Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, 1)

WOWOWOWOWOW! We pick up right where we left off, with Celeana in prison. The prince of Ardalan retrieves her to participate in a competition to become the King’s Champion. Naturally, she is suspicious—an instinct that proves wise—as she notes the castle’s gothic structures and mysterious markings. Her initial protector, tasked with keeping her in check, is Chaol, whose dreamy brown eyes bring her a sense of safety. Celeana sees this opportunity as a chance for freedom, yet she remains acutely aware of an underlying darkness within the castle. The glass castle leaves her feeling uneasy, and her distrust of the king grows, especially since he is absent for much of the beginning and middle of the book, busy dealing with rebels in the White Fang Mountains. In the solitude of the library, she finds solace, she also reveals her incredible talent for playing the piano—a skill honed during her time in Assassin’s Blade while attending symphonies with Arobynn. Celeana is a complex character, intelligent, powerful, and deeply literary. The princess of Ellewye arrives in Ardalan and quickly befriends Celeana. As she navigates relationships, she forms connections with both Chaol and the prince. Chaol offers warmth and safety, while the prince, with his sapphire-blue eyes, fosters a bond grounded in literature and physical attraction. However, there is an unsettling foreshadowing that hints this connection may not be ideal. With the prince, the atmosphere feels cold, while time spent with Chaol is filled with sunlight and warmth - when she hugs him she "doesn't know where she ends and he begins". LOVE! We are introduced to Elena, a figure from the castle's original lineage who serves as a spiritual guide for Celeana. As Celeana trains for the championship alongside Chaol, she must disguise her identity to avoid revealing her true self to her competitors, taking on the name Lillian for part of the book. When her true identity is unveiled, the impact is electrifying, highlighted by a memorable quote from one of her rivals: "Little did I know that the blond-haired girl was Queen of the Underworld." Jaw drop! The competition is fierce, and we quickly realize that Cain is a formidable adversary for very terrible reasons. I noticed a recurring motif: whenever evil is present, the color green appears—in sparks, flames, and shadows. This theme serves as a warning when danger is near. We also see new introductions to magic: wordmarks, ridderak, portals, and spirits, alluding to the presence of the Fae. Themes of manipulation, magic, relationships, power, and emotional and physical tests abound, along with moments of warmth and even puppies. READ THIS BOOK.

This was everything I had hoped it would be and more. Best SJM book. Cannot wait for the rest of the series

I really enjoyed Throne of Glass! It reminded me a little bit of the Hunger Games vibe with the competition but obviously a little different. There's a lot of context that maybe doesn't feel important right off the bat but this series is a lot of build up and this is just the beginning. Whether its the plot or even a little bit of romance, you'll get your answers but you'll need to be patient.

I enjoyed the experience of reading this! Perfect cringe YA girly and a love triangle that hasn’t realized they’re actually the perfect bestie trio :)

The drama, the action, the imagery. Beautifully done.