Reviews with content warning for Gore - The Assassin's Blade

I first read Throne of Glass a couple years ago, but now am making a proper read of the entire series a priority for myself in 2023. I decided to start with Assassin’s Blade after a few suggestions, and I highly recommend reading it first! Maas gives a thrilling, heart-pounding, and gut-wrenching look into Celaena’s character and the events that lead into TOG.

I loved the structure of the novellas. They guide you through the stages of Celaena’s development and make it easy to feel like you’re flying through the book!

Maas’ writing is immersive, her world-building is never lacking, and her talent for spinning a romance that will curl your toes one page, then cry the next is unmatched.

My only problem would be with Celaena herself at times through the book. Some of her decisions felt amateurish or too naive for being the “best assassin.” I also wish Maas didn’t lean into the materialistic side of her so much — it felt excessive at times and a little unbelievable considering Celaena’s life as a trained assassin.

Content Warnings

nerdkitten's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

sierrabowers's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Honestly was hoping that this would be much better than it actually was. It is only the prequel to the series so I am hoping the first book is better. I heard this series is close to being as good as ACOTAR. Hopefully Throne of Glass is much more interesting. I kept hoping for it to be done…. 🥱 good start to a storyline and I’m excited to keep reading about the main character… but give me a plot!!!!

Content Warnings

courtofcatsandcoffee's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

▫️genre: fantasy

▫️trope: E2L

▫️format: kindle

↠ Prequel, yay!! This added so much depth to the MC and gave the reader a glimpse of what’s to come for side characters and villains

↠ I read this after Book 3 (Heir of Fire) and I wish I read it after Book 1 (Throne of Glass) or Book 2 (Crown of Midnight)

↠ If you’re reading this knowing how the prequel ends, your heart will hurt the whole time

↠ By the last two novellas I was in tears

Content Warnings

charhollyx's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Such a nice insight into Celaena’s past and everything she has talked about over the last three books.
I definitely agree that it’s best to read this after Heir Of Fire because reading all of the Easter eggs from the other three was so much more satisfying than reading this as a first book.
Amazing!!

my heart breaks for Sam’s death. I didn’t cry, but my god that whole scene was heart breaking. If only they had succeeded and started their life in the southern continent. But then again, Rowan >>>
I loved the Easter egg of the piano music, how she cried playing it in TOG and we find out that Sam gave her that piece of music. Heartbreaking, again.

Content Warnings

anemonah's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

halfbloodprincess_hogwarts's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

OMG OMG OMG!!!!! This was such an adventurous and kickass view of Celaena before the Throne of Glass series.

I honestly thought this was going to be a smol Novella...like the average novella. This was a freaking tome🤣🤣🤣😭 over 12 hours long. I immediately switched over from the ebook and requested my library to buy the audio (thankfully they approved👏🏼🙏🏼). Without further ado, my ratings for novellas:

the assassin and the pirate lord 5/10⭐
The assassin and the healer 8.5/10⭐
The assassin and the desert 10/10⭐
The assassin and the underworld/underword (I've seen it spelled both ways but either way my rating does not change)...bump up in star b/c her and Sam kissed😘 4/10⭐
the assassin and the empire 10/10⭐.... Sam🥺🥺🥺

Content Warnings

gracegeeks's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

sam cortland my beloved :(

Content Warnings

More...