*I received these audiobooks from Brillance Audio in exchange for honest reviews*
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Author:
Sarah J. Maas
Narrator: Elizabeth Evans
By: Brillance Audio
Publication: September 2, 2014
In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.
The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.
Audio: 4.5 Stars
I've been on an audiobook binge this year and I'm happy to say, this one (along with it's sequel, Crown of Midnight) is one of the best on the market. Everyone involved makes this an entertaining experience, especially Elizabeth Evans, who does a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life and giving them each their own distinct "voice".
Story: 3.75 Stars
I'm not a huge fan of fantasy, but there are a few books that have been able to change my mind, and Throne of Glass is one of them. What I Liked: The writing, world-building and overall story. Celaena wasn't at all what I was expecting. Instead of being this hardened assassin whose closed off emotionally, she's smart, witty, and---kind. Her love of all things shiny and girly made her more endearing (to me, anyway) and I enjoyed watching how she interacted with the other characters. Particularly Dorian and Chaol. (I'm glad I had the audio for the correct name pronunciations otherwise I would have messed them up royally.)
The pacing of the story felt a bit slow at first, and I wasn't crazy about the idea of a potential love triangle. Once I reached the end though, it was clear that Throne of Glass is the stage setter for the books that follow. Like a calm before the storm and I was REALLY glad I had the next book on deck.
Series: Throne of Glass #2
Author:
Sarah J. Maas
Narrator: Elizabeth Evans
By: Brillance Audio
Publication: September 2, 2014
"A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.
It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."
From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.
Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.
Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.
It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."
From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.
Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.
Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.
Audio: 4.5 Stars
As I said before, this is one of the best on the market and Elizabeth Evans continues to give each character their own distinct "voice".
Story: 4 Stars
I get it now. The hype, the fandom, the feels, I GET IT!
The Celaena I was looking for in book one shows up with dagger's unsheathed and heads start.to.roll. Literally. Like, across the floor for all the court to see. It's gross and badass all at the same time. I loved it.
The romance heats ups like WHOA (I loved THAT too.) and then all Hades breaks loose. (Not so much love there. Just saying.)
Death, betrayal and heartbreak mixed together with beautiful prose, jaw-dropping revelations and sprinkled with my shredded feels left me feeling like this when it was over.
So, thanks for that, Sarah J. Maas.
No really.
THANK YOU! I can't wait to see what happens next!
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