Recommendation: The Assassin and the Underworld

The Assassin and the Underworld by Sarah J. Maas

Release: May 1, 2012

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

When the King of the Assassins gives Celaena Sardothien a special assignment that will help fight slavery in the kingdom, she jumps at the chance to strike a blow against an evil practice. The misson is a dark and deadly affair which takes Celaena from the rooftops of the city to the bottom of the sewer—and she doesn’t like what she finds there.

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WARNING: Possible spoilers for The Assassin and the Desert and The Assassin and the Underworld. Read with caution.

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Sarah Maas has done it again! She has sucked me into her world and made me fall in love with Celaena all over again. I will try to avoid spoilers, but forgive me if I let one slip...

First, let's talk about Arobyn. Is it possible to hate a character and find him fascinating at the same time? After Celaena and Ansel, he is probably my next favorite character. But for very different reasons. I can only hope that Sarah will reveal more of his history in last novella or in Throne of Glass.

And Sam. Oh, Sam. There is tension (as there should be) when they are reunited in the beginning. Celaena  clearly struggles with letting anyone, even a man she loves, get close. She is confused, in denial, and unsure of her blossoming feelings. And it doesn't help that one of the few people she let get close betrayed her in The Assassin and the Desert.

My favorite thing about this novella, though, is that we see Celaena "in action". The Assassin and the Underworld focuses on Celaena's mission to destroy incriminating documents that could worsen the slavery situation and the people responsible for it.  And she is just as cunning as ever. Also, the ending felt a little predictable, but I think Sarah makes up for that with FANTASTIC writing and world building that is spot-on. I don't know how Sarah manages to create a world so visually stunning in such a short read, but she has. It's a testament to the fact that the little details count. The fourth novella promises to be a very heart-wrenching and exciting read. I can't wait! As of now, it's set to release sometime in July.

So, if you haven't read the novellas yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Go to Amazon, Kobo, or Barnes and Noble and download now. They are only 0.99 cents. What do you have to lose? And, JUST IN CASE you haven't seen it yet, check out the Throne of Glass book trailer that was released last week: 

Isn't it just FABULOUS? The music is jaw-dropping amazing and the way the glass shatters and forms to make words is genius! 

Also, I WON AN ARC FOR THRONE OF GLASS FROM SARAH'S BLOG. She was so generous and hosted an international giveaway. That I won. Which means I get to read it early! *spazzes and squees* After all my excitement and promotion, I am very happy to be able to hold it in my hands.  

RATING: FIVE SLICES

Waiting on Wednesday: Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Release: August 7, 2012

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Back in 2007, I came across a story on Fiction Press. The premise of the story intrigued me. Cinderella as an assassin? The amount of reviews it had further piqued my curiosity and I began to read. Needless to say, I spent my senior year in High School reading this story. One chapter at a time. Words can't express how much I adored this story. 


That story was Queen of Glass. 


And a year later, in 2008, I was thrilled to find that Sarah J. Maas was pursing publication. It was bittersweet, though, because it meant her taking Queen of Glass off of Fiction. 


And now, 10 years after she first posted Queen of Glass on Fiction Press, it now has a new title and an official publication date. It's now Throne of Glass and it will be released August 7, 2012. Words cannot express how EXCITED I am to read this. 


Not to mention, LOOK AT THE GORGEOUS COVER! *fangirls* It was just revealed two days ago, and in light of the new cover, I decided to pick this as my WoW. And to promote her book, Sarah is planning to release four e-novellas before the official novel's release. The first three are already out: The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Desert, and The Assassin and the Underworld. The fourth, The Assassin and the Empire, does not have a release date yet. These all take place two years before the events in Throne of Glass.


So enough of my babbling. Here's the blurb (from Good Reads): 

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After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined

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And don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY! 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Book bloggers present upcoming books they can’t wait to read and share their enthusiasm about new releases

Recommendation: The Assassin and the Desert

The Assassin and the Desert by Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass 0.2)


The Assassin and the Desert was, perhaps, even better than the first e-novella by Sarah Maas. It follows the feisty heroine, Celaena Sardothin, as she endures her punishment for freeing slaves in book one (costing her master a lot of money). Let me say that I am glad she was punished. There’s nothing fun about seeing a character get away with everything--and believe me, Celaena suffers a great deal of humiliation in this book. In fact, she learns a thing or two about humility. It makes her even more endearing to me, and my heart breaks when I know that, by novella 4, this assassin will be captured and forced to work in the Salt Mines. 

Let me also say that the world building is TOP NOTCH. It doesn't get better than this. Sarah Maas has a way of creating a world without "dumping" information on the reader. The spidersilk, the Red Desert, and Xandria are all smaller pieces of a bigger and more intriguing world. You certainly don’t want to miss this! I really, REALLY hope that Sam is in “Underworld”, though (the third novella). He was sorely missed. I wasn't too upset, though, because Sarah managed to create another super awesome character: Ansel. She’s such a cool gal, obviously troubled by her past. But she felt so REAL, and she really grew on me (just as she grew on Celaena). 

May I have more, Sarah? Please? 

RATING: FIVE SLICES 

Amazon & Barnes and Noble

Recommendation: The Assassin and the Pirate Lord

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord by Sarah J. Maas
Released: January  13, 2012

On a remote island in a tropical sea, Celaena Sardothien, feared assassin, has come for retribution. She’s been sent by the Assassin’s Guild to collect on a debt they are owed by the Lord of the Pirates. But when Celaena learns that the agreed payment is not in money, but in slaves, her mission suddenly changes—and she will risk everything to right the wrong she’s been sent to bring about.

I had the pleasure of reading S.J. Maas' first draft of Queen of Glass on FictionPress. With that said, I am slightly biased in my recommendation of The Assassin and the Pirate Lord--the first of four novellas that chronicle Celaena Sardothian's life as an infamous assassin. She's young--only 16--but fiery and full of passion. That is what I like about Celaena. She is SUCH strong heroine, but still full of many faults. From the Assassin's Keep to the Pirate Lord's lair, Sarah weaves together a story that is just play FUN. It’s face-paced and an enjoyable peek into the life of Celaena. It’s more than a Cinderalla retelling-it’s a fantasy novel of epic proportions that you don’t want to miss. Look for Throne of Glass coming out August 7, 2012

RATING: 5 SLICES