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imkedogger's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm really glad I read this book before starting the series. I hadn't read a fantasy in a while so I was a bit intimidated at the start, but the fact that it's just a bunch of novellas makes it so much easier. I really liked the writing and the plottwists honestly left me speechless. I don't know if I should've seen it coming, but I know I didn't expect any of that to happen. Sometimes it did feel like our main character was portrayed as not like other girls and I didn't love the way she thought/spoke about the harlots. She obviously felt bad for them and didn't call them sluts or anything, but it just felt kind of icky. The writing in general didn't hit for me at times, but it was really easy to get through, so thats a plus. I settled on a 4 star rating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Blood and War
Minor: Alcoholism
quietlex's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.5
I didn’t love or hate it. It seemed pretty lackluster and predictable at times. I didn’t believe the romance between Celena and Sam, it felt forced and uninspired. I think this book was more focused on the different missions and progressing the plot rather than developing interesting and complex main characters. I’m hopeful that the rest of the series will build on who Celena is and why she thinks and acts the way she does. Quite disappointed with the lack of spice as well. Not the best start to the series, in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
sierrabowers's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
sarahjacobs1122's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I am not a big short story reader but I enjoyed these stories. I felt each story got better as I continued on. I already knew what happened to Sam but it still was a blow to the heart. Overall, I liked it but felt the earlier stories a little boring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, and Murder
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
mariareviews's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
If I may be honest with all, I don’t understand what’s happening. These books promised the universe with all its stars and are currently delivering —at most— a ‘meh’ story. Although I’m truly in love with the worldbuilding and the characters, The Assassin’s Blade fails to deliver something different to what we already know.
Yeah, it is an entertaining book, but most of it is just boring words and stories that we already know about. The only interesting part that I truly enjoyed was The Assassin and The Desert and part of me wishes that it ended with her just remembering her story and going to Endovier instead of getting this weak teenager love story.
Also, there’s more chemistry between me and doing homework than between Sam and Celaena.
I must add that I’m getting incredibly tired and frustrated by the vomiting. Like once or twice sure go off BUT EVERY BOOK HAS AT LEAST A MENTION OF VOMIT and I’m not someone that gets the icky feeling when reading/seeing vomit but I’m TIRED that SJM doesn’t have other ways of describing disgust aside from “x person vomited” or “I vomited” like tf
Oh! Can we all get to the conclusion that Celaena’s hatred towards Lysandra is mostly —if not completely— internalised misogyny?
If Queen of Shadows is as boring as the past two books, I’m literally going to cry.
Yeah, it is an entertaining book, but most of it is just boring words and stories that we already know about. The only interesting part that I truly enjoyed was The Assassin and The Desert and part of me wishes that it ended with her just remembering her story and going to Endovier instead of getting this weak teenager love story.
Also, there’s more chemistry between me and doing homework than between Sam and Celaena.
I must add that I’m getting incredibly tired and frustrated by the vomiting. Like once or twice sure go off BUT EVERY BOOK HAS AT LEAST A MENTION OF VOMIT and I’m not someone that gets the icky feeling when reading/seeing vomit but I’m TIRED that SJM doesn’t have other ways of describing disgust aside from “x person vomited” or “I vomited” like tf
Oh! Can we all get to the conclusion that Celaena’s hatred towards Lysandra is mostly —if not completely— internalised misogyny?
If Queen of Shadows is as boring as the past two books, I’m literally going to cry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny and Torture
Minor: Vomit