Rereads always surprise me. They peel back layers I didn't notice the first time and bring emotions to the surface I didn't expect. Joining a friend group-reread of Throne of Glass felt like slipping back into a familiar world, but this time, I noticed things I had missed before.
One of the biggest surprises was how differently I connected with the characters. In my early reads, Chaol was always my favorite, especially within the love triangle that takes up so much space in the beginning. I rooted for him, and I still love his loyalty and steady presence. But this time, Dorian stood out to me in ways he never had before.
Knowing how much he loses, and how much he changes, cast a shadow over even his happiest moments. There's a thread of sadness woven through his story that I didn't fully feel until now. While I admire his growth and the man he becomes, I also find his arc one of the least satisfying, maybe because of how much it hurts to see the price he pays.
Celaena, though, has always been at the heart of it all. What struck me most on this reread were the small sacrifices she makes, often without thinking first, like when she dives off the building to save Nox. She didn't have to do that. It wasn't part of her test, and it didn't advance her in the competition. But she did it anyway because it was the right things to do, and in those unguarded moments, her true character shines through. Beneath the bravado, the arrogance, the masks she wears... she cares.
Chaol's journey with her moved me too. He is so cautious, so rigid, and yet he can't help but slowly let her in. Every step he takes toward her feels like a betrayal of something else: his loyalty, his future, his friendship with Dorian. And yet he does it, because she becomes more than just a duty to him. Watching him wrestle with that conflict felt even more poignant this time around.
Then there's Nehemia. Her methods may not always be perfect, but her intentions are pure. She wants so badly to be a part of Celaena's story, to push her towards her destiny, even if it costs her. We all either have a Nehemia in our lives, or more often than not we want to be a Nehemia to someone else. That fierce loyalty, that belief in someone's potential, even when it's messy or inconvenient, is one of the most beautiful parts of friendship.
Even the villains broke my heart this reread. The King, who comes across as nothing but cruel and loathsome here, carries a hidden layer that only reveals itself much later. Knowing what I know now, I can't help but read his scenes differently... there's a thread of tragedy running through him that I completely missed the first time.
Kaltain, too, struck me in a new way. On the surface she feels vapid and self-centered, but with hindsight, it's clear how easily others manipulate and use those traits against her. Her journey is one of the most haunting in the series, and rereading this first glimpse of her left me aching, knowing where her path will lead.
Together, they reminded me that no character in this world is ever just one thing... good, evil, shallow or strong. Everyone carries shadows and scars, and sometimes even the most unlikely figures leave behind the most unforgettable marks.
And maybe that's what make Throne of Glass so special tome.These characters, heroes, villains, and everyone in between, feel alive. They stumble, they sacrifice, they love, they break. Even in this first book, you can feel the undercurrents of what's to come, both in the foreshadowing Sarah J. Maas so cleverly wove in, and in the way each character carries both light and shadow inside them.
This reread left me grateful... for the story, for the characters, and for the reminder that books can grow with us. Every time I return to Throne of Glass, I learn something new, not just about the characters but about myself. And no matter how many times I open its pages, it still resonates, still teaches, still feels like coming home.

​​The Bridgerton series follows the 8 Bridgerton siblings as they find love. Each sibling gets their own stand-alone novel as they navigate the world of Regency romance. This series had its ups and downs.

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The Duke & I - ⭐⭐⭐
We start with the 4th Bridgerton, Daphne. She’s been out for a few seasons but can quite seem to be able to find a husband. That is until a family friend, the Duke of Hastings, returns to the ton after traveling abroad. The Duke is the most eligible bachelor of the season, and he couldn’t be more upset about it. In an attempt to throw desire off of his trail and make her seem a little more desirable, the Duke and Daphne strike a deal to pretend to be courting. However, like we’ve seen time and time again, pretending can have dangerous side affects.
The Viscount Who Loved Me - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
We then dive into the 1st Bridgerton’s story, Anthony. Anthony has the weight of the whole family on his shoulder, being the first born, so he hasn’t ever given romance any real consideration. Deciding he must finally settle down and do his duty as heir, he dives into the season with a very methodical list of requirements his future bride must have. Things don’t go according to plan though, and his hear has other thoughts.
An Offer From a Gentleman - ⭐⭐⭐
Then we get to know Benedict, the 2nd born Bridgerton. His story follows a Cinderella event line. He meets a masked woman of his dreams at a party, only for her to sneak away and never been seen again. When Benedict meets a lowly made, a familiar pull on his heart has him considering giving up on his dream woman.
Romancing Mister Bridgerton - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Colin is our 3rd born Bridgerton, and while Benedict’s story is straight out of a fairy tale, Colin’s is a tale as old as time. For years he has grown up next to Penelope, a close family friend. But she isn’t exactly the ideal choice and is in the range of spinsterhood. Colin is the total package though, charming, witty, handsome, and well-traveled… everything Penelope is not. But sometimes, the heart wants what the heart wants.
To Sir Phillip, With Love - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Eloise Bridgerton is the 5th child in the family. She always has her face in a book and has kind of written off marriage, resigning herself to spinsterhood. When a cousin passes away though, she finds herself in correspondence with a young widower, who quickly startles her by asking for her hand. Being ever pragmatic, Eloise feels she must first visit the man who thinks so much like her. While she isn’t expecting love, she thinks they might be companionable to each other. Upon her arrival, Eloise discovers that this widower, and his two children, need more than a wife and mother, they need someone to bring them back together as a family.
When He Was Wicked - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Francesa is our 6th Bridgerton child and is already happily married when we are introduced to her. However, fate has another thing in mind for her, and her beloved husband dies unexpectedly. Torn in two, Francesca is beside herself and pulls out of society to mourn her loss. When her husband’s best friend, and new heir, tries to help her mend, the two find themselves tiptoeing around a potential romance that feels off-limits.
It's In His Kiss - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hyacinth is the 8th Bridgerton child and potentially the most stubborn, which is saying something. While not near spinsterhood, Hyacinth is in no rush to settle down. She enjoys spending her days with an older family friend but doesn’t expect to be thrown into close proximity to the older friend’s grandson. When the mystery of his parentage is brought into question, Hyacinth swears to help him solve the mystery, no matter how it may look if they are caught.
On the Way to the Wedding - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gregory is the 7th Bridgerton child and the final novel in the primary series. Gregory has watched all of his siblings fall head-over-heels in love and is convinced that when he meets his true love, he’ll know immediately. As chance would have it, he meets a woman who stirs up what he is convinced is love. When the woman makes it known in so many words that she isn’t available, he turns to her best friend for some help. Alas, Gregory’s hard work is for naught, at least for him. While he convinces the woman there are better options for her in the world, she chooses another man. However, Gregory finds that friendship is oftentimes, the best starting point for love.