You're a damned idiot.
You're a moron and an ass and a damned idiot.
You're a moron and an ass and a damned idiot.
The Assassin's Blade
Sarah J. Maas
TOG, novellas
Kindle edition, 451 pages
Published February 14, 2023 (reprint)
ISBN 9781619632219
ASIN B01865MIFK
Celaena Sardothien is her kingdom’s most feared assassin. Though she works for the powerful and ruthless Assassin’s Guild, Celaena yields to no one and trusts only her fellow killer for hire, Sam.
When Celaena's scheming master, Arobynn Hamel, dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, she finds herself acting independently of his wishes—and questioning her own allegiance. Along the way, she makes friends and enemies alike, and discovers that she feels far more for Sam than just friendship. But by defying Arobynn’s orders, Celaena risks unimaginable punishment, and with Sam by her side, he is in danger, too. They will have to risk it all if they hope to escape Arobynn’s clutches—and if they fail, they’ll lose not just a chance at freedom, but their lives...
A prequel to Throne of Glass, this collection of five novellas offers readers a deeper look into the history of this cunning assassin and her enthralling—and deadly—world.
Included in this volume:
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
The Assassin and the Healer
The Assassin and the Desert
The Assassin and the Underworld
The Assassin and the Empire
Read it fourth. Read it third. No, fourth. No, third. Read it first. Fourth! Third!
I almost didn't read this book because, godsbedamned, if everybody and their mother didn't have an opinion on what order to read the TOG series. But here we are. Here is where I ended up.
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
Calaena sighed through her nose. This was why she’d been awakened? She tapped a slippered foot on the marble floor. “Then kill him,” she said.
Well damn, Calaena. As they say, did we just become best friends?
Sixteen year old, Calaena Sardothien, and her fellow assassin, Sam Cortland, are sent to deliver a letter to Rolfe, Lord of the Pirates, that, unbenownst to them, negotiates the purchase of a hundred slaves.
Things take a turn when Calaena and Sam decide to free the slaves instead.
The Assassin and the Healer
Calaena took a beating from her master, Arobynn, for her actions in the first novella and has been sent to the Red Desert for further training as additional punishment.
As part of her journey, Calaena stays a few days at the White Pig where she meets Yrene, a barmaid who longs to be a healer but whose powers have deserted her.
I imagine Yrene will reappear later in the series.
The Assassin and the Desert
This story... grated. Calaena needed to achieve in one month what Ansel has not achieved in eight years of trying. Do what I do and maybe it'll prove you worthy. Like, fool, why tf would she want to copy what you're doing? It's obviously not working for you, so...
Yeahno. Not a fan of Ansel.
Throughout though, Calaena's mind wanders back to her beating and Sam's cries as he screamed threats against their master while it took three men to keep him restrained.
Zero surprise that Ansel ended up the villain. Very surprised that Calaena didn't gut her with her father's blade. I hate that shit. When women kill men but spare women. Seriously hate that shit.
You were willing to end Gregory for getting caught but this bitch betrays her master and entire guild and you hand her her sword and send her on her way. What the actual fuck, Calaena?!
The Assassin and the Underworld
Calaena finally returns home. Sam is well. Alive, and with Lysandra's hand on his arm.
Oh, I do like a jealous Calaena. And this was easily the best of the five novellas.
The Assassin and the Empire
In saving the life of the Lord of the Silent Assassins, Calaena has earned enough gold to settle her debt with Arobynn. Hers and Sam's.
Free at last, they leave the Keep and settle into their own home atop a warehouse where all they seem to do is argue as if bickering is Calaena's love language.
I knew Sam was going to die. I expected it to happen, though, in book one. So, no, I was not prepared and I cried and I was sad because... why was she not with him? Why'd he die alone?!
So...
I do like Calaena. In certain situations. Such as when she's fighting or shopping. How can one truly hate a woman who invests just as much energy and coin into her cloaks and fighting leathers as she does into her heels and delicate undergarments. She seriously needs to chill tf out though sometimes.
4 out of 5 stars.
Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook
Previously in the series:
