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Review

4.5 stars!

I’m usually a bit wary of prequel novellas, never knowing if they’re really necessary or if I can just dive straight into a series. In this case I dove on into book 1 of the Throne of Glass series but now that I am completely obsessed with the characters I’m eager to get my hands on anything I can, and happily went back to this one. And I thought this was a fantastic read!

This book is a collection of five novellas that tell the story of assassin Celaena Sardothian in the time leading up to the beginning of the Throne of Glass series.

1. The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
2. The Assassin and the Healer
3. The Assassin and the Desert
4. The Assassin and the Underworld
5. The Assassin and the Empire

Each novella follows on from the previous one, each telling the story of a significant moment in her life, and leading to the inevitable heartache that is Celaena at her lowest point following the death of Sam when she is imprisoned in the salt mines of Endovier

I loved the opportunity to get to know Celaena before she endures the devastating events that change her so markedly. Her backstory is wonderfully woven into the Throne of Glass books, but to see it all unfolding, to feel it and experience it along with her was something truly special. And it made me weep like a baby.

Ideally, I would recommend reading this book at least before you read book 4, Queen of Shadows. I read it after that one, and I would have liked to have some of the background before diving into that game-changing book as Celaena wreaks her well-deserved vengeance. But I also think that the first book of the series gives a greater introduction to the series, so personally I would suggest reading them somewhere in between books 1 and 4.

There are a number of characters introduced in the novellas, each left changed by Celaena’s influence, and each leaving their marks on her, and I’m hoping we get to see at least some of them as her story continues on.

Wonderfully written just like the rest of the books, these stories are a great addition to the series. I loved them – 4.5 stars.