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kathrynjean97 's review for:
The Assassin's Blade
by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Please, please read this between Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows.
The Assassin's Blade is not an accurate representation of the quality you should expect from this series, and to be honest, I'm not sure I would've continued reading if I started here.
The Assassin's Blade is not an accurate representation of the quality you should expect from this series, and to be honest, I'm not sure I would've continued reading if I started here.
VIBES
⚔️ Novellas
⚔️ High fantasy
⚔️ Action
⚔️ Adventure
⚔️ High fantasy
⚔️ Action
⚔️ Adventure
THOUGHTS (spoiler-free)
I went into this really hoping to see (1) Celaena's assassin training, (2) Celaena actually carrying out assassinations, and (3) Celaena's relationship with Sam develop. Unfortunately, this collection of novellas didn't deliver any of that.
Not to say it was all bad, it was just a bit... lackluster. There's little worldbuilding or character development, each story feels kind of juvenile, and there are a few too many plot conveniences to be forgiven. I loved Celaena in TOG, COM, and HOF, but I just didn't connect to her here. And I had high hopes for loving Sam, but we don't spend enough time with him to really see why he and Celaena fell in love.
But even though they weren't exactly the stories I was hoping for, each one did capture my attention more than the last. And in hindsight, most of the characters do make returns in later novels and I feel much, <i>much</i> more connected to those characters for having read these novellas.
Not to say it was all bad, it was just a bit... lackluster. There's little worldbuilding or character development, each story feels kind of juvenile, and there are a few too many plot conveniences to be forgiven. I loved Celaena in TOG, COM, and HOF, but I just didn't connect to her here. And I had high hopes for loving Sam, but we don't spend enough time with him to really see why he and Celaena fell in love.
But even though they weren't exactly the stories I was hoping for, each one did capture my attention more than the last. And in hindsight, most of the characters do make returns in later novels and I feel much, <i>much</i> more connected to those characters for having read these novellas.
FAVOURITE QUOTES
Rain continued beating against the hall windows, a distant reminder that there was still a world around them.
_____
The girl wore her scars the way some women wore their finest jewelry.
_____
"My name is Celaena Sardothien," she whispered, “and I will not be afraid."
_____
Words could be just as deadly as steel.
_____
"Because I'd pick you."
_____
Content Warnings
Minor: Torture, Violence, Murder