I decided to read The Assassin's Blade before any of the Throne of Glass novels. And I am so glad I did. I am sure the events that occurred in these stories are a huge part of shaping Celaena into the person she will become in future books. There are still plenty of unanswered questions,

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like what was the secret she never got the chance to tell Sam about before they came to be with Arobynn?

but it just makes me want to dive into the rest of the series to find out more.

I really loved this book. Maas is an expert storyteller who made me feel every possible emotion... fear, love, joy, anticipation, frustration, anger, disappointment, annoyance. I'm both happy and not that the book is over, but I'm definitely excited to dive into the rest of the series and can't wait to see where Celaena will go from here.

Keep reading for more specific (and very spoilery) discussion thoughts about each of the individual stories. These are not refined and are just thoughts I recorded as I was reading the book... Also, remember, this is my first experience with the Throne of Glass series at all - I haven't read any of the other books yet, but here are my thoughts as a completely new to the world reader...

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord:

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I loved this story! I liked how Celaena stood up for the slaves and did what she believed in, even knowing she would likely be punished. I find it interesting that she doesn't really seem to have a problem with taking lives for contract, but she doesn't like the idea of breaking up families for slaves. She does sort of ponder it for a hot minute, but maybe she just sees the irony herself and can't explain it either.

I loved watching the relationship with Sam change. I would have liked to see how it continued on the journey back, but I'm sure that would have made for a pretty boring story. ;)

The Assassin and the Healer:

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This one was pretty short, but it tied the first and third stories together nicely, and Yrene is mentioned later, so it was nice to have the context.

Celaena was still processing how she was treated after the events in the Pirate Lord. She was itching for fights and just in a general foul mood. But she saw something of her lost innocence in the young healer Yrene, and I love that she took the time to teach her to defend herself. She saw enough potential for Yrene to better the world that she even gave her the money she needed to get out of her terrible job. I think she sort of felt that she couldn't be better, like Yrene, and she wanted someone to do what she wished she could.

This story was full of compassion, as much as Celaena can be as an Assassin.

The Assassin and the Desert:

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So at first, I think Celaena is just sort of wondering why she has to do this. She's being punished by not being able to take any new contracts? Sent to the far away keep for training under a different master. But why? Isn't she already training under the best?

But as time goes on, I think she starts to question her allegiances a little bit more. Perhaps she shouldn't be treated the way she was for freeing the slaves? Maybe she should break out and go off on her own, rather than continuing to live under Arobynn's rules, because it seems like not all masters are that way. But it's basically all she's ever known, so it's not as easy as it seems. Although by the end of the story, she does seem quite dedicated to the plan...

But anyway, I think the fact that she was hurt by someone she trusts probably plays into her character in the main series - granted I'm going off of things I've heard without trying to be spoiled vs actually having "met" Celaena in the full series. It was also nice to see her sort of realize she may have some feelings for Sam after all...

And I really wonder if she will ever find the spider for the guy she got the spidersilk from... that seems like a fun adventure!

The Assassin and the Underworld:

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Ok, so this story just made me mad at Celaena, pretty much the whole time. She wouldn't tell Arobynn she was paying her debt and moving out for the longest time. She was a total jerk to Sam - just admit she has feelings for him! He's all but pouring his heart out to her and she stand there like she can't possibly be bothered to admit she's actually a person with feelings? Sigh...

And the fact that she immediately trusted Arobynn the second she got home, jumping blindly back in to believe the first thing he says without question? I mean, honestly, who didn't see that coming? He had such a change of heart after beating her senseless, his favorite protege? And I felt so bad for Sam. I am glad she finally confessed and admitted her feelings, but I feel like she should have been smarter to know what was going on, or at least suspect something was going on, with the contract. Especially after she saw what was on the maps, and the missing trade agreement and whatnot, combined with what the bodyguard said. I can't believe she gave the papers to Arobynn before even talking to him about it!

Then again, she is only 16, right? So I'm sure there's some immaturity and emotional attachment that would make it all look very different from the outside.

The Assassin and the Empire

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So wow... ok, I don't know how to express my feelings about this. Obviously, I'm sad that Sam died. I love Sam... and I feel like he would have been really great for Celaena. I feel sympathy for Celaena, because she obviously loved him so much, she is just a bundle of anger and revenge.

Then there's frustration. She is smarter than jumping into a window, rushing into her revenge and not thinking things through. She's Adarlan's Assassin. She's the best. But again, she's distraught and she's still very young, so it's frustrating but not completely out of character I suppose.

I would like to think that had she not been so upset over Sam, she would have realized that ONCE AGAIN, Arobynn has orchestrated this entire situation to suit his desires. He is clearly not willing to let Celaena go, but she must have some Stockholm syndrome, because she can NOT see him for what he is. So there's the anger... at Arobynn for being manipulative and arrogant... and at Celaena for being blind to his manipulation yet again!