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lilylaflair's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual harassment
melinette7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
PLEASE DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AS I DID AND DO NOT READ IT BEFORE READING AT LEAST THE 4 FIRST BOOKS. It's a prequel but you'll miss out on so much, you'll immediately understand some traits of character, some trauma if this is your first read. I'm sure it's even more enjoyable to read when you meet Celeana in Throne of Glass first.
This book is very good though it took me a while to really get into it. It's not as good as the ACOTAR series so far, but the last 150p were very intense and thrilling. I cannot wait to start reading the next one. if you're sensitive you'll be crying by the end of the book
This book is very good though it took me a while to really get into it. It's not as good as the ACOTAR series so far, but the last 150p were very intense and thrilling. I cannot wait to start reading the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
littlered22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Slower than the other tog books but definitely a necessary book. I read it as #3 in the series so I already knew the fmc. But this gave me some background and insight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent
tspice24's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
eemi42's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I know there are a few options of when to read this book in the lineup. I read this after Heir of Fire.
I'm glad I chose to read it now, after seeing some of Celaena's character development. It took a little perseverance to go back to the old Celaena, with the unchecked anger, rash decisions, and naivety. It would have been much harder to get through if I hadn't had a glimpse of who she'd become.
I get that there's some important backstory here, though. I'm guessingthe information about Arobynn's betrayal will be important in Queen of Shadows, and maybe Ansel will even make an appearance?
I'm glad I chose to read it now, after seeing some of Celaena's character development. It took a little perseverance to go back to the old Celaena, with the unchecked anger, rash decisions, and naivety. It would have been much harder to get through if I hadn't had a glimpse of who she'd become.
I get that there's some important backstory here, though. I'm guessing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Grief, and Death of parent
literarymary95's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
(I don't remember reading this book when I did and I probably read it after the full series was complete in my first time reading 6 years ago.)
First off, I am reviewing this book as a prequel rather than novellas because the individual short stories come together as 1 larger story. it shows the people, reasons, and events that lead Celaena to the Endovier Salt Mines.
This time I read it in the order Sarah J. Maas recommended, which is to read this after Crown of Midnight (Book #2). Reading the prequel/novellas made so much more sense since you understand Celaena and it helps you see why she makes decisions in the way she does. You also see some important context to characters and events that were mentioned in the first 2 books. If I remember correctly, some of the key characters in the short stories appear later on in the series.
First off, I am reviewing this book as a prequel rather than novellas because the individual short stories come together as 1 larger story. it shows the people, reasons, and events that lead Celaena to the Endovier Salt Mines.
This time I read it in the order Sarah J. Maas recommended, which is to read this after Crown of Midnight (Book #2). Reading the prequel/novellas made so much more sense since you understand Celaena and it helps you see why she makes decisions in the way she does. You also see some important context to characters and events that were mentioned in the first 2 books. If I remember correctly, some of the key characters in the short stories appear later on in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, and Death of parent
savage_book_review's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Where I read the series in the 'purist' order last time, I've chosen to listen to the audiobooks in the 'romantic' order to see what affect that has on the emotional impact of Assassin's Blade. Indeed, this is the order endorsed by SJM herself!
First and foremost, this is the best of the audios so far. I think the fact that the book is comprised of a series of novellas makes it that much more listenable as, while there are important plot points throughout, each individual story contains reminders of key moments. You're therefore less likely to miss things, but equally the reminders don't disrupt the flow of the current tale. As previously, I do think this is partially dependent on the speed at which you listen, but at the same time because we're looking at short stories there's also less opportunity for a lull in the action, which keeps you focused and the story moving.
There are also moments in this one that 'hit' better with the audiobook, particularly in the last novella. The narrator has a great grasp of exactly where pauses are required for dramatic effect, where the voice needs to be louder or quieter and so on. That being said, it did feel like she was perhaps starting to run out of different voices by the end of the book - just a few too many characters are sounding similar to other works of hers.
This time around, I was able to pick up on few nice little Easter Eggs within the stories that I didn't see before. For that reason alone, I can understand why this perhaps shouldn't be read first (even though the events occur before Throne of Glass). Likewise, I think for a first time reader, the emotional gut punch of this book would be better felt reading it after 'Crown of Midnight'. However, although it did forge a deeper connection to Sam for me, for my own personal enjoyment of the series I think I'm better off putting it up front. But then I'm not sure I'd have picked up on the Easter Eggs if I had listened to it first! It's a tough one to call!
First and foremost, this is the best of the audios so far. I think the fact that the book is comprised of a series of novellas makes it that much more listenable as, while there are important plot points throughout, each individual story contains reminders of key moments. You're therefore less likely to miss things, but equally the reminders don't disrupt the flow of the current tale. As previously, I do think this is partially dependent on the speed at which you listen, but at the same time because we're looking at short stories there's also less opportunity for a lull in the action, which keeps you focused and the story moving.
There are also moments in this one that 'hit' better with the audiobook, particularly in the last novella. The narrator has a great grasp of exactly where pauses are required for dramatic effect, where the voice needs to be louder or quieter and so on. That being said, it did feel like she was perhaps starting to run out of different voices by the end of the book - just a few too many characters are sounding similar to other works of hers.
This time around, I was able to pick up on few nice little Easter Eggs within the stories that I didn't see before. For that reason alone, I can understand why this perhaps shouldn't be read first (even though the events occur before Throne of Glass). Likewise, I think for a first time reader, the emotional gut punch of this book would be better felt reading it after 'Crown of Midnight'. However, although it did forge a deeper connection to Sam for me, for my own personal enjoyment of the series I think I'm better off putting it up front. But then I'm not sure I'd have picked up on the Easter Eggs if I had listened to it first! It's a tough one to call!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Trafficking, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
tabea1409's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
snackykennedy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
asimpson7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I’m not really sure what to say about this book. It isn’t the type of book that ive read before, but I really enjoyed it. It kept me hooked the whole way through. I couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen next. Even though Celina is an assassin, she still feels like the good guy. liked how her and Sam ended up together, and I almost cried when he died. Which makes me hate Arobyn even more. I don’t understand how someone could treat a person like that. But now I get the hype over Sarah J Mass books and I can’t wait to read the next one !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail