This is my favorite so far of the novellas that I've read. 
 But - and maybe this is just me - I feel a little set adrift in these prequels. I mean I know, logically, that they're leading to something, but I can't really see what exactly. And that's probably purposefully. Additionally, because of the assassin angle, I find myself not trusting anyone. It makes it a bit hard to form attachments to characters - other than Calaena that is. The side effect of that is that I'm forming a closer attachment to Calaena. These novellas are supposed to be tantalizing, making me want to know more. 
 They're succeeding. I'm interested in the world - in the magic (that's apparently no longer there), in the people, and the intrigues, and these moments with characters that we're meeting along the way. I find myself hoping that we'll get to see some of them again in the future.