![]() The covers of the eight books of the series | |
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Author | Sarah J. Maas |
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Country | United States |
Language | English |
Genre | Fantasy |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
Published | August 2, 2012 – October 23, 2018 |
Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) Ebook |
Throne of Glass is a high fantasy novel series by American author Sarah J. Maas, beginning with the entry of the same name, released in August 2012. The story follows the journey of Celaena Sardothien, a teenage assassin in a corrupt kingdom with a tyrannical ruler, the King of Adarlan. As the tale progresses, Celaena forms unexpected bonds and uncovers a conspiracy amidst her adventures. The series concluded with the eighth book in October 2018.
The series appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list, and has been optioned by Hulu and Disney-ABC Domestic Television for a television series adaptation by Mark Gordon.
Throne of Glass follows Celaena Sardothien, an 18-year-old assassin in the Kingdom of Adarlan. After a year of suffering for her crimes in a slave camp called Endovier, she accepts the offer of Crown Prince Dorian Haviliard, the King of Adarlan's son, to compete with other assassins and thieves for a chance to serve as the King's Champion, and eventually gain her freedom after four years in the King's service. This leads her to form unexpected bonds with Chaol, the Captain of the Guard, and Dorian, the Crown Prince of Adarlan. Over time, Celaena is drawn into a conspiracy and a series of battles, leading to discoveries surrounding both the Kingdom and herself. [1]
No. | Title | Publication date | Counts | ISBN | |
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0.5 | The Assassin's Blade | March 13, 2014 | 118,431 words [2] / 464 pages [3] | 9781619635173 | |
A collection of 5 stories set prior to the Throne of Glass series, including four novellas previously published in e-book format: The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Desert, The Assassin and the Underworld, and The Assassin and the Empire, as well as The Assassin and the Healer. [4] It follows Celaena Sardothien in her adventures traveling around Erilea with her companion Sam Cortland. | |||||
1 | Throne of Glass | August 2, 2012 | 113,655 words [5] / 432 pages [6] | 9781619630345 | |
After a year of slavery, an infamous teenage assassin named Celaena is given the chance to become the tyrannical king's personal assassin/King's Champion by representing Prince Dorian in a competition against the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. She must survive every test and trial in order to proceed to the final, in which she has to fight her remaining opponents. As candidates are found dead in the castle, their bodies ruptured, Celaena finds herself delving deep into mysteries concerning not only her, but her very own ancestors and the creatures of darkness that dwell deep beneath the castle. | |||||
2 | Crown of Midnight | August 27, 2013 | 114,494 words [7] / 448 pages [8] | 9781619630642 | |
Celaena, the King's Champion, must win her freedom by butchering every person the king asks her to, but she cannot bear to kill for the crown. With every death she fakes, she puts her close friends at risk. Celaena must choose between a captain and a prince, and must battle forces more threatening than the king. She also reunites with an old colleague, becomes obsessed with a rebel movement, and learns more about the king's source of power. | |||||
3 | Heir of Fire | September 2, 2014 | 163,266 words [9] / 592 pages [10] | 9781619630673 | |
Celaena travels to Wendlyn, a land where magic is still free, to undergo Fae training with the powerful and cold immortal Fae warrior Rowan Whitethorn. Tensions high between them, the pair must work together to stop evil forces wreaking havoc, and Celaena learns to accept herself as the Queen of Terrasen. Meanwhile, in Adarlan, Chaol teams up with General Aedion Ashryver to rebel against the King, and Dorian struggles to understand his growing powers. Manon Blackbeak, an immortal Ironteeth witch, competes in a competition against other witches in order to become the official Wing Leader of the clan. | |||||
4 | Queen of Shadows | September 1, 2015 | 183,840 words [11] / 672 pages [12] | 9781619636064 | |
Stronger than ever, Aelin Galathynius (aka Celaena Sardothien) returns to Rifthold, this time as a free woman. Upon her return, she learns that much has changed since she left, including the capture of her long-lost cousin Aedion and the possession of her friend Dorian at the hands of a Valg Prince. Aelin teams up with Chaol's team of rebels and her former master, King of Assassins Arobynn Hamel, determined to get her revenge for over ten years of pain, by freeing magic, killing the King of Adarlan, and rescuing Dorian. Across Adarlan in Morath, Manon is forced to use her witches to produce evil monsters as weapons. As she struggles between her duties and growing morals, she befriends Elide Lochan, a servant girl who is the rightful lady of Perranth, and daughter of Aelin's nursemaid as a child. | |||||
5 | Empire of Storms | September 6, 2016 | 195,332 words [13] / 720 pages [14] | 9781619636071 | |
Aelin is determined to never turn her back on her kingdom again. Cashing in debts to raise an army, Aelin and her court travel around Erilea in an attempt to stop Lord Erawan of the Valg, a demon-like race, from destroying the world, but with so many sworn enemies in want of revenge, including Queen Maeve of the Fae, survival seems unlikely. Aelin begins to realize that there are events in her life which may not have happened by coincidence; in fact, many have been pulling strings in the background long before she was born, and that she was destined for something far greater than she thought. | |||||
6 | Tower of Dawn | September 5, 2017 | 191,282 words [15] / 688 pages [16] | 9781681195773 | |
Taking place during the events of Empire of Storms, Chaol Westfall travels to the Southern Continent with Nesryn Faliq to seek treatment from the gifted healers there, and persuade the Southern Continent to ally with him and his friends in the brewing war against Erawan. Yrene Towers' attempts of healing him lead to her becoming entangled in Chaol's past, despite her own reservations against his loyalty to the very nation that prosecuted her family. Meanwhile, Nesryn improves relations with her family during her stay, and befriends Prince Sartaq. | |||||
7 | Kingdom of Ash | October 23, 2018 | 272,682 words [17] / 992 pages [18] | 9781619636101 | |
After being locked in an iron coffin for months by Maeve, Aelin resists torture in hopes of returning to her kingdom. Rowan searches with his cadre and Elide to find Aelin, his mate and wife. At the same time, Aedion and Lysandra continue to defend Terrasen with the armies that Aelin gathered before she was captured, from forces that would seek to destroy it: Erawan. After successfully allying with the Southern Continent, Chaol and his group race to reach his friends before it's too late. Manon and Dorian grow closer as they travel in search of the Crochan witches to raise an army, the final Wyrdkey, and answers to their role in the war and as leaders of their respective kingdoms. In the final battle, Aelin and her friends succeed in destroying both Maeve and Erawan once and for all, bringing peace to the land. |
Embers of Memory, a two-person card game based on the Throne of Glass book series, was released in October 2019 by Osprey Games. [20] It is set during the events of the final book in the series, Kingdom of Ash. The players are tasked with helping Aelin survive her imprisonment and ordeal at the hands of Maeve, diving with her into her memories and helping her find the way back out. [21]
![]() | This section may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience.(January 2021) |
Sarah J. Maas has cited Disney's Cinderella as an inspiration for writing Throne of Glass. While viewing the scene in which the heroine flees the ball, Maas found the soundtrack "way too dark and intense". This led her to re-imagine a number of details. "The music fit much better when I imagined a thief—no, an assassin!—fleeing the palace," she said. "But who was she? Who had sent her to kill the prince? Who might the prince's enemies be? A powerful, corrupt empire, perhaps?" [23]
Originally known as Queen of Glass, the story initially appeared on FictionPress.com . [23] Bloomsbury acquired the novel in 2010, and purchased two additional Throne of Glass novels in 2012. [24] Publicist Emma Bradshaw noted Maas' "huge online following, particularly in the US". [25] Additionally, Throne of Glass became the first Bloomsbury children's novel to be featured on Netgalley.com, attracting requests "from all over the world." [25]
Following its acquisition by Bloomsbury, the story went through a number of revisions prior to publication. Regarding the tale's development, Maas stated, "In the 10 years that I've been working on the series, Throne of Glass has become more of an original epic fantasy than a Cinderella retelling, but you can still find a few nods to the legend here and there." [25]
In an interview prior to the series' debut, Maas discussed the process of creating her protagonist: [27]
I grew up reading books like Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown and Garth Nix's Sabriel —both of which feature strong heroines, and both of which profoundly shaped my identity and empowered me. I started writing knowing I wanted to create books like that—mostly because that's what interests me and where my passion lies, but also because I'd love for some young woman to read [Throne of Glass] and feel empowered, too.
The story's teenage heroine, Celaena Sardothien, is introduced as an orphan who was raised and trained by an assassin. She is characterized as skilled, arrogant, and witty. While shaping her protagonist, Maas was inspired by the heroism of Eowyn from The Lord of the Rings , and by the characterization of Velma Kelly from Chicago . Maas has stated that the latter's "arrogance and fierceness made me want to write about a woman like her—about a woman who never once said sorry for being talented and determined and utterly in love with herself." [28]
The author ultimately designed Celaena as a highly capable character whose talents also form a basis for numerous faults. In interviews preceding the series' release, Maas noted her heroine's issues with "impatience" and "vanity". [27] She also suggested that Celaena would grow while adjusting to her new role. [26] In addition to Celaena's skills as an assassin, Maas wanted the character to have several traits and hobbies befitting her age, [29] including a fondness for "shopping, books, and fine dining", as well as a "penchant for getting into trouble." [30]
In creating the friendship between Celaena and Chaol, Maas gave the characters a number of differences. As the story begins, Chaol is introduced as a strict and ethical captain, while Celaena is presented as a morally ambiguous assassin. According to the author, this contrast contributes to Chaol's character development as his bond with Celaena grows. Amidst their experiences, Chaol eventually comes to view her not just as a captive criminal, but also "as a human being." [31] While writing the novel, Maas envisioned Chaol as a character who had "always seen the world in black and white," and concluded that "Celaena just throws a wrench in that." [31]
Prince Dorian is presented as a suitor for Celaena as well. However, their relationship is complicated by his status as the crown prince. [32]
In anticipation of the series' debut, Bloomsbury released e-book editions of four prequel novellas—The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Desert, The Assassin and the Underworld, and The Assassin and the Empire—between January and July 2012. [33] Throne of Glass was previewed by Publishers Weekly in February, while the book trailer premiered on MTV.com in May. [34] [35] Additionally, film option rights were acquired by Creative Artists Agency. [36]
Throne of Glass has received generally positive reviews, making its debut on the New York Times Best Seller list with the release of the second novel, Crown of Midnight. [37] A review from Publishers Weekly lauded the series' opening as a "strong debut novel." The review went on to state, "This is not cuddly romance, but neither is it grim. Celaena is trained to murder, yet she hasn’t lost her taste for pretty dresses or good books, and a gleam of optimism tinges her outlook. Maas tends toward overdescription, but the verve and freshness of the narration make for a thrilling read." [38] The Guardian gave it 5 stars out of 5 with the author of the review stating that the main character, Celaena, was more "relatable" than most other female protagonists. [39] In her review for USA Today , Serena Chase called Celaena a "next-level Cinderella". [22]
Kirkus stated, "A teenage assassin, a rebel princess, menacing gargoyles, supernatural portals and a glass castle prove to be as thrilling as they sound." With regard to the protagonist, Kirkus noted that "Celaena is still just a teenager trying to forge her way, giving the story timelessness. She might be in the throes of a bloodthirsty competition, but that doesn't mean she's not in turmoil over which tall, dark and handsomely titled man of the royal court should be her boyfriend—and which fancy gown she should wear to a costume party." The review concluded that the story's "commingling of comedy, brutality and fantasy evokes a rich alternate universe with a spitfire young woman as its brightest star." [29]
Throne of Glass was named Amazon.com 's "Best Book of the Month for Kids & Teens" in August 2012. [40] Whitney Kate Sullivan of Romantic Times stated that "Maas' YA fantasy world is one of the most compelling that this reviewer has visited all year. The assassin heroine's growth and the multilayered secondary characters are amazing." [41] Serena Chase of USA Today applauded the story's love triangle, and noted that "Maas excels at world building, spicing up this unusual take on the Cinderella story by injecting myths, fairy tales and religious traditions with the magic of a fresh and faulted world. Whereas many authors rely on geographic detail to build their worlds, Maas' environment is more politically driven and her characterizations are deftly drawn to support that sort of structure." Chase also commended Maas for creating "a truly remarkable heroine who doesn't sacrifice the grit that makes her real in order to do what's right in the end." [42]
The awards the author has received are as follows:
Year | Award | Nominee/Work | Category | Result | Ref |
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2012 | Goodreads | Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction | Throne of Glass | Nominated | [43] |
2013 | Crown of Midnight | Nominated | [44] | ||
2014 | Heir of Fire | Nominated | [45] | ||
2015 | Queen of Shadows | Won | [46] | ||
2016 | Empire of Storms | Nominated | [47] | ||
2017 | Tower of Dawn | Nominated | [48] | ||
2018 | Best of the Best | Queen of Shadows | Nominated | [49] | |
Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction | Kingdom of Ash | Won | [50] | ||
Year | Publication | Work | Category | Result | Ref |
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2015 | BuzzFeed | Queen of Shadows | 16 Of The Best YA Books Of 2015 | 11 | [51] |
2015 | The Independent | Queen of Shadows | 10 best fantasy novels | 4 | [52] |
2013 | PopSugar | Crown of Midnight | The Best YA Books of 2013 | 2 | [53] |
2015 | Queen of Shadows | The Best YA Books of 2015 | 8 | [54] | |
2016 | Empire of Storms | The Best YA Books of 2016 | 20 | [55] | |
In September 2016, it was announced that the Throne of Glass series had been opted for a television adaptation by Hulu and Disney-ABC Domestic Television. The series was set to be titled Queen of Shadows, named after the fourth novel in the series, with The Mark Gordon Company serving as the main project studio. The adaptation was to be written by Kira Snyder, who also wrote The 100, with the pilot potentially to be directed by Anna Foerster. [56] As of 2020, the rights have since reverted to Maas, with no further production currently in the works.[ citation needed ]
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