My reasons for loving the Cannonball Read are legion. One of them is finding new books, series, and authors. Baxlala reviewed Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorn and Roses and mentioned that Maas had another series that was further along. I checked out Amazon and ended up buying Throne of Glass mostly because it was cheap (I am poor). I love a good YA book and really appreciate that the genre has so many awesome female protagonists.
I enjoyed Throne of Glass tremendously. We jump right into things with Celaena Sardothian being released from salt mine prison into the custody of Crown Prince Dorian and the Captain of the Guard Choal (“kay-all”). She can go back to the mines (and certain death), or she can be their entry into a competition to become the King’s Champion with a promise of eventual freedom. Why would they be interested in an 18 year old convict? Celaena was once the best of the assassins.
The competition itself is something of a macguffin, but it brings the characters together and allows Maas to establish a world where something in Denmark is very rotten. And it’s pretty clear that the rot emanates from the King. The King has outlawed magic, killed or driven away the Fae, and is conquering all of the kingdoms and lands around him. Where he goes, he destroys libraries and burns scholars and people with magic gifts. He is setting up to be a juicy series villain, though we don’t see much of him in this book.
While training and competing, Celaena grows close to Dorian and Chaol, and becomes friends with a princess from a conquered land, Nehemia. Nehemia is amazing, and I love her growing friendship with Celaena. Celaena herself is a delight. She makes definite choices about playing along to earn her freedom. There is a love triangle with Celaena, Dorian and Choal, but only if you’ve never read YA before. To a long time reader it is very clear which way this triangle is going to resolve.
Speculation – not spoilers, because I have read no further than Throne of Glass. Obviously, there is more to Celaena than teenage assassin. I suspect she will turn out to be the last of a conquered royal family. She is probably magical, and almost certainly part Fae. I suspect that Dorian is also part Fae, and not really his father’s son. I’m off now to read the next book in the series, and to fantasize about becoming a middle aged assassin.
I really need to re-read this, because I keep hearing such awesome things about the later books in the series and it’s been too long since I read and reviewed Throne of Glass. I love the covers and my friend Eivor who pretty much reads exclusively fantasy goes pretty much non-verbal with excitement at the release of each new book. I consider that a very strong recommendation.
It did seem to be within your wheelhouse.
The crowd for her at bookcon was intense. She was on a panel with Charlaine Harris about kick ass females. I hadn’t been familiar with her as I skew more adult than ya fantasy. But definitely down to check his book out. She was lovely and joked about how all her character names are hard to pronounce and spell!
I think you would like Maas, from what I’ve read so far. The name pronunciation thing is mildly annoying, but I’ve been conditioned to accept it.
I also dream of being an assassin! Am pretty sure this means you and I are simply unrepentantly terrible people :)
Not YA but another quite good assassin series is The Way of Shadows series by Brent Weeks.
I’ll look it up. Cheers fellow unrepentant terrible person.
I thought the first book in Brent Week’s Way of Shadows trilogy was excellent, the second pretty good and the third book went off the rails a bit, especially towards the climax of the series. One of my reading goals for this year is to get back into more fantasy, as it’s a bit sad how many books I’ve given to Eivor that she’s now read and loved and that are still languishing on my TBR list. I really want to get caught up on Sanderson’s Mistborn books, not to mention his new epic, ongoing series, the new Brent Weeks, anything by Sarah J. Maas and I keep hearing excellent things about Cinda Williams Chima.
Agreed on book #3 of Way of Shadows. I prefer Brent Week’s other series – the Black Prism, if you’re looking for a good fantasy read it’s one of my favorites. Red Rising is also great (the 3rd and final book is out in a few weeks – weee!) I’m not a huge fan of the Mistborn series but Way of Kings (Sanderson) is fantastic epic fantasy. Also a huge fan of The Raven Boys (Stiefvater) and the 4th book is due out sometime this spring (also weee!).
I have the first two books of the Red Rising trilogy lined up, so I can read the whole series in one go. I heard that book 2 ended on a big cliffhanger, so decided not to start the series until I could have all three ready. I absolutely want to check out the Black Prism series, the Way of Kings and I can’t wait for the Raven King to come out. I think I’m going to re-read the other three books to remind myself of everything that’s happened and everything at stake.
I’m VERY excited for you to read the Red Rising books!
I am very excited to read the whole series. I’ve heard such good things about it.
I’m so glad you liked this! I just finished the fourth book and now I’m caught up and back to waiting on the next one. Siiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.
I zipped from 2 to 3 so fast I didn’t pause for a review, but I’ll probably review 3 before I dive into 4.