Throne of Glass – A Review of the Beginning

Throne of Glass Book 1

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: YA Fantasy · Assassins · Trials · Slow-burn · Magic
Tone: Fierce, aching, and full of spark

Not All Great Stories Start with a Crown

Some begin in chains.

Throne of Glass opens not in a palace, but in a death camp.
Celaena Sardothien — assassin, prisoner, legend in the making — is offered one brutal chance at freedom: win a deadly competition and serve the king who destroyed everything she loved.

But this...
This is just the beginning.

This Book Isn't the Peak — It's the Spark

It’s the first step in a series that grows more brutal, more beautiful, more unforgettable with every page.

If you’re expecting instant magic and sweeping romance, Throne of Glass starts quieter than that — darker. Grimy. Gripping. But that’s what makes it worth it.

The slow burn of the plot mirrors the slow burn of Celaena’s transformation — from infamous assassin to something far greater than anyone expects. No spoilers!

Celaena and the Characters You'll Follow

"Celaena is arrogant. Glamorous. Lethal.
But beneath the sharp edges —
A girl aching for music, for meaning, for something more."

This is a story about masks, power, and survival — but it’s also about identity.
It’s about who we are when no one is looking, and what we do when we finally decide to fight for ourselves.

You’ll meet:

  • Celaena Sardothien — sarcastic, vain, brilliant. A reader. A killer. A girl shaped by horror and still hungry for beauty.

  • Chaol Westfall — the Captain of the Guard, duty-bound and unreadable

  • Dorian Havilliard — the Prince, charming and surprisingly self-aware

  • Nehemia Ytger — a rebel princess with secrets of her own

  • Nox Owen — a thief turned competitor, with sharper instincts than most give him credit for.

  • Kaltain Rompier — ambitious, alluring, and far more dangerous than she seems.

  • The King of Adarlan — ruthless ruler. His power runs deeper — and darker — than politics.

Each of them brings weight, warmth, or challenge to Celaena’s journey.

Why You Should Read Throne of Glass

This book is for you if:

  • You love fierce heroines with sharp edges and hidden wounds

  • You crave fantasy that blends assassins, court intrigue, and slow-burning power

  • You want a story where the fight for freedom begins inside the cage

  • You believe books can be both brutal and beautiful

  • You’re ready for a series that might become your whole personality for a while

This isn’t just a story of survival.
It’s a story of transformation — of becoming.
And it only gets better from here.

Step Into the World of Throne of Glass

Start the Series
Throne of Glass – Paperback or Hardcover
Where Celaena’s story begins — with chains, a competition, and a choice.
👉 Get it on Amazon (affiliate link)

🖤 The Complete Collection
Throne of Glass Complete Series (8 books, paperback)
The complete series — you’ll not regret it!
👉 Shop the Full Set (affiliate link)

🎨 For the Creatives
Throne of Glass Coloring Book
Perfect for cozy nights, stress relief, or just one more way to live in this world a little longer.
👉 Get the Coloring Book on Amazon (affiliate link)

🃏 For Game Night in Erilea
Embers of Memory: A Throne of Glass Game
Step into Celaena’s mind in this beautifully designed, cooperative card game based on Kingdom of Ash.
👉 Get Embers of Memory on Amazon (affiliate link)

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Thank you for supporting voice-led, heart-first storytelling content.

If You Loved Throne of Glass, Try These:

These are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you.

Final Thoughts

Some heroines beg to be understood.
Celaena Sardothien dares you to try.

If you follow her — through the pain, the glamour, the rage, the growth — you’ll find a story that stays with you.

📖 Want more Celaena? We’re sharing her most iconic quotes over on Instagram.
Tag us @TheQuillEdit or use #StoriesThatStay to join the conversation.

Want to Hear the Review?

🎧 Listen to the voice-led version of this reflection in The Quill Review series:
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Red Rising by Pierce Brown — Why This Story Stays With You