The Assassin’s Blade

 

Introduction:

The Assassin’s Blade is a five story novella compilation style prequel to the Throne of Glass series. It consists of 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. 

I do have to say that I agree with SJM’s order of reading ToG with this being third. If I had read this first I would not have liked it.  (Even though I have problems with the last story I did enjoy it overall) I would not have any reason to like the dumb bratty teenager that is the main character. There would also be no reason for me to be interested in Celaena’s relationship with Sam OR wanting to know how Sam dies. If you do read this first you can 100% tell that Sam is going to die. It is foreshadowed HARD - to the point that I assumed it would happen much sooner than it actually did. Examples of what made me think so in various parts:

10% - “I suppose if we’re going to die, it should be for a noble cause,” he said. She snorted, using it as an excuse to step away from him. “We’re not going to die. At least, not if follow my plan.”
30% - Sam had always been the expendable one
41% - She remembered the words Sam kept screaming at Arobynn as the King of the Assassins beat her, the words that she somehow had forgotten in the fog of pain: I’ll kill you! Sam had said it like he meant it. He bellowed it. Again and again.
70% - She just prayed Sam wouldn’t get hurt 

The Pirate Lord

did make for a good start. I enjoyed the overall story. Celaena is kind of a cocky little shit for being a literal child and to think there would be no consequences for her actions kind of checks given the rest of her attitude. Should she have been BEATEN for her choices? No, but it is established the assassin king man is a grooming pedophile trash man so are we truly surprised? Like he literally grooms the chick from the brothel and bids the most money on her at the virginity auction. He uses her to piss of Celaena further and to fuck with Sam in the process. Broski c’mon. 

The Healer 

It was pointless. She's in some tavern where she meets a healer and teaches her how to fight like? ANYWAY

The Desert 

Idek dude. I think it was an okay story. They hinted at a spy and I kind of figured it would be Ansel, but not to that degree I guess? I do think that Celaena was wayyyy too easy on her betrayal and trying to kill the master and all. I know they were friends, but like she literally gained your trust, POISONED YOU, and stabbed you in the back and you still gave her the grace of letting her live. SMH

The Underworld 

gonna be honest I don’t remember much about this one. I actually had to look it up to remember what actually happened in this one.  It, apparently, also hinted at things from the future. According to some googling it was “obvious” the person she was flirting with on the dance floor was Dorian aka the prince from the future books. I did not pick up on this, but I also am not one to remember descriptions of people very well. Sam and his jealousy was so annoying. 

The Empire…

I will say that I hated the last story the most. I understand that Celaena is a literal child in this. She is SIXTEEN. But how can you set it up as though she is literally the best assassin ever and she’s so smart and cunning and badass and then she turns around and does thee dumbest shit? Sam too. He is supposed to be so good he comes in second to her. But then they confess love and all smarts goes RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW

Their stupidity in the last story  

They both think it's wise to GO KILL THE BIGGEST SCARIEST CRIME BOSS AND HIS CRAZY TORTURER OF A HENCHMAN ???? They also don’t think that it’s suspicious that they were pegged for that job out of nowhere and despite the king of the assassin guild leader man blacklisting them???

They spend all this time tailing and basically stalking the torturer dude - at one point HE MAKES EYE CONTACT WITH CELAENA - and they think he’s not going to know that a couple of rival assassin TEENAGERS are following him?  He’s described as so deadly they think it’s actually going to be THIS easy? BRUH CMON. 

THEN they think it’s a good idea for Sam to GO ALONE to fight the henchmen and that he could handle it himself and then she would go handle the head dude herself.  

After being gone for HOURS Celaena goes to investigate, but only goes so far and then shrugs and returns home expecting him to just show back up? And then she is surprised to find out that he’s DEAD?

Then she still thinks king assassin man is STILL on her side and honestly thinks that they were totally talking about things outside the room she’s locked in on ACCIDENT like they totally don’t think she’s going to ESCAPE OUT THE WINDOW. I will say that I am glad Wesley tried to make her realize, but even that clue isn’t enough for her smooth brain and she still falls for the trap. To the point that even later after she is caught she thinks about what Wesley was trying to say as she killed him and she still is like HUH I WONDER WHAT THAT MEANT 

Conclusion:

Overall, it was a quick and easy read. When I actually had time to read it did not take me very long to fly through it. Got a little draggy in the middle, but that might’ve been my own exhaustion. I was going to give it 4 stars until the last story pissed me off so bad so I lowered it to 3 stars. Eventually, I will continue the Throne of Glass series, but series are so draining to me. I need breaks between big stories. Crown of Midnight was SUCH a drag which is why it took me so long to get to this one. Anyway, I’m starting The Midnight Library next so I will see  you soon!