Note: This review is relatively spoiler-free.
I really dug Throne of Glass, despite thinking it shared some similarities with other popular books. It had a kick-ass heroine, was set in an intriguing world and had good amounts of action and romance. Its sequel, Crown of Midnight, took those things that I loved about Throne of Glass and made them into something more. Crown of Midnight is an exciting, emotional ride that will leave readers in awe and totally committed to this series and its characters.
Crown of Midnight follows renowned assassin Celaena Sardothien, now the King’s Champion. Her new duties involve following the king’s commissions to kill those he feels are conspiring against him. This puts a damper on her relationship with Prince Dorian, who can’t quite accept that Celaena is a killer. Chaol, on the other hand, is a little more understanding, and as the two continue to spend more time together, something quite special and romantic grows between them. All the while, another dangerous mystery comes Celaena’s way that she feels compelled to solve without the king knowing.
Now that we know these characters and are pretty familiar with the Throne of Glass world, we’re ushered right into the next part of Celaena’s adventure. This book is filled with a little more intrigue than the last one. Everyone is keeping secrets and pretending to be something they aren’t. When Celaena is told to kill a former acquaintance, she decides to take her time with the job to figure out exactly why the king would want this person dead. Without the competition, we finally get to see Celaena in her element, and the secrets she uncovers will surprise most readers.
One big revelation becomes quite obvious around the middle of the book, so its impact when revealed at the end isn’t all that surprising, but still holds its profoundness. And oh shit, it’s a game changer.
While the mystery is consuming, I was completely taken with the romance between Chaol and Celaena. It was sweeping and passionate. The love triangle still hangs in there throughout, but for those who are tired of amorous three sided feelings, the end practically nips that one in the bud.
Crown of Midnight has it all. The series has found its stride and ultimate purpose, and this is only just the beginning. There are about four more books to come, and I can only imagine what author Sarah J. Maas has in store for us. But I know that after this installment, I’ll undoubtedly be there for whatever comes next for Celaena and company.
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Rating: 9.5/10
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas is now available wherever books are sold.
Book Info:
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA (August 27, 2013)
Length: 432 pages (Hardcover)
Series: Throne of Glass #2
Source: Digital Review Copy (Provided by NetGalley)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
Completed: August 2013
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