Review: The Assassins Blade - Sarah J Maas
Review: The Assassins Blade - Book #0.5 Throne of Glass Series - Sarah J Maas - March 2014
Having started my journey of the *Throne of Glass* and the first three books in the series, reading *The Assassin’s Blade* felt like an essential journey into Celaena Sardothien’s past. This prequel collection, made up of five novellas, offers an enthralling backstory that explains how Celaena evolved into the fierce and cunning assassin we meet in the rest of the series. However, reading it fourth in the series—like I did—left me feeling that it would have been better to start here. The insight into Celaena’s life *before* her time at Endovier is invaluable and makes her character arc that much more powerful.
The five novellas take readers through significant moments in Celaena’s life as a member of the Assassin’s Guild, leading up to her betrayal and eventual enslavement. Through each story, we get a glimpse of a woman struggling with her identity, power, and feelings for Sam Cortland—her fellow assassin. Sam’s role in her life is deeply emotional, and I loved how their relationship developed from camaraderie to something more tender. Their shared defiance of Arobynn Hamel, the manipulative master of the Assassin’s Guild, creates a poignant tension throughout.
Arobynn’s ruthlessness is fully on display here, and his influence on Celaena’s psyche is chilling. Each mission he assigns her, from the perilous journey to the Pirate Lord to the isolation in the Red Desert, tests her loyalty to him and forces her to make moral choices. I particularly enjoyed *The Assassin and the Desert*, where Celaena’s growth as an independent force is beautifully showcased. Her inner conflict between following orders and seeking her freedom was a theme I found compelling across the stories.
Sam’s presence is, of course, bittersweet, especially for readers who are already familiar with Celaena’s fate in later books. Their dynamic is touching and tragic, and the final novella, *The Assassin and the Empire*, left me emotionally wrecked. The stakes feel incredibly high throughout the collection, knowing that defying Arobynn could mean both their deaths. Watching Celaena’s fierce determination clash with her vulnerabilities as she fights for her freedom made this a gripping read.
Ultimately, *The Assassin’s Blade* is a must-read for fans of the series, providing a richer understanding of Celaena’s character and her motivations. For those new to the *Throne of Glass* world, I’d highly recommend reading this book first to fully appreciate the character development that unfolds in later installments. The combination of action, romance, and emotional depth makes this prequel an unforgettable part of Celaena’s journey.
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