Throne of Glass Box Set [paperback] Sarah J. Maas [Jun 29, 2023] Paperback – June 29, 2023

I was hesitant in buying this bc of some of the reviews where it had black pages but it came today and I searched through each book and it appears just fine! I did not want the original covers I only wanted to buy the box set if it was this cover and I’m so pleased with the purchase!

It’s been a few years since I read this and had to do a reread. The character depth, friendships, and the fight between good and evil. What a wonderful series full of all of the emotions. Loved the little quips that made you laugh. Highly recommend

This review isn’t about the books (which were entertaining and well written) but about the 8 book pack on kindle. Bought it and dug in, assuming the first book of the series would be the first book in the pack. Here’s where it gets confusing…it isn’t. Throne of Glass is indeed the first book she wrote but after book 2, she wrote Assassin’s Blade. This is the background of who the main character is and yet it’s attached to the end of the kindle set. By the time you’re done with book 7, with all the mentions of her history, you have to push yourself to read it because it’s just redundant; anything important from her history is repeated in the 7 other books. Not sure if it was intentional so that readers can connect with her more but, in my opinion, 7 books in, you’re connected. If you’re going to get and start the set, go to the end, Read Assassin’s Blade and then read Thorn of Glass.4 starts only because I wish Assassin’s Blade was the start! Read the 7 books on a month and they were great fantasy books, and I’m not generally one for that genre. The “last” book is battle heavy but ended the series with surprises and closure. It’s probably because I enjoyed them so much that I’m disappointed I didn’t get to know the character at the beginning and have a new book with new details to prolong my reading of the series, now it just feels redundant and crumbs.

This is a 5 stars series HOWEVER Assassin blade should never be bundled to be the last book. I was robbed of the book. Because I read it last because that’s how my bundle is bundled! Can we get an update putting assassins blade at the beginning or even like 3 books in? It should NEVER be read last. If you see this review skip to the end.. read AB first because it deserves to be read first or third:: never last.

I began this series after having first read ACOTAR and then the Crescent City series. I just have to say how much Sarah J. Maas meant to me at a time in my life when the greatest gift I could receive was a doorway into another world, another life. Traveling with incredibly powerful women on their individual journeys - through pain, trauma, tragedy, horror, and hopelessness...and then watching and feeling them learn about themselves, become the hero in their own stories, become something more than the cards life dealt them, it's just been such an incredible experience. I don't know what I'll do with myself now. I'm a convert to this genre.

The action, the emotional damage….i will never recover from this series!!! If I lose my memory in an accident, this will be my first read! Live Manon, Live!

I loved reading this series! The story was built with all the characters getting their time to shine or cry. Tragedy, love, mystery, revenge, hope, loss, fear, and everything else. Well done!

Best books:Assassins BladeHeir of FireQueen of ShadowsEmpire of StormsKingdom of AshBoring/frustrating books:Throne of GlassCrown of MidnightTower of DawnGeneral Plot for the Beginning of Series:Celaena Sordothien is Adarlan’s best assassin. After a series of misfortune befalls her, she ends up a slave in the salt mines of Endovier. Dorian Havillard frees Celaena with the catch that she will be his champion in the trials to see who becomes the king’s assassin. Her freedom and her life lie on the line as her competitors are out to get her and those around her. If she passes the trials, she is free with a three years service as an assassin. If she fails, she gets sent back to the salt mines for the rest of her life. The secrets of the glass castle call to her and have her uncover not only her lost legacy but also the future of Adarlan.How should it be read:Assassin’s Blade/Throne of Glass/ Crown of Midnight - as one book.Heir of Fire(Assassin’s Blade may also be read again or before Queen of Shadows as the events of Assassin’s Blade bring back many characters and unresolved storylines.)Queen of Shadows.Empire of Storms/Tower of Dawn - as one book. Tandem read. Alternate chapter.Reading Order for EOS/TOD Tandem Read:Empire of storms - Chapters 1-13Tower of dawn - Chapters 1-2 - chapter 2 mentions something that happens in chapters 1-13 of Empire of StormsEmpire of Storms - Chapters 14-18 (leaves on cliffhanger)Tower of Dawn - Chapters 3-4 (chaol wonders about character in cliffhanger high suits the wording in a different context.)Empire of storms - Chapter 19TOD Chapter 5.6.7EŌS Chapter 20.21.22.23TOD Chapter 8.9.10.EŌS chapter 24.25.ToD chapter 11. 12.13. 14.15.16EŌS chapter 26.27.TOD chapter 17.18.19.20.21.22. 23. 24. 25.EOS chapter 28.29.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37.38.39.40.41.42.43.43.44.45.46.47.48.TOD chapter26.27.28.29.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37.38.39.40.EOS Chapters49.50.51.52.53.54.55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61.62. 63.64.65.66.67.68.69.70.71.72.73.74.75TOD Chapters41.42.43.44.45.46.47.48.49.50.51.52.53.54.55.56.57.58.59.60.61.62.63.64.65.66.67.68.69.Kingdom of Ash - 1058 pages.Summaries for all of the books:Throne of Glass/Crown of Midnight - one story arc that builds the foundation for the main story.This story is about Caelenas rise after she has fallen from grace. She is rebuilding her reputation as the continents best assassin. She is still growing up and maturing. She starts off really immature and by the end of the second book she has grown significantly and will do anything to stop evil from disrupting Erilea.Heir of Fire - More characters come in to play and Celaena is learning how to use her abilities. Conflicts that were built in throne of glass/crown of midnight are built upon and elevated. We start exploring more of Erilea instead of just staying in rifthold. Mythical creatures are introduced. Subplots are put in place.The Assassins Blade - it is a prequel to throne of glass but it should be read as a sort of prologue to Queen of Shadows, Tower of Dawn, and Empire of Storms. Characters reappear from these short stories. You really see Caelena flourish as an assassin. This is the story of how Caelena fell from grace and we get to learn more about who the broke person we met at the beginning of the series in throne of glass is and why she was so angry and combative in throne of glass.Queen of Shadows - is a revenge story. Demons that caelena has been ignoring from the assassins blade and her past, are coming back to haunt her and she must now face them in this novel. Caelena goes full force and is scheming and playing a game of chess as the stakes in her survival are at the highest.Empire of Storms/ Tower of Dawn - these two books happen at the same time and should be read in tandem. They both are about Celaena and her friends recovering from the events of Queen of Shadows but also recovering from the events of the previous four novels, how they move on from this point, all while building an army against the looming darkness that is engulfing Erilea.Kingdom of Ash - the final installment to the Celaena’s story. Celaena and friends have to find the last Wyrdkey and forge the lock. Also, Celaena must defeat Maeve, Erawan, and their armies.