Throne of Glass

Celaena Sardothien, an infamous assassin, has been serving a life sentence in the salt mines of Endovier for a year when she's offered an impossible deal: freedom. The Crown Prince, Dorian Havilliard, proposes she compete in a brutal tournament to become the King's Champion, an assassin in his father's employ for four years, after which she will be granted absolute liberty. If she fails or refuses, she returns to the mines. Dragged to the castle, Celaena finds herself amidst a motley crew of thieves, warriors, and assassins, all vying for the coveted position. Under the watchful eye of Captain Chaol Westfall, she trains and fights, all while navigating the treacherous court politics, developing unexpected feelings for both the charming prince and the stoic captain, and uncovering a dark, ancient magic stirring within the castle walls. As competitors begin to die under mysterious circumstances, Celaena must use all her cunning and combat skills not just to win, but to survive a deeper, more sinister plot threatening the entire kingdom.