BookTok has been rife with fantasy books, with most of the babble being all about romantasy books, most notably, the A Court of Thornes and Roses series by Sarah J Maas. But an often-overlooked series by the masterful SJM is Throne of Glass (TOG).
If you’re wondering whether you should skip this relatively long series, the answer is NO.
Also see: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas: The perfect fantasy starter
Throne of Glass is the first book in an eight-book series, following Celaena Sardothien, the most notorious assassin in the Kingdom of Adarlan. We follow her journey from the salt mines of Endovier to Adarlan to compete amongst other thieves and assassins to become the King’s Champion.
The problem is, that Celaena is harbouring a secret, deep-seated trauma, and a need to exact vengeance for the loss of her loved ones by the King of Adarlan’s hand.
Along the way, we meet, and eventually fall in love with, Dorian Havilliard, the crown prince, and Chaol Westfall, the Captain of the Royal Guard. Yes, unfortunately, there is a love triangle, but don’t fret, the more you read, the less important it feels.
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As the first book in this series, Throne of Glass sets up the word of Erilea relatively perfectly. I say relatively as Maas enjoys leaving holes open for the wondering reader to start asking all the questions.
Almost immediately, we know that Erilea was once filled with magic and joy, but now, magic has vanished from these lands and is banned. The King of Adarlan is the direct cause of this and currently rules Erilea with an iron fist. Truly, it’s exceptionally easy to despise this character. However, in true Maas fashion, something deeper lurks beneath his surface. King of Hybern anybody?
Throughout the first book, we experience a lot of Celaena’s sassiness, yet wavering confidence, while she competes to become the King’s Champion. While relatively annoying (in my opinion), by the end of the book, we come to understand how deep her scars run.
Luckily, it’s not all just love and trauma. We get to see quite a lot of action, with some epic fight scenes, and the formation of incredible friendships. And yes, we also experience gut-wrenching losses and the need to pick up the second book, Crown of Midnight, immediately.
Do I need to read TOG for the Maas-verse?
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*Spoilers for A Court of Thornes and Roses or Crescent City Sarah J Maas’s books, ahead. *
This might be the biggest question plaguing fans of SJM. Most have read A Court of Thornes and Roses. And, chances are, have dived into Crescent City, thanks to the linking of these two stories in House of Sky and Breath (CC2).
The short and long answer: YES. Theories suggest that all of Sarah J Maas’s books are linked in some way or another. And if you do any sort of deep dive, you will be able to piece some things together.
To fully grasp a lot of what’s happening in what many call the Maas-verse, the entire Throne of Glass is critical.
What if I don’t care about the Maas-verse?
That’s okay. However, if you’re looking for a wonderful fantasy series, then Throne of Glass might be perfect. Many have likened Celaena’s story to The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien.
It’s truly magnificent, with several twists and turns and massive jaw-on-the-floor moments.
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Featured Image: Instagram | @sashasbookshelf
