Rating: 14+ (i read it about twelve i think which was a little bit young so I would recommend waiting until you are comfortable with threat and violence and can enjoy the vivid fantasy world the most!)
This is fantasy. Pure fantasy. The main character is an assassin and she has so many layers you constantly discover more about her throughout the series. The world is GLORIOUS. Theres no other word for it. complicated and twisted with cities and underworlds and underbellies of pirates and assassins and the worse of the worse. And Caeleana is one of the most notorious. I love the political undertones and it has several of my favourite parts that make up the book.
Strong female lead. (that loves books! she is a fellow book lover!) Complicated plot. Layers and layers and layers! Prince Dorian has more to him than meets the eye, even through i am not a fan of the potential romantic relationship between them, he is a key character. Chaol is a little two dimensional, but it works perfectly for his part in this book and his development throughout the series. Plot is perfect, slightly slow in places because it needs to be to introduce the large and varied cast, but well thought out and well done. Sarah J. Maas doesn’t shy away from building a realistic world, and adds darker details that make it a 15 even more than the violence and gore and torture that goes on. the are mentions of off the page sexual assault and murder to a unnamed secondary character so if that would be triggering to you then maybe give it a few more years before you read it.
Characters – 5/5 stars – Caeleana is the perfect morally grey character, and she is delightfully flawed.
World – 4.5/5 stars – the world develops even further in the next books, but in this first one we get a glorious look at the lives of the court through the eyes of an scornful assassin.
Romance – 4/5 stars – Sweet Romance – Caeleana does have a few romantic moments, but they are not overly done and quite subtle as well as important to the plot.
Plot 4.5/5 stars – Because it is a series, Maas is setting up for the whole series plot so while this one is satisfying, there are some clear ties to lead to the next book.
Things to be aware of: It is quite violent 4/5 because the main character is an assassin in a series of trials. Mentions of empire building. SA (of the page) murder (some on some off the page)
Damsel in Delight 