The Assassin's Blade (July 2024) Buddy Read Discussion - Edith & Sophie

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on July and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 07/13
July 13th: pages 1-61
July 14th: pages 62-116


Week of 07/15
July 15th: pages 117-173
July 16th: pages 174-225
July 17th: pages 226-276
July 18th: pages 277-333
July 19th: pages 334-390
July 20th: pages 391-435

PARTICIPANTS
~ Edith
~ Sophie

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Pages 1-61

(view spoiler)[ I’m surprisingly loving it already. I was apprehensive going in, but I’m happy I finally bit the bullet & started.

I think Calaena is a great character. I can see that I’m going to love her already. I’m curious to see if we’ll read from different perspectives in this book or later books.

I’m unsure on Sam. There are times when maybe a romance is hinted and others it seems like there is going to be some sort of betrayal.

How’re you liking it so far? (hide spoiler)]

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Pages 62-116

(view spoiler)[ What has happened to Sam? I really hope he shows up in one of the other novellas or one of the other books. There was something brewing between him and Calaena, whether that be a friendship or a romance.

There were hints of foreshadowing that we’ll see Yrene later on in the series and I hope we do. I love solid female friendships in the books I read! :) (hide spoiler)]

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Pages 117-173

(view spoiler)[ New novella, The assassin & the desert. We have another likeable, possible female friendship forming, this time with Ansel. It’s not what I expected from this series but I’m loving it.

We still don’t what happened to Sam. I’m starting to think that we’re not going to find out until TOG. (hide spoiler)]

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Pages 174-225

(view spoiler)[ okkkkkkk I spoke too soon, Ansel betrayed Calaena. Pretty much everyone actually. I do feel for her though, her backstory is sad, she lost everything and is desperate to get some sort of vengeance/justice.

We’ve had a mention of the stag, and from what I’ve seen online, the stag is an imperative part of the story, I’m curious to know more.

I definitely think Ansel will pop up again. In fact I think most of the characters that we’re meeting in the novellas will. It’d be stupid not to, and SJM isn’t stupid. With Ansel, it could be a frenemie sort of situation? (hide spoiler)]

[Ilsen]

Sorry I just started yesterday. I wanted to finish my current read and it was taking me forever. But I have started!!

Pages 1-61

(view spoiler)[ I actually have the perspective of reading the first two books before this one so my view on Celaena is different. I didn’t realize how arrogant she was and it is kinda annoying me. However, I’m interested on how she develops especially with the questions of the morals of Arobynn. I do like her and Sam warming up to each other. But so far, I’m liking it and I’m glad I’m reading it finally. It’s embarrassing how long I left it. (hide spoiler)]

[Ilsen]

Pages 62-116

(view spoiler)[ I don’t know why but I thought that Yrene was going to join Celaena on her journey but I’m glad of the little story we had with them. We start to see Celaena facing the repercussions of her freeing the slaves and how Arrobyn’s disfavor of her is affecting her. I like getting to know Yrene’s backstory and I’m sure we will see her again in future books! (hide spoiler)]

[Ilsen]

Pages 117-173

(view spoiler)[ I like the new setting of the Silent Asssassins. I also like Ansel too. I definitely hope she becomes more important for the series. I also think the spider silk guy and the spider silk is also gonna hold some importance. I also want to know what is the deal with Ilias as well. So far, I like this story a lot! (hide spoiler)]

[Ilsen]

Pages 174-225

(view spoiler)[ I had a feeling that Ansel would betray her when she was the one going to Lord Berick all the time and the spider silk guy said there was a spy. She was the only one that made sense. I do feel for her backstory but Celaena and the Master is right. She is just becoming the person that she sought to destroy due to her own vengeance and pain. I definitely feel like we will see her again especially as I think her backstory does have a lot of significance. Although I hope Celaena goes back to the Silent Assassins as it really liked it when she was there and the skills she learned. (hide spoiler)]

[Ilsen]

Pages 226-276

(view spoiler)[ I hate this man Arobyn. He’s using clear abuser tactics to try to win her over and I hope Celaena snaps out of it. She should be able to follow her plan. Also I definitely feel like Lysandra would also be an important character for the series. I do love that we get to see more interactions between Sam and Celaena. Also I feel like there is more to this job than what has been shared. But we shall see (hide spoiler)]

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

hi guys, sorry I haven't been as active lately. life is a little overwhelming right now. naturally I haven't picked this book up or war storm (sorry Sophie) so I think I'm gonna leave it be for a bit. still very much want to read it but gonna try and mood read for a bit to see if that gets me out of my weird little slump

[Ilsen]

Awww that sucks. I hope you get out of your slump! Don’t worry about it, I’m still happy that I finally got to this!

[Ilsen]

Pages 277-333

(view spoiler)[ So I was right and Arobynn did set her up to work against the slaves. The guy Doneval may have been an asshole but he was supposed to help the slaves and she just killed the guy. Also I can’t believe Celaena almost died by that bodyguard though in the sewers. SAM AND CELAENA THOUGH!! Omg they finally kissed and Sam revealing his feelings for her after all this time. He is too pure for this world. I’m glad Celaena finally left that asshole Arobynn and finally getting her nerve. I’m scared for the last story though. (hide spoiler)]

[Ilsen]

Pages 334-390

(view spoiler)[ Sam is being very reckless in this story. Doing all of these fights and risking himself to gain a couple of coins. Although yes they are very broke because Arobynn basically blacklisted him. Also this job to take down Jayne and Farran seems like a set up 100%. And I know Sam is a good assassin but to take out Farran on his own is very reckless!! It’s not a good idea!! It bothered me that Celaena didn’t fight him more on it. But Celaena and Sam are very sweet together talking about their grand plans of the future. Which we already know won’t pan out because of the After chapter in the beginning. Why does this author like torturing us!! When Sam questions his morals after seeing what Farran is doing to others, it just made me so sad. Sam and Celaena didn’t choose this life truly for themselves. It was either to become assassins or die on the streets. And then they are left on this vicious cycle to serve Arobynn and it’s almost impossible to leave his grasp. We don’t see what Celaena means by her darker past that she hasn’t shown to Sam but hopefully this is revealed in other books of the series. (hide spoiler)]

[Ilsen]

Pages 391-435

(view spoiler)[ NOOO SAM!!!! I truly couldn’t believe he died. I genuinely thought like Celaena that it was a mistake. He did not deserve to die this way. Celaena should have followed him and made sure he was covered. Either way, it wouldn’t have worked because everything was all set up from the beginning. This mission was a death trap. And Sam was a pawn!!! AROBYNN CAN CHOKE I HATE HIM SO MUCH!! Even more infuriating is that Celaena still can’t believe that he would be capable of this even though he has already proven that he can play those mind games if it means getting what he wants. Ugh Arobynn’s last line sickens me to the core that they are just his toys to play with and he was jealous of Sam of getting her out of his grasp. DISGUSTING!!! Celeana’s continuous use of her phrase being a part of Sam just makes me so emotional. Now knowing that, reading the rest of books will make me miss Sam that much more. They should have ran away even if they were poor. I don’t understand why Celaena couldn’t have just gone back to the Mute Master who said that she was always welcome. But yea it had to happen this way so the events of Throne of Glass would happen. It hurts so much though. I need to read the rest. (hide spoiler)]

Even though this buddy read kinda fell through, thank you for giving me the push to finally read this!

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

@Ilsen, sorry the busy read didn't turn out the way it was supposed to :( glad you finally got it off your TBR though!! are you thinking of continuing the series?

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

@Ilsen

I’m about to finish Throne of glass, so once you’ve read that (if you plan on continuing) we can buddy read crown of midnight and so forth if you’d like? :)

[Ilsen]

I actually keep going back and forth if I should just reread Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight or just jump into Heir of Fire. I do think I’m leaning towards rereading it because I forgot a lot. So I might join the buddy read of Throne of Glass and then continue from there.

I’m absolutely down to buddy read Crown of Midnight and the rest of the series!! It definitely helps me prioritize if I have a buddy!