don’t think these characters would have been as successful in drawing me in as the reader without all of these fun and well written character interactions. Her relationship with these boys keep everything from being too dark and it was perfect, pure and simple. (And let’s not forget when Celaena and Chaol both fell asleep during the Yulemas prayer and how he blames it on her snoring as the reason they were caught) She really helps these two both loosen up especially when all other matters in their life are either hectic, stressful or dangerous. She can liven up the room and that’s just another reason to love her character. She has so much heart despite everything that has happened to her. I can’t imagine a world without her for these guys. It must have been incredibly dull for them.
Nehemia and Celaena’s relationship is so sweet. Their bond over shared knowledge and understanding of the Ellywe language not only opened up the world of Adarlan but it also created this unlikely yet hilarious friendship between a Princess and an assassin. They are caught quite often chatting in a language only they know and Chaol mentions it to Dorian when they gang up on them and it was a truly funny scene. You even see Chaol almost crack a joke and let loose.
“Dorian glared at Chaol. ‘Thanks for your help.’
The captain clapped him on the shoulder. ‘You think that was bad? You should see them when they really get going.” With that, he strode after the women.”
Although an unlikely pairing, Nehemia and Celaena are so well matched and their friendship helped liven the book. Nehemia acted as an outlet for Celaena when she couldn’t turn to Chaol or Dorian and that’s important. Nehemia cares for Celaena so much so that she would risk exposing herself everytime she snuck into her room to draw the wrydmarks to protect her friend. It was even more hilarious when she tells her that it was her doing it and not Cain because she mentions how tedious it was to have to do it each time Celaena erased them!
Oh my god that scene where Celaena is indisposed because of her “monthly cycles” was hilarious to read because Maas hit it on the head. Guys react very strangely when it comes to these topics and seeing how Chaol and Dorian handle it was so real and funny!! It was just brilliant and again it’s a scene where we see Celaena in a vulnerable state and yet she’s still such a likable character (at least for me she is) Chaol was so cute when flustered and Dorian seemed to get more persistent and ended up challenging her and I think that made her fall for him even more. He can joke with her and actually admires her for her boldness. They are the perfect pair, or at least exactly what she needs to get through this competition and yeah when she broke it off at the end it did sting but I understood her point. And when Dorian sees her reading a romance novel shortly after, his reactions are so hilarious!! And when she challenges him on how Chaol passed up her suggestion to read it and Dorian calls her a demon woman was quite something I’ll give you that.
After the dance and the makeout session with Dorian it was so heartwrenching to see Maas include a short scene of Chaol witnessing it from the garden. It just tore at me! And I like the Dorian and Celaena relationship so that’s saying something. This definitely opens up talk of a love triangle between these three and before this it wasn’t really present (except for when he gave her that ring when she couldn’t go to the party) I didn’t see the possibility until 300 pages in. I love how Chaol although skeptical of her always (and with good reason considering she is in fact an assassin) he is able to see her for more than that and he respects her for the honour she displays and the truth she is all too eager to say (even when she shouldn’t)
A lot of foreshadowing in this book like with Queen Elena and her possible connection to nobility in Terrasen. Can’t wait to start Crown of Midnight! I want to know more about all this magic and fae folklore (especially considering how hard the King strives to obliterate it!) you know it will be good when that happens! Haha
Definitely FIVE star material right here!