Heir of Fire

By Sarah J. Maas

This is the 3rd book in the Throne of Glass series, and it picks up right where it left off and takes things to a whole new level. This book is amazingly jam-packed with excitement and adventure, twists and turns. Heir of Fire mainly follows Celaena, but it also follows other characters, mainly Chaol, Dorian, and a new character named Manon.  The stories twine around each other, vying for attention, but it's mostly Celaena's story that drives the book (as it should.  She is the main character, after all).

At the end of Crown of Midnight, Celaena is sent to Wendlyn, the country across the sea, so that she can kill the King and Crown Prince, thereby allowing the King of Adarlan to take over. It is also revealed that she is the lost queen of Terrasen, Aelin Galathynius, a fact that she's kept buried deep within herself for 10 years. Celaena can't kill the King of Wendlyn, a distant cousin of hers, because she doesn't have the will. Especially after seeing how much the people of Wendlyn love, truly love, him. Her goal becomes to get in touch with Maeve, the Fae Queen located on Wendlyn, and find out more information about the Wyrdkeys and how to destroy them and the King of Adarlan. Except Maeve wants something in return. She wants 'Aelin' to show Maeve what she can do. Celaena can't. She hasn't trained in over 10 years, and when she did train, she had no control. Plus, she's terrified of it. Maeve refuses to share information until Aelin proves herself, and she leaves one of her own, Rowan, to train Celaena.

Rowan and Celaena are both broken and empty, living day to day and expecting the worst for themselves. They both feel as if they deserve every evil and terrible thing that happens to them. But as they train, they learn to trust each other, rebuilding the other into a stronger, stable person. They form a special bond. Celaena also learns to control her power, a great and powerful power of fire. She learns to embrace her powers instead of fearing them, and she becomes a force that no one can stand against. Celaena faces her terrible past, a past filled with the loss of her parents and other loved one, and she comes out stronger in the end. She comes out of it knowing she hide as Celaena anymore. She is Aelin Galanthynius, and she must return to save her people. She frees Rowan from his blood oath to Maeve, and he immediately swears a blood oath to her.  She talks with Maeve about the Wyrdstones but doesn't learn too much more. She leaves Wendlyn for Rifthold, figuring out where one of the Wyrdstones is hidden. She leaves Rowan behind but is sad to be leaving him, and he her. But right now, that's how it needs to be.

Chaol is still trying to figure out what to do after learning who Celaena is and that Dorian has magic. He's lost and confused and doesn't know what side to stand on. He connects, unexpectedly, with Aedion Ashryver, one of the King's generals and Aelin's cousin. Aedion is one of the King's greatest generals, but he secretly with working with the rebels to find a way to overthrow the King. Chaol is sucked into this, revealing his secrets about Aelin/Celaena to Aedion. They work together to discover the source of the King's power as well as how the King stopped magic 10 years ago. In the end, Aedion is captured and revealed as a traitor, and Chaol is forced to flee, leaving behind all he's worked so hard for.

Dorian is struggling with his magic. He's terrified that someone will notice or see and he will be killed for it. Then he meets Sorscha, a young, beautiful healer in the castle. She finds out his secret bu promises to keep it, even helping him. They fall in love, sharing stolen moments together. Dorian is estranged from Chaol after he sent Celaena away to Wendlyn, but he learns to understand when Dorian fears for Sorscha's life. Sorscha refuses to leave Dorian. In the end, Sorscha is also revealed as a traitor and meets a terrible end. Dorian, in his grief, releases his magic to the pleasure of the King. The King, hoping his son had magic, locks Dorian up to use when he wants.

Manon is a new, fantastic character that adds a great dimension to the story. She is an Iron witch of the Blackbeak clan. All the Iron witches are called to the Ferian Gap where there is a present from the King of Adarlan. He has wyverns, and he wants the witches to ride them, train them, and prepare for battle to fight for him. There is a great deal of fighting between the clans, but they are all dark and born without souls or hearts. Except Manon learns that maybe that's not the case. She forms a deep bond with her wyvern, Abraxos, and together they win the War Games, securing her spot at Wing Leader for the King's wyvern army. With the rest of her clan, they are to head to another place and prepare for war.

What I liked: All the different points of view and storylines blended so well together. They drew you in, making you yearn to know more. They also revealed things that tied them nicely together. The action is faster paced, and the book is a must read! Out of the first three, this one is probably my favorite because so much happens. There's also backstory, and I love a good backstory!

Heir of Fire is a great book for middle school boys and girls and young adults. Once you start, you just can't put it down!

Crown of Midnight

by Sarah J. Maas

This is the 2nd book in the Throne of Glass series, and it is just as amazing as the first. It picks up right where it left off at the end of Throne of Glass.

Celaena is now the King's Champion, a position that grants her freedom in 4 years, but a position she despises.  She is tasked by the King to kill of the people standing in his way, people who may actually be on her side, the side of freedom and peace. In her own small way, she is standing up to the King as well, though no one knows it. Everyone around her thinks she's a monster because she's killing off all these people, but what they don't know is that she's faking all of their deaths. She can't tell anyone this for fear of putting them in danger too.

Her next target is in Rifthold, the capital city of Adarlan and where the Glass Castle and the King are located. Archer Flynn, a good friend from her past, is supposedly plotting treason against the King, and the King isn't pleased.  To fake his death will be more difficult, but she's willing to do it to protect those she loves.

When she approaches Archer, he panics and begs for mercy. She promises a month before he must leave, but she also wants names of others involved, names that she can give the King instead of Archer. He promises all the help she wants because he's not really involved, but he knows things.  Things like that this rebel group is trying to put the lost princess of Terrasen, Aelin Galanthynius.

In the meantime, Celaena and Chaol, the Captain of the Guard, are growing closer and closer, neither seeing the love blossoming between them. Dorian, the Prince, has backed off because he sees their attraction, but he's sad because he also loves Celaena.  Nehemia, the Princess from Eyllwe, is still visiting the castle and is Celaena's best friend. Nehemia starts teaching Celaena about Wyrdmarks, ancient symbols of power, and how to use them.

Chaol hears about a threat to Nehemia's life and keeps a closer eye on her and her guard, but finds no reason to share it with Celaena.  Also, Dorian discovers he has magic awakening within him, a power so raw and powerful that he can't control it. And in a country where magic is outlawed and those who have it are killed, Dorian is afraid to reveal it to anyone.

One morning, while Nehemia is teaching Celaena, Nehemia begs Celaena to help her stand up to the King, to fight to take him down. Celaena refuses to help because she knows what the King is capable of, of his wicked strength and cruel power. She is terrified of him, and Nehemia calls her a coward. They storm away from each other.

Some nights after Celaena and Chaol finally admit they love each other, Chaol is kidnapped to draw Celaena away from the castle. She chases after him in a blaze of fury, annihilating all in her path. She follows the trail to a warehouse where the rebel group awaits with Chaol chained up. Archer appears and reveals that a threat was made on Nehemia's life, a threat that Chaol knew about and kept secret. Celaena is furious and speeds back to the castle to save Nehemia, but she's too late. Nehemia and her guards have been massacred in a gruesome way. Celaena snaps, lunging for Chaol because it's his fault. She tries to kill him, but she's knocked out and carried to the dungeon.

Once she is released, she figures out that there is only one person who would be responsible for the death of Nehemia, an assassin from the King's Champion tournament who failed, a man named Grave. She tracks him down one night and slaughters him, taking her time in killing him so that he can feel what Nehemia felt.

Celaena also finds out that there are three powerful, magical Wyrdstones, or keys that could open a Wyrdgate, a gate into other realms that would let in terrible beings and monsters. The King has at least one of these Wyrdstones, which is the reason he's so powerful and no one can stop him. Celaena is determined to find the others and stop him. But first she wants to say good-bye to Nehemia. She knows enough about Wyrdmarks now that she can open a portal into another realm, one where Nehemia will be let through. While she's finishing with Nehemia, Archer shows up, and Celaena discovers that he was behind it all. He also wants the Wyrdstones so he can rule. He also was the one behind Nehemia's death. In the ensuing fight, the portal is changed to open to another world, a deadly world with evil creatures all to happy to come through.

Chaol and Dorian rush in to help. Archer escapes, and Chaol, Dorian, and Celaena fight one of the creatures that have come through the portal. The creature takes Celaena's dog into the other world and Chaol follows, leaving Celaena no choice but to follow. In the other world where magic abounds, her Fae (fairy) nature breaks free, frightening Chaol. She defeats the creature and they escape back through the portal before it closes.

After all is over, Chaol, who still loves her and wants to protect her, has the King send Celaena across the ocean to Wendlyn, a country that the King has been trying to conquer for a while. Celaena is sent there to kill the King and Prince of Wendlyn.  Before Celaena leaves on the boat, she whispers a date to Chaol, a date that reveals more about her past. When Chaol checks it out and follows the clues, he discovers that Celaena is Aelin Galathynius, the Lost Queen of Terrasen. And he has just sent her to a country where she could find allies and help. He's terrified.

And that's where the book ends. On that big cliffhanger! There is so much more within this book. These are just the big details, but there are lots of little stories of intrigue and excitement that just add so much more to this series and book. I can't say enough good things about it!

What I liked about this book: Everything (of course)!  It brought more depth to characters, revealing more about who they really are. This book takes the story and jacks it up another level, building and building until the end...and then it leaves you wanting more.

I would recommend this book to middle school boys and girls who love action and adventure (with a little romance). It's just so amazing!

Throne of Glass

by Sarah J. Maas

This is the original first book by Sarah J. Maas and the first I read. Throne of Glass is the first book of hers that I fell in love with.

Celaena Sardothien has spent a year in the Salt Mines of Endovier, a punishment from the King of Adarlan for her misdeeds of the past. She is weak and pathetically thin, but her sass and spirit have not been broken. The Crown Prince, Dorian, wants to use her for a competition his father is having. The King is looking for a Champion, someone to do his dirty work and get rid of people in his way. Twenty-four higher-ups in the court sponsor would be champions in a contest for the prize. Celaena, who is terrified of the King, doesn't want to compete but it's this or back to Endovier.

Celaena starts training with the Captain of the Guard, Chaol, and has trouble at first because she's so weak. But she is determined to win, and nothing will stand in her way. Her identity is hidden because very few people know that Adarlan's Assassin, Celaena Sardothien, is really a 18 year old girl. For the competition, the other champion's and sponsors know her as a jewel thief and don't consider her worth their time.  Chaol convinces her to stay in the middle of the pack, under the radar, and not to show off too much. This doesn't sit well with Celaena, but she is impressed with his logic.

Test after test goes by, whittling out the weak, and Celaena hangs in there, along with Cain, a soldier of massive strength and power. Strange murders start occuring within the castle, brutally killing and maiming champions. Chaol is busy trying to figure out who is doing this, and Celaena knows this is no coincidence. Someone is picking off the champions one by one.

Celaena makes a friend, a true friend, in Princess Nehemia from Eyllwe, and helps Nehemia learn the customs and language of Adarlan. Chaol and Dorian also start to develop feelings for the smart, sassy assassin, and she, of course, loves their attentions.

The final test is a duel for the last four contestants. Cain defeats his opponent, and Celaena easily beats hers which leaves the two of them to duel it out. Poison is slipped into Celaena's wine before the fight, and Cain takes great advantage. He toys with her, and darkness descends on her. She fights and fights, but with the poison's influence, she just can't get anywhere. Just as she's about to give up, Nehemia helps her out, using a little power/magic. The poison is removed from Celaena, and she defeats Cain, making her the new King's Champion.

There is so much more to this book, more intrigue and passion and fighting and magic, but if I wrote about all of it, it would take too long.

What I liked: There is just so much to this book. Plus, I really enjoy the character of Celaena. She is smart and sassy and she works hard. She also can still find joy and happiness, even with everything she's been through.  I like the hints into her past, and the references to things that happened in The Assassin's Blade (the prequel).  The different perspectives within the book are also interesting. Celaena is the main storyteller, but sometimes Chaol and Dorian speak.

What I didn't like: The first time I read the book, I didn't really like the part with the dark magic. It was a little confusing and, I thought, a little unnecessary. But  because I've read this book multiple times and the others in the series, it makes more sense. It is important. I appreciate it more now.

Even though there is a girl on the cover, this book is packed full of action and adventure. It isn't girly in any way. There is a little romance, but it takes a backseat to the important parts. This book is awesome for boys and girls of middle school age and above.