Discussion: Crown of Midnight

Last week, I put up my first discussion post about Throne of Glass – it seemed to go down really well, so I am going to continue with the next book. This is just an informal discussion on a series by one of my favourite authors that I didn’t mesh with. I am hoping that this time I am going to be able to finish the series and enjoy it more than the first few times that I read. These discussions posts are going to document my struggles with the series and hopefully where things have improved for me this time round.

There are going to be spoilers for the first and second book in the series in this post.

Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena’s world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie… and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for. 

When I first read Crown of Midnight, it was my favourite out of the books in the series that I did read. It was purely because of Chaol and Celaena’s relationship. I loved them two together, and after I first read it, I couldn’t see Celaena with anyone else and I really think that’s where I started initially disconnecting with the series.

This read though, I still preferred it to Throne of Glass. And while I still really loved seeing the relationship between Chaol and Celaena, I actually loved the plot more this time. I didn’t remember it being so full of action. I didn’t feel like there was really a moment where it ever really stopped and it made it hard to put it down! Once I of to about the 50% mark, I sat there until 3am to finish it.

I knew it was coming and I honestly forgot it happened in book two and not book one, but I was not prepared for it still. Nehemia’s death really affected me this time around. Her last words to Celaena hit me just as much as they hurt Celaena. I also did not remember her death being so violent and brutal. Though, I think that is where another one of Sarah J Maas’ writing techniques and preferences have differed now – I feel like she did leave part of Nehemia’s death and the brutality of it up to our imaginations whereas with the likes of A Court of Thorns and Roses or Crescent City, this would have been developed and very detailed. I think this could be the difference with target audiences though.

Then there was the scene in the passageways where Celaena opened up the portal to say goodbye to Nehemia. I felt so sorry for Celaena here and being so struck with her grief. Foolish? Yes, but honestly a little expectant. Then trouble ensues and of course there is the big reveal that Celaena is fae. Again, I knew it what coming but i was so captivated. And then there was Dorian’s magic – so much actually happened in this novel that is really going to propel the rest of the series. I had completely forgotten though how disgusted Chaol was when he discovered that Celaena is fae and the fear too. The whole book was deep-rooted in fear and I can’t see it lifting an time soon.

The last chapter, I had goosebumps the entire time. Even though I had read it before, and I knew what was coming, I still had goosebumps the entire time! I was advised to not read Heir of Fire straight way (and instead read The Assassin’s Blade) and it took all of my self control not to move straight on with the series. It is such a refreshing feeling to have this much excitement about the series again. I am feeling much more connected to the story and can’t wait to get to the books that I haven’t read yet.

So far this year I have had a very Sarah J Maas year! I have read the first book in The A Court of Thorns and Roses series (will be reading the second one very soon), Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood, and now the first two books in The Throne of Glass series! By the time this post goes up, I will hopefully be finished with The Assassin’s Blade and onto Heir of Fire! The UK right now are in lockdown, and it is a silver-lining that I am not in reading slump, and in a reading mood and being free to read all day and all night.

How has your reading been going?

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