The Assassin’s Blade is a Novella set in the world of the Throne of Glass series by #1 New York Times bestseller Sarah J. Maas.
In this article, you will find answers to some frequently asked questions about this book.
Also, this article contains spoilers. So if you haven’t read The Assassin’s Blade yet, proceed with caution.
I hope you enjoy reading these, and I hope this post answers some of the questions you may have about this book!
Should you read The Assassin’s Blade or Throne of Glass first?
The Assassin’s Blade is technically book 0.5 so you can read this before Throne of Glass. However, this book released was after Throne of Glass, which meas that a lot of people have read this book after book one. It does not matter if you read The Assassin’s Blade first or Throne of Glass. That said, my personal experience is that reading The Assassin’s Blade before Throne of Glass gives you a lot more insight and respect for Celaena.
Is this book a prequel, the first book in a series, or a duology?
The Assassin’s Blade is a prequel to Throne of Glass. So, to read in chronological order, you would read this before the Throne of Glass series. However, as I mentioned above, because this was released after the Throne of Glass, many have read it after the rest of the series. The Throne of Glass series has 7 books in total. And this book tells you the story that happens to Celaena before the events of Throne of Glass.
[SPOILER]
Does The Assassin’s Blade have romance?
There is some romance in The Assassin’s Blade. It isn’t the main plot of the book but it helps you understand Celaena more going into Throne of Glass.
Has this novel been turned into a movie?
No, The Assassin’s Blade is not a movie. (Don’t confuse yourself with the Assassin’s Creed movie). However, Sarah J. Maas is working on a production of a movie of her other series, A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Is it necessary to read The Assassin’s Blade?
It is not necessary to read The Assassin’s Blade at all. However, I do find it gives you more info and insight in Celaena’s life before Throne of Glass. It also tells you how she ends up in Endovier and why she became who she is now.
Is this book worth reading?
Yes, it is very much worth reading! You learn a lot more about who Celaena is and what happens that causes Celaena to end up in Endovier. Also, you are better able to understand her attitude and arrogance in Throne of Glass.
Does this novel contain a map?
Yes, at the beginning of the book there is a map of Erilea. Below you can see this map.
Books like The Assassin’s Blade
- Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas – This series continues where The Assassin’s Blade leaves off.
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas – This one is another fae series by the same author. This series starts with books one and two based on The Beauty and the Beast and Hades & Persephone but in their own unique ways.
- From Blood and Ash by Jennifer l Armentrout – This is a rich fantasy book with a lot of action and romance.
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black – This one is about a human girl surviving in the world of the fae.
- Furyborn by Claire Legrand: There aren’t fae in this one but it has a lot of magic and action.
Characters
Arobynn Hamel
Arobynn was the King of the Assassins and the head of the Assassin’s Guild, whose headquarters are located at the Assassins’ Keep in Rifthold. He is very cunning, manipulative, and possessive. He thinks of Celaena as his possession and does not wish to “share” her with anyone.
Arobynn is described as a tall, muscular, and handsome man with a fine-boned face, long auburn hair, silver eyes, and pale skin.
Celaena Sardothien
Celaena is very passionate about many things, especially with the people she loves. When she cares for someone, she cares for them deeply and has experienced enough loss in her life to never want to feel it again. Celaena’s passionate nature also often extends to her interests, including books, sweets, and music. She can often be called rude or even evil, but she obviously loves her homeland and friends very much.
The author describes her as being particularly beautiful, with long golden hair that shines in the sunlight. She also has Ashryver eyes which are bright turquoise with golden rings around the pupils. They actually give away her true identity since they are so distinctive and only run in her family.
Celaena and Sam
Celaena initially despises Sam, but Sam, despite his prickly attitude toward her, is secretly in love with her. During their trip to Skull’s Bay together, they grow closer. Sam even suggests that he and Celaena run away together to escape Arobynn’s wrath for freeing the slaves, much to her shock. They share a few intimate moments. They successfully execute their plan, and by the end of The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, they have become friends.
Dorian
Dorian Havilliard II is the first-born son of Georgina Havilliard and the late King Dorian Havilliard I. He is also Hollin Havilliard’s elder brother.
Dorian is tall and lean, with raven-black hair. His eyes are a sapphire blue that Celaena describes as “strikingly blue, the color of the waters of the southern countries.” Dorian has well-groomed dark eyebrows and is very handsome. After the Wyrdstone collar from around his neck was removed, Dorian has a permanent pale line on his tan neck.
Sam
Sam Cortland was the boyfriend of Celaena and a fellow assassin. After he and Celaena left the service of Arobynn, Sam was brutally tortured and murdered by Rourke Farran. Sam had bronze hair, golden brown eyes, and high, elegant cheekbones. Celaena described him as tall and handsome.
Yrene
Yrene Towers is a gifted healer from Southern Fenharrow. She worked as a barmaid in Innish, a small port town in Melisande, before traveling to the Southern Continent to continue her training as a healer.
With golden-brown skin and rich brown curly hair with flashes of dark gold, Yrene is considered a beautiful woman, especially accented by her golden-brown eyes. She is sometimes referred to as the Golden Lady due to her features. Celaena remarks that the girl has swift feet, good balance, and is quite intelligent.
Yrene has a slender frame, a small waist, and other features that she has been generously blessed with.
Ilias
Ilias is a Silent Assassin and the son of the Mute Master. He has tanned skin, dark hair, dazzling white teeth, and sea-green eyes. Celaena describes him “as desirable as Sam, maybe.”
Conclusion
I hope this article has answered some of your questions about this book.
And I hope that if you have a question I didn’t answer in this post, you will let me know in the comments below!
