Reading

  While this book sets up the other books in the series, as all first books do, it also has a fair amount of intrigue and surprises. Often you are led to believe one thing when the opposite turns out to be true.  Celaena and the other potential champions face numerous challenges in their quest to become the King's Champion. However, something or someone is trying to sabotage the competition and it's not the person you think it is.  This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially if they enjoy a book that has a few twists along the way.  WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD  We open with Calaena in Endovier, a labor camp where she is a slave. She is taken out of the mines after her day and led through a building by Chaol, the captain of the royal guard. She assumes she is about to be executed by instead comes face to face with the Crown Prince of Adarlan. He gives her an opportunity to win her freedom: win his father's competition, become his champion, and gain h...

 First off, I recommend reading this book in between the 2nd and 4th books in the Throne of Glass series.  The Assassin and the Pirate Lord So much happens in this first story. There is so many twists and turns. Deceptions are revealed but for some reason Celaena and Sam still trust their leader or so it seems.  Celaena and Sam travel to Skull's Bay together on their leader's orders. At this point, they despise each other which is interesting given that they end up together. However, this is set aside when they find out they were sent there to broker a slave deal they didn't know about. She wants to free the slaves but Sam thinks it is too risky. They end up arguing about it which apparently is something they do a lot.  I enjoy the insight into Celaena's character as well as her fellow assassins. It provides a background on her that helps to understand her actions and beliefs in later books. The Assassin and the Healer The background of how Yrene Towers and Celaena m...