Actual Rating is 4.5 stars
My Initial Reaction...
The Assassin and the Desert may be my favorite novella in this collection so far. So much happens and I think this is the moment where Celaena really turns into the person that I remembered from Throne of Glass. If the main story line weren't so predictable, I'd probably have given it 5 stars.
The Good...
I loved the setting for The Assassin and the Desert so much! Celaena is training with the Silent Assassins and it really pulls her out of her element. She's not the top dog, she can't be all secretive about her identity, and she needs people to like her. In the process, though, she changes. She has friends, she learns to see herself much more clearly, and grows not just as an assassin but as a person.
The Bad...
The only thing I didn't like about The Assassin and the Desert is it's predictability. As soon as there were hints to gather, I had solved the "mystery." It was so obvious and I really wish that there had been some unexpected twist. It was still enjoyable though, just not shocking.
Concluding Sentiments...
I really think The Assassin and the Desert is going to change the tone of the rest of the novellas, and I'm excited to see more of this new Celaena.