The Assassin and the Pirate Lord

This story serves as a prequel to Throne of Glass and can be read first to establish chronological order, though many readers prefer to read it after the second or third novel of the main series for a stronger emotional impact. It is the first of five prequel novellas that are also compiled together in the anthology volume titled The Assassin's Blade.

The events and characters introduced in this pirate-themed mission, particularly the pirate lord Rolfe and the island setting of Skull's Bay, return to play significant roles much later in the main series, specifically in Empire of Storms.

It is not required — Throne of Glass works as a standalone entry point. However, the novellas provide essential backstory for Celaena's history, her relationship with Sam, and her reasons for being in Endovier. Most readers find the series more emotionally resonant when the novellas are read first or alongside the early main books.

It was published as a standalone e-novella in September 2012, shortly before Throne of Glass, as part of a digital serialisation strategy. All five novellas were later collected into the print anthology The Assassin's Blade (2014), which is how most readers encounter them today.

Rolfe is the Pirate Lord of Skull's Bay, ruler of the only stretch of Erilea's coastline that operates outside the King of Adarlan's authority. He reappears as a significant secondary character in Empire of Storms (book 5 of Throne of Glass), where his loyalties and the meaning of his magical map become plot-relevant.

Skull's Bay is a lawless port city on the Pirate Lord's peninsula, outside Adarlan's jurisdiction. It is one of the few places in Erilea where the King's writ does not reach, which makes it a hub for criminal enterprise. The city's geography and political independence are established here and become relevant again in the main series.

Sam begins here as a supporting character and rival to Celaena, but his role expands significantly across the five novellas until he effectively becomes a co-protagonist by The Assassin and the Underworld and The Assassin and the Empire. His arc in the novellas is foundational to understanding Celaena's emotional state at the start of Throne of Glass.