"This bond that was forming, so unbreakable and unyielding that it made the entire axis of her world shift toward him."
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The Assassin's Blade contains five novellas to accompany the Throne of Glass series. We see our first introduction to Adarlan's most feared assassin, Celaena Sardothien, a teenage girl, as she embarks on five daring missions involving pirates, dangerous deserts and the gritty underworld of Adarlan. We meet key characters who pop up later in the Throne of Glass series. And we find out what happens when Celaena goes against her master, Arobynn, in a bid for her freedom.
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"It was such a Sam look, the twinkle of mischief, the hint of exasperation, the kindness that would always, always make him a better person than she was."
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My name is Leona and I am not OK.
I decided to read this book first in the series and I'm so glad that I did. I adored it and, even though it's five short stories, they happen chronologically and read like a novel. When I read Throne of Glass I felt like I understand Celaena, her emotions and motivations so much more because I read this book first. I couldn't imagine it being any other way.
I love Sam Cortland. I love how he teases her and puts her first, no matter what. I love how good hearted he is. I just love him.
Celaena is a fantastic and complex character. She's not what you expect for a deadly assassin, because she is also a teenage girl. The stories highlight her natural abilities as the best assassin but her struggles in figuring out the puzzles of friendship and love.
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"He would be waiting at home. He'd be home. Home..."

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for sending me a copy of The Assassin's Blade.

This is one of favourite books in the Throne of Glass series. I enjoyed the fast-paced movement of the stories that wind through Caelena's life. And we really learn who she is and why she is who she is.

The Sam chapter...wow...it is truly, truly heartbreaking. If you haven't read this book, you are missing out, I promise.

Admittedly I requested this in a panic believing it to be a new book that I had someone not heard about. I have read these novellas before and they are incredible, so thrilling and exciting, develop the world and Celaena more, and really add great detail to the Throne of Glass books.

“If you can learn to endure pain, you can survive anything. Some people learn to embrace it- to love it. Some endure it through drowning it in sorrow, or by making themselves forget. Others turn it into anger.”

Celaena Sardothien is known as Adarlan’s Assassin. Trained by the King of the Assassins himself, Arobynn Hamel, she is a deadly weapon. Here we watch her embark on missions, prequels to the series all together in this edition, involving various characters - a pirate lord, a hopeful healer, silent assassins, an upcoming courtesan and a rival in the form of her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam.

We’re introduced to Celaena Sardothien. Assassin for hire, protégée of the self-proclaimed King of Assassins, Arobynn Hamel. It’s easy to have conflicting emotions about Celaena. She’s sassy, bordering whiny, she’s strong, independent and utterly full of herself. You cannot help but love her! I love a female character who is unapologetically herself, knows what she’s capable of but is also incredibly vulnerable. Underneath all the swagger and pride is a broken young woman who has been forced to become this character, this weapon. It’s clear she has embraced who she is but there is such a longing for more that makes her relatable.

It’s brilliant that Maas created these prequels. I initially read The Assassin’s Blade upon its release just before Heir of Fire (I’m currently on reread 5018271917) and it was so refreshing to see a different side to Celaena before the events of Endovier forced her into the wild, scarred young woman we meet in the beginning of the series. It was especially great to delve into the stories that were mentioned in brief passings in Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight - most prominently, Sam and how he fits into Celaena’s history. Dear sweet Sam...

Overall, The Assassin’s Blade is a brilliant collection of the prequels to this sensational series. A brilliant prelude to Celaena and an insight into what makes her the character we know and love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5