Crown of Midnight

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication Date: August 2013

ISBN: 978-1-4088-3494-7

Pages: 418

Age: 12+

Celaena Sardothien, royal assassin, is the King of Adarlan’s deadliest weapon. She must win her freedom through his enemies’ blood – but she … Please note that I have removed this. IT gives far too much away and you’ll enjoy the surprise (on page 13) far better if you don’t read this. Also, don’t read the summary on the back of the book.

Torn between her two protectors – a captain and a prince – and battling a dark force far greater than the king, Celaena must decide what she will fight for: her liberty, her heart of the fate of a kingdom…

Maas opens this tomb with an action scene and a murder. The main character and the one carrying out the murder is a young lady. This is an action book for readers wanting pace, twists and discovery. Mass has crafted a well written book, with a subtle turn of phrase that shimmers.

I love the characters in this book and how they relate to each other, they are fleshed out and engaging. And Celaena and her best friend’s relationship is so realistic, they fight and talk and laugh.  

Back story is slipped in as seamlessly as a haute couture dress and we get foreshadowing that is slight of hand and yet powerful. As you may have seen from the summary above, I removed a sentence. I didn’t read the summary and the surprise was far greater. This is a plot and main character that breaths and has depth.

As with all action books there is a lot at stack here and it’s up to Celaena to pick and choose what to do. She seems to have little power but behind the scenes, when it really counts, she acts with power. She’s not cold blooded but warm and calculating. This is what saves her and makes her a hero to me.

Please don’t do what I do, sometimes, and read the last page. Trust me, wait for it. The twist here is something out of pure legend.

This is pure escapism into another time of quests, knives, magic, hope and heroes. I thoroughly enjoyed Crown of Midnight.