Is There Any Romance in The Assassin‘s Blade?
As a passionate Sarah J. Maas reader who analyzes every detail of her books, I can definitively say that yes, there are romantic elements in The Assassin‘s Blade prequel. However, the novellas do not focus heavily on prolonged love stories or steamy scenes. Instead, they provide brief glimpses into formative romantic encounters that subtly shape young Celaena before she becomes the hardened assassin we know in Throne of Glass.
Fleeting Hints Lay the Foundation
We first meet Celaena when she wakes in the Pirate Lord Rolfe‘s bed after being rescued at sea. This scene suggests an unspoken attraction and chemistry:
His eyes shone like mirrors in the darkness, and in them, she could see herself reflected. Despite her disheveled appearance, she kept her chin high. Pirate or not, he was still a man.
This subtle flirtation plants the seeds of romance that fail to fully bloom in the story. But it reveals Celaena‘s confidence and Lord Rolfe‘s intrigue, even in her vulnerable state.
Celaena‘s next brush with love comes after the healer Sorscha saves her from a lethal poison. In a moment of weakness, Celaena kisses the kind-hearted young woman. But they go their separate ways the next day.
These moments give us glimpses into Celaena‘s softer side, beyond her assassin identity. And the connections left unfinished impact her character.
How Fleeting Romance Shapes Character
Celaena begins The Assassin‘s Blade series as a 16-year-old girl, determined but still naive in many ways. Her failed romances in these early years harden her heart over time.
Maas expertly utilizes this character development device across her books. For example, in Throne of Glass, readers ache as Celaena grapples with loss when Nehemia is killed. This heartbreak fundamentally changes her.
In The Assassin‘s Blade, the brief, unfinished connections serve a similar purpose:
What if she had gone with the Pirate Lord? What if she had asked Sorscha to accompany her today? Her throat tightened further. Dangerous thoughts, impossible dreams.
We begin to understand how circumstances and repeated loss condition Celaena to isolate herself and bury her romantic desires to avoid pain.
Contrasting The Assassin‘s Blade with Later Books
The subtle hints of love in The Assassin‘s Blade starkly contrast steamier romances Celaena develops in later Throne of Glass books.
As referenced in the below table, her passionate relationships with Dorian, Chaol, and Rowan in books 1-7 involve explicit scenes and profound impacts on the plot.
| Book | Love Interest | Romance Focus |
|---|---|---|
| The Assassin‘s Blade | Rolfe, Sorscha | Subtle hints, minimal passion |
| Throne of Glass | Dorian, Chaol | Triangle drama, forbidden desires, multiple steamy scenes |
| Heir of Fire | Rowan | Mates, tension, emotional and physical intimacy |
So readers hoping for consuming romance may be disappointed with The Assassin‘s Blade novellas on their own. But they establish character foundations that pay off later when Celaena‘s defensive walls come down.
Reception Among Passionate Fans
Given Throne of Glass‘s popularity among fantasy romance readers, reactions to the subtle romances in this prequel vary:
"I was hoping for more steam and drama after the later books! But enjoyed the insights into Celaena‘s past."
"The pirate scene had me all 😍. But overall focus was plot over romance. Still loved understanding where it all began."
The 75,000 reviews averaging 4.6/5 stars on Goodreads indicate Maas delivers an enjoyable backstory. But some readers, myself included, craved more passion upfront.
Ultimately, The Assassin‘s Blade provides crucial context into the guarded character we meet in book 1 by showing Celaena hadn‘t completely closed herself off to love in her youth. Maas constructed important foundations through these fleeting romances that blossom into epic love stories as the series progresses.
The Perfect Set Up for What‘s to Come
While steamy scenes are scarce, Assassin‘s Blade romance establishes key character context. We get a glimpse of Celaena‘s hopes, vulnerabilities and regrets that make her later relationships more powerful.
Understanding the impact of these formative experiences makes her slow-burn connection with Rowan and fierce love for Dorian and Chaol more poignant.
So whether you seek steamy fantasy romance or crave backstory to better understand motivations, this Throne of Glass prequel delivers. Short-lived romance plays a subtler role than in later books, but no less crucial.
What did you think of the romances in The Assassin‘s Blade? How do you feel they impact Celaena as a character? I‘d love to discuss more Throne of Glass insights with fellow passionate fans!
