A Review for Crown of Midnight (Thorne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas

Posted by Melanie 
Release Date: August 15th, 2013
Finished Date: October 21st, 2013

Publishers: Bloomsbury
Genre: YA, Fantasy 
Source: For Review

Format: eARC
Pages: 432

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien is bold, daring and beautiful – the perfect seductress and the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But though she won the King’s contest and became his champion, Celaena has been granted neither her liberty nor the freedom to follow her heart. The slavery of the suffocating salt mines of Endovier that scarred her past is nothing compared to a life bound to her darkest enemy, a king whose rule is so dark and evil it is near impossible to defy. Celaena faces a choice that is tearing her heart to pieces: kill in cold blood for a man she hates, or risk sentencing those she loves to death. Celaena must decide what she will fight for: survival, love or the future of a kingdom. Because an assassin cannot have it all . . . And trying to may just destroy her.

Love or loathe Celaena, she will slice open your heart with her dagger and leave you bleeding long after the last page of the highly anticipated sequel in what is undeniably THE hottest new fantasy series.

The Review: Crown of Midnight was simply spectacular, a breathtaking fantasy adventure that even with lots of secrets still kept, manages to captivate its audience. We join Celaena a little while after becoming the King’s champion and she has already been sent on missions for the King, forcing her to adopt her assassin persona. She keeps at it, hoping & praying for her freedom one day. Having pushed Dorian away at the end of Throne of Glass, she continues to keep her friends at arms length for fear the King will use them against her but they have already made their impact and she can’t stop them caring for her. When she is given the name of a target from the King, things become complicated… she knows the target & whilst it will be an advantage, it will also be a hindrance when the time comes to do her duty. As she sets about her mission, she uncovers some information that could be to her benefit & put her in favour of the King, making her appear the ever faithful servant…. Only there are huge consequences for what she will uncover & more than her own life will be in danger. As she unravels secrets on the outside of the palace walls, she also unravels them inside and her discoveries will have far reaching effects if she can’t put the pieces together and work out what the future holds. I absolutely loved this, as I did the first book and thought the progression in both the story and its characters was perfect! Celaena has taken to her role as King’s champion with ease (not surprising considering her profession) but I like the changes that she went through whilst she was in Endovier and how she is putting them into practice here. She is a very cautious person and doesn’t trust easily which seems to serve her well, she’s well aware that things aren’t what they seem but because she let Dorian, Chaol & Nehemia in, she’s in it for the long run and I like the changes she has gone through because of those people she let in her life. She was stuck between Dorian & Chaol before but in this book she does lean towards one over the other and I loved the development in the romance department for her, the fact that someone can evoke those feelings in someone like her, really softened her character & we could see some vulnerabilities which was endearing. The storyline was all action & mystery because when she’s not trying to kill people, she’s trying to uncover secrets and clues to what is happening on a larger scale. She isn’t stupid and she knows something is amiss and she is so adept at discovering things that it drives her, she didn’t get where she is today by brushing things under the carpet and her character traits actually add to the story. I love the reappearance of magic, even though it is still undercover, I like how that guides her, I like how people are willing to die so that it is not forgotten and with the developments in this book it becomes apparent that not only is magic going to make a reappearance but it will have a massive impact on more than one of our characters. I also loved how the palace featured into this, what its hiding etc. we got a glimpse of it with Elena’s tomb but again…. there is more and it piques even more of my curiosity. The plot definitely thickens in this and we start to see more of the King’s plans, a budding rebellion and more than one of our characters has an interest in both worlds which leads to some precarious situations as Celaena finds herself in danger time & time again. There are secrets galore just waiting to be uncovered and by the end I had been excited, scared, anxious, curious, amused, elated & heartbroken but most importantly……..desperate for more!