I am typically pretty hit or miss with short story collections. However, over the past year I read three that are related to book series’ and I absolutely loved them! I decided to cover them all in one post 🙂
The Assassin’s Blade
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: March 4th, 2014Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin’s Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. In these action-packed novellas – together in one edition for the first time – Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn’s orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery. Will Celaena ever be truly free? Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine to find out.
My Thoughts:
I am so in love with Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series. Celaena is a character that totally fascinates me. Each of these five novellas gives the reader more insight into the events that went down in her life before Throne of Glass starts. These are things the drastically shaped the person Celaena is when we meet her in Throne of Glass. So many questions I had about her and her life were answered here. Each story is a different mission that Celaena takes on. They’re in chronological order so you really see the ways in which the characters change based on the previous story. You certainly do not have to read these to understand the Throne of Glass books, but I highly recommend it. They are excellent additions!
The Bane Chronicles
Author: Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson
Publisher: Margert K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: Nov. 11, 2014Fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices can get to know warlock Magnus Bane like never before in this collection of New York Times bestselling tales, in print for the first time with an exclusive new story and illustrated material.
This collection of eleven short stories illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality, flamboyant style, and sharp wit populate the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices.
Originally released one-by-one as e-only short stories by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan, this compilation presents all ten together in print for the first time and includes a never-before-seen eleventh tale, as well as new illustrated material.
My Thoughts:
ALL OF THE HEART EYES! Magnus is one of my vary favorite characters in the Shadowhunter books so I couldn’t wait to see more of him. Add in two of my favorite authors co-writing the stories and I’m sold. I did this one on audiobook because there were some seriously amazing narrators! Also, the stories were the perfect length to listen to as I was doing laundry, cooking, and picking up around the house.
Each story gives a little more insight to the fabulousness that is Magnus Bane. Other characters we know and love from The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments also make appearances. I liked how each entry was it’s own story but still connected to the others in the collection, as well as the Shadowhunter world at large. I may have been partial to the ones that feature Will and Alec but, can you blame me? Honestly, they were all great. I wouldn’t say now to further Bane chronicles 🙂
Four: A Divergent Collection
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: July 8th, 2014Fans of the Divergent trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by Four: A Divergent Collection, a companion volume that includes four pre-Divergent stories plus three additional scenes from Divergent, all told from Tobias’s point of view. This collection also makes a great pick for fans of the blockbuster movies who want to delve deeper into the character played by Theo James.
Readers first encountered Tobias as “Four” in Divergent. His voice is an integral part of Allegiant. Readers will find more of this charismatic character’s backstory told from his own perspective in Four: A Divergent Collection. When read together, these long narrative pieces illuminate the defining moments in Tobias’s life. The first three pieces in this volume—”The Transfer,” “The Initiate,” and “The Son”—follow Tobias’s transfer from Abnegation to Dauntless, his Dauntless initiation, and the first clues that a foul plan is brewing in the leadership of two factions. The fourth story, “The Traitor,” runs parallel with the events of Divergent, giving readers a glimpse into the decisions of loyalty—and love—that Tobias makes in the weeks after he meets Tris Prior.
Also includes three additional scenes from Divergent, told from Tobias’s point of view!
My Thoughts:
Ever since I read Divergent back in June of 2011 I’ve been a fan of the series. I love Tris and all her imperfections. But, more Tobias? Yes, please! Most of the series is from Tris’ perspective, and I love that! But I was also totally down for knowing more about Tobias, what shaped him as a character, and what he thought of events that we only saw from Tris’ eyes. We get both of those things in Four: A Divergent Story.
This is another one that I did on audiobook. The narration was great (I can be really picky about narrators!) Turns out I really like listening to short stories while doing mindless tasks… it makes the time go so much faster 🙂 I liked seeing some of the scenes from Divergent from Tobias’ perspective, but my favorite part was getting stories from before we meet him in Divergent. There is so much that he keeps to himself. Understanding more about him and his life before Tris really made me love him even more! I didn’t know that was possible!
What about you? How do you feel about short stories that connect to a series?
Richard Willis
I like reading short stories, especially standalone ones.
Liza Wiemer
Love this post. The Assassin’s Blade! Ahhhh! Sounds sooooo good. Thanks for the reminder! I am going to see if it’s on Audible!