Thursday, August 30, 2012

Review: Throne of Glass Novellas by Sarah J. Maas


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!

Have you read Throne of Glass?  Have you read the novellas?  Did you like them?  What do you think of Celaena?
               






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