The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Categories Fantasy
Author Sarah J. Maas
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing (February 14, 2023)
Language English
Paperback 464 pages
Item Weight 2.31 pounds
Dimensions
6.5 x 1.45 x 9.5 inches

I. Book introduction

“The Assassin’s Blade: The Throne of Glass Prequel Novellas” Embark on an adventure brimming with fantasy, intrigue, and the relentless pursuit of destiny. Let’s unravel the tapestry of this national bestseller, where each chapter unveils a new layer of the paranormal.

The twist of a knife. The birth of a legend.

Step into the world of the #1 bestselling Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas with this collection of prequel novellas.

Celaena Sardothien is her kingdom’s most feared assassin. Though she works for the powerful Assassin’s Guild and its scheming master, Arobynn Hamel, she yields to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. But when Arobynn dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, Celaena finds herself acting independently of his wishes and questioning her own allegiance.

If she hopes to escape Arobynn’s clutches, Celaena will have to put her faith in her wits and her blade . . . knowing that if she fails, she’ll lose not just a chance at freedom but her life.

A prequel to the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass, this collection of five novellas explores 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

Editorial Reviews

  • “Action-packed . . . What a ride!” ―Booklist on The Assassin’s Blade
  • “A thrilling read.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Throne of Glass
  • “An epic fantasy readers will immerse themselves in and never want to leave.” ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on Crown of Midnight
  • “Celaena is as much an epic hero as Frodo or Jon Snow!” ―New York Times bestselling author Tamora Pierce on Heir of Fire
  • “Packed . . . with brooding glances, simmering sexual tension, twisty plot turns, lush world building, and snarky banter.” ―Booklist on Queen of Shadows
  • “Tightly plotted, delightful escapism.” ―Kirkus Reviews on Empire of Storms
  • “Turns a corner from sprawling epic to thrilling psychological fantasy.” ―HuffPost on Tower of Dawn
  • “A worthy finale to one of the best fantasy book series of the past decade.” ―Time on Kingdom of Ash

About the Author (Sarah J. Maas)

Author Sarah J. Maas

Sarah Janet Maas, known as Sarah J. Maas (born March 5, 1986) is an American fantasy author known for her fantasy series Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City. As of 2024, she has sold nearly 40 million copies of her books and her work has been translated into 38 languages.

Sarah Janet Maas began writing what would become her debut novel, Throne of Glass, at age sixteen. After writing several chapters of the novel, then titled Queen of Glass, Maas posted them on FictionPress.com, where it became one of the most popular stories on the site. It was later removed from the site when Maas decided to publish the novel. The story line of the series is based on the story of Cinderella, with the premise of “What if Cinderella was not a servant, but an assassin? And what if she didn’t attend the ball to meet the prince, but to kill him, instead?” In 2008, Maas started sending the story to agents before signing with Tamar Rydzinski of The Laura Dial Literary Agency in 2009. Throne of Glass was purchased in March 2010 by Bloomsbury, who later purchased two additional books in the series. The series is available in 15 countries and 35 languages. While four prequel novellas set two years before the first novel were also published, these were later condensed into one book, The Assassin’s Blade plus an original novella. The second book of the series, Crown of Midnight was a New York Times young adult best-seller. The final book in the series, Kingdom of Ash, was released on October 23, 2018; the finished series comprised seven books plus the novella collection.

A Court of Thorns and Roses, Maas’ second fantasy series, is a loose retelling of the traditional Beauty and the Beast. The first book of the trilogy was written in 2009, but was not published until 2015. Due to the success and popularity of the original series, it was extended and a spin-off series was announced which would feature stories of other popular characters. The fifth book in the series and the first of the spin-offs, A Court of Silver Flames, was published on February 16, 2021.

On May 16, 2018, Maas announced her first adult fantasy series, Crescent City. The first book, titled House of Earth and Blood, was released by Bloomsbury on March 3, 2020. It was ranked one of the top twenty Science Fiction & Fantasy books of 2020 on Kobo. The sequel, House of Sky and Breath, was released on February 15, 2022 and won the Best Fantasy award for Goodreads Choice Awards in 2022. The third installation of the series, House of Flame and Shadow, was released on January 30th 2024.

The A Court of Thorns and Roses series was announced to be adapted into a television series for Hulu in 2021. In an interview with The New York Times, Maas confirmed that she was developing the project with the writers and the showrunner as executive producer.

In May 2023, The Verge reported that the cover of the UK edition of House of Earth and Blood uses an AI-generated image.

The banning of many is her books in Utah public schools has led to a surge in their popularity.

II. Reviewer: The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Reviewer The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

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1. ALI GOODWIN reviews for The Assassin’s Blade

4.25 stars but I definitely see this series being an overall 5-star series. I loveee celaena’s character! The fact that she’s an assassin is so badass and was so fun to read about. I also love that this prequel is a collection of short stories about her assassin adventures. It’s pretty rare that I read a book of short stories so that made it a fun and unique reading experience.

Also the ending, I won’t say too much bc spoilers, but:😭

So excited to keep reading the series! I just started Throne of Glass and I’m already so invested in it bc I read Assassin’s Blade first.

2. WARDA reviews for The Assassin’s Blade

“The only secret I’ve borne my entire life is that I love you.”

Sam, Sam, Sam, Sam, Sam…
Forever pain, forever depression. This will forever hurt.

———————————————
I don’t know how this book continues to destroy me with every reread. This will always be one of the most heart-wrenching stories for me. The way Sarah J Maas fleshed out the characters in this book and their emotions pulled at my insides. It hurt like nothing else. I hate it. And I’m incredibly in love with this collection of novellas.

Original review!
“She would tuck Sam into her heart, a bright light for her to take out whenever things were darkest.”

Reread. 5 stars, of course.

This is the kind of book that once you’re finished reading, you’ll need all the chocolates and ice cream to stuff yourself with and all the comedy movies to watch, because the gaping hole and emotional heaviness it leaves you with is slightly torturous.

This book is a bind-up of 5 novellas which explore events that took place before Throne of Glass. Rereading it now, I think that it’s probably best to start off with this book, then continue on with the rest of the series, because you’ll gain a better appreciation for our main character.

Celaena is such a great female protagonist. Utter boss! This book sheds a lot more light into her history and how she became the person she is. There’s so much more emotion and vulnerability to her in this book that we don’t get to see that often. But she’s also an assassin. Hardcore and cruel and the fact that she encompasses both ends of the spectrum is so great to see. I love how that human element has been added, that not everything you know about a person and how they react to certain situations is always going to be black and white. Your past has a lot to do with it. Your circumstances which will have shaped you. The people you surround yourself with and I adore Sarah J Maas for incorporating that into a story about assassins.

And Sam, Sam, for fucks same, Sam. I’m in mourning. I keep wishing Celaena was able to declare her love for him. Something verbal that at least he could’ve taken with him. I don’t know why it destroys my heart, because I’m pretty sure Celaena regrets this in the other books but every time I think about it I want to die, tbh.

3. EMMA GRIFFIOEN reviews for The Assassin’s Blade

i am very happy with my decision to start my throne of glass journey with the assassin’s blade! this was a fast-paced prequel, especially since it was broken down into 5 novellas. my favorites were the assassin and the pirate lord, the assassin and the desert and the assassin and the underworld. i really enjoyed the insight it gave me on celaena, arobynn, sam and all of the other characters who i’m sure will pop up throughout the rest of the series.

that ending had my eyes watering 🥲💔 now, on to throne of glass! (for the third time uhhh time to see if i can finally make it through this series, but it’s looking the most promising compared to my 2 other attempts)

⭐️ – 4 stars
🌶️ – 0.5/5
tropes: female assassin, enemies to lovers
perfect for: fans of sarah j maas, fans of fantasy novellas

4. JESSICA reviews for The Assassin’s Blade

i actually wasnt planning on reading this until after ‘kingdom of ash’ but the wait was just too much for me, so i quickly snuck it in!

ughh, i wish this book was a part of the main series in the same way ‘tower of dawn’ was. i think if the series started off with this, instead of ‘throne of glass,’ i would have had a much deeper understanding and connection with celaena. this provides so much character development and insight into who she is, which was really lacking in the first few books.

also, the events and characters of each and every one of these stories are mentioned/alluded to throughout the other six books, so this would have been a great foundation with which to start the series.

overall, these short stories were enjoyable and a great addition to a wonderful series!

the assassin and the pirate lord – 3.5 stars
the assassin and the healer – 3.5 stars
the assassin and the desert – 4 stars
the assassin and the underworld – 4.5 stars
the assassin and the empire – 4.5 stars

5. MMG reviews for The Assassin’s Blade

A thrilling introduction

I absolutely loved “The Assassin’s Blade” by Sarah J. Maas! This collection of novellas serves as a fantastic prequel to the “Throne of Glass” series, giving us a deeper understanding of Celaena Sardothien, the fierce assassin we come to adore.

Each story flows seamlessly into the next, exploring Celaena’s life as she embarks on daring missions and navigates the complexities of her relationships, especially with her fellow assassin, Sam. The character development is remarkable; I felt like I was on this journey of growth with her. Celaena’s struggles with loyalty, trust, and her own identity are portrayed with such depth that I couldn’t help but root for her.

The world-building is rich, with vivid settings that transport you to different corners of Erilea. Maas masterfully balances action and emotion, making every story engaging and impactful.

While some stories are more intense than others, they all contribute to the overarching narrative of Celaena’s journey. If you’re a fan of strong female leads and intricate plots, “The Assassin’s Blade” is a must-read. It’s a thrilling introduction that left me eager to dive into the rest of the series!

6. KELSEY reviews for The Assassin’s Blade

I’m not crying… you are!

SJM did it again… I read this book after Heir of Fire and it emotionally wrecked me. I don’t know if i’ll ever recommend the puritan way of reading this book. I love getting to know Celaena first and then finding out more of the back story. either way… it is a MUST read. The connections that were built in this book shape the rest of the series. The series broke me in the best possible way.

7. EROTIC ENCHANTMENTS reviews for The Assassin’s Blade

MUST read first!

To really understand the full scope of the Throne of Glass series, you must read these five stories first. They’re not extras or bonus bits. They contain crucial information and characters that directly impact the saga contained in the seven books that comprise the series. Without them, you won’t grasp the motivation for many of the seemingly insane choices Celaena makes. And you’ll miss an important first encounter with a character who will play a critical role in the end game of the series.

As for the reason behind the five stars, let me just say that I do not read most of what passes for heroic or epic fantasy published in the last fifteen years or so. Standards have become so sloppy, and I was raised on the greats. I only checked this author out because of a massive discount and a gift – and even at that, I left them in my TBR pile for almost five years before becoming bored enough that I would have read a cereal box if nothing else presented itself. But this series is good. It kept me on the edge of my seat, made my heart stop, made me laugh and cry and occasionally shout, “I knew it!” out loud. The plots and subplots are tight and clever. Many times I thought something was ridiculous, only to learn – sometimes in the next book – that it was in fact a brilliant plan. This series is worthy of being called epic fantasy.

8. DANIE reviews for The Assassin’s Blade

Read it first and so glad I did

I chose to read this book BEFORE Throne of Glass and I have not regretted it for a single second. I feel like it allowed me to fully understand and appreciate Celaena through the beginning of the story, when she may have been a bit harder to love. Having her backstory and some insight into what caused her to be the woman she is was so powerful going into Throne of Glass. Not to mention, Sarah J Maas is a master of words and her storytelling is spectacular. I can’t believe she started these short stories when she started Throne of Glass, which was her first novel. That blows my mind.

9. ANMOL reviews for The Assassin’s Blade

“I can wait. We have all the time in the world.”

sometimes i still think 2022 me was right and i should’ve stayed away from this book forever. atl i would’ve been happy. (not rly but a bitch can dream right?)

“My name is Sam Cortland… and I will not be afraid.”

and the fact that i alr knew what was gonna happen didn’t help AT. ALL. i know i say this with every book i read but i rly don’t cry okay but this book acc had me sobbing the whole time i was reading it and literally any time i think about it even now- 😭😭

i never knew i would love sam cortland as much as i did i never knew sam cortland would break me as much as he did i just love that boy sm

but as much as i hate this book, meeting all the characters and especially celaena again was everything. ansel 🥹 rolfe 🥹 yrene 🥹 lysandra 🥹

SAMMMMMM 😭😭😭😭😭😭

and i’m so glad i had my lulubean with me to go through this i wouldn’t have made it out alive without her 😔❤️‍🩹

still never touching this book again bye-

10. GILLIAN reviews for The Assassin’s Blade

“My name is Celaena Sardothein,” she whispered, “and I will not be afraid.”

These novellas were so good!! This book is a collection of short stories which include The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Healer, The Assassin and the Desert, The Assassin and the Underworld and The Assassin and the Empire. These novellas are about, love, betrayal, revenge, power and friendship. The novellas follow Calaena who is the best assassin in Erilea and she is a member of the Assassin’s Guild. In these novellas Celaena’s master Arobynn sends Celaena on missions and she makes friends and enemies along the way and realizes she has feelings for Sam. During each mission Celaena faces new challenges. Celaena questions her allegiance to the Guild when she realizes the true purpose of one of the missions. Celaena and Sam must decide whether they will risk everything for freedom and a chance to escape the Guild.

These novellas are told from Celaena’s point of view. The pacing was inconsistent in the first novella, but in the second novella the pace picked up. The world building was excellent, I really felt like I was living in the world that the author created. I love Celaena so much, she is awesome, strong, brave, fierce, stubborn and loyal to the people she cares about. I’m in love with Sam, he is sweet, strong, stubborn, very handsome, and loyal. I really like Yrene, she is kind, helpful, resilient, and smart. I don’t like Arobynn, he is mean, ruthless, violent, and a liar. I love Sam and Celaena’s relationship, they bring out the best in each other and really care for each other. I loved their chemistry, the connection between them was very strong. The character development was well done, Celaena grew so much from the first novella to the last novella. I loved seeing both sides of Celaena and Sam. The ending was so surprising and heartbreaking.

III. The Assassin’s Blade Quotes by Sarah J. Maas

The Assassin's Blade Quotes by Sarah J. Maas

The best book quotes from The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

“My name is Celaena Sardothien,” she whispered, “and I will not be afraid.”

“This girl wasn’t like wildfire—she was wildfire. Deadly and uncontrollable. And slightly out of her wits.”

“Hoped that an assassin’s jewel would pay for a healer’s education.”

“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.”

“She would tuck Sam into her heart, a bright light for her to take out whenever things were darkest.”

“She was fire, she was darkness, she was dust and blood and shadow.”

“There was no way in hell she was going to move to the southern continent without all of her books.”

“Life isn’t easy, no matter where you are. You’ll make choices you think are right, and then suffer for them.”

“I love you,” he repeated, shaking her again. “I have for years. But if I asked you to pick, you’d choose Arobynn, and I. Can’t. Take. It.”
“You’re a damned idiot,” she breathed grabbing the front of his tunic. “You’re a moron and an ass and a damned idiot.” He looked like she had hit him. But she went on, and grasped both sides of his face. “Because I’d pick you.”

“He removed her hand from his cheek to kiss the tips of her fingers. “I get scared, too,” he murmured onto her skin. “You want to hear something ridiculous? Whenever I’m scared out of my wits, I tell myself: My name is Sam Cortland … and I will not be afraid. I’ve been doing it for years.”
It was her turn to raise her brows. “And that actually works?”
He laughed onto her fingers. “Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. But it usually makes me feel better to some degree. Or it just makes me laugh at myself a bit.”

“My name is Sam Cortland… and I will not be afraid.”

“I can wait,” he said thickly, kissing her collarbone. “We have all the time in the world.”

“The girl who’d taken on a Pirate Lord and his entire island, the girl who’d stolen Asterion horses and raced along the beach in the Red Desert, the girl who’d sat on her own rooftop, watching the sun rise over Avery, the girl who’d felt alive with possibility…that girl was gone.”

“You want to know what price I asked for forgiving Arobynn, Celaena?” Sam stood so still the he might have been a statue. “My price was his oath that he’d never lay a hand on you again. I told him I’d forgive him in exchange for that.”

“You said you didn’t care what I thought. Or what I did. Or if I died, if I’m not mistaken.”
“I lied! And you know I lied, you stupid bastard!”

“Quiet as mice, quiet as the wind, quiet as the grave.”

“Alone with Rolfe, Celaena raised her sword. “Celaena Sardothien, at your service.”
The pirate was still staring at her, his face pale with rage. “How dare you deceive me?” She sketched a bow.
“I did nothing of the sort. I told you I was beautiful.”

“Sam’s hand brushed her shoulder, and she almost jumped out of her skin as he brought his mouth close to her ear and murmured, “You look beautiful. Though I bet you already know that.” She most certainly did.”

“The music broke her apart and put her back together, only to rend her asunder again and again.”

“the world was too big, too full of splintered dreams.”

“Sam glanced at her, a hint of amusement shining in his eyes.
Celaena smiled at him, and the world, for one flickering heartbeat, felt right.”

“Rain continued beating against the hall windows, a distant reminder that there was still a world around them.”

“She just prayed Sam wouldn’t get hurt. In the silence of her bedroom, she swore an oath to the moonlight that if Sam were hurt, no force in the world would hold her back from slaughtering everyone responsible.”

“The world was waiting–wide open and hers for the taking.”

“Life isn’t easy, no matter where you are. You’ll make choices you think are right, and then suffer for them.”

“The silence was suddenly too charged, his face too beautiful in the light.”

“Never get to see that half smile. Never get to hear his laugh, never get to hear him say her name like it meant something special, something more than being Adarlan’s Assassin ever could.
She didn’t want to go out into a world where he didn’t exist. So she watched the light shift and change, and let the world pass by without her.”

“But she’d also promised Ansel that she had twenty minutes to get out of range. Celaena had fired after twenty-one.”

“She opened her eyes and found him watching her, his face a mixture of pride and wonder and such open affection that she could see that far-off land where they’d find a home, see that future that awaited them, and that glimmer of hope promised happiness she’d never considered or dared yearn for.”

“Tomorrow will be better. It might be only a foot more than today, but it will be a foot longer that you can run”

“He brushed his lips against hers. “I love you,” he breathed against her mouth. “And from today onward, I want to never be separated from you. Wherever you go, I go. Even if that means going to Hell itself, wherever you are, that’s where I want to be. Forever.” Celaena”

The best book quotes from The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

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