Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2)
Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas
An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt.
But her heart never wavers.
After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.
Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice.
Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

”add

Publishes in US: August 27th 2013 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Genre: YA fantasy
Source: Bloomsbury via Netgalley
Series? Yes. 2nd in Throne of Glass
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)
Untitled (Throne of Glass, #3)
releases 2014
Untitled (Throne of Glass #4)
no release info yet. Presumably 2015, 2016, and 2017

Buy it:  Amazon  Barnes & Noble  IndieBound Book Depository

Find Sarah online: ~site ~twitter ~facebook ~blog

 
    Given it has been a bit from reading Throne of Glass, honestly all I remember was that I loved it, Celaena was kick ass and I adored her, and there was a love triangle that I liked and I think I was rooting for the underdog. All my recollection from before I began, but it quickly came back to me. 
   Celaena is tough, smart and witty, and I admired her. She goes about everything in such a calculated manner, and she has this ability to see and treasure the good, and have no limits for injustice. I couldn't believe but thought it was exactly like her in the ways that she was defying the king. I knew that she was walking a very narrow road, but admired her all the same. I honestly had forgotten about the Elena theme from the last one, but it also emerged in this one, and I enjoyed that storyline as it challened Celaena even more. 
    I loved Chaol even more in this one. It is becoming apparent to even Dorian how much he cares for Celaena, and he can't stand it when she is off on the dangerous missions for the king. He wants to protect her and wishes that the line drawn by his position and hers wasn't there. But I lived for their stolen moments, of how steamy it can even be for him to just hold her. It is touching how he cares for her so much he just wants to throw caution to the wind, but I am glad that he is smart about it. 
    Dorian was present in this one, but thankfully wasn't really a factor into the triangle like in the first, but he is there as a friend to Celeana when she needs one the most. He stepped up in many ways, but still has a long way to grow as royalty. But he is harboring a secret in this one that I had no inkling would happen, but it means big things. 
    I will say that Sarah almost made me cry, and def shocked me at some of the turn of events that happened. There were so many twists in this one, things that I never saw coming, and that I am still even at the end, not sure exactly what the implications will be but I know that I can't wait to find out. The climax and ending left me breathless and wanting more from this beautifully written novel with so many layers. 
    

Bottom Line: Layered and exciting 2nd book of a series with an awesome and dangerous female main character.

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25 comments:

  1. I would really like to start this series. Sounds great to me. Wonderful review.

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  2. Sounds great! I'm struggling a little bit to remember the first book. I'll have to skim it before I read the second one. I can't remember if I wanted her to be with Dorian or Chaol. Glad this one isn't really a love triangle.

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  3. I really liked this one too -- it had much more action and romance than the first book. And heartbreak :(
    Great review. Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics

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  4. I keep seeing great reviews for this series. So glad you enjoyed, Brandi!

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  5. Glad you enjoyed it :) Thank you for sharing your honest review. <3

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  6. Ehh, yeah I've forgotten a lot from the first book, as well, so it's good to hear it all came back. This sounds like a great sequel!

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  7. I am excited to read this series. I am starting it tonight in fact. I can't wait to meet Calena and the rest of the gang. So happy to hear this is just as good as book one.

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  8. This book blew me away and is what every second book should strive to be, awesome review Brandi, look for my review next Monday :)

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  9. I am actually thrilled that you used the word calculated to describe Celaena because I'm so tired of immature heroines behaving rashly.
    I need to read this. Great review!

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  10. I really liked ToG and am happy that you loved the sequel! Celaena is among my top favorite female characters and I just like the way how she cares about others. Glad to see that Chaol is so protective. Awesome review, Brandi!

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  11. So glad you liked the second books as well as the first. I'm anxiously waiting on my copy, but everything sounds fabulous and I can't wait to read it for myself. I hear Celaena is quite the assassin in this book-so looking forward to those scenes. :)

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  12. It sounds really cool and I do love fantsy

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  13. Your question is too difficult to answer!

    I loved this book, and even though I too had had a bit of a time lag between reading Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight I found myself slipping back into Celaena's world really quickly.

    Here's my review.

    Sarah

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  14. About half way through it -- hoping to finish it tonight!! Loving it!

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  15. It's a series I need to try, I heard great things about it and even in France it's pretty famous. One day, I'll read it:

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  16. I still need to check out the first book but I have no idea when I'll get to it. Great review :)

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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  17. I can't remember the first one completely either, but I know I gave it five stars, so I'm excited to revisit the characters.

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  18. Love the sound of these characters. I still need to read the first book but this series is right up my alley.

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  19. The characters sound so good! I really need to read this series... but at least this time I will hopefully know enought o go and read the first one instead of jumping in with the second. ;) Take care!

    Laureen @ Ms. Bibliophile.

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  20. I'm reading this one right now so I only skimmed your review. But I'm LOVING it!

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  21. Oh I totally agree with you. I loved this book so much. Also I cried too, so it means a lot. Great review :)

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  22. Right! The last quarter of the book is a definite game changer. We need book 3 now!

    Braine

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  23. I still have to read Throne of Glass, but I have heard fantastic things about it. I love kick-ass heroines, and an exciting plot, so I have no doubt I'll enjoy this! Plus, the romance sounds great too even if I am not a fan of love triangles! Glad you enjoyed this, Brandi! Great review! :)

    ~ Maida
    Literary Love Affair 

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  24. I'm looking forward to this one! Glad you loved it!

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  25. I didn't really like the first so I'm unlikely to give this second a try even though it's gotten so many good reviews.

    As I don't currently have an SO, it is easy for me to pick love of country; we'll see how that changes.

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