Title: The Assassin's BladeAuthor: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass (Prequel)
Pages: 430
Published: Mar 4th 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
This book has been in my brother's book shelf for almost two years. I even helped my mum pick it out for him. I didn't realise it was the prequel to the Throne of Glass series until after I had started reading it and I thought I recognised the cover on the inside of the book. So I asked to borrow it (it has a home on my bookshelf though) and brought this with me to Antigua on holiday together with the second book 'Crown of Midnight' as I didn't own the third book. I am very happy that I read it then and not until after the series.
I highly recommend you read this book before the fourth book 'Queen of Shadows'!!!
These short stories stretch of a period of time a year before Celeana gets sent to the salt mines in Endovier when she still lives Arobynn Hamel's heir and assassin in the Assassin's Guild in Rifthold. It is a series of five short stories written in the order they take place in Celeana's life. Technically they are all part of one complete book, but are written so that one can read them separately (they were originally published as separate e-books). However, I recommend you read the book front to back as it will make more sense. The short stories are all written in chapter form so it feels almost as reading a normal novel rather than novellas. The stories tell Celeana's missions and tasks set by Arobynn and her relationship with Sam (who is mentioned in the Throne of Glass novels as a former lover).
When reading this I gained a deeper understanding for Celeana and understood her better in the following books in the series. I understood the references and her reasoning. It was very helpful to have read this before 'Queen of Shadows' as people will reoccur and it will make Celeana's relationship with Arobynn much more understandable. I felt like I truly connected with Celeana her and understood her deeper feelings and got a true insight to her background.
While reading 'Throne of Glass' I almost thought that Celeana's references to Sam was a obstacle in the way of Celeanas potential relationship with Chaol (or Dorian for that matter) but reading this book I truly fell in love with Sam and when I realised what had to happen in the end it killed me. The worst is knowing what is going to happen and you can't do anything to stop it and the future you start building up for the two is not a possibility at all. It leaves you in a form of dramatic irony where you know Celeana's future and she has a completely different view on it. It is completely heartbreaking and agonisingly hard to come to terms with. I recommend reading this as a complementary book to the 'Throne of Glass' novels as it will give you more insight and understanding for Celeana and her life.
Plot Summary:
The twist of a knife,
the birth of a legend...
Celeana Sardothien owes her reputation to Arobynn Hamel. He gave her a home in the Assassin's Guild and taught her the skills she needed to survive.
Arobynn's enemies stretch far and wide - from Adarlan's rooftops and its filthy dens, to remote islands and hostile desert. Celeana is duty-bound to hunt them down. But behind her assignments lies a dark truth that will seal her fate - and cut her heart in two forever...
The prequels to the international bestseller Throne of Glass.
Favourite Quote:
'"When we die," she said, "I don't think the gods will even know what to do with us." '- Celeana in 'The Assassin's Blade' by Sarah J. Maas
My Ranking:
9/10
Of course it is harder to settle with a book when the all the characters you've come to love is not included. Nevertheless, for being a prequel this book was fantastic and Sarah J. Maas does not disappoint!
Other Books in this Series:
Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)
Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5)
Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6)
Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #7)
Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5)
Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6)
Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #7)
Other Books by Sarah J. Maas:
A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2)
A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3)
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