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    The Assassin and the Desert

    by Maas, Sarah J.
    “The Assassin and the Desert” by Sarah J. Maas is a novella in the Throne of Glass series, following Celaena Sardothien, a skilled assassin sent to train with the secretive Silent Assassins in the Red Desert as punishment. After a failed mission in Skull’s Bay, Celaena must prove herself under the harsh desert conditions while navigating the guild’s strict hierarchy. When the Silent Assassins come under attack, she is forced to uncover the conspirators and protect the guild to survive. The story explores themes of discipline, loyalty, and survival, while contrasting the brutal methods of Adarlan’s Assassins with the Silent Assassins’ code. This installment sets up key character dynamics and world-building elements for the broader series.

    The Assas­sin and the Desert is the sec­ond novel­la in Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass pre­quel series, chron­i­cling the ear­ly adven­tures of Celae­na Sar­doth­ien before the events of Throne of Glass.

    After being pun­ished by the King of the Assas­sins for defi­ance, Celae­na Sar­doth­ien is sent to the Red Desert to train with the Silent Assas­sins. There, she must earn their trust and learn the skills she needs to survive—not only phys­i­cal­ly, but polit­i­cal­ly.

    Iso­lat­ed, test­ed, and far from every­thing she knows, Celae­na must nav­i­gate a new world of dan­ger, shift­ing alliances, and ancient secrets. But even in the harsh desert, her resolve burns bright­ly.

    This thrilling novel­la reveals a for­ma­tive chap­ter in Celaena’s past—and sets the stage for the fierce hero­ine she is des­tined to become.

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    Author

    • Maas, Sarah J.

    Author Introduction

    • Sarah J. Maas is a New York Times bestselling author renowned for her captivating fantasy novels. With a background in creative writing, she has gained acclaim for her Throne of Glass series, including The Assassin and the Desert, blending intricate world-building and strong heroines. Maas has significantly influenced modern fantasy literature.

    Description

    • “The Assassin and the Desert” by Sarah J. Maas is a novella in the Throne of Glass series, following Celaena Sardothien, a skilled assassin sent to train with the secretive Silent Assassins in the Red Desert as punishment. After a failed mission in Skull’s Bay, Celaena must prove herself under the harsh desert conditions while navigating the guild’s strict hierarchy. When the Silent Assassins come under attack, she is forced to uncover the conspirators and protect the guild to survive. The story explores themes of discipline, loyalty, and survival, while contrasting the brutal methods of Adarlan’s Assassins with the Silent Assassins’ code. This installment sets up key character dynamics and world-building elements for the broader series.

    FAQs

    • What is “The Assassin and the Desert” about?
    • • The novella follows Celaena Sardothien as she travels to the Red Desert to train with the Silent Assassins. Her mission is to hone her skills, but she soon faces threats that endanger the guild, forcing her to take action to protect them or risk never leaving the desert alive.
    • Is this book part of a series?
    • • Yes, The Assassin and the Desert is the second of five prequel novellas in Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series. It is labeled as #0.2 in the series order.
    • When was “The Assassin and the Desert” released?
    • • It was first published as an e-book on March 30, 2012, and later included in the print collection The Assassin’s Blade.
    • What themes or elements make this novella stand out?
    • • Readers praise its rich world-building, intense training sequences, and Celaena’s character development. The story also introduces key conflicts and allies that shape later events in the Throne of Glass series.
    • Where does this novella fit in the Throne of Glass reading order?
    • • It’s recommended to read the prequel novellas (The Assassin’s Blade) before the main Throne of Glass series for chronological context. The order is:
    • The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (#0.1)
    • The Assassin and the Desert (#0.2)
    • The Assassin and the Underworld (#0.3)
    • … followed by the main series starting with Throne of Glass (#1).
    • How is the pacing of the story?
    • • Reviews highlight its fast-paced, engaging narrative, with a balance of action, intrigue, and emotional depth that sets the stage for the broader series.
    • Can this novella be read as a standalone?
    • • While it works as a self-contained adventure, it’s best enjoyed as part of the Throne of Glass universe due to its ties to the overarching plot and character arcs.

    Quotes

    • “Words could be just as deadly as steel.” — Sarah J. Maas
    • “If you can learn to endure pain, you can survive anything.” — Sarah J. Maas
    • “An assassin’s greatest weapon is not their sword, but their mind.” — Sarah J. Maas
    • “My name is Sam Cortland, and I will not be afraid.” — Sarah J. Maas
    • “Some things are more important than death.” — Sarah J. Maas
    • “And Celaena felt it.” — Sarah J. Maas
    • “Remember that you are a wolf. And you cannot be caged.” — Sarah J. Maas
    • “You could rattle the stars.” — Sarah J. Maas
    1. Chapter One
      2,240 Words
    2. Chapter Two
      1,863 Words
    3. Chapter Three
      1,862 Words
    4. Chapter Four
      2,279 Words
    5. Chapter Five
      2,377 Words
    6. Chapter Six
      1,990 Words
    7. Chapter Seven
      2,212 Words
    8. Chapter Eight
      2,245 Words
    9. Chapter Nine
      2,139 Words
    10. Chapter Ten
      1,896 Words
    11. Chapter Eleven
      2,246 Words
    12. Chapter Twelve
      2,027 Words
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    Quotes

    “Words could be just as deadly as steel.” — Sarah J. Maas

    “If you can learn to endure pain, you can survive anything.” — Sarah J. Maas

    “An assassin’s greatest weapon is not their sword, but their mind.” — Sarah J. Maas

    “My name is Sam Cortland, and I will not be afraid.” — Sarah J. Maas

    “Some things are more important than death.” — Sarah J. Maas

    “And Celaena felt it.” — Sarah J. Maas

    “Remember that you are a wolf. And you cannot be caged.” — Sarah J. Maas

    “You could rattle the stars.” — Sarah J. Maas

    FAQs

    What is “The Assassin and the Desert” about?

    • The novella follows Celaena Sardothien as she travels to the Red Desert to train with the Silent Assassins. Her mission is to hone her skills, but she soon faces threats that endanger the guild, forcing her to take action to protect them or risk never leaving the desert alive.

    Is this book part of a series?

    • Yes, The Assassin and the Desert is the second of five prequel novellas in Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series. It is labeled as #0.2 in the series order.

    When was “The Assassin and the Desert” released?

    • It was first published as an e-book on March 30, 2012, and later included in the print collection The Assassin’s Blade.

    What themes or elements make this novella stand out?

    • Readers praise its rich world-building, intense training sequences, and Celaena’s character development. The story also introduces key conflicts and allies that shape later events in the Throne of Glass series.

    Where does this novella fit in the Throne of Glass reading order?

    • It’s recommended to read the prequel novellas (The Assassin’s Blade) before the main Throne of Glass series for chronological context. The order is:

    Note