a hero you can’t look away from

She’s such a striking character. Celaena is confident, savage, determined - everything you could want in a kickass fantasy heroine and more.

• Her confidence. She wields her confidence like a weapon. She walks into the castle, malnourished and exhausted after spending a year in Endovier’s salt mines, and doesn’t let anyone put her down. She knows what she can do and reminds people of that.

• She’s sharp-witted and unapologetically herself. You might not like her immediately, but as you get to know her throughout the book, you will love her. She’s such an interesting and entertaining character because no scene is ever boring when she’s in it.

• She’s determined and resilient. Even with everything she has already endured, she doesn’t give up on herself. The first half of the book doesn’t reveal much of her past, but what we do know about her time in Endovier is enough to understand that she’s been through a lot. And somehow, she still walks into the castle with her head held high.

not your typical fantasy protagonist

One of the things that immediately makes Throne of Glass stand out is its protagonist.

Celaena is an assassin.

It’s one of the first things that we learn about her, and I love how unusual this is for a fantasy heroine. Instead of an ordinary character discovering that they have some kind of extraordinary power, Sarah J. Mass basically just goes: ‘Here’s the kingdom’s most notorious assassin.’.

Immediately, you’re curious.
How does someone like that become a character we’re supposed to relate to? How can we root for her if she has murdered hundreds of people?

Halfway through the book, we don’t have many answers, and that’s part of what makes Celaena so intriguing.

a girl full of contradictions

• Celaena is an assassin, and that’s one of the first things that we find out about her, but she also has a strong moral compass.

• She’s deadly, but loves music, books and pretty dresses.

• She’s lethal and ruthless, but also passionate, and loves romance novels, fashion and beauty.

• She’s proud — she hates showing weakness, but is very vulnerable at times.

• She’s disciplined but also dramatic.

• She’s surrounded by people — guards, members of the castle — but also deeply lonely. She has spent much of her life in isolation, and craves for genuine affection and love.

• Everyone knows the name Celaena Sardothien, but no one actually knows her.

Celaena Sardothien is full of surprises and contradictions, which is part of what makes her so interesting.
She is so compelling and intriguing because of the contradictions that make up her personality, her identity as an assassin and her determination.

I also love the fanart!!

fanart from instagram

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link to fanart

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For example, Jennifer Lawrence was already acting before The Hunger Games, but playing Katniss Everdeen transformed her career and turned her into one of Hollywood’s leading actresses. The series changed the careers of its cast, highlighting just how influential a successful book adaptation can be.

So what is it that sets these books apart? Why do some books become household names while others, despite being just as good, are only known to the readers?

you already know which book i’m talking about

A cultural phenomenon is often recognisable from the smallest reference. For example, if I said, ‘a girl who falls in love with a vampire’, most people would know which series I’m talking about (Twilight). Other examples include ‘a boy discovers he’s a wizard’ (Harry Potter) and ‘teenagers fight to death on television’ (The Hunger Games).
Despite this, vampires, magic and dystopian societies existed long before these books, but somehow these became the ones that everyone recognises, due to factors such as originality, marketing, timing, luck and others.

originality

Each of these cultural phenomena, such as Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and Twilight, are so different from each other. They share familiar themes like romance, friendship and supernatural creatures, but each explores a different concept in its own richly crafted world.

These books aren’t original because they created something new: Twilight didn’t invent vampires, the same way that Harry Potter didn’t invent magic. They stand out because they put a unique spin on a concept that already existed. For example, rather than a book series about vampires, Stephenie Meyer wrote about a human and a vampire falling in love in a mysterious, rainy town, combining mystery, teen romance and supernatural creatures in a way that hadn’t been done before.

easy in, deep later

All of these books start with a simple premise, and become far more complex later. For example, Harry Potter starts off as ‘a boy discovers he’s a wizard’ and by the last book, we’re thinking about war, politics, prophecy and sacrifice.
Readers are drawn in by a simple, distinctive concept, but it’s the increasing depth and complexity that keeps them engaged, through its expanding cast of characters, evolving relationships and increasingly intricate plot lines.

characters

Memorable characters are another defining feature of cultural phenomenons. Long after the final Twilight book was released, readers are still having heated online discussions on Reddit about whether Edward or Jacob was the better choice (though I think we all know the answer to that). Similar discussions surround characters like Snape, Peeta vs Gale and Draco Malfoy. When readers continue analysing, debating and defending characters years later, it shows that the series has become part of popular culture.

You could argue that many books have well-crafted, memorable characters, and that’s true. The difference is that these characters aren’t just memorable, they’re discussable. Readers form strong opinions about them and their relationships, which is why conversations continue long after the final book. In many ways, the characters stop belonging only to the author and begin belonging to the readers themselves.

timing

Timing is a big factor in determining whether a book/series becomes a cultural phenomenon: the right book arriving at the right cultural moment.
The Hunger Games, for example, was published at a time when YA dystopian fiction was gaining popularity. If it were published at a different time, it could still be very successful, but might not become a global phenomenon.

worlds

Many books have detailed and rich world building, but the worlds of cultural phenomena are unique, recognisable and more intricate. Hogwarts, Panem and Middle-earth became landmarks that inspired merchandise and other stories in their genres.

marketing & community

Marketing and community play an important role in promoting the series and turning it into a global phenomenon: marketing introduces them to wider audiences, whilst community shares it online and in person through things like fan fiction, fan art and word-of-mouth.

adaptations

Adaptations can also help transform a successful novel into a cultural phenomenon by introducing the series to people who have never read the books. They bring the characters to life, which makes the world and characters more accessible and give everyone a shared image of them. Adaptations also create celebrities out of actors, generate memes, fashion trends and merchandise and spark ‘book vs movie’ discussions, which creates more appeal for the books.

luck

Finally, there is an element of luck involved. There is no guaranteed formula for creating the next Harry Potter: even with memorable characters, a unique world and effective marketing, there’s no guarantee that it will become a cultural phenomenon. Sometimes, it just comes down to the right story at the right time.

Ultimately, there is no single ingredient that transforms a series into a cultural phenomenon. It is a combination of different factors: a simple premise, originality, timing, marketing, and most importantly, luck.
These stories captured something that millions of readers connected with at the right moment, allowing them to become more than just bestselling novels and a part of popular culture.

season 1

Cole is introduced as reckless, unmotivated, and emotionally shut off. He uses humour and flirting to hide his pain.
When football is brought up, he tends to avoid the situation. For example, at the Homecoming Huddle, he is reluctant to go as the entire day will remind him of what his life used to be like. However, Will tells him to help out with the Walter cider cart there. Seeing his friend Dylan Newsome as the new star quarterback stirs up feelings of jealousy and anger, but he also helps out Jackie with her silent auction at the homecoming event.

He gets a full-time job at the car shop when he lets his grades slip, believing that he can’t go to college anymore after losing football.

Moments with Jackie in S1 show that he is capable of being sensitive, empathetic and caring. In his relationship with her, he becomes more vulnerable and opens up emotionally, but not fully yet. For example, when Jackie and Cole are grounded and forced to stay at the ranch during a thunderstorm, Jackie asks him if he is happy, and Cole admits that he feels “kind of broken”, which demonstrates how he becomes more vulnerable around her. Cole also fixes Jackie’s sister’s beloved teapot when it breaks, alongside many other gestures which show sensitivity and care.

During Season 1, he is also quite emotionally avoidant and self-destructive. In Episode 8, his self-destructive tendencies flare up: he gets high with Dylan and confesses that his life is nothing without football; then he goes to Monty’s and admits to Kylie that he thinks Alex isn’t right for Jackie; he gets drunk at his mum’s award night and disrupts her speech, and he drunkenly tells Jackie that he doesn’t know who he is anymore, and that he wishes she never came here.

His self destructiveness reflects his struggles to process his loss of identity and grief in an unhealthy way, instead externalising his pain through impulsive and harmful behaviour.

On the other hand, when Cole says that he wishes Jackie had never come to Colorado, this acts as an emotional defence mechanism. At that moment, he is overwhelmed, frustrated, drunk, mentally and emotionally exhausted and grieving his lost identity. Jackie exposes his real, vulnerable, messy self and he’s trying to push those feelings away.

In the last two episodes of S1, we see some improvements in Cole.

• He does the extra credit English assignment to make up for not even attempting his essay in episode 8.

• He decides to go to summer school to improve his grades instead of going on a road trip like he had planned.

• He resolves his issues with Alex (at least temporarily).

• He apologises to Erin for the way he treated her, explaining that he is trying to be a better person.

Throughout Season 1, Cole loved Jackie but never told her. He showed it through meaningful gestures, such as fixing the teapot and helping her out in the canteen on her first day. However, Jackie was in a relationship with Alex, and Cole didn’t want to hurt his brother. He struggled with the situation, but at the end of S1 he says that he thinks they are good together, showing emotional maturity.

Ultimately, Cole grows significantly throughout Season 1. He grapples with grief, identity loss and his complicated relationship with Alex, including his feelings for Jackie and her relationship with his brother.
Towards the end of S1, we see Cole making active efforts to become a better person.

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season 1

In Season 1, Jackie starts off as perfectionistic and emotionally guarded. After the accident, she clings to academics and structure in an attempt to keep control of her life, using perfectionism as a coping mechanism. However, moving to Colorado and staying with the chaotic Walter family throws her into situations that she can’t control, forcing her to confront the reality that not everything can be predicted.

On her sister’s birthday, Jackie is reminded of her family and closes herself off from the Walters. She shuts people out, which is another emotional defense mechanism, and distances herself from difficult situations. The breaking of her sister’s beloved teapot represents the fragility of her past, but also deepens her relationship with Cole; he secretly fixes it, leading to the kiss at the end of S1 when Jackie finds out.

Her relationships with Grace, Skylar and Katherine help her open up emotionally. Katherine gives her advice and maternal support, whilst Grace and Skylar support Jackie at school in awkward situations. The Walter family forces Jackie to be vulnerable by surrounding her with a chaotic but emotionally open environment where she can’t hide behind control or isolation. These relationships help her open up emotionally, cope with her grief and heal.

Throughout S1, Jackie grows closer to Alex and Cole than to any of the other Walter siblings.
Alex is safe, controlled and stable, whereas Cole forces her to be vulnerable, spontaneous and emotional. Alex represents safety and stability in Jackie’s life, but Cole pushes her out of her comfort zone to deal with emotions she isn’t comfortable with.In other words, Alex represents who she thinks she is, but Cole represents who she is becoming.

Jackie is in a relationship with Alex for most of Season 1, but spontaneously kisses Cole in the last episode when he makes a meaningful gesture.
This kiss is a huge turning point: it’s spontaneous and impulsive, indicating a shift in Jackie’s character from control to emotional honesty, even when it can lead to conflict.

Ultimately, in Season 1, Jackie learns that she can’t control everything, and that she doesn’t fully understand herself yet.

why she left for new york

The kiss leads to Jackie’s decision to go to New York for the summer.

She decides to go back to New York because everything in Colorado is too emotionally overwhelming for her. At the end of Season 1, she’s lost the sense of control that she relies on: her relationship with Alex is complicated after he says that he loves her; she feels guilty after kissing Cole; she is still dealing with her grief and doesn’t know where she belongs.
She goes to New York hoping to connect with her hometown and her family, leave behind the worries of the Walter family and understand herself.

season 2

When Jackie returns to Colorado, she is not an outsider trying to find her place and survive the chaos of the Walter family anymore. She becomes more integrated into the Silver Falls community, getting involved in school life and events. For example, she organises a fundraiser to put the school dance back on when it is cancelled due to budget cuts. Later on in S2, she also wins the Young Sparkler Award for her contributions to the community. This shows that she is starting to build a life in Silver Falls, not just living there temporarily.

Jackie’s organisation of the dance highlights her independence, confidence and desire to become more active in Silver Falls, which contrasts with her more isolated self in Season 1.

The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that celebrates deceased loved ones. It is a key moment in S2 as Jackie decides to honour the lives of her family rather than avoiding the situation and suppressing her emotions, showing significant growth from S1. This also highlights how she is healing and becoming more emotionally mature.

On the other hand, Jackie’s relationship with Alex becomes more strained after he returns from his rodeo training camp. He becomes more confident and sometimes arrogant, which leads to emotional distance between them. He isn’t safe and stable anymore like he was in S1.
However, Cole continues to challenge Jackie emotionally. He represents emotional honesty and spontaneity, which makes Jackie question what she thinks she wants compared to what she feels in the moment.

Overall, in Season 2, Jackie becomes more emotionally mature in coping with her grief, plays a key part in the Silver Falls community and learns more about her desires and emotions through her relationships with Alex and Cole.

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finding time to read

• It can be quite hard to find time to read, especially if you’re busy with work or school. As I got busier with my schoolwork, I eventually stopped reading frequently and instead read a lot during holidays to cover up, which can work for some people.

• However, I recently reread my favourite book, Heartbreaker, and found myself making time to read it despite schoolwork. I stayed up a bit later during school nights, and made sure I finished all my homework and revision earlier. At first, I was surprised at how much effort I was putting in. But then I realised that when you love something enough, you find yourself making an extra effort for it!

• I generally read before bed, and I think it’s a really calming way to end the day! I read for about half an hour and around 40-50 pages, depending on the book.

recommendations & tbr lists

TBR stands for ‘To Be Read’, and a TBR list is a list of books that you would like to read next.

Here are some ways I find books to add to my TBR list:

• If I have particularly enjoyed a book by an author, I look for a couple more books by the same author

• If I have particularly enjoyed a book in a specific genre, I look for more books in that genre

• I look for books in different genres

• Recommendations from friends

• Recommendations from the internet

• Recommendations from Goodreads

• Books that have won awards

choosing books in libraries

It can be quite difficult to choose books in libraries, especially since there is often such a wide range of books to choose from.
I judge books a little bit by the covers in this case, because I think covers can tell a lot about what a book is about. For example, a light-hearted rom-com will generally have a vibrant book cover. If a cover catches my eye, I’ll read the blurb to see what it’s about and borrow the book if I am interested.
I also look in sections for specific genres.

Most of the time, though, I check my TBR list beforehand and look up a few books I want to read. If they’re available at my local library, I’ll collect them after school.

genres

Here are some of the genres I usually read:

• Romance

• YA Contemporary

• Dystopian

• Fantasy

However, this usually changes gradually over time. YA Contemporary is a very broad genre and can also include lots of sub-genres, for example, mental health fiction and books that explore identity.

tracking your reading

I think tracking your reading is a really good idea.
I’ve been doing it for a while, and it can be useful to see how your interests and reading pace change over time. I usually record my reading in a spreadsheet for each year, including the name of the book, author, genre, and the dates I started and finished it. I also use an app called StoryGraph, which not only lets you log when you start and finish a book, but also tracks your pace and generates statistics throughout the year.

Hope this article helps you in your reading!

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