Fairest

 Fairest by Marissa Meyer 272 pages

Synopsis: Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. 

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I loved getting Levana's backstory. She was such an interesting character. It also shows how one can grow up and the consequences of the actions of how she grew up and the work she didn't do to heal herself shows how damaging it can be.

 

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

 The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass Prequel-Novellas #0.1-0.5) by Sarah J. Maas - 451 pages

⭐⭐⭐✩✩

Novellas included:

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
The Assassin and the Healer
The Assassin and the Desert
The Assassin and the Underworld
The Assassin and the Empire

Celaena Sardothien is her kingdom’s most feared assassin. When Celaena's scheming master, Arobynn Hamel, dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, she finds herself acting independently of his wishes—and questioning her own allegiance. She may work for the powerful and ruthless Assassin’s Guild, but Celaena yields to no one and trusts only her fellow killer for hire, Sam.

Along the way, she makes friends and enemies and discovers that she feels far more for Sam than just friendship. But by defying Arobynn’s orders, Celaena risks unimaginable punishment, and with Sam by her side, he is in danger, too. They will have to risk it all if they hope to escape Arobynn’s clutches—and if they fail, they’ll lose not just a chance at freedom, but their lives . . .

On the recommendation of my daughter, who LOVES this series, I read this after I finished the 2nd book. I'm not sure if it was because I was not familiar with all the characters or because I really wanted to see what happens in the 3rd book, but at times I had difficulty staying engaged. That being said, I did enjoy it. The insight into Celaena's relationship with Arobynn Hamel and the contrast between Arobynn's domain and that of the Silent Master's, along with the betrayals she experienced, definitely helped me understand her better.