emi_miller's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A satisfying follow-up to the first Throne of Glass book — this sets the rest of the series up well and excites me to see how the Maasiverse connects in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Death, Torture, War, Gaslighting, Genocide, and Murder
infjkiki's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Murder, Violence, Body horror, Death, Grief, Torture, Slavery, and Gore
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
annamary54's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture and Vomit
Minor: Sexual content
carlyjoann's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Toxic friendship
annahnoyes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
This book wrecked me and had me screaming and wanting to throw it across the room so many times. A book that does that is automatically 5-stars in my opinion.
I have seen so many people say how hard the first books are to get through in the beginning of the series, but I couldn't disagree more! If these are "slow" and "not the best", how much better can these books get???
The character development with insight in grief, guilt, love, and friendship, is invaluable. I am absolutely loving seeing how these characters are growing and changing as the story progresses. And the world building, politics, and history! So good.
I decided to read Assassins Blade third, so that's what I'm picking up next. I'm already so attached to the FMC, and I'm concerned that learning her backstory will absolutely break me in the best way possible.
I have seen so many people say how hard the first books are to get through in the beginning of the series, but I couldn't disagree more! If these are "slow" and "not the best", how much better can these books get???
The character development with insight in grief, guilt, love, and friendship, is invaluable. I am absolutely loving seeing how these characters are growing and changing as the story progresses. And the world building, politics, and history! So good.
I decided to read Assassins Blade third, so that's what I'm picking up next. I'm already so attached to the FMC, and I'm concerned that learning her backstory will absolutely break me in the best way possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
Moderate: Death
vereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'M GLAD I GIVE THIS SERIES ANOTHER CHANCE.
Maas improved his writing and honed everything that didn’t work in the first book, bringing the story forward.
I really enjoyed reading about Celaena’s character in this book. She’s a total badass, and it was amazing to witness her in action. Now I understand why everyone was afraid of her - she’s deadly. This book helped me to see how vulnerable she was when Chaol and Dorian took her out of jail. She’s such a complex character, and I didn’t fully appreciate that in the first book.
The relationship between Chaol and Celaena is natural and realistic. Chaol struggles with his own desires and fears. He tries to remain loyal to the crown and resist the temptation to be with Celaena. Unfortunately, this internal conflict leads him to make poor decisions. Resulting in him losing everything. The dynamic between Chaol and Celaena is reminiscent of Valek and Yelena’s relationship in Poison Study.
Dorian is a character that I had a little affection for. But in this book, he conquered me. At first, his presence doesn’t seem relevant. But, as the story progresses, his subplot takes on a lot of weight.
In the first book, I felt his relationship with Celeana was forced. However, in this book, their relationship is fluid and natural. They forged a meaningful and powerful friendship. They understand each other perfectly.
This book’s unexpected twists and turns pleasantly surprised me. The author’s approach to revealing the major plot twist was cleverly executed. The last pages are an emotional wreck. This secret impacts the relationship of Celeana with one of the other characters, changing the dynamic between them and setting the stage for the next book. It’s brilliant.
Crown of Midnight gets dark and bloody with betrayal, revelations, heartbreaks, twists, and turns. The story is way bigger and more complex than it seems. I’m so eager to get the other book.
Maas improved his writing and honed everything that didn’t work in the first book, bringing the story forward.
I really enjoyed reading about Celaena’s character in this book. She’s a total badass, and it was amazing to witness her in action. Now I understand why everyone was afraid of her - she’s deadly. This book helped me to see how vulnerable she was when Chaol and Dorian took her out of jail. She’s such a complex character, and I didn’t fully appreciate that in the first book.
The relationship between Chaol and Celaena is natural and realistic. Chaol struggles with his own desires and fears. He tries to remain loyal to the crown and resist the temptation to be with Celaena. Unfortunately, this internal conflict leads him to make poor decisions. Resulting in him losing everything. The dynamic between Chaol and Celaena is reminiscent of Valek and Yelena’s relationship in Poison Study.
Dorian is a character that I had a little affection for. But in this book, he conquered me. At first, his presence doesn’t seem relevant. But, as the story progresses, his subplot takes on a lot of weight.
In the first book, I felt his relationship with Celeana was forced. However, in this book, their relationship is fluid and natural. They forged a meaningful and powerful friendship. They understand each other perfectly.
This book’s unexpected twists and turns pleasantly surprised me. The author’s approach to revealing the major plot twist was cleverly executed. The last pages are an emotional wreck. This secret impacts the relationship of Celeana with one of the other characters, changing the dynamic between them and setting the stage for the next book. It’s brilliant.
Crown of Midnight gets dark and bloody with betrayal, revelations, heartbreaks, twists, and turns. The story is way bigger and more complex than it seems. I’m so eager to get the other book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Confinement, Murder, Gore, Kidnapping, Slavery, Sexual content, Death, and Grief
britwalsh16's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It’s not my favorite, but this book has officially gotten me invested in the series!
<spoilers>
I saw her true name coming, there were a lot of hints throughout the book. But the fact that she is fae, was a bit of a surprise, looking back, there were a few hints for that too, but I just missed them cause I was waiting for the name reveal.
But also, Dorian has magic? That was a shocker!!! I can’t wait to see how all the magic plays out!
</spoilers>
<spoilers>
I saw her true name coming, there were a lot of hints throughout the book. But the fact that she is fae, was a bit of a surprise, looking back, there were a few hints for that too, but I just missed them cause I was waiting for the name reveal.
But also, Dorian has magic? That was a shocker!!! I can’t wait to see how all the magic plays out!
</spoilers>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Blood, Torture, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Stalking, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Classism, Death, Death of parent, and Slavery
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Suicide, and Colonisation
Minor: Misogyny, War, Sexual content, and Vomit
christmas_3va's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Death and Gore
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Celaena is now the Kings Champion and is tasked with all of his dirty work.
Ok, this one was definitely better than the first book, well at least the second half. The first half did drag a bit.
I like that Celaena is finally starting to show those assassin traits I was hoping to see in the first book. She has moments when she is absolutely ruthless and badass. But we still had moments of her making these dumb ass choices. Opening a portal? Really dumb. I was not the least bit surprised to find out that she is fae and Aelin. It was pretty obvious from all of the hints dropped.
The love triangle is still annoying to me. It's looking like it will tear apart Dorian and Chaol's friendship, especially after Chaol's decisions at the end of the book tosend Celaena away. I did appreciate when Chaol finally pieced it together. I am interested to see what he will do with that information.
The only part I was truly surprised by waswhen the princess was killed. But when the killer was finally revealed, it was kind of anticlimactic. I understand why her death was important for the plot, but the motivation was kind of blah.
Finally we are getting a bit more action and magical elements in the story.
Tropes: love triangle, fantasy
Ok, this one was definitely better than the first book, well at least the second half. The first half did drag a bit.
I like that Celaena is finally starting to show those assassin traits I was hoping to see in the first book. She has moments when she is absolutely ruthless and badass. But we still had moments of her making these dumb ass choices.
The love triangle is still annoying to me. It's looking like it will tear apart Dorian and Chaol's friendship, especially after Chaol's decisions at the end of the book to
The only part I was truly surprised by was
Finally we are getting a bit more action and magical elements in the story.
Tropes: love triangle, fantasy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Confinement, Death, and Death of parent
aammeess's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Blood, Classism, Confinement, and Colonisation
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Slavery, Death of parent, and War