Read for: Series Challenge & Mount TBR
Synopsis: "Contains all five novellas.
Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin's Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. In these action-packed novellas - together in one edition for the first time - Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn's orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery. Will Celaena ever be truly free? Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine to find out."
My Review: I did enjoy this novella, it was good to read the stories that are often referred to in the series as flashbacks. While I still dislike Celaena a lot and find her personality to be completely forced, I found the adventures to be better than at least the first book. I would also suggest holding off reading this book at least until after the 2nd book. I absolutely loved Sam though and can understand while he is still almost a character in the other books even though he was long since gone. It is a good collection of stories to give some background into many of the characters in the series. It also gives a little more of a glimpse of Celaena actually doing what she is supposed to do as an assassin.
Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin's Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. In these action-packed novellas - together in one edition for the first time - Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn's orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery. Will Celaena ever be truly free? Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine to find out."
My Review: I did enjoy this novella, it was good to read the stories that are often referred to in the series as flashbacks. While I still dislike Celaena a lot and find her personality to be completely forced, I found the adventures to be better than at least the first book. I would also suggest holding off reading this book at least until after the 2nd book. I absolutely loved Sam though and can understand while he is still almost a character in the other books even though he was long since gone. It is a good collection of stories to give some background into many of the characters in the series. It also gives a little more of a glimpse of Celaena actually doing what she is supposed to do as an assassin.
My Rating: I think I finally discovered why I am not a fan of this series, Celaena's personality is the problem. I don't mind her being vain or overly arrogant, it is that it is a false and forced personality flaw by the author. Through the storyline and writing again and again these personality traits that are constantly repeated are proven false. I was glad to finally discover that through this book and was happy for more action but it still just isn't up to par for me. I give it a rating of Three Paws.
I should seriously not read you review of these books. I'm so terrified to read them. :( I don't want a forced personality! I don't want the author to tell me one thing and show me another. Grrrr!
ReplyDeleteSorry! I don't mean to terrify you, the series and characters are just not working for me. Have you read the Poison Study series yet? I think that is where it is impacting me, I kind of find similarities between the two series and that had outstanding characters. But yes, when an author tries to force a personality but the character clearly has different ideas it pulls me right out of the story.
DeleteI have yet to read these books... it's going to be a December/Holiday binge for me.. that is... if I like them! Like Jenny, I'm a little scared!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing what you think of them, maybe you will absolutely love them! My holiday binge is going to be Mists of Avalon, that insanely large book has been taunting me from the shelf for a few years now!
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