CROWN OF MIDNIGHT
Throne of Glass Series #2
by Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsberry USA Children (August 2013)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover (420 pages)
Source: Purchased
Find It: Goodreads | Amazon Print | Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
At A Glance
The only thing that could make this book better is if I could bake it and eat it so it could always be a part of me. No, I am not weird, I just say the things everyone else is thinking…I hope.
The Good
I don’t know why but I am having trouble writing this review. Sometimes, when a book is so good, and everyone pretty much agrees, it’s hard to write a review because I doubt I will say anything different. I mean, come on, Maas is brilliant. Obvi! She has made a perfect YA book for me, one with a kickass assassin! I could not ask for more. Her writing flows well and her imagery is off the charts. Which brings me to another point. Maas has made the perfect fantasy book for me as well. I have never been a lover of straight up fantasy/ high fantasy. Maas has changed all that. I think I might have to make a shrine for Maas, light some candles, chant a bit, have a whole bunch of smelly-ass incense, you know, the usual. Because this is how much I love Maas right now. Mas Maas! Mas Maas! You know I am excited when I am throwing in some Spanish even though I suck at it.
OMG, I am totally rambling. I kind of like it. I feel so free!!! Anyway, Celaena was badass all the way this time. I did feel like she became too girly in the first book but Celaena was pretty hardcore with her killing and maiming this time around. I like that in an MC. Yeah, I know, weirdo alert!!!
Woah, I just got sidetracked by an episode of Chopped. God, I love that show.
So, yeah, back to Celaena. She does such a great job at convincing everyone she is loyal to the King but in all reality she is sneaky as f*ck! I just love her brain. She knows how to play people so easily. For a while it seems like life is pretty normal…for an assassin living in enemy territory. Then this effing horrible, disgusting, terrible, vomit-inducing, heart-breaking thing happens and I wanted to die, just like Celaena wanted to die. I can’t believe Maas did this to us. I am totally banishing all the smelly incense on the shrine, Maas must feel my wrath. No incense for you!! Celaena gets all super scary after that. And to me, that was the best part of the book. I love watching the animal come out in someone. When someone loses all care and fear and just effing goes all out.
Dorian goes through some stuff that really surprised me. His character is growing and is definitely going to have a big part to play later. Just wow. I liked it though. I needed something to spice him up a little. But Chaol is the one to watch out for in this book. He and Calaena grew so close and I loved that they found that little piece of happiness together. Then that THING happened and everything fell apart. Damn you, Chaol! Don’t keep secrets, that never ends well. I would have been pissed at Chaol too if I were Celaena.
Okay, that’s all I got. No more. Just read this book/series, people. You won’t regret it.
Oh wait!!! I can’t believe I almost forgot. That. Ending. O. M. G. I…I…book three is going to be AWESOME!!! That is all.
The Bad
I gave this book 5 stars because it was better than Throne of Glass, which I gave 4.5 stars. So I didn’t really have anywhere else to go. But, yes, this book is 5 star worthy, no doubt, but I will say that the first half was a little slow for me. I wasn’t bored, I was just impatient to get to the meat of the story.
The Snuggly
The love triangle in this series is the love triangle to beat all love triangles. It’s the love triangle that people who hate love triangles would love. It just works. You understand why Dorian and Chaol love Celaena. You understand why Celaena has feelings for both men. Throne of Glass focused on Celaena and Dorian, but Crown of Midnight is all about Chaol and Celaena, which I think is a better match. I love them together. And then that thing happened and I was devastated, but I can’t reveal anymore than that.
There is sex in this book, and it gets pretty hot, but it’s still appropriate for YA.
Final Thoughts
Read this book. Read this book. Read this book. Read this book. Read this book. Read this book. Read this book. Read this book. Read this book. Read this book. Read this book. Read this book.
Aimee (Deadly Darlings)
Throne of Glass didn’t work out that well with me, but everyone’s been saying that this one’s much, much more awesome! I don’t ship Calaena with either of the guys, and she was pretty girly in book one, so I’m really glad she manned up in this one! I can’t wait to see her badass side. Awesome review, Jennifer!
Jennifer Bielman
Awww, that sucks to hear. I am so happy she manned up too. I wasn’t sure about either love interest in the first book but loved Chaol in this on.
Istyriabookblog
I did read this book and I love both of them! Celaena is the most awesome character ever and I can’t wait to read Heir of Fire.
Jennifer Bielman
I know, book three can’t come out fast enough.
Stacey Brutger
I can’t wait to read this one. I had the print book shipped from the UK so I didn’t have to wait for September. Great review!
Jennifer Bielman
hehe, I hope you love it. Most everyone I know did.
Jessica Haluska
Ramble all you want (though I don’t think you did), b/c this book is AMAZEBALLS. Love, love, LOVE it. And YES, book 3 is going to be . . . wow. That’s what it’s going to be–WOW. I spent 75% of this book absolutely tied in knots. Something bad was coming, you could almost reach out and touch it, but you had no idea WHAT. So you just had to sit there, and read, and WAIT. It may have given me an ulcer . . . just sayin’ 😉
Jessica @ Rabid Reads
Jennifer Bielman
I know, I totally felt like this book gave me an ulcer. It was horrible and lovely at the same time. I hate/love that stress of knowing something bad is coming.
Ashley
Bahaha I love your review! I’m glad you adored the book because I thought it was freaking amazing too!
“Sometimes, when a book is so good, and everyone pretty much agrees, it’s hard to write a review because I doubt I will say anything different. I mean, come on, Maas is brilliant.”
YES, THIS!! I know exactly how you feel.
GIVE US BOOK THREE!!
Jennifer Bielman
I usually have so much to say in a review and I have to hold back but, yeah, this one was just hard for me.
Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed
I love this book. Team Chaol all the way! And yay for sex in YA 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
RIGHT???? Sex in YA is such a fun surprise.
Christy @ Love of Books
lol! You crack me up. I know I need to read the 1st so bad. I’m thinking I might wait to start until the 3rd one is out or close to being out.
Jennifer Bielman
Ugh, nooooooo, don’t wait. I mean, I know what you mean, that seems like the good idea, but, but, nooooo.
Lily B
heheh I love your reviews, so original that in it self is well done 😀
I love chopped as well!
Fun show…
anywho, glad to hear despite this having a triangle that it was well done.
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, thanks. Sometimes I go crazy in my reviews and it’s actually fun.
kimbacaffeinate
Hehehe..yes!! I am so glad you loved this and I am drooling in anticipation of book three. Fun review Jennifer you had me nodding and laughing!
Jennifer Bielman
Book three can’t come out fast enough. It’s torture!
Charlene C
Eeep! I feel the same way as you do about this book! Just all kinds of emotions and an overflowing of love! I wish her books would come out quicker, because the wait is excruciating!
Jennifer Bielman
I know, the wait is too long. A week would be too long!!!
Bookworm Brandee
Okay, okay….I’ll read this book! 😉 This is a series I’ve been meaning to pick up. It sounds pretty incredible. Fantastic review, Jennifer!
Jennifer Bielman
OMG, yes, pick up this series. You will not regret it.
Melanie
Ahh this book! It’s the second review I’ve read today and I’ve only visited 3 blogs so far o.o I do agree that it was a little slow in some parts but Chaol makes up for it 😉
Great review, lovely! <33
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, funny. OMG Chaol. Can you believe how all that went down? So freaking heartbreaking.
Sarah Elizabeth
I didn’t like this one as much as the first one, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. I wanted a bit more adrenalin (I think I might be a book adrenalin junkie!)
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, maybe. You need to get some really good action-y books. Have you read Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniels series?
Micheline D
Mmmm I would also like to consume this book so we could be together for ever…does that make me creepy?! Anyways, YES I thought this book was better than ToG too and I loved that one! CoM just blew everything out of the water! I was floored by how intense everything was: Celaena, the feels, the action…Gah! And I agree with you: as far as love-triangles go: this is the best of the best! Heir of Fire can NOT come out fast enough 😀 Awesome review ^^
Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows Reviews
Jennifer Bielman
You and me, we are totally on the same page here. So much action, so much feels. I wanted to rip my own heart out with some scenes!