Cassandra’s Comments (group member since Mar 20, 2014)

Cassandra’s comments from the The Assassin's Curse Re-Read group.

Monicha wrote: "Good way of putting it on the edge with their relationship Cassandra. Makes it really hard to know if Naji really cares for Ananna, or he is just acting that way because of the curse."

Thank you! I'm so glad you mentioned that because it was EXACTLY what I had in mind! Glad to know it worked :) Naji really is pretty dense about all this, isn't he?

Craig wrote: "I just finished reading Chapters 10 and 11 over lunch today so they are fresh on my mind.

I thought these four chapters were really fun. I especially enjoyed Ananna getting in touch with her wat..."

Yeah, it was fun to write her out of her element for a little while. I like it when she gets back on a ship, too, though.

Yay, I'm always glad when people like Marjani. She's one of my favorites, too.

Just for people's reference, I always make a post in the discussion topic to bump it up to the top on the day the discussion starts, although yesterday I was working and got to it a bit later than usual.

And the reread is clipping right along! Today I’m opening up the discussion board for Chs. 8-11, but of course feel free to comment on the earlier boards if it suits your fancy.

A quick recap:

Chapter 8: The battle! Ananna and Naji fight against the Hariris, and Naji is injured by the other assassin. Ananna flees the battle, taking a magic-delirious Naji with her. When she finds the canyon, Ananna asks the river to give her the magic needed to cure Naji.

Chapter 9: Naji and Ananna finally arrive at their destination: the house of the river witch Leila. Unfortunately, Leila isn’t exactly kind to either of them, and Ananna is definitely not fond of her.

Chapter 10: Leila, despite her unkindness, does manage to help Naji get better. However, she’s unable to cure his curse, although she does tell him to seek help from the Wizard Eirnin on the Isles of the Sky—a dangerous place in the north.

Chapter 11: Ananna and Naji sail into Port Iskassaya, where they see about booking passage to the north. Ananna also learns, during their time together on the river, why the Mists are after Naji and is suitably impressed. In Port Iskassaya, Ananna is able to talk her way on board Ayel’s Revenge, a ship heading to Qilar, where she hopes they’ll be able to find someone crazy enough to take them to the Isles of the Sky. Of course, she has to lie to do it.

As always, it’s time to discuss your thoughts on these chapters! Favorite and least favorite parts? We see some new characters introduced here—Leila and Marjani and some of the crew of the Ayel’s Revenge. What do you think about them? Do you think Ananna’s plan to convince someone to just take them to the Isles of the Sky is going to work? How do you feel about the reasons the Mists are after Naji?

Remember, spoilers should go in the spoiler thread

Monicha wrote: "Ok, so I find that these next couple of chapters a little boring in one way, but interesting in another. You get to see more of Ananna and Naji, getting more of a character build.

I like when Ana..."

You know, I noticed when I was writing up the summaries that not a lot of action happens in these chapters, too (since they're so short). But I did want a chance to expand on the characters a bit, so I'm glad it worked for you! Thanks for your thoughts! And for going into so much depth, too :)

Craig wrote: "As the book progresses and we spend more time with Ananna, I am liking her more. I have to admit, though, that I am surprised that she is 17 years old. I had imagined her as younger, perhaps due ..."

Haha yes, I love that I was able to cut it off at a cliffhanger for the reread (that was unintentional). Thanks for the comments!

All right, fellow pirates and assassins! It’s time to discuss the next four chapters of The Assassin’s Curse—Chapters 4-7.

Your quick recap:

Chapter 4: Naji and Ananna check into an inn in the shady part of town to rest up for the next step in their adventures.

Chapter 5: Ananna visits the night market to pick up some items for Naji. While there, she runs into a mysterious man with gray eyes—and gets a really bad feeling about him.

Chapter 6: Ananna tells Naji about the gray-eyed man and watches him perform a couple of spells: in one, he makes a protection charm for her, and in another, he goes into a trance to enter Kajjil. Ananna also learns that Naji isn’t protecting her because of an oath, but because of a curse.

Chapter 7: Naji and Ananna set off on a trip through the desert, although Naji of course only gives Ananna a few hints as to where they’re headed. When they’ve almost arrived at their destination near the canyon, they’re intercepted by Tarrin and the rest of the Hariris, where Ananna refuses to abandon Naji. She’s also forced to kill Tarrin before he can kill her.

As with last time, this thread is for discussing your thoughts on Chapters 4-7. Favorite parts? Least favorite parts? What do you think the Mists are up to? Have your initial impressions of Naji and Ananna changed at all?

Feel free to discuss these chapters to your heart’s content, but do remember our no-spoiler policy: only Chapters 4-7 may be spoiled in this thread! If you’d like to a more in-depth discussion about how these chapters relate to the rest of the book, head on over to the TAC spoilers thread

Monicha wrote: "I just in love with the fist 3 chapters, lots of character build up. Love Ananna for her spunky, "classy" attitude, but most of all I love the when she really sees Naji when they are fighting in th..."

I do that too, skip over words and details when I'm reading! I'm glad you're getting a stronger sense of the character the second time around :)

And as Perla noted, Ananna is supposed to be around 17 at the start of the book.

Caroline wrote: "I love that there's a lot of talk about the first line!"

Haha, me too! I'm glad it jumped out at some many people.

Marvelous Morgan wrote: "Rebecah wrote: "Naji. Reminds me of Eric from Phantom of the Opera (The Phantom)."

Naji reminded me of prince zuko from Avatar

image: "

So many people have said this! I've never seen Avatar. I think I need to watch it now.

Spoilers for the entire duology (The Assassin's Curse and The Pirate's Wish) go here!

Well, it’s finally here! The very first discussion of The Assassin’s Curse Re-read!

This thread will be discussing Chapter 1-3. Here’s a quick recap:

Chapter 1: Ananna runs away from an arranged marriage to Tarrin of the Hariri (on the back of a camel, no less!) and gets lost in the city of Lisirra.

Chapter 2: Ananna visits a mysterious woman in a dress shop, who warns her of impending danger—which comes true a few days later, when she’s attacked by one of the assassins of legend. She immediately seeks the dressmaker’s help the next day.

Chapter 3: Ananna follows the dressmaker’s instructions to meet the assassin in the desert and cast a spell that will send him away. But the spell fails, and Ananna, in the confusion, kills a snake on the verge of attacking the assassin—thus saving his life. The dressmaker is revealed to be an agent of the Mists, and the assassin takes it upon himself to protect Ananna. She also learns his name: Naji.

This thread is for discussing all your thoughts and reactions to Chapters 1-3! Favorite parts? Least favorite parts? What do you think of Ananna so far? What do you think about our first glimpses of Naji? For those of you who’ve read the book already, do you see anything you didn’t notice the before? And for those of you reading for the first time, what do you think is going to happen next?

Feel free to discuss these chapters to your heart’s content, but do remember our no-spoiler policy: only Chapter 1-3 may be spoiled in this thread! If you’d like to a more in-depth discussion about how these chapters relate to the rest of the book, head on over to the TAC spoilers thread

Here's a thread where you can talk about the entire book to your heart's content. Any spoilers for The Pirate's Wish should go in The Pirate's Wish spoiler thread.

Raina wrote: "@Cassandra: what about fanfic?"

I LOOOOOOVE fanfic!

@Rob -- Well, imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery! :)

@Natalie: Haha, I love that you like Ananna's sailor mouth. It was so much fun to write (and was actually a bit worse before publication!)

So glad to see everyone joining up! I can't wait to get started :)

Yes, Amanda's favorite character is delightful.

Cassandra Rose Clarke here, and I just wanted to say welcome to everyone who's joined so far! I'm really excited to be hosting the reread and I can't wait to get started. For those of you who've already read the books: Hurray! So glad to see that you enjoyed them enough to read them a second time :) And to those of you who haven't read them yet: I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them!