In the young adult novel "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas, when the King of Adarlan holds a competition to find a personal assassin, his son, the prince, chooses Celaena as his champion and tells her that if she wins the competition and takes the job, she can be free after a few years. Craving independence, Celaena leaves the salt mines of Endovier and heads to the glass castle in Adarlan to compete. Here's why she's such a compelling character.

1) She's the best and most feared assassin in the world

https://8tracks.com/paperwonder/celaena-sardothien

Arobynn Hamel, head of the Assasin's Guild, found Celaena abandoned as a child, so he took her in and mentored her.

2) She has a soft spot for puppies

http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/cocker-spaniel#/slid...

When Celaena discovers a kennel of puppies at the glass castle, she adopts one and names it Fleetfoot.

3) She survived a death camp

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/559642691176551418

For her crimes as an assassin, Celaena was sent to Endovier, a salt mine, to work until she died.

4) Reading is one of her favorite hobbies

Her first night at the castle, before the first round of the competition, she reads. Plus she spends her remaining earnings she didn't use for clothes to buy new books.

5) She freed a bunch of slaves

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/478648266630320896

When her former boss Arobynn sent her to buy slaves from the Pirate Lord as payment for three of his assassins' deaths, she frees them instead.

6) She spends her income on beautiful clothes

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/566679565598148272

Celaena is the perfect example of a woman that can be both tough and girly.

7) She puts the "sass" in "assassin"

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/334744184788537983

Celaena always has a witty comeback and keeps people around her on their toes.

8) She's gorgeous and she knows it

9) She's a true friend

http://weheartit.com/entry/153705001

When she meets Nehemia, a princess visiting from the neighboring kingdom of Eyllwe, they become friends instantly. Celaena teaches Nehemia Adarlan's language and always made sure to put her first before any boy.

10) She's super brave

https://8tracks.com/lunaghost/my-name-is-celaena-s...

As she was being carted off to Endovier, she said to herself, "My name is Celaena Sardothien, and I will not be afraid." You got to give her props for keeping up her courage even as she was hurtling towards a death camp. Even though Celaena didn't think she would ever be free again, she refused to give in to fear.