I don't even know what to feel. This book was just so lackluster. I came into it thinking that it would be this epic fantasy tournament magic fighting assassin stuff, but it was all just a love triangle?

I mean, some of the romance was cute, but I legitimately don't remember much else from the book (and I just finished it). So little was dedicated to the tournament that I felt like Celaena just spent all of her time reading, deliberating between two hot men, and missing obvious clues.

Speaking of Celaena, she is the most Mary Sue character I think I've ever read. It is constantly shoved in your face how beautiful she is - by the author, by Celaena herself, even by basically all of the side characters. Not only that, she's intelligent (though she can't connect some very obvious dots), she plays music really well, she speaks at least two languages, she's kind (but somehow also an assassin), she's good at fighting even when half-starved, and she's the best assassin in the world (even though she never really proves it).

The last like 50 pages or so were probably its saving grace (along with Nehemia). I'm intrigued enough to continue on with the series, and just hope that it only goes up from here.

Also, I'm so mad at what happened to Dorian.

Spoiler

Celaena literally breaks up with him because it's "inappropriate," but then goes off to frolic with Chaol? AND I'M SUPPOSED TO SHIP THIS RELATIONSHIP???