2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

What did you think of Celaena's personality and her skills as an assassin?

This is my first time venturing into this genre, so I'm feeling my way.

I thought as a 16-yr-old, she was possibly spoiled, definitely cocky, and a tough person to be part of a team.

I feel that Celaena's personality is what makes her a good assassin. She is a bit rough for her age, but I believe her background has a lot to do with that. She uses attitude and confidence to mask other feelings.

Charlene wrote: "I thought as a 16-yr-old, she was possibly spoiled, definitely cocky, and a tough person to be part of a team."

This is how I felt as well. Her arrogance tended to rub me the wrong way at times, but I still found myself rooting for her.

Melissa wrote: "She is a bit rough for her age, but I believe her background has a lot to do with that. She uses attitude and confidence to mask..."

I also got the sense that her background before she became an assassin has a lot to do with the way she reacts to everyone around her as a potential threat. I'm eager to learn more about her past.

I agree with the previous comments. And I’m looking forward to learn more about her past.

Her personality it’s entangled with her skills. Celaena is young, brash and arrogant to the point of being insufferable. Because of her age, she’s been indulged and mentored to be fearless, which has her show up as someone much older in terms of her skills.

I believe she’ll get better tempered in time.

Insufferable is a good description for her at the beginning.

I've only finished this one novella so far but found myself almost hating Celaena. I was under the impression she was loyal to her leader/mentor yet the first thing we read about her is her complete disregard to his orders with no worry about consequences to her actions once she gets home. I find her impetuous and irritating. She's also arrogant as many of you mentioned. Arrogance is no necessarily a good trait for an assassin. Gin Blanco didn't seem overly arrogant in the Elemental Assassin series and she pretty much started as a child too.

Christina T wrote: "Gin Blanco didn't seem overly arrogant in the Elemental Assassin series and she pretty much started as a child too. ."

I also couldn't help but make the comparison to Gin and Celaena does not fare well!

Celaena really isn't that likable in this, but I found myself warming to her a bit in the follow up novellas although there are still things about her that irritate me.

I also really didn't like Celaena much in this story. I could see a very slight softening towards the end, though, and the first inkling of her questioning her own behavior, so there's hope that she will become more likeable as she matures and gains experience.

After finishing the other novellas, I do believe we're seeing an untested and immature version of Celaena in the prequels because she improved in each one. Although there's still plenty of room for growth in the main series!

Allison wrote: "Although there's still plenty of room for growth in the main series! ."

Agreed! I hope she doesn't take too long to mature.