I am a pretty laid-back person, so I don’t throw around polarizing words very often. One I do like is ‘romantasy’. I know, I know. Some of you cringe- eye roll- gag when you hear anything literary referred to as romantic. And fantasy lovers are particularly protective about their genre. I have adored Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit since I was a child, so I get that also.

But I am a grown-up now, and I like to read stories that explore all parts of the human psyche. So, in 2019, I scrolled through my Kindle and found an author named Sarah J. Maas. I did not realize what I was getting myself into when I clicked on her name. I found another of her books, A Court of Thorns and Roses, first. I started reading it and liked it, but I couldn’t get interested in a big series, especially one that was not finished yet. Then I researched her other books and found Throne of Glass, a completed eight-book series categorized as a Young Adult Fantasy, Fantasy, or Romantasy. That was a new word I had not encountered before, so I did my research. Swords, magic, Fae, sweeping tales, and romance? I forgot my trepidation. And so, I took my first steps into the enchanted/cursed kingdom of Adarlan.

This book stars Celaena Sardothien, a young teen assassin enslaved in the salt mines. She endures hard labor and hard punishments. One day, the crown prince and his guard show up with a proposition. She will be freed from the salt mines on one condition. She is to compete in a tournament that the King of Adarlan is throwing. A new royal assassin is needed, and the prince wants Celaena as his champion. If she wins, she will serve as royal assassin for four years, then be set free.

Sounds good, right? Celaena has the skills and experience to hold her own in such a competition against cutthroats, thieves, and warriors. The majority of the book focuses on the competition, but it still remains a backdrop to the real meat of the story. Celaena uncovers mysteries and plots all over the castle. Why was magic ripped from the kingdom so many years ago? What is wrong with the clock tower? Is the foreign princess staying in the castle a rebel or spy? What strange creature is living in the tunnels beneath the library? What happened to the missing princess of Terrasen?

Most importantly, why do Celaena’s fellow contestants keep getting murdered and gutted brutally?

And this is just the first book! Throughout the eight-book series, you will encounter high Fae warriors, wyverns, witches, sea dragons, giant spiders, and magical abilities… the list is endless.

I highly recommend giving ‘romantasy’ a try. As I read this series, I cheered, cried (bawled like a baby), sympathized, cringed, and became angry. Each book dives deeper into the minute details and plots that abound in the kingdom of Adarlan and its surrounding territories. This story becomes an epic tale of royalty, betrayal, conspiracies, and self-discovery for our characters. Sometimes the characters’ actions and responses might seem childish, but these are young adults, some teenagers. And Sarah J. Maas started writing this series when she was sixteen. Taking that into account, they don’t seem as childish. When I was a teenager, I firmly believe I could NOT have survived as a royal assassin or as a laborer in the salt mines. More power to Celaena!

As much as I like Celaena and her trials, tribulations, and affairs of the heart, I feel that the Throne of Glass series shines most because of its supporting cast. Celaena would not have had the same results without her comrades, whom she loves and protects at all costs. Some of my favorites are –

• Lysandra, a reluctant courtesan with a secret that could get her killed. We get a brief overview of her life and how she got to where she is, but I would read a prequel book about her. She goes from a foe of Celaena’s to a trusted friend and valued warrior. Her spirit and sass bring a nice complement to the determination and grit of Celaena. She, as most of the women in Maas’s books, has a romantic interest in a character named Aedion Ashryver (I love fantasy names!). And her growing feelings for him do shape her in a way, but being a girl-in-love is not her only trope. Without Lysandra’s abilities and skills, Celaena would not have won some of her key battles.
• Elide, who starts out as a weak, abused servant. Meek and subservient, could there be more to Elide than it seems? Her blooming confidence is a joy to read. Her ‘love interest’ is Lorcan, one of the most powerful demi-Fae. He is, of course, brooding, ruthless, and extremely cunning. Starting out against Celaena, Lorcan has his own growth, realizing that maybe some deep-held beliefs are not accurate. Again, their affection for each other is not their only purpose in this story. They contribute. They matter. And their banter is hilarious!
• By far, my favorite side character is Manon Blackbeak! I truly want an entire series devoted to her backstory and her future. She doesn’t even show up till book three, but she is a dominating force. Manon is a witch of the Ironteeth clan, driven from their homelands and cursed never to return. She begins as an antagonist to Celaena, part of a fighting troop working for the King of Adarlan. Her arc evolves, however, and she becomes a main protagonist along with Celaena and her band of rebels. I like her ‘love story’ with her intended. And her troop of fellow soldiers called the Thirteen… truly the best ‘relationship’ in the whole series. But her true story and character development lie with Abraxos. I won’t say anything about Abraxos, just her kinship and trust with him could arguably be the turning point for Celaena’s cause. Without Manon’s actions and decisions, Celaena’s story could have ended very differently. (I have skimmed the books more than once, just reading Manon’s part.)

Okay, this is getting way too long. I probably should have broken this down book by book, but I love this series so much I couldn’t help myself. If you have never tried romantasy before, I believe the Throne of Glass series is a good starting point. Epic, magical, intense, intricate, and completely immersive, these books deliver a story that sticks with you. Don’t let the romantic aspect stop you! Just enjoy the fact that these characters are getting to experience all of life’s joys.

From Amazon: Lethal. Loyal. Legendary.

Enter the world of Throne of Glass with the first book in the #1 bestselling series by Sarah J. Maas.

In a land without magic, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She has no love for the vicious king who rules from his throne of glass, but she has not come to kill him. She has come to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three murderers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she will be released from prison to serve as the King’s Champion.

Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. And a princess from a faraway country will befriend her. But something rotten dwells in the castle, and it’s there to kill. When her competitors start dying mysteriously, one by one, Celaena’s fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival- and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

Thrilling and fierce, Throne of Glass is the first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series that has captivated readers worldwide.