Sarah J. Maas

The action-packed introduction to the legendary Throne of Glass series - an irresistible bind-up of all five of #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas's Assassin novellas Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most feared assassin. As part of the Assassins' Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. In these action-packed prequel novellas – together in one edition for the first time – Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn's orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery . . . Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine and find out how the legend begins in the five page-turning prequel novellas to the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series.

The Throne of Glass Novellas

The Assassin's Blade

Syrina Akbari

Where she was, it was quiet, and damp, and cold, and reeked of mildew and refuse.

Miranda Watson

If you can learn to endure pain you can survive anything. Some people learn to embrace it-to love it. Some endure it through drowning it in sorrow, or by making themselves forget. Others turn it into anger. But Ansel let her pain become hate, and let it consume her until she became something else entirely - a person don't think she ever wished to be

Prayed Yrene Towers seized her life with both hands and set out for the pale-stoned owers city of Antica. Prayed that somehow, years from now, Yrene Towers would return to this continent, and maybe, just maybe, heal their shattered world a little bit.

Find out where the Throne of Glass journey began in this irresistible bind-up of all five of #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas's Assassin novellas Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most feared assassin. As part of the Assassins' Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. In these action-packed prequel novellas – together in one edition for the first time – Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn's orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery . . . Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine and find out how the legend begins in the five page-turning prequel novellas to the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series.

Leni McLeod

nara davies

"I do the things that I do because I'm afraid . . . And because I don't know how to express what I feel"

She preferred the silence. In the silence she couldn't hear the worst question of all: had she brought this upon herself?

"I love you," he breathed against her mouth. "And from today onward, I never want to be separated from you. Wherever you go, I go. Even if that means going to hell itself, wherever you are, that's where I what to me. Forever."

In the silence of her bedroom, she swore an oath to the moonlight that if Sam were hurt, no force in the world would hold her back from slaughtering everyone possible. 

"I love you,” he repeated, shaking her again. “I have for years. But if I asked you to pick, you’d choose Arobynn, and I. Can’t. Take. It.”

“You’re a damned idiot,” she breathed grabbing the front of his tunic. “You’re a moron and an ass and a damned idiot." He looked like she had hit him. But she went on, and grasped both sides of his face. “Because I’d pick you."

"Well, I care what you think of me. I care enough that I stayed at this disgusting party just for you. And I care enough that I'd attend a thousand more like it so I can spend a few hours with you when you aren't looking at me like I'm not worth the dirt beneath your shoes"

“My name is Celaena Sardothien,” she whispered, “and I will not be afraid.

The music broke her apart and put her back together, only to rend her asunder again and again.

Quiet as mice, quiet as the wind, quiet as the grave.

The girl who'd taken on a Pirate Lord and his entire island, the girl who'd stolen Asterion horses and raced along the beach in the Red Desert, the girl who'd sat on her own rooftop, watching the sun rise over Avery, the girl who'd felt alive with possibility...that girl was gone.

“You want to hear something ridiculous? Whenever I’m scared out of my wits, I tell myself: My name is Sam Cortland … and I will not be afraid. I’ve been doing it for years.”

This girl wasn’t like wildfire—she was wildfire. Deadly and uncontrollable. And slightly out of her wits.

"Life isn't easy, no matter where you are. You'll make choices you think are right, and then suffer for them."

She was fire, she was darkness, she was dust and blood and shadow.

"If you can learn to endure pain, you can survive anything. Some people learn to embrace it- to love it. Some endure it through drowning it in sorrow, or by making themselves forget. Others turn it into anger."

I'm nothing but tears, I- 😭😭😭😭.

Anna Stewart

She would tuck Sam into her heart, a bright light for her to take out whenever things were darkest. And then she would remember how it had felt to be loved, when the world had held nothing but possibility. No matter what they did to her, they could never take that away.

She didn’t want to go out into a world where he didn’t exist. So she watched the light shift and change, and let the world pass by without her.

She found herself walking toward him, then placing one hand along his cheek and threading the other through his hair. He turned his head to kiss her palm, as if the phantom blood that coated her hands didn’t bother him.

“We have all the time in the world.” 

Maybe he was right. And spending all the time in the world with Sam… 

That was a treasure worth paying anything for.

Celaena Sardothien is her kingdom's most feared assassin. Though she works for the powerful and ruthless Assassin's Guild, Celaena yields to no one and trusts only her fellow killer for hire, Sam. When Celaena's scheming master, Arobynn Hamel, dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, she finds herself acting independently of his wishes-and questioning her own allegiance. Along the way, she makes friends and enemies alike, and discovers that she feels far more for Sam than just friendship. But by defying Arobynn's orders, Celaena risks unimaginable punishment, and with Sam by her side, he is in danger, too. They will have to risk it all if they hope to escape Arobynn's clutches-and if they fail, they'll lose not just a chance at freedom, but their lives . . . A prequel to Throne of Glass, this collection of five novellas offers readers a deeper look into the history of this cunning assassin and her enthralling-and deadly-world. Included in this volume: 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

Gabriella Mustica

i read this third and knew a bit about celaena’s past just from reading throne of glass and crown of midnight. learning all of the details that make celaena who she is made me love her even more! I sobbed!! I can’t wait to read the heir of fire and the rest of the series

I got mixed reviews on this one, some people said it was boring to get through & I couldn’t disagree more & im glad I read it in the order I’m reading right now cause it’s got be ready to dive into the next book! I enjoyed this one. 

Edna Aviles

zlaina

4★ 
i’m so glad i read this one after Heir of Fire. the emotional impact with the relationships between characters hit harder during the later books in the series and even though i knew what was coming, it didn’t stop the tears

Neeha Mian

Sunny

Overall 4.5 stars

I wanted to read this collection of novellas before continuing with the ToG series, to get a feel for everyone again. 1, was Celaena always this snooty?? 2, she's been p much raised as an Assassin but she is so not an Assassin?? I suppose that's not the worst thing in the world, internal conflict and so on. 

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord - 3 stars, the fight scenes were nice, but really it was only oka6
The Assassin and the Healer - 1.5 stars, FREAKING PLEASE what a waste of time??? Okay so she trained a barmaid and gave her some money to pursue her dream. Did that need a whole novella? I really don't think so 😪
The Assassin and the Desert - 4 stars, okay this definitely picked up and I'm glad I pushed through
The Assassin and the Underworld - 5 stars
The Assassin and the Empire - 5 stars guys.... My life is over I am so sad....

Overall, the novellas were exquisite and definitely a brilliant way to get back into the ToG series. The Assassin and the Healer was pretty much a total waste of time, that I still stand by. But everything else just went to show how Celaena was built to be who she is and I feel a fair sight better about her being a moral(? I suppose?) Assassin.

“My name is Calaena Sardothien,” she whispered, “and I will not be afraid.”

Starting TOG with TAB…. I am ready for the journey! This one started slow, but finished well. I am a bit heartbroken, however.

Jillian Roberts

“My name is Calaena Sardothien,” she whispered, “and I will not be afraid.”

Starting TOG with TAB…. I am ready for the journey! This one started slow, but finished well. I am a bit heartbroken, however.

Good backstory! Good enough that I read it in one day. On to the next one!

Jennifer Palmer

The twist of a knife. The birth of a legend. Step into the world of the #1 bestselling Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas with this collection of prequel novellas. Celaena Sardothien is her kingdom's most feared assassin. Though she works for the powerful Assassin's Guild and its scheming master, Arobynn Hamel, she yields to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. But when Arobynn dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, Celaena finds herself acting independently of his wishes and questioning her own allegiance. If she hopes to escape Arobynn's clutches, Celaena will have to put her faith in her wits and her blade . . . knowing that if she fails, she'll lose not just a chance at freedom but her life. A prequel to the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass, this collection of five novellas explores the history of this cunning assassin and her enthralling-and deadly-world. Included in this volume: 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

liana

Sidney Schaffner

This might become more of an interesting story to me whenever I figure out how all of these characters fit into the rest of the series.

Team Sam! Can’t wait to get into these series. I love Celaena and the way her brains works 

Bailey Dunn

jenna martin

Renae Morran

I cannot stop crying. This book means so much to the overall story and character. I’m so beyond glad I did not read this book first because it just means so so so much now. I’m heartbroken!!! 

Bailey Zale

chloe rae

3.5

I’ve been wanting to tackle the Throne of Glass series for a while; I read the first one ages ago and don’t really remember being blown away. My friend suggested I start with this as the first book for my second attempt and I’m just SO GLAD I did. It just ripped my heart out and stomped on it - it set up the story so perfectly and added some much appreciated context. I’m really excited to start this journey and intrigued to see what I think!

It was really good but I don’t really understand why I have to read it in this order like right after the crown of midnight like I get it, there were some aspects I wouldn’t have gotten had I read this book 1st but then again, I knew what’s going to happen so…huh. 

Devastating, and and I knew it that Hamel betrayed her but at the same time, I didn’t know it, so it did break me the fact she trusted him so much.

Ester Waclavova

It was really good but I don’t really understand why I have to read it in this order like right after the crown of midnight like I get it, there were some aspects I wouldn’t have gotten had I read this book 1st but then again, I knew what’s going to happen so…huh. 

Devastating, and and I knew it that Hamel betrayed her but at the same time, I didn’t know it, so it did break me the fact she trusted him so much.

Madison Keiran

“I hate packing” ok I am going to kill myself I guess

Reya Estrella

My first YA Fantasy novel that I absolutely fell in love with. My friends have recommended the Throne Of Glass series by the infamous Sarah J. Maas, and I was a little bit skeptical at first, thinking that it was not going to live up to the hype. Whilst my friends started the series off by reading Throne of Glass, I decided to give Assassin's Blade my first read. After all, it is the prequels. I cannot express how over the heels in love I was with Celaena and her world. I had finished the book the day after I had borrowed it and it was truly an art masterpiece. I cannot wait to continue the series. Highly recommend!!

the first three books i was a fan of celaena but didn’t 100% like her. she seemed selfish and spoiled but i now understand why she was like that and reading the prequel, she was a different person. she cared for others and did the right thing. 

knowing sam’s end was difficult. i did tear up. 

andrea 

the first three books i was a fan of celaena but didn’t 100% like her. she seemed selfish and spoiled but i now understand why she was like that and reading the prequel, she was a different person. she cared for others and did the right thing. 

knowing sam’s end was difficult. i did tear up. 

i’m excited to continue the series 

Really enjoyed these small stories of Celena and Sam. She is a kick ass 16 year old who I wouldn't want to mess with. An easy read.

Kirsty Watson

Bethany s. 

All I’ve heard is how slow and boring this is, how dull and difficult to read when you just want to continue where Heir of Fire left off. And given I hated dull, slow, boring Heir of Fire, I fully believed those warnings and approached TAB with extreme caution and skepticism. 

So imagine my surprise to find I utterly loved this. It was the piece that I have longed for, the missing part of the picture that makes everything make sense. I wish this was my starting point- I desperately needed to know this story before diving in. 

Heart wrenching, but so much goodness and ferocity and fight. I loved it. 

I really hope that it carries me through the rest of the series with more ease.

This gave me so much depth and meaning to Celaena's story! I loved it so much, it was full of action and heartache, I knew what was coming and I let myself fall in love with Sam anyway :(

Lior 🌸Lily🌸 Sasson

“When we die,” she said, “I don’t think the gods will even know what to do with us.”

I am still reeling from the book.  I have no idea where to begin with this review except a five star must read!

Five short stories about the life of Celaena Sardothien, Ardyonn’s Assassin and her rise to glory and her fall to despair and all the trials in between.  Stories of love, acceptance, growth and heartbreak and betrayal.

Trigger warnings:  violence, slavery, prostitution, human trafficking 

Barbara Williford

“When we die,” she said, “I don’t think the gods will even know what to do with us.”

I am still reeling from the book.  I have no idea where to begin with this review except a five star must read!

Five short stories about the life of Celaena Sardothien, Ardyonn’s Assassin and her rise to glory and her fall to despair and all the trials in between.  Stories of love, acceptance, growth and heartbreak and betrayal.

Trigger warnings:  violence, slavery, prostitution, human trafficking 

Whitney Nicole

I’ll admit the first two novellas kind of bored me, which is why this is 4 stars. BUT they are absolutely necessary for the timeline. In my opinion the red desert novella (number 3 in the book) was the best. I mean AMAZING. Loved it. I would recommend reading TAB in between heir or fire and queen of shadows; that’s like the sweet spot where it’ll be the best.

how do i rate a book 5 stars for changing my life and 0 stars for ripping out my heart and stomping on it at the same time

The Assassin's Blade The Throne of Glass Novellas

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