Blog #18: Crown of Midnight

I just wanted to start off by saying I really enjoyed reading Crown of Midnight, which is book 2 of the Throne of Glass series. I wasn’t sure if I’d like this series, based on the series description. But after reading book 2 I am very invested and can’t wait to read the next 5 books in the series! It’s great to read about a female character that is strong, skilled, and can hold her own. 

     My favorite thing about book 2 compared to book 1 is we get to see more of Celaena’s skills and why she was the assassin of Adarlan. It makes sense that in book 1 she was weak, and had a hard time keeping up with the others because in the work prison she was at she was malnourished and beaten as a prisoner. In book 2 we get to see a look into what Celaena is capable of as an assassin, and the reason why people are still afraid of her even though now she works for the king.

     Or maybe that is a scarier position for her to be in for the people.

     The remaining of this blog post will have a SPOILER WARNING, so if you have yet to read Crown of Midnight, don’t read past here.

–SPOILER WARNING–

     I first wanted to address the Wyrdmarks, which were mentioned in book 1. They play a much bigger plot in this book. It looks like it wasn’t just Cain that knew about these markings. The King seems to be involved in using the Wyrdmarks and the Wyrdkeys to overpower other kingdoms, and why he has been so successful. Though he doesn’t have all 3, which would give him ultimate power, Celaena must haste and find the keys that are left before the King does. 

     I really liked that we got a reasoning as to why the King is so powerful. But now things are much more different when I found out that the King’s son, Dorian, has magic. And he possibly got his magic from his dad using the Wyrdkeys. Magic has been absent for years, no one had magic or knew how to use it. But now suddenly Dorian has magic. And if his dad finds out he has magic he’ll probably be executed. He has a lot to learn, especially when it comes to controlling his powers, but also keeping it underwraps. I wasn’t terribly interested in Dorian in the 1st book, but now I’m interested in his new found powers and where this will lead him. His magic thus far has been fairly sporadic, whether it be breaking something or freezing time. So I’m curious what all his magic can do, and how far it reaches.

     Let’s talk about Nehemia for a second. I wasn’t surprised by most of what went down with her. She was involved with the king and his court. It was known she was a rebel supporter. So finding out she had a threat out against her, the King and his court wanted to talk to her, AND the threat turned out to be true and she was assassinated in her room was no surprise. I was surprised that she was working with Archer, an old friend of Celaena, and a rebel group that knew about the Wyrdmarks and other magic. I feel like this storyline of her being murdered had been building up since book 1. I will say though it wasn’t made very clear how she got in contact with Archer and the rebel group. It just was, with little information. 

     I was really sad though because the last words said between Celaena and Nehemia were fighting words such as “coward”. I wish things had been better between them before Nehemia was murdered, but I guess that’s what makes it hit you harder as the reader. 

     Speaking about Nehemia’s death, I felt horrible for Chaol. He knew about the meeting with the King, he knew about the threats against Nehemia. He was damned if he told Celaena and damned if he didn’t. If he told her then he’d be betraying the king, and since he didn’t and Nehemia died, Celaena blamed him and felt like he could’ve saved her if she had been told. I don’t think he was in the wrong for not telling her, he had no reason to believe she couldn’t be protected by the guards and himself. It broke my heart how angry Celaena became at him, leaving scratches going down his face. It was overall such a cluster fuck.

     In my post about book 1 I mentioned loving Chaol, and I still do in book 2. I absolutely ship Celaena and Chaol, and loved them being together, if even for a short time, in this book. It broke my heart that the death of Nehemia broke them up. He made her feel safe, it wasn’t just sex but a connection. I’m hoping as the books continue they can repair their relationship and be happy together.  That would ultimately make me happy.

     Archer.

     Fuck Archer.

     We’re led to believe earlier in the book that he’s a pretty face that works as a whore. That he knows some limited information about the rebels. He acts scared of Celaena, and thanks her for giving him a month to get lost or she’d have to kill him. She didn’t think much of him, and crazily enough the King was right, he was heavily involved in the rebel group.

     So yeah, fuck Archer. He was trying to lead the rebel group. And he had Nehemia murdered because she was trying to drive things in a different direction. He hired a man named Grave to murder her, and he is known to take his time and torture his targets. Which is exactly what he did to Nehemia. He’s one of my least favorite characters, and I’m glad that Celaena did actually end his life. She was going to let him go, but he called her a good woman. How stupid could he be? I’m glad he’s dead.

–SUPER DUPER SPOILERS–

     The last few pages had me at the edge of my seat. I knew that the three series that Sarah J Maas take place in the same universe. But oh my god!

     We finally find out that Celaena is a fae. A fucking FAE.

     She’s always been one, and has kept it hidden to keep herself safe. Dorian doesn’t know, but after everything that happened Chaol knows, which is why he arranges for her to get sent elsewhere so no one can learn this secret. There’s more to this secret though that I won’t even put here because it such an amazing surprise that everyone should learn it from reading it and be just as shocked.

     So overall I enjoyed Crown of Midnight (Book 2), and feel like we got to see more of the characters being fleshed out. I enjoyed seeing Celaena being vulnerable, and letting Chaol in. I wish we had more interaction between Celaena and Dorian, but it made sense that Dorian would be wrapped up in researching the magic he now possessed. 

     Now that Celaena has been sent adrift to another land, I’m excited to see what is going to happen next. What is Chaol’s entire plan sending her out? Will Chaol and Dorian ever fully open up to each other. 

     Hopefully Heir of Fire (Book 3) is just as good!

Signing Off,

Fenisha Estes