Author: Sarah J. Maas
UK Publisher: Bloomsbury
UK Release date: 15 August
Summary: After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.
Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice.
Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?
Review: For those of you that haven't read Throne of Glass (#1 in the series) please be aware that this review may contain a few spoilers for the debut book, although not for this one.
My worry when reading the second book in any series is that it won't match my expectations or the success of the first book. However Sarah J. Maas manages to keep the pace, action and excitement flowing in Crown of Midnight. The key characters are vibrant (and in the case of Chaol and Dorian, still charmingly gorgeous!), the plot is riddled with intrigue, and the fighting comes thick and fast. Crown of Midnight does not disappoint!
Celaena Sardothien is the series' heroine. I say this quite lightly though, because whilst Celaena is extremely courageous and gutsy as the King's Champion and hired assassin, she isn't the most sympathetic or likeable of characters. At least not to me. She is brash, outspoken and unforgiving. And her treatment of the loveable Chaol can be less than desired. But despite the coldness and ruthlessness that she regularly displays, Celaena did show a surprising sense of moral rightness, adventure and occasional bout of sensitivity that made me respect her. I guess the thing with someone like Celaena, who is destined to change history, is that making tough decisions doesn't always win you friends.
But whether you love Celaena or not she certainly keeps the plot interesting. Whilst charging around trying to solve the riddles and mysteries found in the castle's hidden basement chambers, she and Dorian both get caught up in plenty of riveting and high-energy action, and expose some unexpected and exciting revelations. Celaena also not only battles with the mental and emotional scars from her past, but gets involved in more than a few physical and bloodthirsty fisticuffs - as you would expect with an assassin there is gore and guts galore!
The love triangle that ran rampant in the first book dwindles in this one, so don't expect much overt sexual tension or fighting between Dorian, Celaena and Chaol. However Celaena does choose one of the two men, and practically settles down into a relationship. Despite this, both men suffer from Celaena's emotional ups and downs and try to protect her in some very dangerous situations. Chaol is still honourable, respectable, and charming, and unfortunately completely head over heels for Celaena and at her mercy. I really felt sorry for him in this book, as he had his father to deal with and had to struggle to decide whether his actions under the King were the right ones to take. Dorian, sadly, has a much smaller role in this book, however the plot sets up some exciting developments for him in the rest of the series. I’m really exciting to see how these revelations and the underlying tension between his and his father, the king, pan out.
Crown of Midnight is dramatic, dangerous and daring, and promises a lot for the forthcoming books.
Thanks Hannah from hannahmariska.blogspot.com what a FANTASTIC REVIEW!
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