As you might know Ms. Maas published four novellas that were
supposed to be read before reading Throne of Glass (see my review here),
but of course I read the full novel first and then the novellas. I am reviewing all four of them in one post.
Title: The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (Throne
of Glass #0.1)
Published:
Janurary 13th, 2012 by Bloomsbury Children’s
Source:
Purchased for Kindle
Format: eBook
Grade rate: A
On a remote island in a tropical sea, Celaena Sardothien, feared assassin, has come for retribution. She’s been sent by the Assassin’s Guild to collect on a debt they are owed by the Lord of the Pirates. But when Celaena learns that the agreed payment is not in money, but in slaves, her mission suddenly changes—and she will risk everything to right the wrong she’s been sent to bring about.
My Review
This was supposed to be our first glance at Celaena, and
what a great introduction it is! We get
to know a little bit about Arobynn and the way Celaena was raised. I have to say that it was a very hard childhood,
full of violence, and competition that very few people would have survived. Regardless of this fact, Celaena remains a
beacon of light, she is stubborn, compassionate, loyal, and all the way
awesome! Sam is a great character that
cares for Celaena a lot, he was raised also by Arobynn and fierce competition
between him and Celaena was encouraged and expected. I love the way that both her and Sam where on
the same page regarding slavery and how they worked together to free the prisoners
of war and intimidate the Pirate Lord into letting them go unharmed. Of course now they have to go home and deal
with the fact that they didn’t obey Arobynn’s orders…
Title: The Assassin and the Desert (Throne
of Glass #0.2)
Published:
March 30th, 2012 by Bloomsbury Children’s
Source:
Purchased for Kindle
Format: eBook
Grade rate: A
The Silent Assassins of the Red Desert aren’t much for conversation, and Celaena Sardothien wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s not there to chatter, she’s there to hone her craft as the world’s most feared killer for hire. When the quiet is shattered by forces who want to destroy the Silent Assassins, Celaena must find a way to stop them, or she’ll be lucky to leave the desert alive.
My Review
This novella starts about a month after Sam and Celaena
return to the Assassin’s Keep and face Arobynn and the fact that they spoilt
his business deal with the Pirate Lord.
To say the least, Arobynn didn’t take it well and both Sam and Celaena
were severely punished for their interference.
Celaena is send to the middle of
the desert to train with the Silent Assassins and here she makes one special
friend. She faces some tribulations and
a lot of pain in the process, but as expected she triumphs at the end. It is so difficult to understand how Ms. Maas
creates characters that are so compelling in such a short number of pages; she
is one talented author! The setting of this book was so rich and the
differences between the desert and Adarlan so marked. I missed Sam and so did Celaena. Oh, and Arobynn
is a bastard (I don’t want to curse, so that word will have to do for now ;)
Title: The
Assassin and the Underworld (Throne of Glass #0.3)
Published: May
1st, 2012 by Bloomsbury Children’s
Source:
Purchased for Kindle
Format: eBook
Grade rate: A
When the King of the Assassins gives Celaena Sardothien a special assignment that will help fight slavery in the kingdom, she jumps at the chance to strike a blow against an evil practice. The mission is a dark and deadly affair which takes Celaena from the rooftops of the city to the bottom of the sewer—and she doesn’t like what she finds there.
My Review
This installment was bittersweet for me. The good part was that Sam and Celaena finally
admitted their feelings for each other (well, sort of) and I loved that
part. Sam is so sweet and I love
him! Arobynn keeps proving that he is a heartless
bastard and manipulates Celaena into an awful position and forces her to do
something she despises. This novella is
a little slower, but it has more meaning in terms of feelings and what is to
happen next. I just don’t understand how
Celaena can still believe in Arobynn after all he has done.
Title: The
Assassin and the Empire (Throne of Glass #0.4)
Published:
July 20th, 2012 by Bloomsbury Children’s
Source:
Purchased for Kindle
Format: eBook
Grade rate: A
Celaena Sardothien is the assassin with everything: a place to call her own, the love of handsome Sam, and, best of all, freedom. Yet, she won’t be truly free until she is far away from her old master, Arobynn Hamel; Celaena must take one last daring assignment that will liberate her forever. But having it all, means you have a lot to lose . . .
My Review
As the synopses states, Sam and Celaena have moved out of
the Assassin’s Keep and are now living on their own, but they are not getting
any work and their funds are seriously depleted. They are determined to get a new beginning together
and negotiate with Arobynn to be able to leave the Assassin’s Guild in
peace. The problem is that Arobynn is
incapable of love and compassion, he is SO BAD!
I have to say that I cried in this one, and if you read Throne of Glass or the preview, you know
that it doesn’t end well; but in case you haven’t I will not tell you the ending. This novella is truly heartbreaking, not only
because of what happens to Sam, but also because Celaena refuses to believe
that Arobynn is the bastard that he is.
All these novellas are amazing! They seem much longer than what they really
are because the writing is flawless, the characters are incredible and the plots
are truly memorable. Please read these
as well as the full length novel. They are
awesome!
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I love comments! Please leave me one and I will try to reply as soon as I can. Liza