Title: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)
Author: Sarah J Maas
Genre: Fantasy, Magic, Young Adult
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: August 2013
Pages: 432
Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis (from goodreads):
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.

My Review:

Not a book for the faint hearted – Celaena presents the king with a severed head in a bag within the first few pages – Crown of Midnight is a fantastic continuation of the story which started in Throne of Glass. Celaena has four years to earn her freedom from the ruthless King of Adarlan. But it’s not going to be an easy task. Ominous shadows, spies,  wyrdmarks and other magical threats haunt the castle. Celaena has to navigate cautiously into the outlawed realm of magic to save other kingdoms from Adarlan’s power-hungry King whilst appearing to do his bidding.

I love the characters in this book. Celaena is every bit the cold-hearted blade for hire when necessary. But she’s also fiercely loyal to those she loves. Romantically, things develop at a great pace and I loved reading the softer side of Celaena in love. Prince Dorian is also a character in turmoil – with his body betraying him and the things that he’s known all his life changing before his eyes. This wasn’t something I was expecting but enjoyed reading it. Chaol, Nehemia and other favourites from Throne of Glass are still around making things interesting along with a host of new characters with their own agendas.

There’s never a boring moment in this novel. Awakening magic, Celaena’s job as an assassin, political threats and other tragedies keep the plot moving at a fast pace, There’s a lot of twist and turns that I wasn’t expecting but fit perfectly. Heart break and misfortune seem to follow these characters however they seem stronger for it.

I loved this series and recommend it to fantasy fans – young and older adults alike. There’s a lot going on and I think Maas’ writing style would appeal to all ages. I’m delighted that this series is going to have five books in total because after reading Crown of Midnight I can’t see myself wanting to leave Celaena and the world Maas has created anytime soon.

Thanks to the Reading Room for providing me with a copy for review. 

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