“Sometimes, the only way to survive in a cruel world is to become more ruthless than those who hunt you.” ― Sarah J. Maas
Are you interested in learning about Sarah J. Maas’s thrilling prequel collection, The Assassin’s Blade? You’ve come to the right place! This captivating collection of five novellas gives readers essential insight into Celaena Sardothien’s backstory before the events of the Throne of Glass series.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the key elements of these compelling stories. From Celaena’s complex relationships to her adventures across the continent, I’ll cover what makes this collection so vital to understanding her character. Many readers find themselves drawn to Maas’s ability to blend action, romance, and character development in her tales.
Trust me when I say this collection offers more than just supplementary material. It presents crucial character development and emotional depth that enhances the entire series.
Plot Summary of Assassin’s Blade
“My name is Celaena Sardothien,” she whispered, “and I will not be afraid.” ― Sarah J. Maas
The Assassin’s Blade consists of five novellas that take place approximately a year before the events of Throne of Glass. They chronicle significant events in Celaena Sardothien’s life as Adarlan’s most feared assassin.
The collection features several important characters, including Celaena herself, Sam Cortland (a fellow assassin who becomes her love interest), Arobynn Hamel (the manipulative King of Assassins), and others who shape her journey.
The collection begins with “The Assassin and the Pirate Lord,” where Celaena and Sam are sent to the Dead Islands to meet with Rolfe, the Lord of Pirates. When they discover Arobynn’s plan to profit from the slave trade, they sabotage the deal despite their mutual dislike, freeing the enslaved people and earning Arobynn’s wrath.
In “The Assassin and the Healer,” Celaena meets Yrene Towers at a coastal inn while being punished by Arobynn. After defending Yrene from thugs, Celaena encourages the young barmaid to pursue her dreams of becoming a healer at the Torre Cesme.
For further punishment, Celaena is sent to train with the Silent Assassins in the Red Desert in “The Assassin and the Desert.” There, she befriends Ansel of Briarcliff and learns valuable skills from the Master.
In the final novella, “The Assassin and the Empire,” Celaena and Sam plan to leave the Assassin’s Guild and start a new life together. To buy their freedom, they accept a dangerous mission against Rourke Farran, Rifthold’s feared crime lord.
This final mission proves to be a trap that results in Sam’s torture and death. When Celaena attempts revenge, she is captured and sentenced to the salt mines of Endovier, setting the stage for the beginning of Throne of Glass. Throughout these novellas, themes of betrayal, freedom, love, moral complexity, trust, and how past experiences shape identity run deep, providing essential context for understanding Celaena’s character in the main series.
What Genre is The Assassin’s Blade?
The Assassin’s Blade is high fantasy with strong elements of:
Adventure: Follows Celaena’s journeys across various kingdoms and territories
Coming-of-age: Chronicling Celaena’s growth from confident assassin to someone questioning her path
Romance: Developing the relationship between Celaena and Sam
Action: Featuring numerous fight sequences and assassin missions
Political intrigue: Exploring power dynamics within criminal organizations and kingdoms
When you pick up this book, expect stories rich in world-building that expand the Throne of Glass universe. Maas introduces new locations and cultures while maintaining a focus on character development and emotional resonance.
This isn’t a collection of light side stories but rather pivotal tales that inform Celaena’s character arc throughout the entire series. The writing balances action sequences with emotional depth, particularly in the later novellas as the stakes increase.
Sequence of Assasin’s Blade
The Assassin’s Blade was published after Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight, Many readers recommend reading it first for chronological order, as it provides essential backstory for Celaena Sardothien.
However, you can also read it in publication order.
- The Assassin’s Blade (2014) – Collection of five prequel novellas
- The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
- The Assassin and the Healer
- The Assassin and the Desert
- The Assassin and the Underworld
- The Assassin and the Empire
- Throne of Glass (2012) – First main novel in the series
- Crown of Midnight (2013) – Second novel
- Heir of Fire (2014) – Third novel
- Queen of Shadows (2015) – Fourth novel
- Empire of Storms (2016) – Fifth novel
- Tower of Dawn (2017) – Sixth novel (runs parallel to Empire of Storms)
- Kingdom of Ash (2018) – Seventh and final novel
Ratings and Reviews
“You’ve got a fire in you, and that fire is going to save the world.” ― Sarah J. Maas
The Assassin’s Blade has a 4.4/5 star rating on Goodreads from over 180,000 readers, indicating strong reader satisfaction.
Readers across platforms share many positive thoughts about the collection:
- “These novellas add incredible depth to Celaena’s character. Understanding her history with Sam and Arobynn makes her actions in the main series so much more meaningful. I wish I’d read this before starting Throne of Glass.” -Goodreads user, 5-star review.
- “The evolution of Celaena and Sam’s relationship was beautifully written. Knowing how it ends makes it all the more heart-wrenching, but these stories made me appreciate Celaena’s resilience in the main series.” -Amazon customer, 5-star review.
- “Maas excels at creating a world that feels expansive and lived-in. Each novella introduces new settings and characters that enrich the overall universe while keeping Celaena’s growth at the center.” -Goodreads user, 5-star review.
Some critical reviews include:
- “The earlier novellas feel somewhat disconnected from each other.”
- “Celaena can sometimes come across as too arrogant and unlikable in the earlier stories.”
- “The final novella is emotionally devastating when you know where it’s heading.”
What sets this collection apart from other fantasy prequels is how essential it feels to the main narrative. Rather than offering merely supplementary material, The Assassin’s Blade provides crucial character development and explains pivotal events referenced throughout the series. The novellas also introduce characters who reappear and play significant roles in later books.
Who Should Read This Book?
This book is best for young adult and adult readers who enjoy fantasy with strong female protagonists. The violence and emotional themes make it most suitable for readers 14 and up.
Content warnings:
- Violence and torture
- Death of loved ones
- Slavery and human trafficking
- Some sexual content
- Betrayal trauma
- Imprisonment
It’s particularly good for readers interested in:
- Character backstories and origin tales
- Assassin and fantasy adventure narratives
- Strong, flawed female protagonists
- Stories that blend action with emotional depth
- World-building in fantasy settings
- Prequels that enhance the main series’ understanding
Suppose you’re completely new to the Throne of Glass world. In that case, you might want to consider whether you prefer reading in publication order (starting with Throne of Glass) or chronological order (starting with The Assassin’s Blade). Both approaches offer different but valid experiences of the series.
Book Recommendations If You Liked The Assassin’s Blade
If you enjoyed “The Assassin’s Blade,” here are some books with similar qualities:
1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: A fantasy heist novel featuring a diverse cast of criminals with complex backstories and morally ambiguous codes.
2. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff: This follows a young woman’s training to become an assassin in a fantasy world with multiple suns, combining action, romance, and political intrigue.
3. Graceling by Kristin Cashore: It is a fantasy novel about a young woman with exceptional fighting abilities who navigates a world of political intrigue.
4. The Young Elites by Marie Lu: A dark fantasy series featuring morally complex characters with extraordinary abilities in a Renaissance-inspired world.
5. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab: A fantasy adventure with multiple Londons, featuring characters with complex morality and magical abilities.
Conclusion
The Assassin’s Blade offers vital insights into Celaena Sardothien’s character that enhance appreciation of the entire Throne of Glass series.
While each novella stands as its adventure, together they create a powerful emotional arc that explains how Celaena became the person readers meet at the beginning of Throne of Glass.
What makes this collection special is how it modifies our understanding of a complex protagonist. It shows the experiences that shaped her fears, hopes, and defensive walls, making her journey in the main series all the more impactful.
If you want to fully understand Celaena’s motivations and the events that formed her character, The Assassin’s Blade is not just recommended but essential reading.
More From This Author
Sarah J. Maas is an American fantasy author who began writing at age sixteen. Her Throne of Glass series, which started as a retelling of Cinderella with an assassin protagonist, launched her career and established her as a leading voice in young adult fantasy.
Maas began publishing the Throne of Glass series in 2012, and it has since expanded to eight books, including the Assassin’s Blade prequel collection. Her world-building and character development have earned her a dedicated fanbase.
Other notable books by Sarah J. Maas include:
- Throne of Glassseries
- A Court of Thorns and Rosesseries
- Crescent City series
Her later works have shifted toward more adult content while maintaining the fantasy elements that made her earlier books successful.
