Rebecca (life's chaotic catching up)'s Reviews > The Assassin's Blade

*4.5 Stars*
"My name is Celaena Sardothien," she whispered "and I will not be afraid."

Reading this book for the second time and I am equally if not more heartbroken than the first time I read it. Each novella grabs your attention and wraps you up in adventure and intrigue. Celaena is such a compelling fmc. She is gloriously flawed. Impulsive, stubborn and cocky but also generous, strong and confident. I love all of her wonderful nuances. Considering she is 16/17 I think it tracks and I appreciate the genuine feel of her personality given her age and her history. Every single secondary character in this books feeds something to the reader, nothing is wasted, and I love how it shapes the way the plot moves forward in the following books and how you perceive Celaena.

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord- Our introduction to Celaena starts off with a bang! Assassin guilds and a murder. Pirates and brawls. Slave trades and rivals.
Highlights-Captain Rolfe, Sam (aka perfect angel baby), Celaena going to the mat for what she believes to be right and working with Sam.
"If you ever tell anyone about me embracing you...... I'll gut you." 😜

The Assassin and the Healer-💙Yrene Towers💙Celaena teaching Yrene to defend herself makes my heart squeeze.
"If you get the chance, teach it to any female who will take the time to listen."
We love a girl's girl!!

The Assassin and the Dessert- I love the vibes of this novella! The Fortress, the dessert, the horses, the master, and the BETRAYAL! It's all just such a mood! The characters you meet in this novella are so interesting and setting is captivating.
"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."

The Assassin and the Underworld This novella you start to see the depths of the power Arobynn holds over Celaena, after years of grooming and manipulating her since she was a child and it's heartbreaking and infuriating. Sam is just perfect; I love him so much and he's everything and I want to strangle Celaena so many times bc COME ON!!
"I love you, I have for years. And he hurt you and made me watch because he's always known how I felt, too. But if I asked you to pick, you'd choose Arobynn and I. Can't. Take. It."

The Assassin and the Empire- The one that broke me and I have never ever recovered. 😭
Why?! Just WHY?!! It was so obvious, and it could have been avoided so easily!! That person deserved better, and I will never be okay with it. Also, "I hate packing"?!!!! ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS?!! SAY IT BACK!!!! Just, I can't.
"I just want to be with you, I don't care where we go. That's all I want." 😭😭😭

This book makes you feel all the things and I actually think it's super underrated in the series bc I find it to be gripping. Also, I am firmly team "read this book first" which I know is controversial, but I will DIE on this hill!! So don't come for me in the comments! 💙💙💙
Thank you to my beautiful SS Cecelia for reading and ranting with me! Can't wait to read the rest of the series with you babe!
RE-READING my absolute favorite series of all time with my Soul Sister Cecelia