So I read this after Heir of Fire and before Queen of Shadows, and from where I am now, I can say that it was the most gutwrenching way to read it. From getting to see Celaena's dynamic and relationship with Arobynn and the other assassins to seeing her never-ending want to see good in the world and an end to slavery, to see her relationship begin and drastically end with Sam Cortland, this group of novellas gives the reader a glimpse into Celaena's world before the beginning of the series. As a slow reader who annotates books as I read, it was much better reading this before diving into the story after her meeting Rowan and the introduction of Manon. I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series.