This month, I’ve been exploring fantasy books! While it’s not usually my go-to genre, I’ve been eager to read more of them. Everywhere I look online, Sarah J. Maas’s books seem to pop up, and a family member recently raved about her work. Naturally, I couldn’t resist adding her books to my reading list. And because I’m a sucker for a good series (and a stickler for order), I had to start with Sarah’s first series: Throne of Glass.
These books are often categorised as High Fantasy and Young Adult, and they deliver everything you’d expect from the genre: a rich, otherworldly setting and stakes as high as world-threatening forces. If this is your favourite reading genre take a look below!
Overview
Throne of Glass introduces us to Celaena Sardothien, an 18-year-old assassin in the Kingdom of Adarlan. After a year of punishment in the brutal slave camp of Endovier, she’s given a chance at freedom—but there’s a catch. Crown Prince Dorian Havilliard offers her a deal: compete against other assassins and criminals to become the King’s Champion, and after four years of service, she’ll be free.
What begins as a deadly competition spirals into a tale of unexpected friendships, royal conspiracies, and epic battles. Celaena’s journey reveals secrets not just about the kingdom, but about herself as well.
The Throne of Glass Book Series by Sarah J Maas in Order
Title: Throne of Glass
Date First Published: 2012
Book Length: Book 1 – 432 pages
About Book: Enter the realm. Unleash the darkness. Live the legend. In a land without magic, an assassin is summoned to the castle. Celaena Sardothien has no love for the vicious king who rules from his throne of glass, but she has not come to kill him. She has come to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three murderers, thieves, and warriors in a deadly competition, she will be released from prison to serve as the King's Champion. But something rotten dwells in the castle - and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying mysteriously, 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, and the people she has come to love.
Title: Crown of Midnight
Date First Published: 2013
Book Length: Book 2 – 448 pages
About Book: Never trust an assassin. Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become the King's Champion. But she is far from loyal to the crown. Though she goes to great lengths to hide her secret, her deadly charade becomes more difficult when she realises she is not the only one seeking justice. Her search for answers ensnares those closest to her, and no one is safe from suspicion - not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a 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 decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie ... and what she is willing to fight for.
Title: Heir of Fire
Date First Published: 2014
Book Length: Book 3 – 583 Pages
About Book: Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?
Title: Queen of Shadows
Date First Published: 2015
Book Length: Book 4 – 663 Pages
About Book: Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight. She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.
Title: Empire of Storms
Date First Published: 2016
Book Length: Book 5 – 720 Pages
About Book: The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't. With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.
Title: Tower of Dawn
Date First Published: 2017
Book Length: Book 6 – 688 Pages
About Book: Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq have arrived in the shining city of Antica to forge an alliance with the Khagan of the Southern Continent, whose vast armies are Erilea's last hope. But they have also come to Antica for another purpose: to seek healing at the famed Torre Cesme for the wounds Chaol received in Rifthold. After enduring unspeakable horrors as a child, Yrene Towers has no desire to help the young lord from Adarlan, let alone heal him. Yet she has sworn an oath to assist those in need—and will honour it. But Lord Westfall carries shadows from his own past, and Yrene soon comes to realize they could engulf them both. Chaol, Nesryn, and Yrene will have to draw on every scrap of their resilience if they wish to save their friends. But while they become entangled in the political webs of the khaganate, deep in the shadows of mighty mountains where warriors soar on legendary ruks, long-awaited answers slumber. Answers that might offer their world a chance at survival—or doom them all
Title: Kingdom of Ash
Date First Published: 2018
Book Length: Book 7 – 992 Pages
About Book: Aelin Galathynius has vowed to save her people ― but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. The knowledge that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, but her resolve is unravelling with each passing day…With Aelin captured, friends and allies are scattered to different fates. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever. As destinies weave together at last, all must fight if Erilea is to have any hope of salvation.
Conclusion
The Throne of Glass series is a masterful blend of action, intrigue, and emotional depth, with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Whether you’re a seasoned fantasy lover or a newcomer to the genre, Sarah J. Maas’s storytelling will captivate you and is a great introduction to the genre. It’s a journey filled with unforgettable characters, breath taking world-building, and battles that will tug at your heartstrings.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your copies today and start reading about the world of Celaena Sardothien. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself utterly hooked.
You can click on the books or the buttons to purchase the Throne of Glass series on Amazon!
Let me know what you think, or which series you would like me to mention next?
Love Alis x
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