Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, moral dilemmas aplenty in complex assassin tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 25 kid reviews
Kids say that this book offers an incredible mix of fantasy, action, and character development, with many reviewers praising its engaging storyline and worldbuilding. However, some found it slow at times and noted its mature themes, including violence and gore, suggesting it's more suitable for older teens.
- captivating characters
- strong worldbuilding
- mature themes
- violence and gore
- slow pacing
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Occupying the THRONE OF GLASS and leaving a trail of blood and destruction wherever he goes is the ruthless king of Adarlan, who's on a mission to wipe out magic, the remnants of the Fae race, and all those who cling to them. Eighteen-year-old Celaena has lost many loved ones to him; now a trained assassin with many deaths on her own hands, she's spent the last year in a salt mine that was supposed to kill her from sheer brutality after someone betrayed her. Plucked from the mines by the crown prince, who loves books and hates his father's murdering ways, Celaena is tasked with winning a contest against assorted thugs, soldiers, and killers to become the King's Champion, i.e. assassin. If she wins and does the job, she'll go free. If not, it's death -- or back to the mines.
Is It Any Good?
The first installment in a best-selling magical series, Sarah J. Maas' complex tale of a teen assassin is awash in gore and dark deeds but also fraught with ethical dilemmas and the possibility of something better. Throne of Glass finds its teen and twenty-something characters uneasily building trust and falling in love, even as palace intrigue and their own experience make betrayal a likely outcome. Along the way, some swoony romance and deep internal conflicts. The world-building and relationships that develop here set the stage for cosmic conflict in later books, and there's lots here for fantasy and romance lovers to enjoy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like Throne of Glass and the premise that sometimes none of your choices are good, but you have to choose anyway. Why do you think this is such a popular storytelling theme, and what stories do you think deal with it especially well?
Do you like to develop your skills and compete against others? What's an interest you're pursuing, and what are you doing to pursue it?
Do you think magic is an important thing to have in your life? If you do, how do you find and keep magic?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury
- Publication date : August 2, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 432
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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