This is the first novel in the 'Throne of Glass' fantasy series, which contains seven books. The tales revolve around Celaena Sardothien, an assassin with a mysterious background.
*****
As the story opens, King Havillard of Adarlan - a tyrannical and oppressive ruler - has conquered the continent of Erilea and banned all magic, Fae, and faeries.
There are pockets of rebellion in Erilea, which the king ruthlessly crushes. Thus 18-year-old Celaena Sardothien - the most notorious assassin in the land - has been a slave in the Salt Mines of Endovier for a year. The slaves are whipped, starved, and worked to the bone, and most die within a month.
Celaena tried to escape once, and killed her overseer and 23 sentries before the guards stopped her. They didn't kill her, though, because the king ordered that Celaena be kept alive as long as possible, to endure maximum misery and torment in Endovier.
Following a year in the mines, Celaena is surprised when - after she's spent a grueling hot day cleaving rock salt from the innards of the mountain - the Captain of the Royal Guard is waiting outside the mine shafts.
The captain brings Celaena to Crown Prince Dorian Havillard, who has a proposal. His father King Havillard needs a Champion to eliminate his opponents, and is hosting a competition.
The king has invited 23 members of his council to each sponsor a would-be Champion to compete in a series of tasks, with the two finalists fighting a duel. Whoever wins will officially be 'Adarlan's Assassin.'
The prince wants to sponsor Celaena, and if she wins, Celaena will be the king's Champion for four years, then given her freedom. If she loses, Celaena will go back to the Salt Mines. Celaena DREAMS of freedom, and she accepts.
Celaena is brought to the Glass Castle, where the court resides and the competition will be held. To hide her identity, Celaena is to say she's Lady Lillian Gordainia, and she's provided with an elegant suite of rooms, gorgeous dresses, and a lady's maid called Philippa - who monitors Celaena along with a contingent of sword-carrying guards.
To prepare for the competition, Celaena trains with the Captain of the Guard Chaol Westfall.
Celaena's sponsor Prince Dorian also follows her progress, and becomes increasingly curious about her.
Once Celaena is cleaned up - and properly fed, rested, and clothed - she's beautiful. Calena is also intelligent, well-read, witty, and a talented musician on the pianoforte. Thus both Chaol and Dorian are attracted to Celaena, and she's drawn to both of them. Thus the story features amorous sparks, but isn't a full blown romance.
Celaena's rivals for becoming the king's Champion include assassins, thieves, soldiers, and criminals from across Erilea, and Celaena has some stiff competition....
.....especially Cain, who's sponsored by cunning Duke Perrington, the king's closest advisor.
The tests for the potential Champion include things like archery, climbing, running, spears, daggers, swords, stealth, tracking, an obstacle course, sorting poisons, etc.
After each test, the lowest-scoring candidate is sent away. Nonetheless, the candidate pool is reduced even more quickly because the contestants are being MURDERED one by one. Every few days, a candidate is found torn apart and eviscerated, with Wyrdmarks near the body - symbols associated with magic and spells.
In the meantime, Celaena discovers hidden tunnels beneath the castle, and finds the tomb of Elena, the first queen of Adarlan. Queen Elena wants to rid the kingdom of evil King Havilland, and - in dreams and visons - she provides assistance and advice to Celaena.
Other important characters in the tale are Lady Kaltain Rompier, who's scheming to marry Prince Dorian, and is madly jealous of Celaena;
and Princess Nehemia of Ellywe, whose rebels oppose the king. Over time, Celaena and Nehemia become friends.
The most important issues in this debut book are:
✹✹ Who's killing the candidates and why?
✹✹ Who'll become King Havillard's champion?
✹✹ Will Celaena choose a beau?
The story is engaging, but Celaena behaves more like a sassy teenager than an assassin. Almost immediately after Celaena is ensconced in the palace, she becomes OBSESSED with her hair and clothes; stays up half the night and sleeps late; and becomes flirtatious and coy.
Celaena occasionally thinks about killing and escape, but she's more concerned with dresses, parties, masked balls, dancing, candy, puppies, and so on. I imagine Celaena gets more serious in later books.
This series is immensely popular, so if you're a fantasy reader, you'll probably like this novel.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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