As the title suggests, this isn’t just a post by me! The “we” in reference is my lovely BEA roommates and general bloggish cohorts Val @ The Innocent Smiley and Holly @ The Fox’s Hideaway! This is PART 3 in this particular discussion, so I mean, I would suggest taking a trip over to parts one and two:
Before we dive right on in, a few things you may want to know: As the title suggests, we read this book in March or something, and have been slooowwly discussing it. In case you’ve been living under a rock, the book details:
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas Series: Throne of Glass #1
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA on August 7th 2012
Pages: 406
Format:Paperback
Source:Purchased
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 exhilirating. 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.
The Writing
Ho
lly: I was VERY underwhelmed with the writing. There was something about it that didn’t exactly draw me in, but it was easy to read.
Val: This was SO easy to read. It was 400 pages and I had no problem getting through it within a couple of days! It was the perfect balance between the advancement of the plot, development, and detail.
I think I was expecting something flowery (is that even the word I want?), like purple prose. But it wasn’t. Haha. Not that it was bad, just different from what I usually read in fantasies.
At this point I’m just calling it “purple prose”. I mean, yeah, most fantasy has that. I’m just surprised at how much dialogue was in it! I think that’s why tons of readers like it, because it’s not overwhelming in detail. So much so that even contemporary readers can read it.
Yes! There was SO MUCH dialogue, which I loved. It definitely helps move the story along and make it easier for people to read.
Shannon: I have little to add, I approve of the writing. Maybe a little wordy for my taste, but overall I enjoyed it. Like Val said, it wasn’t overwhelming, which is a problem I sometimes have with fantasy.
Overall Feelings/Thoughts
I quite liked Throne of Glass! It wasn’t the strongest beginning ever, but it was good! And I really can’t wait to read the rest of the books and catch up to everyone.
I LOVED Throne of Glass! I wouldn’t say it’s a 5 star (because what happens if the next books are better?) just because, ah I guess you could say it’s a gut feeling. I didn’t have anything against it, but maybe lacking with world development. Oh, I guess some things didn’t stick with me, it’s only been two months but I barely remember most of it. But other than that, everything was so well balanced, and that’s a really hard thing for an author to do!
Yesssss, it had such great balance!
The beginning was a little “meh” for me, but it picked up for sure. My final rating is around a 3.5 or so, because I was kind of ragey at the beginning, with the vanity and a touch of boredom. But the second half definitely made up for it.
Continuing the Series
Well, I clearly win at this, considering I am on Heir of Fire. Trust me, all the people who shouted “It gets better!” from the rooftops? They’re correct. I couldn’t even stop reading Crown of Midnight. Couldn’t. Heir of Fire has been a tad on the long side, but again, everyone says it’ll pick up! And, I want to be ready for Queen of Shadows!!
I definitely plan on reading Crown of Midnight, and the rest of the series, just because I’ve heard that the series gets better and better. as it goes on. And plus, I’m loving the characters so far, and I would love to see some ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENT, though my hopes are low.
(Sidenote: Get your hopes higher, Val 😉 )
I at least can still dream. Also is Queen of Shadows the last book? Because that’s another reason I have to finish the series.
Nope, there will be six books total!
Ok it’s not the last book, but it’s still reason for me to keep on reading!
Of course I want to read the next books, but I’d rather binge them all together. I’ve already forgotten so much about TOG.
True story, as I am sure everyone can surmise by this discussion, especially my useless two cents.
But I’ve heard they get better and better, and I love series that grow like that, so I can’t wait to see what happens next.
YOU JUST ALWAYS OUTDO US DON’T YOU SHANNON? YOU JUST GO ABOVE AND BEYOND!
I would say we should do this again for book 2, BUT SOMEONE HAS ALREADY READ IT 😛
YEAH. WAY TO GO, SHANNON. ON BOTH SHOWING US UP AND THEN READING ON WITHOUT US. GOOD JOB ON THAT.
Guys, we can still DISCUSS the book! Val read book 1 before us, Holly!
LOL, I actually share a very different opinion from you girls! I hated Throne of Glass, but the sequels WERE so much better, Shannon. So glad you enjoyed (are enjoying?) those! 🙂 And even if Heir of Fire was ginormous, I really enjoyed it.
Also, Val, there is definitely more romance… Although I guess I’m weird because I’m hoping for a LOT less of it in Queen of Shadows. O___O
I hated the first half of Throne of Glass! I contemplated DNFing, actually. BUT, then it got better! I LOVED Crown of Midnight, but Heir of Fire was a little long for me. And I NEEEED more romance in Queen of Shadows! NEED.
I loved Throne of glass and Crown of midnight, I’m just waiting a little to start reading Heir of fire because I want to take my sweet time and not be bothered by anyone (means = when my daughters are on vacation) and then, move along to Queen of Shadows ^^
AHHH good idea! Heir of Fire was LONG, so you will need to take some time! ANd I am excited for Queen of Shadows too!!! EEP! Not too long now 🙂
I’m one of those that has read Throne of Glass but hasn’t (yet) continued with the series. I’m kinda with you, Shannon. I wasn’t floored by it but thought it was pretty good. And I think that has less to do with the book and a lot more to do with the fact that I am not a fantasy reader. I’m very much a contemporary girl (and sometimes paranormal) so fantasy is way outside my comfort zone. But it’s impossible to ignore the love for this series so I gave it a go. I’ll definitely continue on with the series and I’m happy to hear the romance quotient gets upped. I’m a sucker for it and it’ll help the fantasy elements go down easier. 🙂
Ahhh that makes sense! I agree with you about romance helping the fantasy stuff along 😉 I am hit or miss with fantasy- some I adore, and some… not so much. But this series really does get better as it goes! (The romance in Crown of Midnight = AMAZING!)
I just finished Heir of Fire on Monday this week, and I really enjoyed it! I think it and the novellas were my favorites so far. Some would say to read the novellas before you read Crown of Midnight (but I couldn’t wait so I ended up reading the novellas after CoM), and honestly they might be right because Celaena’s backstory was freaking awesome and made me love her that much more as a character. I would love to read more ToG discussion posts by you three!
OOOH I must read the novellas! I have them, but I may wait until right before Queen of Shadows comes out! I shall tell the others to get their act together and start CoM 😀
HURRY UP AND READ ON GIRLIES!!! 🙂 I really want to see you discuss the other books together. These posts were a lot of fun!
Aww thanks! I am trying to get them to hurry up and get on with it 😉 Maybe everyone pushing them along will help too!
I love this idea for a book review/buddy read! So much fun!
I have NOT read this series and doubt I ever will – too triangle-y, complicated, and messy on the romantic front. >.< But I'm glad you are loving!
Aww thank you! And yeah- it IS quite triangle-y. Even if it isn’t an exact triangle.. I think it’s enough to make you really stabby 😉 VERY romantically messy.
*whispers to Val* The next books DO get better! Like, into the ionosphere better.
Hahha right!??! And you actually end up LOVING Celaena instead of wanting to stab her with her own knives 😉
*FANGIRL SO INTENSELY IS A POOL OF USELESS EMOTION* OMGGGGG I LOVE THIS BOOK. I love this series. I love these characters. You are all very calm about it but I’m just FAJSDLKFA I LOVE CELAENA SO MUCH. Her vanity is what actually sold me on her. She was so fabulous. I can’t even name other fabulous characters. Everyone is so self-deprecating these days, but Celeana just OWNED THE ROOM. And I loved that. And I loved that she could knife someone efficiently AND cared about her appearance. Go girl. GREAT discussion, you three!! (Love how you formatted it too!! ^_^)
Hahha I really agree now, the characters are quite fabulous! But when I read Throne of Glass, I hadn’t been convinced. After Crown of Midnight… I was very much convinced! (Maybe my problem is that whether or not I am knifing someone, I don’t care how I look….) And thank you 😀
I think you had two measly sentences to add in each part. You’re so great at this. Next time we’ll discuss RIGHT AFTER WE FINISH THE BOOK.
SORRY! No, I am not. Well maybe a little. If you read CoM, we can discuss it ALLLL day. I will have lots to say, promise!
This is another series I have yet to start, have this book on my Kindle, bought it a long time ago, just never read it but I need too, definitely must start soon!
Great post!
I did the same thing- bought it on my Kindle AGES ago, and if it weren’t for Holly and Val, who knows if I would have EVER read it! Hope you enjoy it if you did get around to it 😀
I totally felt the same in the beginning, when I first started it, I was underwhelmed by it, and the first 100 pages were slow go for me, but that’s how fantasy + me usually go, and thought everyone was crazy, but then? HELL YES. Totally got it, and though I did have problems in the beginning, I soon forgot all about that, haha. So read the second one, and then hated everybody who ever recommended it to me (because ya know, that main thing that happens) and then was definitely HOLY SHIT at the end of Crown of Midnight because I totally hadn’t seen that coming, when I should have, but I was kind of drowning in my Chaolaena feels. Heir of Fire foes pick up, and there’s this one scene that honestly made me considering jumping ships. Just saying. 😉
Hahha I was the same way- like, WHAT have these people gotten me into!? OOOOOOH yes- DAMN YOU CROWN OF MIDNIGHT. But then also…. yes please, more of some other things, Crown of Midnight! And then back to NOOOOOOO CoM!!!
HoF… I liked it. I did. BUT it was a little slow for me, and to be honest, I wanted Chaolaena. I love them. I mean, I GET what you mean about jumping ships because I DO like that other thing but… not enough. Just not enough. Stay platonic, everyone else!
PS- My spellcheck recognizes Chaolaena as an actual word.
I have read Throne of Glass and I am a huge fan of the series! I have to admit that when I read Throne of Glass I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I’d hoped, partly because there was a ton of hype and I read it at about 2 o’clock in the morning when I was exhausted (not the best idea…). But Crown of Midnight – Oh. My. Gosh. SO many feels and I am definitely a hardcore lover of the series. I haven’t read Heir of Fire though because I’m too scared (it will probably break my heart) and because I want to read it closer to Queen of Shadow’s release. But yes, I love these books!!
I feel so left out over here!! I wasn’t a huge fan of Throne of Glass. But everyone says the series gets better, so I decided to continue on. I read The Assassin’s Blade before Crown of Midnight, and OMG I loved it! My heart is still not repaired from Sam. I just finished Crown of Midnight a few days ago, and I am having the same feelings as I did for Throne of Glass. Womp womp womp. I do like it enough to continue on with Heir of Fire though. So we will see how that goes! Plus … Chaol is perfection ;)!