Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass

Calaena is a notorious assassin who has been captured and sent to work in the salt mines, where no one survives for long. Dorian, the Crown Prince and Chaol, the Head of the Kingsguard seek her out to offer her a proposition that seems unthinkable but ultimately she cannot refuse: compete to be the king's champion and if she's the victor she will earn her freedom in four years time or stay in the mines and undoubtedly die sooner rather than later. Calaena is brought to the Ice Castle to compete against a group of other mercenaries, thieves and murderers who also want to earn their freedom competing to be the King's Champion. A mystery evolves as the "contestants" begin to be murdered and Calaena finds herself in the middle of it.

Calaena is not a one dimensional character. Trained by the famed King of the Silent Assassins himself, Calaena is deadly and widely known for her success in completing her missions. On the other hand she can't pass by a dress shop without turning her head, she loves a good party and yet she is often content to stay in her room and read a good book.

As they progress through the competition the tests actually turn out to be rather anticlimactic or are glossed over completely, but there is definitely plenty of mystery, intrigue, laughs and tears and of course buddings of romance.  I enjoyed the book enough to definitely read the next one, "Crown of Midnight".