Where Sass Meets Assassin: A Throne of Glass review

Look. If you told me I’d fall head over heels for a teenage assassin with a taste for ballgowns, books and brooding boys, I probably would’ve rolled my eyes and reached for something with dragons and dignity. But then Throne of Glass sauntered in—daggers drawn, eyeliner sharp—and suddenly I’m cancelling plans to devour 400 pages of court politics, death tournaments, and slow-burn tension that delivers.

Celaena Sardothien is everything. She’s petty, pretty, and perfectly lethal. She will cut a man down then critique his fashion sense. I respect that energy. The love triangle? Messy. The court drama? Delicious. The pacing? Like a wine-fuelled gossip sesh—starts slow, ends with gasps.

And yes, I’m in my thirties. Yes, I pay bills, go to meetings, and moisturise regularly. But YA fantasy? Still has me by the throat. Throne of Glass isn’t just a book—it’s a vibe. One minute you’re eye-rolling, the next you’re emotionally compromised by a scene involving a sword and a soft-hearted prince. Classic.

In a literary landscape full of gritty realism and minimalist prose, Throne of Glass dares to ask: what if the world’s deadliest assassin was also the drama queen of your dreams? Beneath the blades and ballgowns is a surprisingly sharp exploration of identity, ambition, and grief—and honestly? I blacked out around chapter 42 and woke up Googling “Dorian vs Chaol who is better???” like a woman possessed.

Celaena is the kind of character you want to shake and pour a glass of wine for. Brash, loyal, emotionally chaotic, and completely irresistible. The world-building peels back like layers of a cursed cake, and the stakes escalate from “win this murder tournament” to “accidentally unleash ancient evil” in a way that feels, frankly, iconic.

So yes. YA fantasy dipped in attitude and bedazzled with plot twists? I’m all in. Call it escapism, call it obsession, call it a very elaborate way to avoid answering emails—but I’ll be binge-reading the next seven books like it’s my full-time job.

Five stars. Ten daggers. Zero regrets.

Here’s some perfectly tailored suggestions for fellow Throne of Glass fans who live for chaos, court intrigue, and characters who could kill you and kiss you in the same scene:

📺 TV Show:
You like Throne of Glass? Then you'll like Shadow and Bone.
Magic? Check. Morally grey heartthrobs? Check. A heroine with power she doesn’t fully understand and an enemies-to-lovers subplot that will ruin you? Oh, absolutely. Come for the aesthetic, stay for the sass, angst, and crows with questionable morals.

🎧 Podcast:
You like Throne of Glass? Then you'll love Fate and Fabled (Spotify Studios).
If the mythology nerd in you is screaming for more worldbuilding and betrayal, this gorgeously narrated dive into ancient myths and legendary figures has the epic, fate-driven energy of a Sarah J. Maas prophecy—minus the teenage hormones, but with jusjust as much drama.

📚 Book:
You like Throne of Glass? Then you need to read A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.
Fairy courts? Impossible bargains? Traumatised, hot immortals making terrible life choices? This book said, “What if Beauty and the Beast but make it feral, horny, and emotionally devastating?” Plus, Feyre and Rhysand? The tension could power a small country. Proceed with caution (and a glass of wine).