Throne of Glass Paperback Box Set

My second favorite book series of all time! Aelin is the best female character by far!

This book was a little slow to start and had what I thought were some filler pages. However the story building was amazing as it got to the middle - end of the book. Can’t wait to continue this series!

I’ve been intimidated to start this series after loving ACOTAR and I finally picked it up, I read it very quickly and loved the introduction of characters, plot, world building and the beginning of what will be war. I can’t wait to start reading the next book.

First thing - this was a re-read for me.
It is shocking how many details were planted in this book that come back throughout the rest of the series. This made the book even more incredible because, wow, that takes some serious plotting.
I love the relationships between Dorian, Chaol, Nehemia, and Celaena. They have some hilarious scenes and some heartfelt ones that are the start of true friendships.
Such an intriguing start to an amazing series!

Three and a half stars. Entertaining but as a first book it suffers from "building the plane while flying it" syndrome.

Throne of Glass is a book with an interesting premise but some rough edges, particularly in its character work and romance. The part I enjoyed the most was the mystery. The champions’ gruesome deaths, the eerie magical elements, and the hints of a deeper, hidden history make for a compelling throughline that kept me reading. Maas does a good job laying the groundwork for a larger story, dropping just enough clues to suggest there’s more going on beneath the surface—especially when it comes to Celaena’s past and her connection to the ancient queen.

Celaena herself is... complicated. On one hand, she’s a legendary assassin with an unmatched reputation. On the other, she spends just as much time blushing over compliments and obsessing over dresses. The tough, deadly warrior and the girly-girl persona don’t blend smoothly, making her feel more like a patchwork of tropes than a fully realized character. She’s likeable enough, but undeniably a Mary Sue—always the best at everything, always catching the attention of the most important people, always the center of everyone’s world.

The love triangle between Celaena, Dorian, and Chaol feels forced and, frankly, very fanfic-y. It reads like Maas was trying to inject instant romantic tension rather than letting relationships develop naturally. This was my least favourite part of the book as it added nothing to moving the plot or character development along.

The political intrigue, arguably the crucial driver behind the larger story arc, is a bit ham-fisted at this point, with characters leaning into cartoonish territory rather than feeling like nuanced players in a dangerous game. You can tell it is going somewhere, but again, it suffers from first book issues.

That said, the story itself is enjoyable. The pacing moves quickly, and despite its flaws, it’s an entertaining read. It suffers from some worldbuilding issues and character development that feel like they exist in a bit of a void—but it lays the foundation for a larger, more interesting arc. I’m invested enough to continue, trusting that Mass smooths out some of the rough spots and leans more into what the story does well: mystery, magic, and an overarching plot that promises more than what we’ve seen so far.