A review by proletecario
The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Oh, boy, I've got so much to say...

Firstly, three stars for the first three stories: Pirate Lord, Healer and Red Desert. Lovely and interesting stories that signified so much in Celaena's development; I thought that, shaped by these adventures and experiences she lived, the author would've made Celaena's convictions the main focus throughout the entirety of the book—as in, she'd be driven by a renewed sense of justice,

and she did! In the Underworld chapter she was still driven by that force, but once she found herself enamoured by Sam, and it turned out she was betrayed by her Master, everything became so frivolous and like she never gained any substancial knowledge on how to prevent herself from getting tricked and letting her irrationality get the best of her, in my opinion.

However, I do understand that: (1) This prequel was prooobably released after the first book of the main series (Throne of Glass), though I'm not 100% sure, but it would make sense that SJM had to forge a way into the beginning of TOG; and (2) Celaena was 16/17 years old throughout this book so, it also makes sense that she's irrational (but come on, she really never thought to use her head once?) and arrogant, considering the flaws in her character are a major thing in this book and the following.

But, also, I'm petty and don't like enemies to lovers and I felt that her feelings for him were kind of forced, even though I still enjoyed the confession, it all soon became too... tacky, like her entire world is now Sam and she no longer had strong convictions about a more just world and I get it, I guess, but I still hate that.

Despite all, a really enjoyable novel and prequel to an even more amazing story in the series even though I procrastinated finishing it for like 20 days. Lol