Crown of Midnight

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series: Throne of Glass

Genre: Fiction, High fantasy, epic fantasy

Format: Digital Purchase via Kindle

Publish Date: August 2013

Read: August 2023

Favorite Quote: “Once you know this, there is no unknowing it,”

Spoilers ahead for Throne of Glass!

Story Synopsis: After winning the competition and becoming the King’s Champion, Celaena’s secrets from the crown grow in number and in consequence. When she’s tasked to dispatch an old acquaintance, the information she learns opens doors she wants to keep shut. Unable to trust anyone, even her closest friends and allies, Celaena finds herself increasingly isolated, even while surrounded by others. Meanwhile, Dorian, Nehemia, and Chaol all have secrets and traitorous thoughts that they must keep hidden.

Then, after an unspeakable tragedy, all the secrets they’ve kept from one another threaten to unravel not just their relationships but also the very foundation upon which the Adarlan empire was built.

Why does this book beguile? Wow! Crown of Midnight blew me away in the best way possible. So much character and world-building occurred in Throne of Glass, and that work allowed Crown of Midnight to soar. Book two of Throne of Glass is fast-paced, with twists and turns throughout. The relationships rise and fall, plots thicken, and tables are upended as each character attempts to establish their own agency. Crown of Midnight allows each character to grow, make choices, and deal with the outcomes of those choices. Maas does an excellent job of building empathy and realism into the story - and sets up the characters for the next book, Heir of Fire.

Rating: 5/5

Link*: Crown of Midnight (Book 2 of Throne of Glass) by Sarah J. Maas - Amazon

If you’re interested in this, read*: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas