The Assassin and the Underworld: Throne of Glass Novella III

This is the third prequel novella to Throne of Glass, the first being The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, and the second The Assassin and the Desert. Like the earlier ones, this novella gives us an episode from Celaena Sardothien's past before the events of Throne of Glass. This novella picks up immediately at her return from the desert mission in the second novella, and focuses on her life with the assassins in the city. In a way, this novella is where we see her normal world, working for the King of the Assassins and living a double life as a young society lady, whilst preparing for a job that she's been hired to do. The blurb says:

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

The title of this one is a little less literal, but still revealing as we see the dark and seedy underworld of the city that Celaena has grown up in (as well as the actual sewers, of course). The novella is about trust and love and this is the first time I was frustrated with Celaena - not anything like enough to stop reading, more like when a friend is acting like an idiot and you want to point out the obvious to them. But then, she is sixteen in these stories (as well as being extremely arrogant) and it's hardly strange for a teenager not to see what's best for them!


I relished the opportunity to 'see' the world that Celaena inhabits and has grown up in, and to see the character of Arobynn, her master, more closely. Again, I feel this novella adds to the whole Throne of Glass experience and would recommend it. 


Check back tomorrow for the review of the novel! The fourth novella will be available on 20th July, and the novel is released next month.