Celaena Sardothien is the main protagonist of Maas’s Throne of Glass series, a well-known assassin who serves as the king of Adarlan’s champion. In the first three books, Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire, she is referred to as Celaena. Her identity as the rightful queen of Terrasen Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, who was presumed dead after her parents’ murder, is revealed at the end of Crown of Midnight and further explored throughout Heir of Fire.

When she was younger, the young girl’s parents kept her hidden from her aunt Maeve, who has always coveted her powers. One night, during a visit from the king of Adarlan, Aelin’s parents were murdered, and her lady-in-waiting, Lady Marion, sacrificed herself to save her. Aelin ran away and was later found by Arobynn Hamel, who gave her a new name and trained her to become an assassin. Under her new identity, the young girl was later forced to serve the king to be freed from the mines of Endovier, where she was captured as an enslaved person. At the end of Crown of Midnight, Chaol sends her to Wendlyn to protect her, which is where Heir of Fire takes place.