As Celaena Sardothien gets the chance to escape from certain death, she takes up the challenge: As a champion of Crown Prince Dorian Havilliard it should consist in a competition against 23 competitors, to regain their freedom in the service of the king after a few years. Since it was once Ardalans dreaded assassin, it seems the victory certain. But maybe she has since deceived?
Under the watchful eyes Chaol West Falls, the captain of the guard, it is brought to the palace and is preparing for the competition. You also win some new friends soon. Then start Champions dying under mysterious circumstances, which no one can explain. Moreover, it seems to go in the castle something very evil about him. Can Caelena destroy the evil before it is too mortal danger for you?
Opinion
After fifty pages I wrote this status in Goodreads: The heroine is beautiful, the best assassin in the world and probably of great magical vote, also has the interest of two interesting men. What does that even now come really ?. The answer: Not much. Of course there is the competition, but which plays only a minor role in the book. Instead, we have a love triangle and a little creepy castle. And the deaths. This has the action over very long distances wearing what unfortunately is not nearly as exciting as it sounds, because the deaths happen without witnesses and without evidence. Of course, all the puzzle of how these come about, but shortly before the conclusion reached in there journey.
Normally convince myself authors mainly through their characters, but not in this case. Especially with the protagonist, I had my difficulties. Of course, there is somewhere nice that the author does not try, Celaena introduce a normal girl and therefore in the first volume does not so staying to describe their education. Unfortunately, therefore, did not grow me Celeana presumably warmly, thus came the vulnerable thing but first she seemed hardly out degrees at the beginning, but also later, incredibly arrogant plus vain. I will not deny that a certain mastery can be learned in dealing with various weapons with enough training, but that it dominates all perfect, but then something much indeed. The crown is placed the whole, however, the fact that they not only remarkably well despite one year slavery in surplus, but in sports competitions after a brief recovery phase up front is. That she vomits her food while running makes it a little more realistic, but really just a tiny bit. And then quite a few things are as indicated in the course of the first volume, which can be very strong but suspect that Celeana is much more Wonder Woman, as we were able to see here. Apart from that it appears as a very girlish and adorable, what do not want to match the dreaded assassin Adarlans.
Also with other important characters, I had my problems. Dorian looks incredibly naive in political affairs and of its capacity as a womanizer is in the book is not much to feel, instead, he turns out to be in need of cuddly and amazingly docile. I would have after getting really expected a little more bite him! In Chaol surprise that he was so young captain of the guard, so times he killed never anybody. For such a position, I would not only excellent handling of weapons at scrimmages presuppose, but also the practical testing in the armed conflict. Nehemiah was the only character who seemed consistent for me. Unfortunately, she has to serve as a potential suspect, even if it is hair-raising.
Only at the very end, we learn a little more to the king, the villain, and his nasty machinations. But as the series currently comprises some books, he is most of the time merely a shadow figure. Probably ever larger chunks are thrown before it comes to the final battle in the sixth volume in the next four books. Also the palace is probably fully explored in one of the later books. So it looked as if someone had not yet unlocked the passage to the other levels. This phenomenon occurred at all frequently in the book on: All the time I had the feeling that something is determined deepened in subsequent books. Basically, of course, legitimate, but as a standalone tape this is only conditionally fit. And, when there are no real cliffhanger.
The inspiration for the story of Disney's Cinderella by the way should have been considered, Maas wanted to tell the tale gloomy. This mission is unquestionably succeeded her. Despite numerous revisions, however, the origin of the milieu of Fanficiton can not be denied. Overall, I did not like about the story much: The characters, especially Wonder Woman Celaena that almost always predictable and hardly surprising action. There were undoubtedly a lot of interesting ideas, but I'll probably stop reading here.
Conclusion
Prelude to a fantasy series, inspired by Cinderella, who comes up with a very self-confident and very diverse talented heroine. To put it kindly express.
3 stars
