Alllllllright. This book was very good and I don’t normally say that about prequels. I’ve read the first three books now and I loved that I had The Assassin’s Blade to help tide me over a little until September. (A little). I loved getting to read about Celeana’s adventures before Endovier. The pirates, Asterion horses, and betrayals were fantastic.

I loved the pacing of the stories too. I don’t feel like they dragged or went too fast. It was perfection for me.

SPOILERS BELOW

Okay. So I knew Sam was going to bite the dust. I was prepared for this to happen. It just made reading the story that much more tragic I think. Maybe it made it a little predictable at the end but WHO CARES?

Sam left me like: allthefeels!

But wait, it gets better. Then Sam goes and says this: “You want to hear something ridiculous? Whenever I’m scared out of my wits, I tell myself: My name is Sam Cortland…and I will not be afraid.“

THAT’S WHERE THAT COMES FROM! That sentence is what broke my heart into a million pieces.

And then they break to Arobynn and he’s all like, “I don’t like people who take my property.”


I am so pumped for Queen of Shadows now because from what I’ve heard there may be a confrontation between Celaena and Arobynn. Will she find out that Sam’s death was because of him??? *Cue hyperventilating*

Chaol crying at the end of Crown of Fire broke my heart. Sam dying broke it again. Kudos to you Sarah J. Maas. I think I have a new favorite series. (Sorry Garth!)