Editorial Reviews
the NYT Bestselling author of the Tiger's Curse s Colleen Houck
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is a tale full of surprises and shadows, where deadly seeds are sown with the promise of more danger to come. A fascinating glimpse into the dark side of Cinderella.
From the Publisher
"Readers seeking the political intrigue of Kristen Cashore's Graceling and its sequels or the deadly competition at the heart of The Hunger Games will find both in Maas's strong debut novel. . . . The verve and freshness of the narration make for a thrilling read." — Publishers Weekly, starred review "A teenage assassin, a rebel princess, menacing gargoyles, supernatural portals and a glass castle prove to be as thrilling as they sound. . . . Celaena is still just a teenager trying to forge her way, giving the story timelessness. This commingling of comedy, brutality and fantasy evokes a rich alternate universe with a spitfire young woman as its brightest star." — Kirkus Reviews
"Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is a tale full of surprises and shadows, where deadly seeds are sown with the promise of more danger to come. A fascinating glimpse into the dark side of Cinderella." — Colleen Houck, the NYT Bestselling author of the Tiger’s Curse series
Publishers Weekly
Readers seeking the political intrigue of Kristen Cashore’s Graceling and its sequels or the deadly competition at the heart of The Hunger Games will find both in Maas’s strong debut novel. Celaena Sardothien is considered the best assassin in Adarlan, and she has been condemned to the salt mines for her work. As the story opens, she is plucked from slow execution by the calculating crown prince, Dorian, to be his candidate for champion, competing against “hieves and assassins and warriors” to become an enforcer for the king. The stakes are freedom or death: win or return to the mines. Youthful captain Chaol is charged with preventing Celaena’s escape, and though she fantasizes about killing him on occasion, he becomes a far different target of her attention. This is not cuddly romance, but neither is it grim. Celaena is trained to murder, yet she hasn’t lost her taste for pretty dresses or good books, and a gleam of optimism tinges her outlook. Maas tends toward overdescription, but the verve and freshness of the narration make for a thrilling read. Ages 12–up. Agent: Tamar Rydzinski, Laura Dail Literary Agency. (Aug.)
VOYA - Dotsy Harland
Celaena Sardothien, the notorious eighteen-year-old assassin, has been unexpectedly released from Endovier, a death camp in which she has been imprisoned for the last year. Prince Dorian of Adarlan and his captain of the guard escort her to the king of Adarlan's magnificent glass castle in Rifthold, where the Prince sponsors her to compete against a rough group of male fighters and criminals in a series of tests and duels. The winner will serve as champion, bodyguard, and personal assassin to the cruel king for four years in order to earn his or her freedom. Celaena is thrilled by the opportunity and confident that she can defeat the other contestants. But while undergoing training at the castle, her heart is in turmoil as she fights romantic feelings for both Dorian and his captain of the guard, Chaol Westfall, and finds her first true female friend. And in the midst of her emotional upheaval, Celaena discovers a powerful and deadly evil force inside the castle from which she must protect her new allies. Maas adapted this novel from her online serial Queen of Glass. Though the plot becomes repetitive in places, Maas's prose is lively, descriptive, and rich with detail. Part fantasy, part adventure, and part romance, this novel overflows with suspense, humor, and interesting characters. Maas has set the stage for a sequel, and possibly even a prequel. Female fans of fantasy will greatly enjoy the strong female characters and role reversals in this exciting book. Reviewer: Dotsy Harland
Kirkus Reviews
A teenage assassin, a rebel princess, menacing gargoyles, supernatural portals and a glass castle prove to be as thrilling as they sound. Being the most feared assassin in Adarlan is a notoriety 17-year-old Celaena considers an honor, even though it has landed her in a slave-labor prison no one has ever survived. A year into her sentence, the Crown Prince offers to sponsor Celaena in a competition with 23 other criminals and murderers that, should she win, will result in her freedom. The only catch? She'll become the king's personal assassin for four years, the same dark-hearted king who sentenced her to imprisonment. Woven in the vein of a Tolkien fantasy, Celaena's world is one where magic is outlawed and power is snatched through greed and genocide. The third-person narrative allows frequent insight into multiple characters (heroes and villains alike) but never fully shifts its focus from the confident yet conflicted Celaena. And though violent combat and whispers of the occult surround her, Celaena is still just a teenager trying to forge her way, giving the story timelessness. She might be in the throes of a bloodthirsty competition, but that doesn't mean she's not in turmoil over which tall, dark and handsomely titled man of the royal court should be her boyfriend--and which fancy gown she should wear to a costume party. This commingling of comedy, brutality and fantasy evokes a rich alternate universe with a spitfire young woman as its brightest star. (Fantasy. 14 & up)
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