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Throne of Glass #0.1
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
Celaena Sardothien, feared assassin, has come for retribution. Celaena Sardothien has been sent by the Assassin's Guild to a remote island in a tropical sea in order to collect on a debt owed by the Lord of the Pirates. But when Celaena learns that the agreed payment is not in money, but in slaves, her mission suddenly changes-and she will risk everything to right the wrong she's been sent to bring about.
70 pages, ebook
First published January 13, 2012
2005 people are currently reading
107615 people want to read
About the author
Sarah J. Maas
105 books528k followersSarah J. Maas is the #1 bestselling author of the Throne of Glass, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series. Her books have sold millions of copies and are published in thirty-eight languages. She lives in New York City with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,375 reviews
January 31, 2023
“Come on, Sardothien,” he said, slinging an arm around her shoulders. “If you’re done liberating slaves and destroying pirate cities, then let’s go home.”
August 23, 2022
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord is an SJM novella that packs a real punch as we are introduced to Celaena’s world before the Throne of Glass with action from the opening pages and depth to the characters
Sent on a mission to collect a debt, Celaena an elite and trusted member of the Assassins guild is sent to collect a debt but a mission thwart with dangers and more power plays. However, one that is set to test her mentally, physically but most of all emotionally and morally. As the debt is a cargo of slaves.
Although this time Celaena is accompanied by Sam, someone she dislikes, mistrusts and is sceptical off, but before long the foundations of a strong friendship are laid as both find mutual respect and trust in each other.
Celeana is certainly an interesting character if you can overlook the fact that a 16 year old has become the ‘worlds greatest assassin’ – really ?? Is there a competition for this to crown the winner of the greatest bad-ass. Anyways!!! I do love her fearlessness and flawed character that matches her self-belief and determination which sometime boarders on arrogance. The conflict makes her all the more endearing though and the naivety in relationships along with her emotional intelligence make her an incredibly good main character.
What I loved about this novella is the fast pace, action packed story line and an introduction to characters we are not to see much of in the ‘Throne of Glass’ novels. Filling in some of the gaps was excellent and a fabulous brief way to keep yourself entertained between these SJM books.
SJM books are getting longer and longer so it’s refreshing to see that the author can still deliver the same quality in shorter stories.
The debate is when to read the novella’s, after, during or at the end of the Throne of Glass series. As I haven’t completed the series, I may change my mind but I am glad I had read a few of the books in the series first because you can then put some of the characters in context.
Sent on a mission to collect a debt, Celaena an elite and trusted member of the Assassins guild is sent to collect a debt but a mission thwart with dangers and more power plays. However, one that is set to test her mentally, physically but most of all emotionally and morally. As the debt is a cargo of slaves.
Although this time Celaena is accompanied by Sam, someone she dislikes, mistrusts and is sceptical off, but before long the foundations of a strong friendship are laid as both find mutual respect and trust in each other.
Celeana is certainly an interesting character if you can overlook the fact that a 16 year old has become the ‘worlds greatest assassin’ – really ?? Is there a competition for this to crown the winner of the greatest bad-ass. Anyways!!! I do love her fearlessness and flawed character that matches her self-belief and determination which sometime boarders on arrogance. The conflict makes her all the more endearing though and the naivety in relationships along with her emotional intelligence make her an incredibly good main character.
What I loved about this novella is the fast pace, action packed story line and an introduction to characters we are not to see much of in the ‘Throne of Glass’ novels. Filling in some of the gaps was excellent and a fabulous brief way to keep yourself entertained between these SJM books.
SJM books are getting longer and longer so it’s refreshing to see that the author can still deliver the same quality in shorter stories.
The debate is when to read the novella’s, after, during or at the end of the Throne of Glass series. As I haven’t completed the series, I may change my mind but I am glad I had read a few of the books in the series first because you can then put some of the characters in context.
February 10, 2017
I didn't expect to like this novella because I was a little bored in the beginning but it improved significantly in the end.
After reading Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows, it was refreshing to finally see THE Celaena Sardothian that I came to love from the very beginning. Not a huge Aelin fan, so it's great seeing Celaena again.
We also finally get to meet Sam Cortland, and my goodness I'm already in love with him. I already know what's coming by the end of The Assassin's Blade but I can't help but fall in love with him anyways. Rowan is great and all but I think I'd choose Sam over Rowan any day. Sam gave me so many feels in a span of one novella than Rowan ever did in two books. On top of that, I just love the chemistry between Sam and Celaena. Sorry Rowan! :P
After reading Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows, it was refreshing to finally see THE Celaena Sardothian that I came to love from the very beginning. Not a huge Aelin fan, so it's great seeing Celaena again.
We also finally get to meet Sam Cortland, and my goodness I'm already in love with him. I already know what's coming by the end of The Assassin's Blade but I can't help but fall in love with him anyways. Rowan is great and all but I think I'd choose Sam over Rowan any day. Sam gave me so many feels in a span of one novella than Rowan ever did in two books. On top of that, I just love the chemistry between Sam and Celaena. Sorry Rowan! :P
January 4, 2021
"You might be the best, Sardothien, but there's always someone waiting for you to slip".
No sé ni cómo empezar a decir que adoro a Celaena. Me encanta cómo siempre se mueve por la delgada línea que divide la sangre fría y la justicia. Celaena es de esos personajes que tiene mil matices y muchos secretos y emociones escondidas.
En esta aventura, ella y Sam deben ir a recolectar el pago que el Lord Pirata les debe por, supuestamente, haber asesinado a dos miembros de la Assassin's Guild. Sin embargo, pronto Celaena se dará cuenta de que su maestro Arobynn Hamel la ha engañado y no la ha enviado a cobrar dinero, sino a iniciar un gran negocio de trata de esclavos por todo el continente. A pesar de su título de Asesina de Adarlan, Celaena tiene principios y hará todo lo que pueda por sabotear el negocio entre Rolfe, el Lord Pirata, y el Rey de los Asesinos.
¿Qué más puedo pedir si juntan muchas de las cosas que más me gustan en los libros en un solo relato? Asesina, piratas, interés amoroso, misiones peligrosas. ¡La combinación de todos esos elementos me fascinó! Sobre todo por la frialdad que muestra Celaena ante todas sus misiones y, al mismo tiempo, por esas ansias de justicia y de arreglar lo que está mal. La historia de The Assassin and the Pirate Lord es una peligrosa y desencadenará la serie de eventos que serán la caída y el nuevo inicio de Celaena Sardothien.
Además, con este pequeño vistazo a lo que era la vida de Celaena antes de caer en las garras del Rey de Adarlan, entendemos mucho más su personalidad, los ideales por los que lucha y lo que nunca soportará. Conocemos cómo funciona la Assassin's Guild, entendemos que no se puede confiar en absolutamente nadie y, encima, vivimos junto a Celaena lo más cercano que empieza a tener a una amistad con Sam. Sí, ese Sam al que ella tanto extraña en Trono de Cristal.
No sé ni cómo empezar a decir que adoro a Celaena. Me encanta cómo siempre se mueve por la delgada línea que divide la sangre fría y la justicia. Celaena es de esos personajes que tiene mil matices y muchos secretos y emociones escondidas.
En esta aventura, ella y Sam deben ir a recolectar el pago que el Lord Pirata les debe por, supuestamente, haber asesinado a dos miembros de la Assassin's Guild. Sin embargo, pronto Celaena se dará cuenta de que su maestro Arobynn Hamel la ha engañado y no la ha enviado a cobrar dinero, sino a iniciar un gran negocio de trata de esclavos por todo el continente. A pesar de su título de Asesina de Adarlan, Celaena tiene principios y hará todo lo que pueda por sabotear el negocio entre Rolfe, el Lord Pirata, y el Rey de los Asesinos.
¿Qué más puedo pedir si juntan muchas de las cosas que más me gustan en los libros en un solo relato? Asesina, piratas, interés amoroso, misiones peligrosas. ¡La combinación de todos esos elementos me fascinó! Sobre todo por la frialdad que muestra Celaena ante todas sus misiones y, al mismo tiempo, por esas ansias de justicia y de arreglar lo que está mal. La historia de The Assassin and the Pirate Lord es una peligrosa y desencadenará la serie de eventos que serán la caída y el nuevo inicio de Celaena Sardothien.
Además, con este pequeño vistazo a lo que era la vida de Celaena antes de caer en las garras del Rey de Adarlan, entendemos mucho más su personalidad, los ideales por los que lucha y lo que nunca soportará. Conocemos cómo funciona la Assassin's Guild, entendemos que no se puede confiar en absolutamente nadie y, encima, vivimos junto a Celaena lo más cercano que empieza a tener a una amistad con Sam. Sí, ese Sam al que ella tanto extraña en Trono de Cristal.
January 7, 2020
3 STAR'S
“Come on, Sardothien,” he said, slinging an arm around her shoulders. “If you’re done liberating slaves and destroying pirate cities, then let’s go home.”
Well, this was a really really slow first novella... The beginning was pretty boring but the last couple of chapters when everything went down was really good. I did still enjoy it for the most part but at the same time, it fell a little short. It could have been so, so, much better! Anyway, I'm loving getting an inside look into Celaena's past and getting the chance to fall in love with Sam Cortland even though I know what's coming and it's gonna break my heart 😭. I already really like his personality and can see his appeal. Celaena, it was nice to see things haven't changed all that much haha. She's still cocky, brave, do anything for her friend, witty and of course Vain as hell. I love the assassin but I gotta say I love the Queen even more so. As for Rolfe, I was NOT impressed. Like. At. All. I wanted more from his character, needed more. I don't feel like it really added anything new to his character :( Welp this was a good start looking forward to starting The Assassin and the Healer.
“Sam smiled, his brown eyes turning golden in the dawn. It was such a Sam look, the twinkle of mischief, the hint of exasperation, the kindness that would always, always make him a better person than she was.”
“Embracing Sam was different, somehow. Like she wanted to curl into his warmth, like for one moment, she didn't have to worry about anything or anybody.”
“Come on, Sardothien,” he said, slinging an arm around her shoulders. “If you’re done liberating slaves and destroying pirate cities, then let’s go home.”
Well, this was a really really slow first novella... The beginning was pretty boring but the last couple of chapters when everything went down was really good. I did still enjoy it for the most part but at the same time, it fell a little short. It could have been so, so, much better! Anyway, I'm loving getting an inside look into Celaena's past and getting the chance to fall in love with Sam Cortland even though I know what's coming and it's gonna break my heart 😭. I already really like his personality and can see his appeal. Celaena, it was nice to see things haven't changed all that much haha. She's still cocky, brave, do anything for her friend, witty and of course Vain as hell. I love the assassin but I gotta say I love the Queen even more so. As for Rolfe, I was NOT impressed. Like. At. All. I wanted more from his character, needed more. I don't feel like it really added anything new to his character :( Welp this was a good start looking forward to starting The Assassin and the Healer.
“Sam smiled, his brown eyes turning golden in the dawn. It was such a Sam look, the twinkle of mischief, the hint of exasperation, the kindness that would always, always make him a better person than she was.”
“Embracing Sam was different, somehow. Like she wanted to curl into his warmth, like for one moment, she didn't have to worry about anything or anybody.”
June 7, 2019
Q:
Quiet as mice, quiet as the wind, quiet as the grave. (c)
Title: The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
We meet Celaena (what a ridiculous name!).
And 'Arobynn Hamel, King of the Assassins'. The guy is most definitely of good opinion of himself!
And 'the Pirate Lord of Erilea.'
How the mighty may fall by stumbling on an event fuelled by mercy.
C. likes to look good. And she does.
Q:
Thankfully, her sleepwear was as exquisite as her daytime wardrobe—and cost nearly as much. (c)
Q:
Her beauty was a weapon—one she kept honed—but it could also be a vulnerability. (c)
Q:
“How dare you deceive me?”
She sketched a bow. “I did nothing of the sort. I told you I was beautiful.” (c)
And some nifty 'best hiding places are in plain site' ideas:
Q:
What better place to hide than in the middle of the capital city? (c)
Q:
A little intimidation never did any harm. (c)
Q:
All that the world knew about Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s Assassin, was that she was female. And she wanted to keep it that way. How else would she be able to stroll the broad avenues of Rifthold or infiltrate grand parties by posing as foreign nobility? (c)
And she's got quite a tongue on her:
Q:
“You’re assassins,” she growled at him. “You’re supposed to be able to retrieve a body without being seen.” (c)
Q:
“If I’d been there, I would have killed all of them to get Ben’s body back!” (c)
Q:
“He can’t be a very good lord,” she said, “if this is his personal office.” (c)
Q:
“I suppose you don’t need an introduction.” Rolfe turned to her.
“No.” Celaena leaned back farther in his desk chair. “I suppose I don’t.” (c)
Q:
“Get out of my chair.”
... “You really need to work on organizing this mess.” (c)
Q:
“How long, exactly, have you been involved in the slave trade?” (c)
Q:
“I’m the world’s greatest assassin.” She lifted her chin. “I’m not afraid of anyone.”
“Really?” Rolfe asked. “Because I’m the world’s greatest pirate, and I’m afraid of a great number of people. That’s how I’ve managed to stay alive for so long.” (c)
Q:
“Why go to so much trouble for slaves?”
“Because if we don’t fight for them, who will?” (c)
Nifty:
Q:
The map—that was the mythic map that he’d sold his soul to have inked on his hands. The map of the world’s oceans—the map that changed to show storms, foes … and treasure. (c)
Q:
“You realize this is the most reckless thing you’ve ever done, right?”
“Reckless, but maybe the most meaningful, too.” (c)
Lovely:
Q:
She walked until there was nothing in the world but the grumble and hiss of the waves, the sigh of the sand beneath her feet, and the glare of the moon on the water. (c)
Q:
Pine and snow—a city still in winter’s grasp. She breathed it in, staring across the leagues of lonely, black ocean, seeing, somehow, that distant city that had once, long ago, been her home. The wind ripped the strands of hair from her braid, lashing them across her face. Orynth. A city of light and music, watched over by an alabaster castle with an opal tower so bright it could be viewed for miles.
The moonlight vanished behind a thick cloud. In the sudden dark, the stars glowed brighter. (c)
Q:
Somewhere near the back, one of the mountain men began translating. And then two others translated, too—one in the language of Melisande, and another in a language she didn’t recognize. Had it been clever or cowardly of them not to speak up last night when she asked who spoke the common tongue? (c)
And she has some interesting plans:
Q:
“No matter if the chain is still up, no matter what might be happening in town, the moment the sun slips over the horizon, you start rowing like hell.” (c)
Q:
...she tripped a passing pirate, who spilled his drink on an already belligerent man, who in turn tried to punch him in the face but hit the man next to him instead. By luck, at that moment, a trick card fell out of a man’s sleeve, a prostitute slapped a pirate wench, and the tavern exploded into a brawl. ...
Animals...
To her delight, the streets weren’t much better. ...
“ENOUGH!”
Everyone lifted whatever they had in their hands—a mug, a sword, a clump of hair—and saluted.
And then promptly resumed fighting. (c)
Q:
It didn’t take much to get away from a group of half-drunk battlecrazed pirates. (c)
Q:
She’d … she’d … Well, she’d kill him if he was dead. (c)
Quiet as mice, quiet as the wind, quiet as the grave. (c)
Title: The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
We meet Celaena (what a ridiculous name!).
And 'Arobynn Hamel, King of the Assassins'. The guy is most definitely of good opinion of himself!
And 'the Pirate Lord of Erilea.'
C. likes to look good. And she does.
Q:
Thankfully, her sleepwear was as exquisite as her daytime wardrobe—and cost nearly as much. (c)
Q:
Her beauty was a weapon—one she kept honed—but it could also be a vulnerability. (c)
Q:
“How dare you deceive me?”
She sketched a bow. “I did nothing of the sort. I told you I was beautiful.” (c)
And some nifty 'best hiding places are in plain site' ideas:
Q:
What better place to hide than in the middle of the capital city? (c)
Q:
A little intimidation never did any harm. (c)
Q:
All that the world knew about Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s Assassin, was that she was female. And she wanted to keep it that way. How else would she be able to stroll the broad avenues of Rifthold or infiltrate grand parties by posing as foreign nobility? (c)
And she's got quite a tongue on her:
Q:
“You’re assassins,” she growled at him. “You’re supposed to be able to retrieve a body without being seen.” (c)
Q:
“If I’d been there, I would have killed all of them to get Ben’s body back!” (c)
Q:
“He can’t be a very good lord,” she said, “if this is his personal office.” (c)
Q:
“I suppose you don’t need an introduction.” Rolfe turned to her.
“No.” Celaena leaned back farther in his desk chair. “I suppose I don’t.” (c)
Q:
“Get out of my chair.”
... “You really need to work on organizing this mess.” (c)
Q:
“How long, exactly, have you been involved in the slave trade?” (c)
Q:
“I’m the world’s greatest assassin.” She lifted her chin. “I’m not afraid of anyone.”
“Really?” Rolfe asked. “Because I’m the world’s greatest pirate, and I’m afraid of a great number of people. That’s how I’ve managed to stay alive for so long.” (c)
Q:
“Why go to so much trouble for slaves?”
“Because if we don’t fight for them, who will?” (c)
Nifty:
Q:
The map—that was the mythic map that he’d sold his soul to have inked on his hands. The map of the world’s oceans—the map that changed to show storms, foes … and treasure. (c)
Q:
“You realize this is the most reckless thing you’ve ever done, right?”
“Reckless, but maybe the most meaningful, too.” (c)
Lovely:
Q:
She walked until there was nothing in the world but the grumble and hiss of the waves, the sigh of the sand beneath her feet, and the glare of the moon on the water. (c)
Q:
Pine and snow—a city still in winter’s grasp. She breathed it in, staring across the leagues of lonely, black ocean, seeing, somehow, that distant city that had once, long ago, been her home. The wind ripped the strands of hair from her braid, lashing them across her face. Orynth. A city of light and music, watched over by an alabaster castle with an opal tower so bright it could be viewed for miles.
The moonlight vanished behind a thick cloud. In the sudden dark, the stars glowed brighter. (c)
Q:
Somewhere near the back, one of the mountain men began translating. And then two others translated, too—one in the language of Melisande, and another in a language she didn’t recognize. Had it been clever or cowardly of them not to speak up last night when she asked who spoke the common tongue? (c)
And she has some interesting plans:
Q:
“No matter if the chain is still up, no matter what might be happening in town, the moment the sun slips over the horizon, you start rowing like hell.” (c)
Q:
...she tripped a passing pirate, who spilled his drink on an already belligerent man, who in turn tried to punch him in the face but hit the man next to him instead. By luck, at that moment, a trick card fell out of a man’s sleeve, a prostitute slapped a pirate wench, and the tavern exploded into a brawl. ...
Animals...
To her delight, the streets weren’t much better. ...
“ENOUGH!”
Everyone lifted whatever they had in their hands—a mug, a sword, a clump of hair—and saluted.
And then promptly resumed fighting. (c)
Q:
It didn’t take much to get away from a group of half-drunk battlecrazed pirates. (c)
Q:
She’d … she’d … Well, she’d kill him if he was dead. (c)
April 8, 2024
_______________________
Second read: It hurts.
It hurts because I know what’s coming in The Assassin and the Empire
_______________________
This novella introduces us to Celaena’s world before the events of Throne of Glass.
Celaena Sardothien and Sam Cortland are sent to deal with Rolfe, the Pirate lord of Adarlan, on behalf of Arobynn Hamel. What started as a mission to collect a debt owed to the Assassin’s Guild with a rival assassin whom she mistrusted ended up laying the foundation of a future friendship as they decide to work together to thwart Arobynn and Rolfe’s deal when they discover that it is human trafficking.
We FINALLY meet Sam Cortland!
I enjoyed very much this insight into Celaena and Sam's dynamic. We see how they manage to work together while being at each other's throats, and how they are starting to respect and even trust each other.
Follow me on Instagram 🙂
Second read: It hurts.
It hurts because I know what’s coming in The Assassin and the Empire
_______________________
This novella introduces us to Celaena’s world before the events of Throne of Glass.
Celaena Sardothien and Sam Cortland are sent to deal with Rolfe, the Pirate lord of Adarlan, on behalf of Arobynn Hamel. What started as a mission to collect a debt owed to the Assassin’s Guild with a rival assassin whom she mistrusted ended up laying the foundation of a future friendship as they decide to work together to thwart Arobynn and Rolfe’s deal when they discover that it is human trafficking.
Sam smiled, his brown eyes turning golden in the dawn. It was such a Sam look, the twinkle of mischief, the hint of exasperation, the kindness that would always, always make him a better person than she was.
We FINALLY meet Sam Cortland!
“Come on, Sardothien,” he said, slinging an arm around her shoulders. “If you’re done liberating slaves and destroying pirate cities, then let’s go home.”
I enjoyed very much this insight into Celaena and Sam's dynamic. We see how they manage to work together while being at each other's throats, and how they are starting to respect and even trust each other.
Follow me on Instagram 🙂
May 24, 2024
━━♡ full anthology review
[2024 reread] ★★★
this first short story starts off in an assassin’s guild, two years before the events of tog, and where an emergency meeting is being held by the king of assassins himself, arobynn. someone is murdering assassins, and celaena and sam are tasked with a mission to go to skulls bay, have a meeting with the pirate lord, and give him a sealed letter from arobynn himself. yet, when they get to skulls bay, they realize there is a much more heartbreaking situation going on, and sam and celaena decide to do something about it all on their own, regardless of the costs.
i really liked seeing sam and celaena start to get to know each other, and start to figure out the people they want to be together, too. i also loved seeing the skulls bay setting, and why the location is the way it is currently in the book series, because of the actions in this novella. i wont lie, this read a little too white savior in 2024, but i still enjoyed reading this opener in this anthology collection, and it setting the tone for what is to come.
trigger and content warnings: death, loss of a friend, grief, slavery, human trafficking (with an emphasis on children, as well), captivity, fighting/battle, explosions, violence, blood
[2016 first read] ★★★
This first novella had so much potential. I would have given the premise of this story a solid five stars. I mean, Sam and Celaena working with pirates to discover what happened to three of their fellow assassins? What more could I ask for? Sadly, the pirate lord, Rolfe, and their mission fell a little short for me.
I did love being reintroduced to Celaena, and just remembering how far she has came from this scared and arrogant sixteen year old. Sam was wonderful; I loved him from first glance and his back-story still breaks my heart. It was weird being actually introduced to Sam, because his memory has played such a big part in the series, it has just felt like I’ve always known him. Oh, and seeing Arobynn again made me feel a vast array of emotions, too.
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1.) Throne of Glass ★★
2.) Crown of Midnight ★★★★
1.) A Court of Thorns and Roses ★★★★
2.) A Court of Mist and Fury ★★★
3.) A Court of Wings and Ruin ★★★
3.1) A Court of Frost and Starlight ★★★
4) A Court of Silver Flames ★★★★
1.) House of Earth and Blood ★★★
2.) House of Sky and Breath ★★★
3.) House of Flame and Shadow ★★★
[2024 reread] ★★★
this first short story starts off in an assassin’s guild, two years before the events of tog, and where an emergency meeting is being held by the king of assassins himself, arobynn. someone is murdering assassins, and celaena and sam are tasked with a mission to go to skulls bay, have a meeting with the pirate lord, and give him a sealed letter from arobynn himself. yet, when they get to skulls bay, they realize there is a much more heartbreaking situation going on, and sam and celaena decide to do something about it all on their own, regardless of the costs.
i really liked seeing sam and celaena start to get to know each other, and start to figure out the people they want to be together, too. i also loved seeing the skulls bay setting, and why the location is the way it is currently in the book series, because of the actions in this novella. i wont lie, this read a little too white savior in 2024, but i still enjoyed reading this opener in this anthology collection, and it setting the tone for what is to come.
trigger and content warnings: death, loss of a friend, grief, slavery, human trafficking (with an emphasis on children, as well), captivity, fighting/battle, explosions, violence, blood
[2016 first read] ★★★
This first novella had so much potential. I would have given the premise of this story a solid five stars. I mean, Sam and Celaena working with pirates to discover what happened to three of their fellow assassins? What more could I ask for? Sadly, the pirate lord, Rolfe, and their mission fell a little short for me.
I did love being reintroduced to Celaena, and just remembering how far she has came from this scared and arrogant sixteen year old. Sam was wonderful; I loved him from first glance and his back-story still breaks my heart. It was weird being actually introduced to Sam, because his memory has played such a big part in the series, it has just felt like I’ve always known him. Oh, and seeing Arobynn again made me feel a vast array of emotions, too.
blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon
1.) Throne of Glass ★★
2.) Crown of Midnight ★★★★
1.) A Court of Thorns and Roses ★★★★
2.) A Court of Mist and Fury ★★★
3.) A Court of Wings and Ruin ★★★
3.1) A Court of Frost and Starlight ★★★
4) A Court of Silver Flames ★★★★
1.) House of Earth and Blood ★★★
2.) House of Sky and Breath ★★★
3.) House of Flame and Shadow ★★★
February 2, 2025
***I’ve read the entire series now and it’s worth the time commitment. Absolutely read every single book!!!!!
What an engaging one-sit read!!! This little novella TOTALLY peques my curiosity on this authors series.
I didn’t know what to expect since I don’t typical read pirate stories but this one pleasantly surprised me!
If you’re like me and haven’t tried any of her other books, I’d say start with this one so you’re not investing so much time. It’s like a sampling!
I’m excited to read her next novella!
*Edited to add - do yourself a favor and read the whole series…it’s unputdownable!!!!
What an engaging one-sit read!!! This little novella TOTALLY peques my curiosity on this authors series.
I didn’t know what to expect since I don’t typical read pirate stories but this one pleasantly surprised me!
If you’re like me and haven’t tried any of her other books, I’d say start with this one so you’re not investing so much time. It’s like a sampling!
I’m excited to read her next novella!
*Edited to add - do yourself a favor and read the whole series…it’s unputdownable!!!!
February 2, 2019
Encantada de haber empezado a leer esta saga :) Este relato me ha gustado mucho.
February 10, 2017
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord features Celaena Sardothien and Sam the Notoriously Handsome. Can I call him that ? Haha.They're both assassins working for Arobynn Hamel. Frankly, the book bored me at first, then boom, the chemistry clicked and the pace was amazing I couldn't put it down for an hour.
The story happens before Throne of Glass, but I suggest you should read ToG first to fully enjoy the worldbuilding and some details that Maas didn't thoroughly explain in this novella, about slave trades and the secrets Arobynn hides behind his stern face.
“He couldn't be dead. Not from the dagger, or those dozen pirates, or from the catapult. No, Sam couldn't be so stupid that he'd get himself killed. She'd... she'd... Well she'd kill him if he was dead.”
March 6, 2025
|| 2.5 stars ||
➛First read: May 2020 | ★2.5 stars
➛Second read: September 2022 | ★2.5 stars
Although I like the idea that these novellas give us a glimpse of Celaena’s life from before she got captured and from when she was still the cocky and talented assassin of Adarlan, I unfortunately have to admit that I did not find this particular story very interesting.
Something about the writing felt a little flat and simple, and the plot mostly consisted of scheming or action-packed scenes. I would even go so far as to say it was kind of boring.
I also have to admit that I was expecting more from Celaena’s dynamic with Sam, considering she has previously admitted to loving him deeply, and I was really missing some more emotion with that here.
I’m really hoping the rest of the novellas will be a bit better.
'Throne of Glass' series:
1. Throne of Glass - 4.0 stars
2. Crown of Midnight - 4.5 stars
3. Heir of Fire - 4.0 stars
4. Queen of Shadows - 3.5 stars
5. Empire of Storms - 3.0 stars
6. Tower of Dawn - dnf
7. Kingdom of Ash - 3.0 stars
Novellas:
0.1. The Assassin and the Pirate Lord - 2.5 stars
0.2. The Assassin and the Healer - 3.5 stars
0.3. The Assassin and the Desert - 4.0 stars
0.4. The Assassin and the Underworld - 3.5 stars
0.5. The Assassin and the Empire - 3.0 stars
Other Sarah J. Maas books:
‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ series - var. ratings
‘Crescent City’ series - var. ratings
Catwoman: Soulstealer - 4.0 stars
➛First read: May 2020 | ★2.5 stars
➛Second read: September 2022 | ★2.5 stars
Although I like the idea that these novellas give us a glimpse of Celaena’s life from before she got captured and from when she was still the cocky and talented assassin of Adarlan, I unfortunately have to admit that I did not find this particular story very interesting.
Something about the writing felt a little flat and simple, and the plot mostly consisted of scheming or action-packed scenes. I would even go so far as to say it was kind of boring.
I also have to admit that I was expecting more from Celaena’s dynamic with Sam, considering she has previously admitted to loving him deeply, and I was really missing some more emotion with that here.
I’m really hoping the rest of the novellas will be a bit better.
'Throne of Glass' series:
1. Throne of Glass - 4.0 stars
2. Crown of Midnight - 4.5 stars
3. Heir of Fire - 4.0 stars
4. Queen of Shadows - 3.5 stars
5. Empire of Storms - 3.0 stars
6. Tower of Dawn - dnf
7. Kingdom of Ash - 3.0 stars
Novellas:
0.1. The Assassin and the Pirate Lord - 2.5 stars
0.2. The Assassin and the Healer - 3.5 stars
0.3. The Assassin and the Desert - 4.0 stars
0.4. The Assassin and the Underworld - 3.5 stars
0.5. The Assassin and the Empire - 3.0 stars
Other Sarah J. Maas books:
‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ series - var. ratings
‘Crescent City’ series - var. ratings
Catwoman: Soulstealer - 4.0 stars
November 8, 2020
4.5★★★★.
Oh yes! This Novella deserves it!!
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 '𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨' 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙝𝙞𝙢?
𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨.
All I'd say is Celaena and Sam are assassins and you'll see how they work together even being at each other's throats most of the time.
𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣, 𝘼𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙮𝙣𝙣 𝙃𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙡’𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩é𝙜é𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 — 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚.
Very well written indeed!
Oh yes! This Novella deserves it!!
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 '𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨' 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙝𝙞𝙢?
𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨.
All I'd say is Celaena and Sam are assassins and you'll see how they work together even being at each other's throats most of the time.
𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣, 𝘼𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙮𝙣𝙣 𝙃𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙡’𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩é𝙜é𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 — 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚.
Very well written indeed!
September 16, 2015
What an incredible start of The Assassin’s Blade!
This novella made me admire the notorious assassin Celaena Sardothien more. Her character here is far more well-developed compared to her character in Throne of Glass. In this novella, her bad-assery can easily be perceived. She’s braver, more dangerous, and a lot more ferocious than I’ve ever thought. Sarah J. Maas has really given us a firecracker of a female main character!
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord is the first novella of The Assassin’s Blade. It’s a flashback story of Celaena’s past, particularly before she was captured by the Crown Prince of Adarlan Dorian and the Captain of the Guard Chaol. It was such a great experience discovering Celaena’s past, getting to know the people she was acquainted with, like her master– Arobynn Hamel and of course, her childhood close friend who soon turned her love interest, Sam Cortland. This novella also apparently featured the Pirate Lord himself, Rolfe.
What I love about this novella was how the action scenes carried me away. It was a blast! And Celaena completely blown me away with her fierceness. Her heart is so soft but she kills without hesitation! THIS IS WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR IN A CELAENA SARDOTHIEN!
Rating: 5 Stars
This novella made me admire the notorious assassin Celaena Sardothien more. Her character here is far more well-developed compared to her character in Throne of Glass. In this novella, her bad-assery can easily be perceived. She’s braver, more dangerous, and a lot more ferocious than I’ve ever thought. Sarah J. Maas has really given us a firecracker of a female main character!
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord is the first novella of The Assassin’s Blade. It’s a flashback story of Celaena’s past, particularly before she was captured by the Crown Prince of Adarlan Dorian and the Captain of the Guard Chaol. It was such a great experience discovering Celaena’s past, getting to know the people she was acquainted with, like her master– Arobynn Hamel and of course, her childhood close friend who soon turned her love interest, Sam Cortland. This novella also apparently featured the Pirate Lord himself, Rolfe.
What I love about this novella was how the action scenes carried me away. It was a blast! And Celaena completely blown me away with her fierceness. Her heart is so soft but she kills without hesitation! THIS IS WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR IN A CELAENA SARDOTHIEN!
Rating: 5 Stars
November 15, 2017
I'm really glad I picked this up! I've been in the worst reading slump and this has yanked me back out of it!
April 28, 2021
~ 3 stars ~
I didn't really get much from this and the annoyingly placed exclamation points were present, but it was enjoyable for what it is worth. I always have a hard time rating novellas, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'm glad to have finally met Sam.
I didn't really get much from this and the annoyingly placed exclamation points were present, but it was enjoyable for what it is worth. I always have a hard time rating novellas, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'm glad to have finally met Sam.
December 3, 2020
“She'd... she'd... Well she'd kill him if he was dead.”
I've finally met Sam Cornland.
And this is only the beginning . . .
April 12, 2021
“I’m the world’s greatest assassin.” She lifted her chin. “I’m not afraid of anyone.”
Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s Assassin, is sent to The Dead Islands on behalf of The King of Assassins⚔️, Arobynn Hamel, to secure a business transaction with Rolfe, a notorious Pirate Lord.🏴☠️ (Wow, that’s a mouthful XD)
Unfortunately, Celaena isn’t very good at following orders and along with Sam Cortland, Arobynn’s left-hand and her rival, they must wade through the waters of moral ambiguity and dare to risk everything they’ve worked for.
It does start of slow but when the action hits, you know you won’t want to miss a single word! 😉
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Celaena Sardothien.”
And so it begins…❤️
Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s Assassin, is sent to The Dead Islands on behalf of The King of Assassins⚔️, Arobynn Hamel, to secure a business transaction with Rolfe, a notorious Pirate Lord.🏴☠️ (Wow, that’s a mouthful XD)
Unfortunately, Celaena isn’t very good at following orders and along with Sam Cortland, Arobynn’s left-hand and her rival, they must wade through the waters of moral ambiguity and dare to risk everything they’ve worked for.
“You realize this is the most reckless thing you’ve ever done, right?”
“Reckless, but maybe the most meaningful too.”
It does start of slow but when the action hits, you know you won’t want to miss a single word! 😉
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Celaena Sardothien.”
And so it begins…❤️
February 23, 2024
“Pero solo somos dos personas…rodeadas de piratas”.
Esto es mi intento de relectura de esta saga. He de admitir que soy un desastre, debería haberla leído ya pero bueno, mejor tarde que nunca.
Este primer relato me lo he leído bastante lento; quiero retener cuantos más detalles puedo y tomármelo con calma, sino me volverá a suceder lo mismo que su cuarta entrega: quemarme hasta no querer saber nada. Sin embargo, una parte de mi sabe que tengo que terminarla, aunque me cueste horrores.
“Algún día, alguien os hará tragar toda esa arrogancia”.
Este relato en sí no esta mal, se nota que es la Sara J Maas primeriza; no tengo problemas con el argumento en sí, sino la protagonista: no la soporto y por cada niñatada que le veo no puedo evitar poner los ojos en blanco. Sé que con los libros mejora, pero eso no quita que me caiga mal.
“Prepárate para abrir las puertas del infierno”.
A por el siguiente.
Esto es mi intento de relectura de esta saga. He de admitir que soy un desastre, debería haberla leído ya pero bueno, mejor tarde que nunca.
Este primer relato me lo he leído bastante lento; quiero retener cuantos más detalles puedo y tomármelo con calma, sino me volverá a suceder lo mismo que su cuarta entrega: quemarme hasta no querer saber nada. Sin embargo, una parte de mi sabe que tengo que terminarla, aunque me cueste horrores.
“Algún día, alguien os hará tragar toda esa arrogancia”.
Este relato en sí no esta mal, se nota que es la Sara J Maas primeriza; no tengo problemas con el argumento en sí, sino la protagonista: no la soporto y por cada niñatada que le veo no puedo evitar poner los ojos en blanco. Sé que con los libros mejora, pero eso no quita que me caiga mal.
“Prepárate para abrir las puertas del infierno”.
A por el siguiente.
July 21, 2017
I love it, i was a bit skeptical i might not like it as much as i do the Throne of Glass series cause i adore the series, but this is as good as the series.
I finally get to know more about the infamous Sam Cortland, all the more reason to hate Arobynn. The book is mainly about how she released the slaves that was talked about in Empire of Storms.
The writing style is the same that was used in the series, third person POV, can't wait to read the rest novellas.
I finally get to know more about the infamous Sam Cortland, all the more reason to hate Arobynn. The book is mainly about how she released the slaves that was talked about in Empire of Storms.
The writing style is the same that was used in the series, third person POV, can't wait to read the rest novellas.
September 17, 2020
Finally I am getting around to reading the adventures of my dear Celaena Sardothien. LOWKEY, I kind of love the assassin more than the queen, but that doesn't mean that I don't love the queen.
I wanted to read it before I read Empire of Storms BUT I kind of got distracted with other books that were coming out around the same time. I am not a huge fan of novellas, but I do know that some of the characters introduced in the last book were first introduced in some of these novellas in The Assassin's Blade. And because I love Sarah J. Maas's story telling and her writing, I am going to go ahead and read these beauties.
So, with that said, I am going to read and rate these so I can finally be completely caught up on The Throne of Glass Series: Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, and Tower of Dawn.
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (Throne of Glass, #0.1)
What an introduction my dear Captain Rolfe, Lord of the Pirates. I now understand why you hate Celaena so much and might I say, it is pretty funny. And might I add, you are the absolute worst kind of person.
If an assassin, the most feared I might add, and her colleague, Sam, are disgusted with even the idea of slaves, then what is your excuse Rolfe?
I mean really, you walked into the mess that is Celaena. She may be an assassin, but she has good intentions. She may love throwing temper tantrum, but always be aware that she has something more dramtic up her sleeve for you.
This was a lovely novella. It sheds a lot of light on Empire of Storms, and why The Pirate Lord was being such a baby about things.
I would encourage anyone reading this series to read the novellas before Empire of Storms to save you any confusion.
P.S. I already love Sam and I already know my heart is going to hurt when I am done with these novellas.
I wanted to read it before I read Empire of Storms BUT I kind of got distracted with other books that were coming out around the same time. I am not a huge fan of novellas, but I do know that some of the characters introduced in the last book were first introduced in some of these novellas in The Assassin's Blade. And because I love Sarah J. Maas's story telling and her writing, I am going to go ahead and read these beauties.
So, with that said, I am going to read and rate these so I can finally be completely caught up on The Throne of Glass Series: Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, and Tower of Dawn.
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (Throne of Glass, #0.1)
What an introduction my dear Captain Rolfe, Lord of the Pirates. I now understand why you hate Celaena so much and might I say, it is pretty funny. And might I add, you are the absolute worst kind of person.
If an assassin, the most feared I might add, and her colleague, Sam, are disgusted with even the idea of slaves, then what is your excuse Rolfe?
I mean really, you walked into the mess that is Celaena. She may be an assassin, but she has good intentions. She may love throwing temper tantrum, but always be aware that she has something more dramtic up her sleeve for you.
This was a lovely novella. It sheds a lot of light on Empire of Storms, and why The Pirate Lord was being such a baby about things.
I would encourage anyone reading this series to read the novellas before Empire of Storms to save you any confusion.
P.S. I already love Sam and I already know my heart is going to hurt when I am done with these novellas.
December 4, 2016
Actual rating: 3.5 :)
I have not read the Throne of Glass series, but I enjoyed Ms. Maas's 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' and wanted a quick read, so I picked up this novella.
I have tried not to mention any specific plot-points, but if you have not read this novella and would like to go into it completely blind, then there might be some spoilers ahead. So please read at your own discretion. :)
Characters:
I found it very difficult to appreciate the protagonist, Calaena. I tried very hard to understand her, but her words and actions depicted her as incredibly self-righteous, arrogant, self-centered, rude, ill-tempered, and rather naive. Ironically, these are traits I actually adore in most characters, as long as they are offset with a bit of humility, or vulnerability. Now, I can completely understand the type of person one would need to be in order to excel as an assassin, but I found nearly all of Calaena's speeches, thoughts, and actions contradictory. She would boast (endlessly) about being the most lethal (and beautiful) assassin there is, and yet she did not kill anyone in this novella (in situations which you could argue truly called for her to do so). There was even a line saying: "After all, she was an assassin, not a murderer," which prompted me to look up the dictionary definition of both words:
Murder: 'the killing of another human being.'
Assassin: 'a murderer, especially one who kills a politically prominent person for fanatical or monetary reasons.'
Hmm... According to Calaena, herself, she is an assassin, not a murderer. So... does that mean she gets paid for not killing people? I confuse.
I think I would have warmed up to her much more if she put her money where her mouth is. It could very well simply be a pet-peeve of mine, but I find it frustrating when a character claims to be a certain way, and yet none of their actions support it. It's just bragging.
I found Sam by far the most realistic and rational character. However, I could not understand how Calaena, who would not 'allegedly' hesitate to kill him should he even look at her the wrong way, was all of a sudden gravely concerned for his survival/well-being. And this brings me to the biggest qualm I had with this novella, Calaena's sudden pang of morality and justice:
Not once during the entire book did Calaena display any shred of humanity towards anyone. No comradery, no kindness, no vulnerability. There was not even the smallest spec/throw-away line/back-story/joke/anything that would indicate that she is capable of altruism, and yet she becomes so consumed by this sudden need to free an anonymous band of slaves that it makes her character completely implausible. For someone as arrogant and self-important as the protagonist, someone who is supposed to be a ruthless killer with no regard for human life, or for the well-being of even her own friends/allies, she is so quick to risk her life to liberate people she owes no allegiance to. If she was portrayed as someone with a soft spot for slaves, or someone who used to be enslaved, or knew someone who suffered from slavery, or if she had shown even the smallest shreds of compassion towards anything or anyone, perhaps I would be more invested in her mission.
I felt that the way she challenged people was identical, regardless of who was on the receiving end. It didn't matter if she was conversing with Sam (with whom she grew up), or a pirate lord twice her age (with whom she was conducting business). This depicted her as tactless, and her crude language and arrogance did not help validate her character. Instead of giving her credibility as a ruthless assassin they depicted her as a naïve child who does not understand consequence.
The Writing:
One of the first things I noticed was how the book 'feels' as though it was written from an omniscient point of view. On multiple occasions, I would be reading about multiple character's impressions of an event within the same paragraph, which was quite disorienting.
I also found the usage of nouns and pronouns rather confusing. A sentence would be speaking of a male character (Sam), and then refer to 'she', and 'her' in the remainder of the sentence. This would force me to go back and re-read the same sentence in order to understand whom exactly the author was speaking of.
Too many times a conversation is interrupted by long expositional thoughts. It's perfectly acceptable to incorporate backstories (in short bursts of paragraphs) into the story while the character is walking from A to B, or awaiting someone's arrival; not so much when these expositional paragraphs are forced in-between sentences spoken during a fast conversation. It felt as though after each sentence, the story would be paused for the character to provide exposition through her thoughts/memory flashbacks, which really disrupted the flow.
There are far too many references to modern language which made the story less plausible. Words like 'bathroom', instead of latrines. Or phrases like 'get ready to unleash hell' instead of 'prepare to unleash hell'. Or using modern slang like 'make out' something in the distance, instead of 'detect' something in the distance. The language sounded a bit cartoonish at times: "He was so mad, he practically had steam blowing out his ears", and it felt a bit lazy at other times, like "tying down various things before the storm hits."
With all that said, I must say I really enjoyed Ms. Maas's descriptions of scenery. They are incredibly vivid and alive, and always paint such incredible detail in my mind with so few words. Here are just a few examples of what I loved:
"Fat drops of rain splattered on the rust-colored earth, instantly cooling the muggy air."
"Rain lashed out against the shutters, muffling the clink of her cup against the saucer."
In conclusion, I must say I enjoyed this read. It was short and sweet, and a great appetizer prior to the main course of Throne of Glass. I'm not sure whether the questions raised in this novella (like the moving map on Rolfe's hand, Arrobyn's real reason for sending a masked Calaena to conduct 'trade', why Ben was killed, etc.) will be answered in the upcoming novellas, but I think if there had been a more solid resolution (or a small hint towards one), I would've rated this story higher. I do think this is a wonderful book and that Sarah J Maas is a wonderful writer, and if you like a quick adventure, you should definitely check it out!
I have not read the Throne of Glass series, but I enjoyed Ms. Maas's 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' and wanted a quick read, so I picked up this novella.
I have tried not to mention any specific plot-points, but if you have not read this novella and would like to go into it completely blind, then there might be some spoilers ahead. So please read at your own discretion. :)
Characters:
I found it very difficult to appreciate the protagonist, Calaena. I tried very hard to understand her, but her words and actions depicted her as incredibly self-righteous, arrogant, self-centered, rude, ill-tempered, and rather naive. Ironically, these are traits I actually adore in most characters, as long as they are offset with a bit of humility, or vulnerability. Now, I can completely understand the type of person one would need to be in order to excel as an assassin, but I found nearly all of Calaena's speeches, thoughts, and actions contradictory. She would boast (endlessly) about being the most lethal (and beautiful) assassin there is, and yet she did not kill anyone in this novella (in situations which you could argue truly called for her to do so). There was even a line saying: "After all, she was an assassin, not a murderer," which prompted me to look up the dictionary definition of both words:
Murder: 'the killing of another human being.'
Assassin: 'a murderer, especially one who kills a politically prominent person for fanatical or monetary reasons.'
Hmm... According to Calaena, herself, she is an assassin, not a murderer. So... does that mean she gets paid for not killing people? I confuse.
I think I would have warmed up to her much more if she put her money where her mouth is. It could very well simply be a pet-peeve of mine, but I find it frustrating when a character claims to be a certain way, and yet none of their actions support it. It's just bragging.
I found Sam by far the most realistic and rational character. However, I could not understand how Calaena, who would not 'allegedly' hesitate to kill him should he even look at her the wrong way, was all of a sudden gravely concerned for his survival/well-being. And this brings me to the biggest qualm I had with this novella, Calaena's sudden pang of morality and justice:
Not once during the entire book did Calaena display any shred of humanity towards anyone. No comradery, no kindness, no vulnerability. There was not even the smallest spec/throw-away line/back-story/joke/anything that would indicate that she is capable of altruism, and yet she becomes so consumed by this sudden need to free an anonymous band of slaves that it makes her character completely implausible. For someone as arrogant and self-important as the protagonist, someone who is supposed to be a ruthless killer with no regard for human life, or for the well-being of even her own friends/allies, she is so quick to risk her life to liberate people she owes no allegiance to. If she was portrayed as someone with a soft spot for slaves, or someone who used to be enslaved, or knew someone who suffered from slavery, or if she had shown even the smallest shreds of compassion towards anything or anyone, perhaps I would be more invested in her mission.
I felt that the way she challenged people was identical, regardless of who was on the receiving end. It didn't matter if she was conversing with Sam (with whom she grew up), or a pirate lord twice her age (with whom she was conducting business). This depicted her as tactless, and her crude language and arrogance did not help validate her character. Instead of giving her credibility as a ruthless assassin they depicted her as a naïve child who does not understand consequence.
The Writing:
One of the first things I noticed was how the book 'feels' as though it was written from an omniscient point of view. On multiple occasions, I would be reading about multiple character's impressions of an event within the same paragraph, which was quite disorienting.
I also found the usage of nouns and pronouns rather confusing. A sentence would be speaking of a male character (Sam), and then refer to 'she', and 'her' in the remainder of the sentence. This would force me to go back and re-read the same sentence in order to understand whom exactly the author was speaking of.
Too many times a conversation is interrupted by long expositional thoughts. It's perfectly acceptable to incorporate backstories (in short bursts of paragraphs) into the story while the character is walking from A to B, or awaiting someone's arrival; not so much when these expositional paragraphs are forced in-between sentences spoken during a fast conversation. It felt as though after each sentence, the story would be paused for the character to provide exposition through her thoughts/memory flashbacks, which really disrupted the flow.
There are far too many references to modern language which made the story less plausible. Words like 'bathroom', instead of latrines. Or phrases like 'get ready to unleash hell' instead of 'prepare to unleash hell'. Or using modern slang like 'make out' something in the distance, instead of 'detect' something in the distance. The language sounded a bit cartoonish at times: "He was so mad, he practically had steam blowing out his ears", and it felt a bit lazy at other times, like "tying down various things before the storm hits."
With all that said, I must say I really enjoyed Ms. Maas's descriptions of scenery. They are incredibly vivid and alive, and always paint such incredible detail in my mind with so few words. Here are just a few examples of what I loved:
"Fat drops of rain splattered on the rust-colored earth, instantly cooling the muggy air."
"Rain lashed out against the shutters, muffling the clink of her cup against the saucer."
In conclusion, I must say I enjoyed this read. It was short and sweet, and a great appetizer prior to the main course of Throne of Glass. I'm not sure whether the questions raised in this novella (like the moving map on Rolfe's hand, Arrobyn's real reason for sending a masked Calaena to conduct 'trade', why Ben was killed, etc.) will be answered in the upcoming novellas, but I think if there had been a more solid resolution (or a small hint towards one), I would've rated this story higher. I do think this is a wonderful book and that Sarah J Maas is a wonderful writer, and if you like a quick adventure, you should definitely check it out!
February 12, 2023
I’m doing a buddy read with a group of friends for Throne of Glass because even though I am a huge fantasy fan and with all the hype (and hate) I have never read it. Instead of diving into the first book we decided to tackle the numerous prior Novella’s. The Assassin and the Pirate Lord is the first of 5. The good thing is that they all seem pretty short, less than 100 pages so they should be easy to get through.
Arobynn sends Celaena and Sam, who seem to really dislike each other, on a mission to collect a payment from Rolfe the Pirate Lord for a grievance committed against The Assassin’s Guild. But Celaena is shocked and horrified to find there is no money involved and they are actually retrieving slaves for Arobynn. Slaves that are war criminals who’s only crime was protecting their lands. Not only them but there are mother and children among the numbers.
Celaena will not bring back these poor souls as slaves willingly and she hatches a plan to try and free them. But in order to succeed she has to convince Sam to help. Even if Sam agrees there are only 2 of them against hundreds of pirates. And if her plan fails not only will she and Sam die but most likely all the slaves will die as well.
I’m going into the series completely blind. So I’m not exactly sure what to expect. But my first impression of Celaena is that she is very arrogant and thinks very highly of herself. But then she became more human and grieved over the slaves and their conditions. I still know very little of the book’s overall plot except she is part of a guild of assassins, the only female. And the king or head of the guild is Arobynn.
Sam and Celaena definitely seem to have some issues with one another but I think I also see a spark of attraction?
Even though I don’t really know what is going on yet I really enjoyed the first novella. It was interesting and action filled and if the first novella is any indication I think I’m going to like this series!
Arobynn sends Celaena and Sam, who seem to really dislike each other, on a mission to collect a payment from Rolfe the Pirate Lord for a grievance committed against The Assassin’s Guild. But Celaena is shocked and horrified to find there is no money involved and they are actually retrieving slaves for Arobynn. Slaves that are war criminals who’s only crime was protecting their lands. Not only them but there are mother and children among the numbers.
Celaena will not bring back these poor souls as slaves willingly and she hatches a plan to try and free them. But in order to succeed she has to convince Sam to help. Even if Sam agrees there are only 2 of them against hundreds of pirates. And if her plan fails not only will she and Sam die but most likely all the slaves will die as well.
I’m going into the series completely blind. So I’m not exactly sure what to expect. But my first impression of Celaena is that she is very arrogant and thinks very highly of herself. But then she became more human and grieved over the slaves and their conditions. I still know very little of the book’s overall plot except she is part of a guild of assassins, the only female. And the king or head of the guild is Arobynn.
Sam and Celaena definitely seem to have some issues with one another but I think I also see a spark of attraction?
Even though I don’t really know what is going on yet I really enjoyed the first novella. It was interesting and action filled and if the first novella is any indication I think I’m going to like this series!
April 3, 2023
I have nothing else to say except that I already love Celaena.
𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪, 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘯, 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵. 𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳, 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸.
SHE'S A BADASS 🫡
𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪, 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘯, 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵. 𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳, 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸.
SHE'S A BADASS 🫡
September 17, 2020
Figured I would start from the beginning.
June 15, 2014
3 stars
I admit that I did not enjoy this book as much as I wanted. I decided to try the first novella because of all the hype with the series so I expected much more than I got. I will continue the series at some point but I'm not in the mood for it right now.
My main issue was with the heroine. I found her way too arrogant, spoiled and self-righteous. How can a 16 year-old girl believe that she is so much better than other people with twice her age and training? Maybe my issue is that the book is YA so the age is the thing that annoyed me most? I'm not so sure, but the fact remains that for a 16 year-old this girl was overestimating her self-worth way too much.
What I did like though was the writing and the overall story. The author is obviously talented and I want to believe that Celeana gets more likeable later on.
I admit that I did not enjoy this book as much as I wanted. I decided to try the first novella because of all the hype with the series so I expected much more than I got. I will continue the series at some point but I'm not in the mood for it right now.
My main issue was with the heroine. I found her way too arrogant, spoiled and self-righteous. How can a 16 year-old girl believe that she is so much better than other people with twice her age and training? Maybe my issue is that the book is YA so the age is the thing that annoyed me most? I'm not so sure, but the fact remains that for a 16 year-old this girl was overestimating her self-worth way too much.
What I did like though was the writing and the overall story. The author is obviously talented and I want to believe that Celeana gets more likeable later on.
February 24, 2016
4.5. This was a great novella to kick off the prequel bindup.
August 31, 2016
For an assassin, Celeana sure didn't lose her morals. Killing is a fast end. Slavery is endless torture. She couldn't stand by and and watch her master destroy lives, so she had to interfere.
I loved the first scene where she did what no one could, and I kept thinking "SLAY SLAY SLAY". Celeana's character sure is refreshing, although I'd prefer a little less time people talking about her beauty and more time her kicking ass.
Although Sam annoyed me in the beginning with his whining he kinda grew on me. Let's hope I love him in the next 4 novellas.
I loved the first scene where she did what no one could, and I kept thinking "SLAY SLAY SLAY". Celeana's character sure is refreshing, although I'd prefer a little less time people talking about her beauty and more time her kicking ass.
Although Sam annoyed me in the beginning with his whining he kinda grew on me. Let's hope I love him in the next 4 novellas.
July 29, 2024
a fun and cute start to the prequel. nothing spectacular really happened, except we got a glimpse of celaena sardothein, the cocky, over-smart adarlan's assassin's rebellious behaviour.
“Sam smiled, his brown eyes turning golden in the dawn. It was such a Sam look, the twinkle of mischief, the hint of exasperation, the kindness that would always, always make him a better person than she was.”
“Sam smiled, his brown eyes turning golden in the dawn. It was such a Sam look, the twinkle of mischief, the hint of exasperation, the kindness that would always, always make him a better person than she was.”
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