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| Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish |
Actually, Gaby gave me a couple of suggestions on what to do and I’m stealing them. Instead of a traditional 10, today I am going to split it up and do TWO Top 5s!
First of all, a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Sarah for the Throne of Glass series landing at #4 on the New York Times Best Seller List!
Which is a perfect segue into...
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Read the Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas:
1) Celaena Sardothien
She’s like the love child of Aragorn and Legolas; with Aragorn’s heart and honor and general bad-assery and Legolas’s fabulousness (and Sarah has told me that Celaena also inherited some of Gandalf’s sass, which upon further consideration I have to agree with). And, to spice things up with a crazy fandom crossover, Celaena also has the cleverness of Stiles and allure? of Derek from Teen Wolf (because I just watched the season 4 finale and ohmygod).
Seriously though, you know how in some books, the heroine validates her awesomeness and feminism by comparing herself to the rest of the sniveling, subservient female population? It really pisses me off when story-tellers do that because I think it completely undermines the heroine’s strength, and in most cases just makes her look like an ass to me. Sarah does not do that. Celaena stands out, not because every other female is weak, but because she’s earned it. THAT is true strength.
2) Pure EPICNESS
So much is going on! The grandeur of the plot is unbelievable, and Sarah weaves it together flawlessly. She continually sets the stakes higher and higher with each passing book.
And makes you feel like this:
My sanity almost can’t handle it.
3) Character Depth
Every.single.character is so damaged and real and human (except, ya know, for the Fae, who are Fae) and my heart cries for them. Celaena, Chaol, Dorian, Nehemia, Rowan, Manon, Aedion, Sorscha, Ren. In the hands of a lesser author, all of that “damage” could be considered over the top, but Sarah has crafted the world and the conflict so well that it’s not. All of their struggles feel real, personal. No character, no person, is perfect. We’re all damaged in some way, and life is about putting those pieces back together and figuring ourselves out. These characters go through love, hate, grief, despair, hope, and so many more emotions that I can’t list because that would absurd. Same as us. We have the pleasure (I use that term loosely) of seeing them journey through all these varying trials and emotions. We see the bonds they forge on this journey, the breakable and unbreakable kind, and how precious and vital those bonds are in life.
4) Intricate World Building
Adarlan, Terrasen, Wendlyn, all the lands, cities, forests, deserts, creatures, cultures, magic. I WANT TO LIVE THERE. ‘nuff said.
5) The Author – Sarah J. Maas
She is literally the coolest person on earth.
Top 5 Book Recs for Throne of Glass Fans
1) Something Strange and Deadly series by Susan Dennard
Susan is Sarah’s critique partner, and therefore they each have a hand in the other’s work (notice: Sarah dedicated both COM and HOF to her. THIS MEANS SOMETHING!). And while this fact is awesome, Susan is amazing all on her own. Both of these series have kick-butt heroines and action packed adventures. For those not so interested in paranormal, Susan has a high fantasy series coming out next year, the 1st TRUTHWITCH.
2) Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta
Anything Melina Marchetta writes is golden, and the three books in the Lumatere Chronicles are no exception. Much like Throne of Glass, the stakes in this trilogy are high, death and tyranny are part of everyday life. Courage and the bonds formed between characters are the only things that can save them all. Every fantasy fan NEEDS to read this series.
3) Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
Incredible world-building with its own brand of high fantasy lore. This book as everything a Throne of Glass fan loves – incredible characters, adventure, romance, magic, girl power. But the thing I think these two series have most in common is how good and evil are not always easily discerned, and how important it is to question... everything you think you know.
4) Shadowfell trilogy by Juliet Marillier
Where Throne of Glass is raging rapids, Shadowfell is a steady but strong flow. This series is slower paced and many may find that tedious, but if you don’t mind a slower pace, then this series will blow your mind. Juliet Marillier is a master at blending fantasy and classic folklore.
5) The Darkest Minds trilogy by Alexandra Bracken
Again, Alex and Sarah are critique partners, and yes, there is a pattern here. The writing in this series is downright incredible. While it’s not fantasy (it’s paranormal-dystopian), Alex has crafted a complex world of her own out of our real one. It shares some similar themes with TOG, namely a corrupt government and certain young adults who find that they have the power to bring about change but must find the hope and courage inside themselves. If THAT doesn’t sound awesome to you, Ms. Bracken also has a standalone high fantasy book, BRIGHTLY WOVEN, that is definitely worth reading. Plus, we share a name!
And *BONUS* all of these series are complete (well, The Darkest Minds will be complete on Oct. 28th . That’s close enough)!!!
