Can we not talk about how celaena picked up sam's habit of saying "my name is sam cortland and I will not be afraid." It was such a jarring moment for me😭😣
FINALLY!!!! Also did anyone else start crying when the mute master looked at celaena and she flinched and he just looked at her sadly and then later he was like "tell your master that we in the red desert do not abuse our disciples" 😭😭😭😭
Omg! I know I’m super late but yes! I loved that part so much! I’m just now thinking how Celaena would turn out if she was trained by the Mute Master since she was eight. He just seems to care so much more for his people 💭
And the soap! She left Rowan use her nice soap in QoS because she feels guilty for getting so mad about Sam and the stupid soap. Ughhhhh I love Sam so much!
WHILE I WAS READING THE PART WHEN SHE WAS WAITING FOR SAM TO COME HOME I WAS LITERALLY THRASHING IN MY BED SCREAMING "NO HE'S NOT COMING BACK! FIND HIM!" AND IT WAS SO PAINFUL GOING THROUGH ALL THAT
She usually braids her hair before she does any of her badass stuff, if you look carefully it is always mentioned that her hair is braided in those types of scenes.
I remember when I first started the throne of glass series and reading about Sam and his relationship with celaena like I was very confused and didn't know anything about Sam but then when I started the assassins blade for the first time it cleared up a lot of my confusion and helped me realise who Sam was and their relationship. Now every time I read about Sam I cry because he didn't deserve to die like that or better yet die at all. I was so happy when aroybnn died like celaena finally paid her debt to Sam
I read Assassin's Blade before Throne of glass. I actually prefered it that way. You are not spoiled about... some things. And you are so much more emotional reading ToG cause you are already totally invested (Already in love with Cealena)
Gosia Berendt I did the same thing!!! It wasn't purposeful I thought Assassins Blade was the first one, but anyway I loved it that way. I can't imagine gong into tog not knowing anything about Sam or Arobynn, I would highly recommend reading it this way if your reading this reply
I had the whole set and I started it first by mistake, so I was very confused since it was nothing like it’s summary, but then I was really grateful when I moved on that it was where I started
I went into Throne of Glass by clicking on a random link on RUclips from a Heroes of Olympus audiobook. I knew absolutely nothing about it (not even a summary). I personally found it kind of invigorating to march headlong into a book without any point of reference. I'm sure it was just as good your way. Different things work for different people and that's great, as long as we can share good books!
I read assassin's blade first and I preferred it that way too. Sure you know Arobynn is sketchy af but you don't know what happens to Sam and it just hits you so HARD because you didn't prepare yourself for it... 😢
One of my favourite moments was when Sam told Celaena about the phrase "My name is .... and i will not be afraid" and how then in the later books we realise that is what got her through Endovier. That moment just broke my heart especially in the final moments of the book.
I have to disagree with you on this... Aelin had a lot of pressure on her in Empire Of Storms, she has her cousin back and Celaena was her way of surpressing all that (all that she cared about like Aedion, parents, etc) ...... but of course Celaena is still a part of her. Celaena is the child, Aelin is the adult. Aelin's still arrogant, but she's as you said more responsible - adult.
@@Theofficialfanboy1492 soo true... I mean sure she has changed but her development has been great... It broke my heart when she endured Maeve's torture just for the sake of a better world and set everything in place for the others... I legit cried with Aedion
(spoiler I guess) I’m so glad you believe that Celaena was real too, I hate it when people’s like ‘blah blah blah it was all a lie’. I love who Aelin has grown to become but Celaena will forever have a place in my heart.
I gotta say that I DESPERATELY miss Celeana, the earlier books were so much fun to read, and with every book they kinda get harder and harder. Also did you pick up on during the festival scene, the boy that asked her to dance is DORIAN!!!! AHHH I MISS CELORIAN. *cries*
I ship it...they’re mates, right? There was the whole bond thing happening in EoS. I doubt Dorian would even want to get back with her (sorry Christine)...not when he has Manon. And I ship them even more. 🖤
I still ship Samlaena after all this time!!!! Glad you finally got to know him!!! Also I totally agree that Celaena and Aelin are basically the same, just the character developed more through time.
WiseDragon Reads Yes! I know Samlaena isn’t possible anymore but it’s my ultimate Celaena pairing. Rowaelin is my favourite now and I guess it’s different as Aelin grows but I really miss Sam
The fact that Sarah incorporated makeup into the desert short story was amazing and so freaking cute for the girls to do together. Also the fact that she took makeup to the desert lol
I read it last, finished Kingdom of Ash 3 days ago and then read assassin's blade, finished it couple of minutes ago. Kinda wish I had read it first, but oh well it's done now. I knew Sam was going to die but I still cried when Celaena finally sees her body. Great review as usual!
The worst part of this book was falling in love with Sam even knowing he was gone. Like my heart just broke with how he died and ugh. I was actually yelling and pacing. PS. Also pls anyone reading this series read this book second or third!!!! That's when they were written by Maas and it's how you'll get the references!!!
I disagree! I read this as the first book in the series and it was amazing! I did not know what was going to happen or that Sam would die so it made all her books like a continous movie! 😮
@@valentincreed5263 I agree with you. I wish I did that, but I was worried that assassins blade would make me lose interest in the series since it’s a novella collection and I underestimated how much it will affect me so I read it after reading throne of glass. Assassins blade left such an effect on me to a point where I am rereading throne of glass before continuing with this series
I know! I made sure I took my time reading this book because I didn’t wanna get attached but that didn’t work so I went online and googled how Sam dies to lessen the impact but it was useless. I still felt sad and empty after reading the book and I had to literally get out of the house to feel better. I know it sounds stupid cause it’s just a book but I felt bad for how broken celaena must have felt and I respect her strength in throne of glass during the championship
@@maisalbalkhi4939 Yeah I feel you...like I said in another post; I'm a guy and this is the first book that made me cry lol...I truly thought the entire series was about Sam and Celaena adventuring together...and for some reason I really liked Sam a lot; I was rooting for him to escape the abuse and control of Arobyn with Celaena and be free...I was very pissed when he died...so I understand how you can feel that way...did you read all the books yet?
@@valentincreed5263 exactlyyyy!!! i was hoping for the same thing. I read throne of glass only and then I read assassins blade and finished it. My copy of midnight crown should arrive today. When I heard about the series i started reading it because or the Aelin and Rowan ship although I didn’t know who they were. Then I read throne of glass and met Dorian and Chaol but neither felt like a good fit. Then I decided reading assassins blade to understand Celaena better since her character didn’t make sense to me and I was thinking that Sam wasn’t important since he was he past before the story and I was never so wrong. To sum it up: although I didn’t finish this series yet I have a feeling that I won’t like any of the guys that Celaena might get with as much as I love Sam. So yeah I get what you mean by being pissed that he died 🥲
Christine: Then we meet the healer. What was the healer's name again? Me: *eye twitches* Umm... Yrene. Christine, you and I feel the exact same way about Chaol but surprisingly, I fell in love with Tower of Dawn after a month of putting it off because I just don't want a Chaol-centric book. BUT GO READ IT, GURL. It's a game changer!
I'm still reading EoS, but the moment I heard about Tower of Dawn, I had an inkling that the title was alluding to Yrene Towers (whom we met in The Assassin's Blade)
Fav short story- the assassin and the healer. I agree with everything Christine except Aelin is sooooo sassy still, she's just gotta be a hard ass a lot of the time because THE WORLD IS ENDING AND SHE NEEDED AN ARMY. But also, please hurry and read tower of dawn because I have so many feels...
Also! I just read the assassins blade too, so I was also hella late. It's okay. I do agree with your reading order though, wish I would've read it third
This is by far my favorite book by Sarah j Maas. Of all the relationships that Celaena went through, the only person I think she actually worked with was Sam, which makes this book so much better and more heart-wrenching at the same time. Wonderful booktalk Christine!
I think Aelin doesn’t act like Celaena in EoS because she’s taking on the responsibility of being a queen and leading her people into battle...it doesn’t really give her much time to be that haughty-know it all-bite your head off- I’m better than you-I can do anything girl she was when she was 16. But that moment with her and Rolfe in EoS when she does her Celaena act is the best!
I think the same about Celaena/Aelins Personality. The "she is a backround character in her own books" feels true and that's so sad. There is so much personality in this character and it is overshadowed by her scheming, being secretive and having the pressure of being basically responsible for the whole world alone, because she apparently is the only one that can do anything. I think it might get better soon, because she isn't with the others in the next book and they will have to make some decisions by themselves and Aelin can't control that. So after that things might change.
I read the The Assassin's Blade first, and I'm glad bc when I read TOG I was already emotionally invested:) currently finishing Crown of Midnight.. I actually cried when she finds blah blah. Like I never sad cried for a book. I was shook (though I knew it was going to happen bc I could tell this series will break hearts).
Sitting here wondering which of Booksplosion will finish TOD first. The funniest part is, I know all three of you will love it. I can't wait to see Christine literally struggle with growing to like Chaol LOL.
I agree about the love interests, that it's rare to see so many different relationships, but I think the whole soul mates thing with Rowan kind of negates all that. Like she was all of a sudden destined to be with this one particular dude and that's it? Not a huge fan.
Idk I felt like it’s not exactly “you’re destined to be with him so all the other relationships meant nothing” I saw it more as “it’s okay to have multiple relationships throughout life as you grow learn about yourself and then one day you’ll find someone you fit with perfectly” so it’s more about the journey and development that ends with Rowan rather than Rowan is the end goal and the rest were distractions??? If you know what I mean?? Idk if I’m making sense
Elysia Tan Yeah that makes sense... I guess in general I'm still a little bit disappointed that they couldn't have been a badass fighting team and still have a platonic relationship. That's the direction I thought it was going in HoF but I guess not.
Lauren Bastion She has healthy platonic relationships with Gavriel and Fenrys as a part of her court and family of sorts. Her relationship with Rowan started as tolerating eachother to friends to close friends and then grew to a romatic relationship. Even when they both deep down know they are mates they try to deny it. Like Aelin said before the Maeve put her in that coffin Rowan walked the path back to the light with her. They helped eachother work through their past traumas, grow as people and then start to heal. I feel like Sam was one of the loves of her life but Rowan was her soulmate. As tragic as Sams death was it was a part of why her and Rowans were a good fit for eachother mentally and emotionally. Rowan went threw a similar situation with the girl (cant think of her name at the moment) he thought was his mate and was carrying his child when she was killed. Her brief dysfunctional relationships with Dorian and then Chaol made her realize what she needed in a compatible partner. After Chaol betrayed her by not protecting Nehemia she had to slowly work on trusting him again as an ally and friend because he was one of the few willing to rebel. In the last book when Chaol, Dorian and Aelin were all reunited you can tell that they all really care for one another deeply as friends.
I was stuck for a year with this series because I couldn’t get through The Assassin’s Blade and didn’t want to continue without read it it first. The audiobook was an excellent recommendation! I finished it Friday and so far I am loving Queen of Shadows
Haha girl I could relate to so much! I was putting it off because I knew what was going to happen... Sam... But I pushed through it and I loved it! Getting to know all the other characters ahead of EoS and ToD.
Christineeeee!! Where is your Tower of Dawn Book Talk?!? I read it so late and came to your channel to watch it (which is my routine after finishing all Sarah J Maas books 😂) but you haven’t uploaded it yet 😭😭😭 I love your book talks and feel incomplete finishing the book without it! ❤️❤️
I read all the way up to empire of storms a long time ago without ever having read Assasins blade. Well, its been 4 years, I dont remember everything about the series so I started reading it again while reading the prequel first and I honestly prefer that. I really appreciate how Sarah pulled many things Celeana just mentions in the first book and turns them into full blown stories. It all flows so smoothly, you could read Assasins blade first and never know it wasn't the first book
I haven't read Empire of Storms yet and the longer Christine talked about the romances in it, the more anxiety I was developing over what is going to go down in the book
No, you need to read the Assasin's Blade before Queen of Shadows. Arrobyn was introduced in Queen of Shadows, and I read the book before reading the Assasin's Blade. I regretted it later because I didn't know who Arrobyn was to Celaena. Read Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, and then the Assasin's Blade. It will help.
What I liked about this series is that there are different love interests. As things change in real life as well. All the relationships changes Celaena. I read Assassins Blade after Heir of Fire. Which still worked since some stuff was good to know before Queen of Shadows. I miss Celaena and I wished Aelin wasn’t totally different. Enjoy Tower of Dawn.
I think that the open hair is for the covers. In the first book it was mentioned in a Chaol chapter where he sees Celaena walk to the library at midnight. He then mentions that her hair was braided like it always was before a fight
Girl I feel you about needing to read a book for so long. I started lord of shadows the day it came out and I’m still goin, life is hard!1!1 The assasins blade is ma love and so are you
I think the most emotional part for me was when she was in the sewer and she told Sam “Bring my body back to Terrasen” That’s one of the few scenes in any book to make me ugly cry
I personally read the Assassin's Blade before Throne of Glass and it made it such an AWESOME experience for me. I loved knowing about her past going into it because it was like I was an all knowing god who knows things that Dorian and Chaol don't and it's great
I love these audiobooks. The Assassin's Blade is actually what really got me into this series. I listened to Throne of Glass and wasn't that into it then I started Crown of Midnight and then for whatever reason decided to start TAB and then I was hooked.
I have been waiting so long for this! YES! You can't even believe the excitement I had when I saw the notification! I think my favorite of the short stories was The Assassin and the Healer, i.e the one with Yrene. Can't wait for your Tower of Dawn booktalk! Soon I hope?
I read this first before starting the series, and I'm glad I did bc I now about some of the characters and places mentioned in the actual series, and I got know sam. EVEN THOUGH MY HEART HURTS WHENEVER CELAENA/ALEIN MENTIONS SAM, I know the whole backstory of her relationship with him, and how the events in Assassins Blade lead up to who/how she is in the current books. And we get to know Arobynn more, which I think is super important in books 1-4. again, SO HAPPY U READ THISSSSS
I completely understand what you said about celaena and aelin they're like two different people and I would choose the latter over the former anyday Honestly my love for this series and acotar declined after sjm's recent books (acowar, eos, tod) which were utterly disappointing, published drafts if you ask me. maas creates these wonderful characters and then she just wrecks them. Everybody now is glorifying aelin's magical ass and Rowan, forgetting the assassin we fell in love with.
I did the same thing, read the first five and have only now read the prequel! I'm not a huge fan of Chaol, but I am a huge fan of this series and of Sarah J. Mass so I'm awaiting (hopefully) your book review for tower of dawn!
FINALLLLLLY One thing you pointed out which I found very true and also realized early in the series is that the female characters have multiple boyfriends and I loved it so much. Not everyone meets their one true love at like 17 and stay's with them forever. That's such a YA cliche. And also kind of stupid because you evolve and grow SO MUCH in your life, especially as a young adult. She also did that in ACOTAR as well which I found awesome! I hope that in the last book we get to see a bit more of the Aelin we saw in the early books. In EOS I found it reasonable why she changed, she is *spoiler* a queen after all. She couldn't very well behave like she did when she was 16. And she's got a lot to carry on her shoulders. Amazing review, as always! ❤❤❤❤❤❤
holy shit finally???? this book popped up on my tbr list because i watched your video back in 2014 lmaoo but honestly what a good book! everytime i feel disillusioned about this series (tho it remains my fave), i pick up the assassin's blade and my love for this series just comes back in full force
And you are absolutely right about Celeana Sardothien being her personality and not a mask. In Empire of Storms, although I still enjoyed it, I found myself very annoyed by the lack of Celeana, when it is who she was for the first four books. "A bland, responsible person who has sex with Rowan" sums it up perfectly 😂
Rama Mohamed Yes you're right! In my opinion, that one of the best scenes in the whole book. But to be honest whether we have Celeana or Aelin, she's still in a terrible postion right now... (Sorry to bring it back up😂😭)
I know like, she is not there anymore but she doesn't have the luxury to the celeana in assassin's anymore, things have change, she it at war, I feel as if Aelin still has that personality but with everything that happens she can't do it as regularly unless she actually needs it for a scheme or something. Let's hope we see that again.
Loveeeee your book talks so much 🥰 I read Assassins Blade first and I’m glad I did, but it does change the experience of reading the story depending on when you read it. I’m about to start Kingdom of Ash ahhhhh
As a person who is halfway through throne of glass and read assassins blade first, I knew that Sam would die as soon as they said they were going to kill the phsyco first. Also, I didn’t have a chance to mute the video and skip ahead in the spoilers section so I heard her say “when she’s with Dorian” and I nearly cried. I knew it was either Dorian or caol BUT WHAT DO YOU MEAN ITS DORIAN, I WANT HER TO BE WITH CAOL!!!!
I read this while in the middle of ToG. I went to the bookstore one day and had to ask the guy at the counter if they had Crown of Midnight and he came back with AB and was like “here I’d thought you like this book”. So I set Throne of Glass aside for a week and read this. Excuse me, inhaled this awesomeness. So thank you Random Barnes and Noble worker. Thank you.
Reading the Assassin's Blade and then reading the part in Empire of Storms where Aelin goes back and breaks into the pirate lord's office is So Satisfying for me.
What if aelin makes everyone think that she's dead....but finds herself and sees that aelin was a mask and goes back to being the assassin, cutting all relationships just like it had all stared with.
CHRISTINE! THE BEGINNING OF THIS OMG. THE HAIR. YES. I FEEL IT. Also, "Wow, excuse me..." That sound XD I'm so dead. "She's probably gonna heal...one of our characters..." I can't wait till you read Tower of Dawn :D I really liked the sewer one, too lol. I also really liked Ansel for some reason, idk she just seems cool to me and I'm glad we get to see her again. I also really love Celaena and I'm so sad that she kind of lost her spunk. I get that she is maturing and growing, but Empire of Storms just felt so off to me from the rest of the series. It didn't show off her best characteristics and felt a little too much like ACOTAR to me. I need to reread The Assassin's Blade and the rest of the series before the last book comes out.
Can we not talk about how celaena picked up sam's habit of saying "my name is sam cortland and I will not be afraid." It was such a jarring moment for me😭😣
Same
Yasss ❤️✨
HOW TO DEPRESS A FANDOM IN 2 WORDS:
Sam cortland
FINALLY!!!! Also did anyone else start crying when the mute master looked at celaena and she flinched and he just looked at her sadly and then later he was like "tell your master that we in the red desert do not abuse our disciples"
😭😭😭😭
Omg! I know I’m super late but yes! I loved that part so much! I’m just now thinking how Celaena would turn out if she was trained by the Mute Master since she was eight. He just seems to care so much more for his people 💭
@@t4tvampireisms honestly I was hoping that Celaena and Sam would leave the city and go to the desert and train and live there.
And the soap! She left Rowan use her nice soap in QoS because she feels guilty for getting so mad about Sam and the stupid soap.
Ughhhhh I love Sam so much!
WHILE I WAS READING THE PART WHEN SHE WAS WAITING FOR SAM TO COME HOME I WAS LITERALLY THRASHING IN MY BED SCREAMING "NO HE'S NOT COMING BACK! FIND HIM!" AND IT WAS SO PAINFUL GOING THROUGH ALL THAT
My heart was breaking during that part 😭😭😭
Still crying over Sam, he deserves better probably my fave love interest
mine's kaz from six of crows but so far he's my second favourite
No, Rowan!
She usually braids her hair before she does any of her badass stuff, if you look carefully it is always mentioned that her hair is braided in those types of scenes.
lol i know i noticed, but on the covers her hair is flying free =)
True
Dorian noticed it
Let's not forget when Dorian showed up at the partyyyYYY
It was really frustrating that I knew how it’s going to end but I hoped it would magically have a happy ending 😂
Lucia Kocisova I know! I felt that way about this and Heartless by Marissa meyer. You know it's a good prequel when it make you forget it's a prequel!
I remember when I first started the throne of glass series and reading about Sam and his relationship with celaena like I was very confused and didn't know anything about Sam but then when I started the assassins blade for the first time it cleared up a lot of my confusion and helped me realise who Sam was and their relationship. Now every time I read about Sam I cry because he didn't deserve to die like that or better yet die at all. I was so happy when aroybnn died like celaena finally paid her debt to Sam
I read Assassin's Blade before Throne of glass. I actually prefered it that way. You are not spoiled about... some things. And you are so much more emotional reading ToG cause you are already totally invested (Already in love with Cealena)
Gosia Berendt I did the same thing!!! It wasn't purposeful I thought Assassins Blade was the first one, but anyway I loved it that way. I can't imagine gong into tog not knowing anything about Sam or Arobynn, I would highly recommend reading it this way if your reading this reply
I had the whole set and I started it first by mistake, so I was very confused since it was nothing like it’s summary, but then I was really grateful when I moved on that it was where I started
I went into Throne of Glass by clicking on a random link on RUclips from a Heroes of Olympus audiobook. I knew absolutely nothing about it (not even a summary). I personally found it kind of invigorating to march headlong into a book without any point of reference. I'm sure it was just as good your way. Different things work for different people and that's great, as long as we can share good books!
Same here! I started with Assassin's Blade, and honestly, i dont think i would've continued to read the rest of the series if i hadnt read it first.
I read assassin's blade first and I preferred it that way too. Sure you know Arobynn is sketchy af but you don't know what happens to Sam and it just hits you so HARD because you didn't prepare yourself for it... 😢
One of my favourite moments was when Sam told Celaena about the phrase "My name is .... and i will not be afraid" and how then in the later books we realise that is what got her through Endovier. That moment just broke my heart especially in the final moments of the book.
I found it odd that you didn´t mention the ball, when she danced with Dorian! Anyway, Great review! as always!!!
i DIDN'T TAKE NOTES AHHH, so i didnt have all the details there to remember to discuss XD // Thank you =)
I love that part!!
I have to disagree with you on this... Aelin had a lot of pressure on her in Empire Of Storms, she has her cousin back and Celaena was her way of surpressing all that (all that she cared about like Aedion, parents, etc) ...... but of course Celaena is still a part of her. Celaena is the child, Aelin is the adult. Aelin's still arrogant, but she's as you said more responsible - adult.
ZanRih THISSSSS. Everyone is being way to harsh on Aelin.
@@Theofficialfanboy1492 soo true... I mean sure she has changed but her development has been great... It broke my heart when she endured Maeve's torture just for the sake of a better world and set everything in place for the others... I legit cried with Aedion
Arobynn reminds me of a creepier more violent Lord Baelish from GOT like he just manipulates and manipulates and they're both SO CREEPY
No Jaqen Hagar, down to the shoulder length reddish hair and whole King of Assassins thing, also his name sounds like a SJM name
Good job Christine by reading it before Tower of Dawn!!!
(spoiler I guess) I’m so glad you believe that Celaena was real too, I hate it when people’s like ‘blah blah blah it was all a lie’. I love who Aelin has grown to become but Celaena will forever have a place in my heart.
I gotta say that I DESPERATELY miss Celeana, the earlier books were so much fun to read, and with every book they kinda get harder and harder. Also did you pick up on during the festival scene, the boy that asked her to dance is DORIAN!!!! AHHH I MISS CELORIAN. *cries*
neverlandbooks YESS let me cry with you
neverlandbooks r
WHAAAATATTTTTTT THAT WAS DORIANNNN
I SCREAMED IM MY SHOWER
At first I didn't believe It, but then I reread that part and OMFG YOU'RE RIGHT!!!! BLOODY HE'LL, EVEN CHAOL WAS THERE WITH HIM!!!! I'm screaming
She’s probably gonna heal... one of our characters
I actually like Aelin and Celaena equally.Btw, am I the only rowaelin shipper here?!
ATHENA OLYMPIA no, I am here!
Nop! I´m here and i LOVE ROWAELIN!!
Thank god, I'm not alone!😂
I ship it...they’re mates, right? There was the whole bond thing happening in EoS. I doubt Dorian would even want to get back with her (sorry Christine)...not when he has Manon. And I ship them even more. 🖤
Samlaena is my OTP but Rowaelin is a close second since Samlaena doesn’t have a chance (I miss him)
WE'VE WAITED LIKE FOREVER!! 😂❤
I still ship Samlaena after all this time!!!! Glad you finally got to know him!!! Also I totally agree that Celaena and Aelin are basically the same, just the character developed more through time.
WiseDragon Reads Yes! I know Samlaena isn’t possible anymore but it’s my ultimate Celaena pairing. Rowaelin is my favourite now and I guess it’s different as Aelin grows but I really miss Sam
AFTER ALL THIS TIME.. Harry Potter fans?
Hallie Peppin ALWAYS #samlaena4ever
Ikr Sam is the one for her in my opinion, even if Rowan is her mate. It still breaks my heart that he is dead.
Always
The fact that Sarah incorporated makeup into the desert short story was amazing and so freaking cute for the girls to do together. Also the fact that she took makeup to the desert lol
Sam Cortland deserved better... ;((
I read it last, finished Kingdom of Ash 3 days ago and then read assassin's blade, finished it couple of minutes ago. Kinda wish I had read it first, but oh well it's done now. I knew Sam was going to die but I still cried when Celaena finally sees her body. Great review as usual!
The worst part of this book was falling in love with Sam even knowing he was gone. Like my heart just broke with how he died and ugh. I was actually yelling and pacing.
PS. Also pls anyone reading this series read this book second or third!!!! That's when they were written by Maas and it's how you'll get the references!!!
I disagree! I read this as the first book in the series and it was amazing! I did not know what was going to happen or that Sam would die so it made all her books like a continous movie! 😮
@@valentincreed5263 I agree with you. I wish I did that, but I was worried that assassins blade would make me lose interest in the series since it’s a novella collection and I underestimated how much it will affect me so I read it after reading throne of glass. Assassins blade left such an effect on me to a point where I am rereading throne of glass before continuing with this series
I know! I made sure I took my time reading this book because I didn’t wanna get attached but that didn’t work so I went online and googled how Sam dies to lessen the impact but it was useless. I still felt sad and empty after reading the book and I had to literally get out of the house to feel better. I know it sounds stupid cause it’s just a book but I felt bad for how broken celaena must have felt and I respect her strength in throne of glass during the championship
@@maisalbalkhi4939 Yeah I feel you...like I said in another post; I'm a guy and this is the first book that made me cry lol...I truly thought the entire series was about Sam and Celaena adventuring together...and for some reason I really liked Sam a lot; I was rooting for him to escape the abuse and control of Arobyn with Celaena and be free...I was very pissed when he died...so I understand how you can feel that way...did you read all the books yet?
@@valentincreed5263 exactlyyyy!!! i was hoping for the same thing. I read throne of glass only and then I read assassins blade and finished it. My copy of midnight crown should arrive today. When I heard about the series i started reading it because or the Aelin and Rowan ship although I didn’t know who they were. Then I read throne of glass and met Dorian and Chaol but neither felt like a good fit. Then I decided reading assassins blade to understand Celaena better since her character didn’t make sense to me and I was thinking that Sam wasn’t important since he was he past before the story and I was never so wrong. To sum it up: although I didn’t finish this series yet I have a feeling that I won’t like any of the guys that Celaena might get with as much as I love Sam. So yeah I get what you mean by being pissed that he died 🥲
Christine: Then we meet the healer. What was the healer's name again?
Me: *eye twitches* Umm... Yrene.
Christine, you and I feel the exact same way about Chaol but surprisingly, I fell in love with Tower of Dawn after a month of putting it off because I just don't want a Chaol-centric book. BUT GO READ IT, GURL. It's a game changer!
Paula Micah Quezon I agree! Wasn't stoked to read Tower of Dawn, but dammm! That shit was amazing!
I'm still reading EoS, but the moment I heard about Tower of Dawn, I had an inkling that the title was alluding to Yrene Towers (whom we met in The Assassin's Blade)
Paula Micah Quezon I don’t care what you think about Chaol, you just need ToD for the fireheart chapter. That. Was. Fucking. Heartbreaking.
SPOILERS
Is anyone gonna mention that it could have been dorian and chaol at the party??
вυииувαℓℓσσи7501 I’m not sure if it’s canon or fanon that it’s them
I 100% thought it was them! I thought it was obvious
Definitely them
It was them lol
Fav short story- the assassin and the healer. I agree with everything Christine except Aelin is sooooo sassy still, she's just gotta be a hard ass a lot of the time because THE WORLD IS ENDING AND SHE NEEDED AN ARMY. But also, please hurry and read tower of dawn because I have so many feels...
Also! I just read the assassins blade too, so I was also hella late. It's okay. I do agree with your reading order though, wish I would've read it third
DAMN IT CHRISTINE 😂😂😂 she is so hell bent on Rowen and Aelin breaking up 😂
oh shit this is so unexpected! FINALLY!! I love your fae ear jewellery by the way ♥
I literally finished re re re rereading acomaf
I have a signed copy of Assassin's Blade (I met Sarah J Maas at a book fest)!
Casey Boyack same! I brought mine to a signing
Me too! When I chose it as my one to be personalized she said “you must be a sad person” 😂
LUCKYYYYY
Fiona M OMG lol XD
Holy shit this has been such a long time coming, honestly proud of you Christine 😂
OMG IVE NEVER CLICKED SO FAST ON A VIDEO !!!!!!!!!! IVE BEEN WAITING SOOOO LONG FOR THIS BOOK TALK!!!!!!!
This is by far my favorite book by Sarah j Maas. Of all the relationships that Celaena went through, the only person I think she actually worked with was Sam, which makes this book so much better and more heart-wrenching at the same time. Wonderful booktalk Christine!
I think Aelin doesn’t act like Celaena in EoS because she’s taking on the responsibility of being a queen and leading her people into battle...it doesn’t really give her much time to be that haughty-know it all-bite your head off- I’m better than you-I can do anything girl she was when she was 16. But that moment with her and Rolfe in EoS when she does her Celaena act is the best!
This excitement for books is what got me back into reading. THANKS GURL.
MY FAVORITE IN THE TOG SERIES
Out of all of Celaena's relationships I still love Sam the best😂 my order is:
Sam, Dorian, Rowan, and then Chaol
I think the same about Celaena/Aelins Personality. The "she is a backround character in her own books" feels true and that's so sad. There is so much personality in this character and it is overshadowed by her scheming, being secretive and having the pressure of being basically responsible for the whole world alone, because she apparently is the only one that can do anything. I think it might get better soon, because she isn't with the others in the next book and they will have to make some decisions by themselves and Aelin can't control that. So after that things might change.
I read the The Assassin's Blade first, and I'm glad bc when I read TOG I was already emotionally invested:) currently finishing Crown of Midnight.. I actually cried when she finds blah blah. Like I never sad cried for a book. I was shook (though I knew it was going to happen bc I could tell this series will break hearts).
Sitting here wondering which of Booksplosion will finish TOD first. The funniest part is, I know all three of you will love it. I can't wait to see Christine literally struggle with growing to like Chaol LOL.
Okay, The assassin's blade is my favorite book. And Sarah is a queen, a sadistic queen. SAM IS A BAE.
I agree about the love interests, that it's rare to see so many different relationships, but I think the whole soul mates thing with Rowan kind of negates all that. Like she was all of a sudden destined to be with this one particular dude and that's it? Not a huge fan.
Idk I felt like it’s not exactly “you’re destined to be with him so all the other relationships meant nothing” I saw it more as “it’s okay to have multiple relationships throughout life as you grow learn about yourself and then one day you’ll find someone you fit with perfectly” so it’s more about the journey and development that ends with Rowan rather than Rowan is the end goal and the rest were distractions??? If you know what I mean?? Idk if I’m making sense
Elysia Tan Yeah that makes sense... I guess in general I'm still a little bit disappointed that they couldn't have been a badass fighting team and still have a platonic relationship. That's the direction I thought it was going in HoF but I guess not.
Lauren Bastion She has healthy platonic relationships with Gavriel and Fenrys as a part of her court and family of sorts. Her relationship with Rowan started as tolerating eachother to friends to close friends and then grew to a romatic relationship. Even when they both deep down know they are mates they try to deny it. Like Aelin said before the Maeve put her in that coffin Rowan walked the path back to the light with her. They helped eachother work through their past traumas, grow as people and then start to heal. I feel like Sam was one of the loves of her life but Rowan was her soulmate. As tragic as Sams death was it was a part of why her and Rowans were a good fit for eachother mentally and emotionally. Rowan went threw a similar situation with the girl (cant think of her name at the moment) he thought was his mate and was carrying his child when she was killed. Her brief dysfunctional relationships with Dorian and then Chaol made her realize what she needed in a compatible partner. After Chaol betrayed her by not protecting Nehemia she had to slowly work on trusting him again as an ally and friend because he was one of the few willing to rebel. In the last book when Chaol, Dorian and Aelin were all reunited you can tell that they all really care for one another deeply as friends.
I was stuck for a year with this series because I couldn’t get through The Assassin’s Blade and didn’t want to continue without read it it first. The audiobook was an excellent recommendation! I finished it Friday and so far I am loving Queen of Shadows
Yrene is definitely one of the best things of Tower of Dawn. I'm so excited for you to read it!
Haha girl I could relate to so much! I was putting it off because I knew what was going to happen... Sam... But I pushed through it and I loved it! Getting to know all the other characters ahead of EoS and ToD.
I loved all of the stories, I’m team samlaena if that’s even a thing!
This is so 2017 i fucking love it man, the youtube energy during this time was just superior
Christineeeee!! Where is your Tower of Dawn Book Talk?!? I read it so late and came to your channel to watch it (which is my routine after finishing all Sarah J Maas books 😂) but you haven’t uploaded it yet 😭😭😭 I love your book talks and feel incomplete finishing the book without it! ❤️❤️
FINALLY CHRISTINE. FINALLY. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS NOW.
I read all the way up to empire of storms a long time ago without ever having read Assasins blade. Well, its been 4 years, I dont remember everything about the series so I started reading it again while reading the prequel first and I honestly prefer that. I really appreciate how Sarah pulled many things Celeana just mentions in the first book and turns them into full blown stories. It all flows so smoothly, you could read Assasins blade first and never know it wasn't the first book
IT'S ABOUT TIME!!! but srsly, I love you
YOU FINALLY READ IT!!!
I haven't read Empire of Storms yet and the longer Christine talked about the romances in it, the more anxiety I was developing over what is going to go down in the book
The Assassins Blade is by far my favorite in the TOG series 💜
Totally agree would love to see the sassy Caleana personality make a come back. Also your outfit is everything 💜
"Right now they're pretty solid." They are married now! Give up on Dorian! Lol, I love you Christine! Just teasing you.
Jrene? Really Christine😂 I pronounced it as Eye-rene
rohat karasu Christine actually pronounces it right though...
rohat karasu You usually pronounce the name "Irene" as EYE-REEN, but this time it's "Yrene".
FirelordPhoenix I think you’re right, I listend to the audiobook of this one but I can’t remember but it turned to Eye-rene for me after tower of dawn
rohat karasu I've been pronouncing it as why-Rene this whole time I feel lied to...
Aelin Ashryver Galathynius wtf😂
Been needing this book talk
God I'm so proud that you've read this now. I've been long awaiting this booktalk and now we finally have it!!!
No, you need to read the Assasin's Blade before Queen of Shadows. Arrobyn was introduced in Queen of Shadows, and I read the book before reading the Assasin's Blade. I regretted it later because I didn't know who Arrobyn was to Celaena. Read Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, and then the Assasin's Blade. It will help.
What I liked about this series is that there are different love interests. As things change in real life as well. All the relationships changes Celaena. I read Assassins Blade after Heir of Fire. Which still worked since some stuff was good to know before Queen of Shadows. I miss Celaena and I wished Aelin wasn’t totally different. Enjoy Tower of Dawn.
I think that the open hair is for the covers. In the first book it was mentioned in a Chaol chapter where he sees Celaena walk to the library at midnight. He then mentions that her hair was braided like it always was before a fight
Girl I feel you about needing to read a book for so long. I started lord of shadows the day it came out and I’m still goin, life is hard!1!1
The assasins blade is ma love and so are you
I literally just finished the book and I got notified about your video. The book gods must be happy with me.
Holy gods
It's been 2 years since I read The Assassin's Blade but Xtine uploads, here I am!
I think the most emotional part for me was when she was in the sewer and she told Sam “Bring my body back to Terrasen” That’s one of the few scenes in any book to make me ugly cry
I personally read the Assassin's Blade before Throne of Glass and it made it such an AWESOME experience for me. I loved knowing about her past going into it because it was like I was an all knowing god who knows things that Dorian and Chaol don't and it's great
I feel like I’ve been waiting for this forever! Also where did you get them fae ear jewellery from? There fabulous!
I love these audiobooks. The Assassin's Blade is actually what really got me into this series. I listened to Throne of Glass and wasn't that into it then I started Crown of Midnight and then for whatever reason decided to start TAB and then I was hooked.
I have been waiting so long for this! YES! You can't even believe the excitement I had when I saw the notification! I think my favorite of the short stories was The Assassin and the Healer, i.e the one with Yrene. Can't wait for your Tower of Dawn booktalk! Soon I hope?
The audiobooks for this series are really great!
One of the reasons the series stand out is that unlike others it’s MASSIVE with so much plot and character development
Also I love the ear accessories you wear for all the Throne of glass videos!
I read this first before starting the series, and I'm glad I did bc I now about some of the characters and places mentioned in the actual series, and I got know sam. EVEN THOUGH MY HEART HURTS WHENEVER CELAENA/ALEIN MENTIONS SAM, I know the whole backstory of her relationship with him, and how the events in Assassins Blade lead up to who/how she is in the current books. And we get to know Arobynn more, which I think is super important in books 1-4. again, SO HAPPY U READ THISSSSS
I completely understand what you said about celaena and aelin they're like two different people and I would choose the latter over the former anyday
Honestly my love for this series and acotar declined after sjm's recent books (acowar, eos, tod) which were utterly disappointing, published drafts if you ask me. maas creates these wonderful characters and then she just wrecks them.
Everybody now is glorifying aelin's magical ass and Rowan, forgetting the assassin we fell in love with.
I did the same thing, read the first five and have only now read the prequel! I'm not a huge fan of Chaol, but I am a huge fan of this series and of Sarah J. Mass so I'm awaiting (hopefully) your book review for tower of dawn!
YAAAS I really really really hope that more of her personality comes back in the next book too, but I agree with everything you said!!!!
I love your videos Christine! You make me smile with every video, love you 💕 p.s I ORDERERED THE ASSASSINS BLADE ON AMAZON I'M SO EXCITED TO READ IT
The Ear jewelry was so cool! I love the red desert.
I’ve been waiting since 2014 for this and I’m not disappointed
FINALLLLLLY
One thing you pointed out which I found very true and also realized early in the series is that the female characters have multiple boyfriends and I loved it so much. Not everyone meets their one true love at like 17 and stay's with them forever. That's such a YA cliche. And also kind of stupid because you evolve and grow SO MUCH in your life, especially as a young adult. She also did that in ACOTAR as well which I found awesome!
I hope that in the last book we get to see a bit more of the Aelin we saw in the early books. In EOS I found it reasonable why she changed, she is *spoiler* a queen after all. She couldn't very well behave like she did when she was 16. And she's got a lot to carry on her shoulders.
Amazing review, as always! ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Glad you finally read this one--I loved it so much and did a video review of it too.
holy shit finally????
this book popped up on my tbr list because i watched your video back in 2014 lmaoo
but honestly what a good book! everytime i feel disillusioned about this series (tho it remains my fave), i pick up the assassin's blade and my love for this series just comes back in full force
Yaaaaaay!!!! I've been waiting for this video for ages! Now you are going to enjoy Tower of Dawn even more!
And you are absolutely right about Celeana Sardothien being her personality and not a mask. In Empire of Storms, although I still enjoyed it, I found myself very annoyed by the lack of Celeana, when it is who she was for the first four books. "A bland, responsible person who has sex with Rowan" sums it up perfectly 😂
Aelin Banks "who has sex with Rowan" ICONIC!! 😂👌
WHEN WE GOT HER BACK FOR THE MEETING WITH THE PIRATE LORD OR WHATEVER I WAS SO EXCITED!!! But then she was gone again..
FunSoSoToTo I won't be able to unsee it now every time she speaks in the next book 😂
Rama Mohamed Yes you're right! In my opinion, that one of the best scenes in the whole book. But to be honest whether we have Celeana or Aelin, she's still in a terrible postion right now... (Sorry to bring it back up😂😭)
I know like, she is not there anymore but she doesn't have the luxury to the celeana in assassin's anymore, things have change, she it at war, I feel as if Aelin still has that personality but with everything that happens she can't do it as regularly unless she actually needs it for a scheme or something. Let's hope we see that again.
I pronounced it ya-Rene the whole book but I saw that Sarah j maas did a pronunciation guide and it was I-Rene so I think it's pronounced irene
Wait it's not ya-Rene?!?
Omg sameeee
I'm in love with your earrings 😍
And girls who accomplish stuff with long hair - I'm pretty sure that's a superpower I have not been bestowed with.
I loved the Pirate's Bay story. And yes, like you I miss the old bad ass Celaena.
Just a casual hair rant
Loveeeee your book talks so much 🥰 I read Assassins Blade first and I’m glad I did, but it does change the experience of reading the story depending on when you read it. I’m about to start Kingdom of Ash ahhhhh
As a person who is halfway through throne of glass and read assassins blade first, I knew that Sam would die as soon as they said they were going to kill the phsyco first.
Also, I didn’t have a chance to mute the video and skip ahead in the spoilers section so I heard her say “when she’s with Dorian” and I nearly cried. I knew it was either Dorian or caol BUT WHAT DO YOU MEAN ITS DORIAN, I WANT HER TO BE WITH CAOL!!!!
I read this while in the middle of ToG. I went to the bookstore one day and had to ask the guy at the counter if they had Crown of Midnight and he came back with AB and was like “here I’d thought you like this book”. So I set Throne of Glass aside for a week and read this. Excuse me, inhaled this awesomeness. So thank you Random Barnes and Noble worker. Thank you.
I read this before the others because I got it before the others... this hooked me into the series.
Reading the Assassin's Blade and then reading the part in Empire of Storms where Aelin goes back and breaks into the pirate lord's office is So Satisfying for me.
What if aelin makes everyone think that she's dead....but finds herself and sees that aelin was a mask and goes back to being the assassin, cutting all relationships just like it had all stared with.
I was so shocked when I saw the title of this video. I was like "OMG SHE FINALLY DID IT". My favorite is also the "one in the sewers".
CHRISTINE! THE BEGINNING OF THIS OMG. THE HAIR. YES. I FEEL IT. Also, "Wow, excuse me..." That sound XD I'm so dead. "She's probably gonna heal...one of our characters..." I can't wait till you read Tower of Dawn :D I really liked the sewer one, too lol. I also really liked Ansel for some reason, idk she just seems cool to me and I'm glad we get to see her again. I also really love Celaena and I'm so sad that she kind of lost her spunk. I get that she is maturing and growing, but Empire of Storms just felt so off to me from the rest of the series. It didn't show off her best characteristics and felt a little too much like ACOTAR to me. I need to reread The Assassin's Blade and the rest of the series before the last book comes out.