The Assassin's Blade: The Throne of Glass Novellas

Reading The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas felt like being handed a beautifully sharpened dagger wrapped in velvet—dangerous, dazzling, and devastating. I went in expecting a prequel, but what I got was a full-blown emotional reckoning. This collection of five novellas doesn’t just flesh out Celaena Sardothien’s backstory—it carves it into your heart.

From the very first story, The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, I was hooked. Celaena is fierce, arrogant, and gloriously flawed, and watching her navigate Skull’s Bay with Sam Cortland—her rival turned reluctant ally—was like watching sparks catch fire. Their banter, their tension, their slow-burn camaraderie... it’s intoxicating. And then, as the stories progress, you show more see her unravel. Not in weakness, but in vulnerability. Maas doesn’t just write action—she writes ache.

The emotional arc of these novellas is masterfully paced. The Assassin and the Healer gives us a glimpse of Celaena’s capacity for compassion, while The Assassin and the Desert is a lesson in humility and growth. By the time we reach The Assassin and the Empire, I was a wreck. I knew what was coming, and still, it crushed me. Sam’s fate, Celaena’s betrayal, the brutal consequences of defiance—it’s all rendered with such raw intensity that I had to pause and breathe between chapters.

What makes this book truly stellar is how it reframes the entire Throne of Glass series. Knowing Celaena’s past—her loyalty, her losses, her rage—adds layers to every decision she makes later. It’s not just backstory; it’s the emotional blueprint of a girl who’s been broken and rebuilt, blade by blade.

Sarah J. Maas writes with cinematic flair and emotional precision. Her prose is lush without being overwrought, and her characters leap off the page with grit and grace. Celaena isn’t just a badass assassin—she’s a girl who loved deeply, lost tragically, and still chose to fight.

If you’re already a fan of the series, this is essential reading. If you’re new to Celaena’s world, The Assassin’s Blade is a perfect entry point—just be prepared to fall hard and fast. I laughed, I cried, I cursed Arobynn Hamel’s name more than once. And when I closed the book, I felt like I’d lived a lifetime with Celaena.

This isn’t just a five-star read. It’s a dagger to the soul—in the best possible way. show less

This is exactly what a set of novellas should feel like. Each story builds on the last while still standing on its own. I can see how people get obsessed, there’s enough worldbuilding here to make me want more of the politics, the regions, the power structures. I need more maps. I jumped into this series after ACOTAR, and thanks to library holds, I started with the prequel. The stakes are high, actions have real consequences, and that alone fixed one of my biggest issues with the previous series. It sometimes feels like Maas wanted to write a messy romance and then remembered how young the main character was, hit delete, and said we’ll wait which made it feel a little unintentional. This series already feels like more than just show more romantasy. My only struggle is as an audiobook listener trying to discuss this with friends. Why is almost every name a normal name thrown into a blender for spelling? Guessing how she decided to spell things has become a game, and I’m shocked she didn’t invent something unhinged for Sam. show less

So this is a collection of novellas that show Celaena's life before Endovier.

As the story begins, Celaena is already the kingdoms greatest assassin under Arobynn Hamel... until she falls in love with fellow assassin Sam Cortland. ❤️ Sam is sweet, loyal, and somehow still believes the two of them can leave it all behind for a normal life. (Sweetheart... have you looked around?) 🤣

At some point, Celaena decides to take jobs that don't exactly align with Arobynn's interests. When she's ordered to capture slaves, she releases them instead, betraying the Assassin's Guild. Arobynn, being the wonderfully stable man that he is, naturally decides the appropriate response is betrayal.

Sam and Celaena make plans to leave the Guild together, show more but Arobynn secretly arranges for them to be sold out. What follows is heartbreaking. 💔 Sam is brutally tortured and murdered, Celaena is beaten and captured, and her journey ultimately ends in the salt mines of Endovier.

There is endless debate about when to read this in the series, but I'm firmly on Team Read It First.
Knowing who Celaena was, who she loved, and everything she lost made every moment that followed hit so much harder.

And Sam... we deserved more time with Sam. 🖤 show less

Sarah J. Maas's Assassin's Blade offers an effortlessly enjoyable read, providing an exciting deep dive into Celeana's character. While the central plot flows through five novellas, I found myself questioning the need for this format over a prequel novel, which might have enhanced the overall storytelling experience.

This collection peels back the layers of Celeana's persona, exposing a darker, more violent side with fewer moral inhibitions than the character we first encounter in the Throne of Glass series. While Celeana fights for what is right, she does so in a violent and merciless way. The emotional weight embedded in the story is undeniably heart-wrenching, offering readers a poignant glimpse into Celeana's transformative journey show more before the events of Throne of Glass.

Despite the engaging plot, I found myself wanting a deeper exploration of Celeana and Sam's relationship. The rapid shift from enemies to lovers left me yearning for a more nuanced understanding of their motivations. Yet, the genuine affection for both characters and the hopeful aura surrounding their connection kept me invested.

Assassin's Blade delves into powerful themes of manipulation, control, and the profound impact of hope. The despicable nature of Arobynn takes center stage, eliciting visceral reactions. I was extremely happy with the order in which I read this installment since I feel this book set the stage beautifully for Queen of Shadows.

While I enjoyed this collection, I rated it three-stars since my enjoyment was tempered by structural concerns (the five part split) that occasionally interrupted the narrative flow and led to repetitive information when reading straight through. The central relationship's development could have been more meticulously handled, although the emotional resonance was undeniable—I confess to crying like a baby at the end. For fellow readers, I recommend slotting Assassin's Blade into your reading journey after Heir of Fire for the most emotional impact.

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Favorite Quotes possible spoilers
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“To being the most fearsome and imposing girls the world has ever seen.” Celaena raised her goblet high before she drank.

In the silence of the fortress, the bowstring twanged like a mournful harp.

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.”

“I’m a coward,” she repeated. “And I’m scared. I’m scared all the time. Always.”

"My name is Sam Cortland … and I will not be afraid."
“My name is Celaena Sardothien,” she whispered, “and I will not be afraid.” show less

Thank you for giving us this soul-shattering book. I read the other books before this one and by the end I was dying to know who Sam was. I wasn't disappointed.

Celaena and Sam's story is a tragic one and it's one of Greatness that left me with tears streaming down my cheeks. With a snap, Celaena was broken apart by the end of the book and the author wrote it so the readers felt every inch of Celaena's pain. I appreciate that. Book 0.5-in a lot of series-are not masterpieces as this one was to me.

The Assassin and the Empire: WTF??!?!? That son of a bitch! I already knew the outcome of part of this story thanks to my having read Throne of Glass already, but finding out the who and what makes me unreasonably angry at a fictional character. I genuinely enjoyed getting to see more of Celaena's background leading up to her being sent to the Endovier salt mines, although I feel terrible for her as well. I loved seeing her rage this time around and all I think is to cheer her on in what she does next. KILL THEM ALL CELAENA!

I read this book from the "Throne of Glass" series first and I'm not sure that was a wise choice. I did not like the main character, Celaena, at all. Maybe if I had started with Book 1 instead of the prequel novellas I would have gotten to like her character better. She seemed highly volatile. She could be talking normally with someone and then in the next moment was ready to slit their throat. And some of these people were on her side. After an interaction like that I was like "whoa, what just happened?" and I had to reread to make sure I didn't miss something.

I'll press on with the series, because the book was overall enjoyable, but Celaena hasn't endeared herself to me yet. My favorite character in the book was Sam.