Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

319 reviews

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

fr0styme11o's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is just, insanely good. I can't even describe it. It has left me speechless.

The action in this is very exciting and I can tell you that there is quite a lot of it. It's incredibly enjoyable to read and I'm always anticipating for the next action packed scene.

The characters individual personalities are something I find very intriguing in this, too. Everyone is different. Of course they are, but you get a very clear idea of who they're like as a person.

Not to mention that Sam literally chattered my heart into a thousand pieces. I don't understand how SJM can simply get rid of a character in a blink of an eye. Or even get rid of a character that literally just appeared, like WHAT?! I LOVED HIM! I'm devastated. :(


Anyway, it was really entertaining to read and a great adventure I wish I could experience again!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

melinette7's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

_marycappiello3's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

poppyskills's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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

4.0

Read this 3rd in the series for sure, it adds many levels to Sardothiens character, it’s worth the exposition and pulling through the other books. Personally, I really liked finding out her history after having met her as a person in Throne of Glass, and don’t really understand how someone can read this first  

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

paigeisinabook's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.5

This book didn't seem too necessary, but it was a good addition if you want to see more of the world. 

I read this after book 2 and I think that's a good place for it as I know the entire pacing and focus of the novel changes with book 3. I'm happy about my choice.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

emilymay153's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The assassin and the pirate lord: 4.75⭐
This one is possibly my favourite of all the short stories in this collection. I love the action and the character development of the characters starting to question their own motivations.

The assassin and the healer: 4⭐
This one is slower paced and a lot less happened but I did enjoy seeing Calaena's interactions with another female character.

The assassin and the desert: 4.25⭐
Another favourite. This one is fast-paced and a lot happens. It has major character development for Calaena in many ways.
This is also where the theme of betrayal starts to kick in and gives understanding to Calaena's hesitation to trust in the Throne of Glass series.


The assassin and the underworld: 5⭐
I rated this the highest of the stories immediately after reading this one but the plot was the least memorable after finishing the entire book. This might just be because the events in The Assassin and the Empire overshadow it a bit.
This is the one where Sam and Calaena move out from the Assassins Guild after Calaena finding out she was betrayed on her latest mission as she didn't have the correct facts. 

I did like the subtle hint to the relationship Calaena has with music and how she gets lost in it, which is later used in the Throne of Glass series.


The assassin and the empire: 4⭐
This one is a complicated one. I think it's mostly just frustrating because there are so many ways that the story could have ended differently. Maybe I'm just mad Sam dies. I think the whole idea of them doing one last job and organising it themselves was never going to go well since they have never been involved in that side of the planning before. The fact they went for what is said to be one of the hardest jobs just doesn't make sense to me. All I can think of is that it speaks to their desperation to leave Rifhold. 

Sidenote: I know I'm supposed to dislike Arobynn as a character but for some reason I don't.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

nightingfae's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.0

FINALLY! I thought it would never end... I should have read it after Throne of Glass and before Crown of Midnight.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ktwinkiebell's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Great prequel and start to the series, though I knew something terribl  was going to happen. I could just feel it coming and dread.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jls6283's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional 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

3.5

I read the prequel third, and honestly I think it would’ve had more emotional impact if I had read it first. I probably would’ve rated it higher, but I knew what was coming. I assumed people said to read it 3rd because it gave away the surprise ending to book 2, but it absolutely does not at all.

Reading it 3rd also just breaks up all the momentum that was built with the characters in 1 and 2.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings