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Celaena Sardothien

The book’s protagonist. Celaena is an eighteen-year-old assassin from Terrasen, who is sometimes also referred to as the Queen of the Underworld. Trained for most of her life by Arobynn Hamel, King of the Assassins, she has been captured and enslaved in the Salt Mines of Endovier for the past year. Celaena is fierce and fun-loving, haunted by her past but focused single-mindedly on her future. She loves to look pretty, makes enemies and friends easily, and moves through her trials with confidence and focus.

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Chaol Westfall

Captain of the Royal Guard and Celaena’s trainer during the competition. Chaol is a few years older than Celaena, and he is serious and upright; he pushes Celaena to work hard and believes in her abilities while also fearing her unpredictability as an assassin. Against his will, Chaol begins to trust and care for her. He is a top-tier warrior, extremely sharp, and always on the lookout for trouble.

Read an in-depth analysis of Chaol Westfall.

Dorian Havilliard II

The Crown Prince of Adarlan. Dorian is a naturally cheerful young man who is bored in his role of prince and in search of excitement. He is known to sleep around with women of the court, but refuses to choose anyone to be his bride. He is intrigued by Celaena, invigorated by her novelty and impressed by her character. Dorian struggles to communicate with and feel heard by his father, the king, and is anxious at the prospect of taking the throne; however, he is determined to be a fairer ruler than his father. 

Nehemia Ytger

The Princess of Eyllwe. Nehemia is rumored to be a powerful ally of the rebels, many of whom are from Eyllwe, the last country to hold off the rule of Adarlan. Nehemia is highly intelligent and has a commanding presence. She comes to Rifthold to secretly keep an eye on the king’s moves, and befriends Celaena upon her arrival. She pretends to not know the common language in hopes of overhearing the king’s plans, and convinces Celaena to teach it to her in exchange for lessons in Eyllwe. 

Elena Havilliard

The first queen of Adarlan, half-Fae. Elena presents herself to Celaena as a spirit in her tomb beneath the castle and in Celaena’s dreams. She is beautiful and sinister, but acts as a helping hand and resource for Celaena as she seeks to uncover the truth behind whatever is killing the Champions. Elena exists in an in-between dimension connecting the living and spirit worlds, and comes to Celaena via portals opened by Nehemia.

Nox Owen

A thief from Perranth. Nox is one of the twenty-four Champions competing in the king’s competition. He is young and handsome, and befriends Celaena during their training, asking her to teach him what she knows. Celaena saves his life a few times over the course of the story, and he is loyal to her.

Cain

A soldier in the king’s army, and Duke Perrington’s Champion. Cain is brutish and bloodthirsty, and Celaena discovers that he is the one using Wyrdgates to kill the other Champions by summoning the ridderak. He knows who Celaena truly is and wants her dead.

Kaltain Rompier

A court lady. Kaltain is distrusting and unkind; she hopes to gain Dorian’s favor and will do anything to become his bride. Kaltain sees Celaena as a threat to her future with Dorian, and will do anything to get rid of her. She tries to manipulate Duke Perrington, and does not realize it is he who is manipulating her.

Duke Perrington

One of the king’s right-hand men. Perrington is cold and power-hungry, choosing Cain as his Champion because of his viciousness. Perrington and the king work in cahoots with a new dark magic controlled through their matching rings, and Perrington uses the power of the ring to control Kaltain’s mind and use her as a pawn against Celaena.

Dorian Havilliard I / The King of Adarlan

Adarlan’s monarch. The king is corrupt and tyrannical, focused on gaining control over all of Erilea. He is tough on his son and hates Celaena. 

Arobynn Hamel

King of the Assassins. Arobynn saved Celaena from death when she was eight years old and brought her to his keep, where he mentored her personally and turned her into the deadliest assassin in Adarlan. He paid a lot of money to bring in private tutors from all Erilea for her, and then demanded that she pay him back when she turned fourteen.

Theodus Brullo

The Royal Weapons Master, and judge of the king’s competition. Known simply as Brullo, he is a tough monitor of the competition and Chaol’s previous mentor.

Philippa Spindlehead

Celaena’s lead servant. Philippa is one of the few people in the castle who knows Celaena’s true identity, and seems entirely unfazed by it. She mothers Celaena and becomes a trusted friend and confidant.

Fleetfoot

Celaena’s dog. Dorian gifts Fleetfoot to Celaena after she begs him not to euthanize the dog for being a little odd.

Grave

One of the Champions. Grave taunts Celaena and plays dirty during the competition. He tries to kill Nox during a test, but Celaena threatens him and manages to save Nox. She beats Grave within minutes during the final duel, humiliating him.

Sam

Celaena’s fellow assassin, who died before Celaena was captured. Sam and Celaena grew up together and trained side-by-side under Arobynn Hamel. They were lovers and friends.

Queen Georgina

The Queen of Adarlan. Queen Georgina is obsessed with finding her son, Dorian, a wife; she is constantly pushing him to look for a bride.

Ress

One of Celaena’s guards. She is fond of him, and he tries to impress her.

Pelor

One of the Champions. Pelor is on the younger side, and struggles to get through some of the tests. Trained in potions, he gives Celaena a hint that helps her cheat her way through a difficult test in poisons. He is disqualified before the final duel.

Hollin Havilliard

Prince Dorian’s younger brother. Hollin is known to be a brutal youth, who was sent away to school after horribly abusing a servant. 

Xavier Forul

One of the Champions. A master thief from Melisande who gets killed by the ridderak.

Verin Ysslych

One of the Champions. He is one of Cain’s lackeys until he is killed by the ridderak.

Bill Chastain

One of the Champions. A convicted murderer known also as the Eye Eater, he is the first to be killed by the ridderak.

Ned Clement

One of the Champions. He is a convicted murderer also known as Scythe for the weapon he used to kill temple priestesses. He dies falling off the castle wall during the climbing test.

Renault

One of the Champions. Cain beats him in the final duel.

Sven

One of the Champions. He effectively commits suicide by making an attempt at escape during a training session and being shot and killed by the guards.

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