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The Assassin's Blade

the Throne of Glass Novellas
Dec 05, 2017RebelBelle13 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Let me start off by saying that I have NOT yet read SJM's Throne of Glass series. I did some research, and found that most people (including SJM herself) had recommended to start the series at the prequel. So, here we are. I have no previous knowledge of Celaena's world, or the characters that reside in it. This novel did not feel in any way like a prequel. I got plenty of backstory, character development and suspense, in a way I wasn't truly expecting. This novel is actually a set of five small novellas which build on each other- so the separation isn't really necessary- but it's fine as is. I thought I'd quickly go through each so you get a feel of the overarching story. The Assassin and the Pirate Lord introduces us to Celaena, Sam, and some of their backstory- their purpose and their skills. It's a nice opener, and shows us where both of our main character's priorities lie. There's plenty of action showcasing both Sam and Celaena's abilities. This story sets the stage for the rest of the novel. The Assassin and the Healer was the shortest of all the novellas, and simply existed to introduce Yrene to the audience. It was decent, and fleshed out Celeana more. The Assassin and the Desert was my favorite- because Celeana had to really let her guards down and learn a whole new way of fighting- not to mention putting her trust in a new friend and getting in the middle of a deadly feud. The Assassin and the Underworld was the most forgettable. Sam and Celeana were thrown back together and for the most part, their relationship grew for the better and they learned how to work as a team. The Assassin and the Empire was my least favorite, but set all the gears in motion for the beginning of Throne of Glass. It was very dark and depressing. It did bring everything together in a nice, neat little bow. I will have to read Throne of Glass to really cement my feelings on this book- so I'll come back and edit my review then to see if reading the prequel first is a service to the reader or not. All in all, great SJM story and world in the New-adult fantasy genre. I didn't expect anything less.