This freaking series! 
 I'm pretty sure this book or this series needs no introduction but I'm going to attempt to do so anyway! 
 This is the second instalment in the Throne of Glass series that follows former inhabitant of the Endovier mines turned royal assassin, Celaena Sardothien. She fought to the literal death for her new role and her position sees her drawing ever closer to both the king she despises and the ones that would see him dead. It also brings her closer to both the heir to the throne and the head of the royal guard, but it seems that treason is an easier plot to uncover than her tumultuous feelings for the gentlemen of the palace. 
 Ordinarily I find fantastical plots that have an overtly romantic focus utterly dull. It normally transpires that an exciting world is dampened by a predictable romance, that had no need for its mystical setting and could have, instead, been packaged as a straight-up contemporary romance. But not in this case, however. 
 I am at a loss as to what exactly it is that Maas does that allows me to forgive her characters every flaw and to find myself turning into a hardcore fangirl, who ships Celaena with every guy she lays her eyes on, so quickly do my feelings alter for where I want her affections placed. This does indeed allow the much-hated love triangle trope to play out, but I found the romantic intrigue just as exciting to decipher as the political one. 
 For there is far more to this story than merely matters of the heart. 
 I adored seeing Celaena's character mature and grow in her new position, whilst still retaining her signature sass that sees her as dually loved as she is hated. Her growth is more than personal, however, as her role as assassin allows her reach to expand and her hopes for revenge grow ever nearer to their fruition. The uncovered plots against the throne unearth some very surprising discoveries about who is involved in them, which sends shock-waves rippling to all previously unconnected elements of this narrative and alters the preconceived course of the storyline. 
 With a complex plot and an emotional ending to tie all together, this book has assured my continuation with this series, even if my traitorous heart would see Celaena dually happy with all and none of the males in this story.