Author: Sarah J. Maas
Started: May 2, 2019
Finished: May 12, 2019
Pages: 420
Genre: Young Adult
First Sentence: The shutters swinging in the storm winds were the only sign of her entry.
Summary: [From BN]
Thoughts: Book 1 in the series sets the stage for how Celaena comes to court and befriends the players in power. Book 2, this book, begins to show how she negotiates politics and the rumbles and uprising. It still feels like these two books are setting the stage for something greater. It's odd to read an entire book (or two in this case) and still feel like the world and characters are being built. I can now see why this series is seven books long. This is the start of a real saga of a story.
What I enjoyed about this book is that Celaena is trying to be an independent character in a world that is asking her to do things she doesn't believe in. She is strong and smart but doesn't come across as imprudent or rash. That said, for a character who is supposed to be one the greatest assassin's in the land, she really does seem to be on the losing end of many physical ordeals. I expected a bit more from her character. She does have some totally badass moments, but when scrapes get tight her character comes across as weaker than it seems she should be.
This book also expands the world of the series. While it still takes place in the same city, we learn more about the magical elements of the story. We also get to see more of the city and it's people. The world building is incremental and unfolds just a few peeks at a time. In some ways, it feels like the author is teasing the reader. She knows everything but we're only getting tidbits as we encounter them. The last few chapters of this book unveil a very important secret about our main character that shows there is so much more for us to learn.
Rating: 6/10 [Good]
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