Summary

TheThrone of Glassnovellas add together linguistic context to Celaena Sardothien ’s story , and they ’re all compiled inThe Assassin ’s Blade — butsome of these gain toSarah J. Maas ' illusion seriesare strong than others . Although the stories inThe Assassin ’s Bladeare set before the event ofThrone of Glass , they pack just as much of a punch after reader have finish the series . These novellas throw visible light on Celaena ’s life before being lock up in Endovier , take readers back to when she was Adarlan ’s Assassin . Her life story under that claim is n’t easy , and Maas ' stories highlight that fact .

They also reveal how Celaena comes to be intimate some of the character introduced intheThrone of Glassbooks , lucubrate on connection that help her during her fighting against the Valg . The fib inThe Assassin ’s Bladedon’t tell reader much they do n’t already acknowledge . However , they add together emotional weightiness to Celaena ’s backstory and the events mentioned throughoutThrone of Glass . They’re certainly worth version , peculiarly for those adorn in Maas ' serial , but some ofThe Assassin ’s Blade’sstories prove more compelling than the others .

While stool of Glass is a democratic YA fantasy series , some harsh realities years subsequently make it clear changes could be made to improve the story .

Celaena Sardothien from the Throne of Glass cover with the series' spines in the background

5The Assassin And The Healer

Yrene’s Introduction Makes For The Weakest Story

The Assassin and the Healeris the second novella inThe Assassin ’s Bladecollection , and regrettably , it ’s the weakestThrone of Glassstory in Maas ' repertory . This novelette introduces Yrene , the healer who fit on to become Chaol Westfall ’s sexual love involvement inTower of Dawn . It ’s obvious that the entire percentage point of this tale is to ready up Yrene ’s character , ensuring that she has a connection to Aelin before the finalThrone of Glassinstallments . Outside establish Yrene as a character , The Assassin and the Healerdoes small for Celaena ’s journeying or increment compared to the other novellas .

In fact , Celaena is n’t even that likable in this level . Although she teach Yrene to defend herself and pushes her to engage her dreams , Celaena get some questionable choices while doing so . Leaving Yrene to fend for herself and refuse to drop her weapon when the other woman is retain at knife point , Celaena paints a questionable word picture of her morals . She claims to be in control of the position , but it still seems brutal to wedge Yrene ’s hired hand like that . And although the story ’s deterrent example — that " the populace take more healers " — is well stated , it does n’t make up for it .

Outside install Yrene as a character , The Assassin and the Healerdoes little for Celaena ’s journeying or growth compared to the other novellas .

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AlthoughThe Assassin and the Healerhas a fairly eminent averageGoodreadsrating — it currently pose at 4.19 — it is one of the down in the mouth - rankedThrone of Glassnovellas , tying withThe Assassin and the Pirate Lord . The fact that it does n’t press Celaena ’s story forward and finger relatively low - stakes is likely the reason for this . The Assassin and the Healerisn’t a novella to skip , butit just does n’t compare to the rest of the stories inThe Assassin ’s Blade .

4The Assassin And The Pirate Lord

A Strong Start To The Assassin’s Blade (But Just That)

The Assassin and the Pirate LordopensThe Assassin ’s Blade , and it gets the novella collection off to a unattackable startle . This story come after Celaena and Sam Cortland as they embark on a delegation for Arobynn Hamel . The two travel to a remote island to deal with Rolfe , the Lord of Pirates , andthis adventure makes sense of Aelin ’s fundamental interaction with this fiber inEmpire of Storms . When Celaena and Sam meet with Rolfe , they bring in their master has send them to barter for slaves . Damning the aftermath , Celaena sets out to free these hoi polloi rather than switch for them .

UnlikeThe Assassin and the Healer , The Assassin and the Pirate Lorddoes a square job of highlight Celaena ’s moral computer code , which she continues to showcase throughoutThrone of Glass . Although she ’s raised as an assassinator , Celaena has a good ticker — and her refusal to get together in the slave trade drive this home base . It also mark the first breach between her and Arobynn . Celaena ’s attempt to contain Rolfe and Arobynn ’s dealing are successful , and readers get a suspenseful and action - packed narrative leading up to this point . They also see the beginnings of Celaena and Sam ’s rivals - to - lover moral force .

The Assassin and the Pirate Lordis a nice story , especially when it comes to setting up Celaena ’s journeying . However , it does n’t pack the worked up punch of the other novellas in Maas ' collection . It very much feels like a outset , and to be fair , it ’s speculate to . But the novelette ’s 4.19Goodreadsrating substantiate that it is n’t on the same level as the otherThrone of Glassstories . It has gamey wager , but readers do n’t feel them nearly as much as they do in the ulterior narratives .

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3The Assassin And The Underworld

High Stakes & Tense Moments With A Few Notable Flaws

The Assassin and the Underworldsits in the middle ofThe Assassin ’s Blade , soperhaps it ’s meet that it ’s also at the eye of Maas ' novella order . ThisThrone of Glassstory finds Celaena returning to the Assassin ’s Keep after fourth dimension away , and her relationship with Arobynn is clearly laboured . Celaena intends to leave the Assassin ’s Guild with the money she was given in the previous novelette . However , Arobynn persuades her into a final mission to take in her freedom — and it ’s an well-heeled sell when he reveals she could foreclose bondage from come to Rifthold .

The action moment and political maneuvering also make this one of the compendium ’s more absorbing narration . It sure enough has the highest wager , with Celaena ’s decisions bear on more than her own lifetime .

The unfortunate twist is that Arobynn is in reality helping the person pushing for the slave trade , and Celaena larn this too belatedly . This crushing revelation makesThe Assassin and the Underworlda tense and surprising additiontoThe Assassin ’s Blade . And Celaena finally buying freedom for herself and Sam is that much more comforting after Arobynn shows his true colors . Of course , the action moments and political maneuvering also make this one of the collection ’s more engrossing stories . It for certain has the highest bet , with Celaena ’s determination bear upon more than her own life sentence .

A composite image of Celaena from the Throne of Glass series with book covers

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unluckily , whileThe Assassin and the Underworldtakes referee on an anxiety - inducing and emotional drive , it has a few fault that foreclose it from rank higher . They may be responsible for its middling 4.33Goodreadsrating as well . For one , the storey ’s independent conflict and terminate twist core on thralldom in Adarlan , but it fails to go as profoundly into this topic as it should . to boot , Celaena and Sam ’s romance go far too quickly in this installment , turning what seems like an obvious competition - to - lovers pair into something that reads more like insta - love .

2The Assassin And The Desert

One Of Throne Of Glass' Most Fascinating World Expansions

The Assassin in the Desertis very nigh to being the bestThrone of Glassnovella , and it sure proves the most engrossing elaboration of Maas ' Earth . The Assassin and the Healersees Celaena trip to the Red Desert as punishment for her antics inThe Assassin and the Pirate Lord . The following novella follows Celaena as she arrives and begins direct with the Silent Assassins . Arobynn tasks her with getting a letter of testimonial from the mysterious assassin before she returns , and it nearly seems impossible at first .

Celaena ’s stoppage with the Silent Assassins proves a fascinating exploration of what Adarlan ’s sea wolf could be , if only Arobynn had a moral compass . The Silent Assassins live a far quieter and more spiritual animation than the assassinator from Celaena ’s metropolis , and they also prove much genial to their trainees . Celaena learns the value of this sort of compassion when she rail with them , and the whole affair throw for a paying attention and earnest read . There ’s also plenty of activity at the end , when Celaena take in her acquaintance from the keep plan to take out the Silent Assassins ' loss leader .

Celaena manages to block this from hap , and it gains her the blessing of the Silent Assassins — which comes back to help her inThrone of Glass — and the ability to devolve Rifthold . The Assassin and the Desertmay not be the most thrillingThrone of Glassnovella , but its 4.37Goodreadsrating proves it resonate with readers . It also drives home the importance of compassion and clemency , andit has an incredibly distinct feel compare to Maas ' other stories . This lands it among the top - two narratives , though there ’s one that surpasses it .

The Assassin and the Healer cover featuring the title in orange and red text against a black background

1The Assassin And The Empire

The Emotional Climax Of Sarah J. Maas' Novella Collection

The Assassin and the Empireis the last novelette inThe Assassin ’s Blade , andit dead sic the degree for thefirstThrone of Glassbook . It also assist as the worked up climax of Maas ' collection , as it contains one of Celaena ’s gravid pre - Throne of Glasslosses . The original series speaks of Sam ’s death from the kickoff , but learn Celaena receive it at first hand is well more devastating . The Assassin and the Empirefinds Celaena and Sam doing one more chore before leaving Rifthold . The catastrophe , of class , is that this mission prevents them from ever doing so .

It also serves as the emotional climax of Maas ' collection , as it contains one of Celaena ’s biggest pre - Throne of Glasslosses .

This novelette capsulise the anxiousness and grief that come with a loss like Sam ’s , andthis realise it the big tear - jerker ofThe Assassin ’s Blade . Watching Celaena cycle through various stages of grief and land on revenge is both have a bun in the oven and heartbreaking . And her revenge just end better than her military mission with Sam , as it gets her enchant and jail in Endovier . Anyone who ’s readThrone of Glassalready knows this is coming , and Maas uses that to her vantage . The tensions are higher than ever as readers postdate Celaena , knowing every footstep of the way that she ’s making mistakes .

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord cover feature the title in orange and a gray archway

With its worked up shock and direct pencil lead - in toThrone of Glass , there ’s no doubt thatThe Assassin and the Empireis the expert novelette in Maas ' batting order . Its impressive 4.4 averageGoodreadsrating utter to this level ’s quality , as well as the consequence it has on readers . If there ’s one must - learn novelette fromThe Assassin ’s Blade , it ’s this one — thoughThrone of Glassfans should n’t bound off out on any of them .

The Assassin and the Underworld cover featuring pink title text and a gray archway

The Assassin and the Desert cover featuring light green title text and a gray archway

The Assassin and the Empire cover featuring the title in blue and the gateway to Endovier