The Assassin and the Empire: A Heartbreak So Deep, I’m Still Recovering

✨ My heart was NOT ready for this level of heartbreaking betrayal. 💔

Celaena Sardothien has fought relentlessly to carve out a life of her own. She has a place to call home, the love of the fiercely loyal and undeniably handsome Sam, and, for the first time in her life, the promise of true freedom within her grasp. But there’s one final obstacle standing in her way—Arobynn Hamel, the ruthless King of the Assassins, the man who trained her, manipulated her, and still holds the last threads of control over her life.

Determined to break free from his grasp once and for all, Celaena takes on one final, high-stakes assignment—one that will secure her escape and ensure that she and Sam can finally build a future on their own terms. But the path to freedom is never easy. As she dives deeper into this mission, she finds herself caught in a web of deception, betrayal, and impossible choices. With enemies lurking in every shadow and the weight of her past pressing down on her, Celaena must summon every ounce of her skill and cunning to survive.

🔥 This mission is supposed to be her salvation—but it may just become her downfall.

📚 What I loved most about this novella is that we really got a chance to see all parts of Celaena. She is such a multifaceted character—well-educated, a lover of the finer things in life, inclined to the arts and reading. I used to joke that the books I read never have the characters reading themselves because they’re too busy trying to survive. SJM made me eat my words because, throughout every novella, Celaena is always seeking ways to acquire more books or ensuring she has a supplier to get them for her. Her love for reading rivals my own, and that just makes me adore her character even more.

📖 Anyone planning to read the Throne of Glass books should definitely consider reading The Assassin’s Blade first. I not only feel excited about starting the main series, but I also feel like I now know what to expect in terms of intensity. This book is the perfect entry point for anyone unsure if the TOG series is for them or if SJM’s writing style will resonate with them. If I had been uncomfortable with any of the themes, this book would have allowed me to put it down and say, Yeah, this series isn’t for me. It’s a great way to dip your toes into SJM’s world before committing to the full journey.

⭐ Overall Rating: A BIG ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ because of the gripping storyline and the sheer intensity of it all. I truly feel like I lived those different years with Celaena, and now I cannot wait to see what becomes of her in Throne of Glass!

💬 What do you think? Is this a series you’re going to read all the way through? Come chat with me about it on Threads @BlondeBookDiaries! 📖✨ And don’t forget to check out my Goodreads on the front page of my blog! 💕

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