Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

8 reviews

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-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

A collection of novellas following Celaena's journey leading up her being thrown in Endovier. 

I really enjoyed this collection of novellas and seeing the journey that Celaena took before Throne of Glass. I really liked how the novellas didn't jump all over the place, but together they created a linear and cohesive story. I read this after Crown of Midnight and I am really glad I did. I felt that I had a bit of a stronger connection to the characters having read the first 2 books in the series.

Calaena is blind when it comes to Arobynn. It was pretty obvious to readers what was going on behind the scenes with Arobynn and his sketchy behaviour. Calaena was too blinded by their past to even fathom that he could be responsible for setting her up. I wanted to scream at her through the pages. 

I loved Sam. I am really sad that we lost his character before the series really even began. 

I am hoping that at some point in the series this all loops back and we get to see Calaena get her revenge on Arobynn for what he did to her and Sam. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Torture

cait's review against another edition

adventurous challenging sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Physical abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Trafficking, Blood, Slavery, Stalking, Violence, Vomit, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Torture

maggies's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

I found this collection of TOG novellas better paced than the first two books in the series, Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight. Maybe it's because I'm already emotionally invested in Celaena and know what comes immediately after the events of The Assassin's Blade, but it certainly kept me engaged more and more often than the books did. And even though I knew what was coming, the gut punch was still super impactful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Minor: Slavery

kjci's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.75

I enjoyed the individual novellas in this book. I'm excited to see how this story progresses. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Physical abuse, Gore, Violence, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Abandonment, Death, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

sierrabedwell'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!!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, War, Child abuse, Gore, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Violence, Abandonment, Classism, Blood, and Grief

k_dorner'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Toxic friendship, Torture, Death, Violence, Slavery, Grief, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, Vomit, Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Cursing, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Sexism, Death of parent, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment

danidandans's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Torture

Moderate: War, Abandonment, and Grief

dragonqueen's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-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

4.5

This book makes the main character of Throne of Glass significantly more multidimensional. The Assassin's Blade is the perfect introduction to the world of Throne of Glass, providing backstory and emotional investment to a naturally unlikeable, deeply flawed character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Torture, Slavery, Kidnapping, Grief, Gore, Confinement, and Blood

Moderate: Abandonment and Physical abuse

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Death of parent