You know, I never reviewed Crown of Midnight the first time around because I couldn’t find the words and I just didn’t know HOW to review it. As part of my week long Throne of Glass reread thoughts on the blog, I am providing SPOILER FILLED thoughts on the books as I reread the series.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR CROWN OF MIDNIGHT AND THE SERIES THROUGH HEIR OF FIRE.
As much as I loved The Assassin’s Blade and Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight is where the stakes were upped and everything became magnified tenfold — the danger, the magic, the soul destroying emotions.
This book is my favorite to date for numerous reasons.
One: Celaena and Nehemia’s friendship. They are true soul sisters. Despite the secrets that were still between them, they were friends, the type of friendship that changes you and leaves an impact on you for the rest of your life. I loved their breakfasts, their walks, their light hearted moments and even the… less light hearted.
Two: CHAOL Oh, you guys. This man. This wonderful Captain of the Guard. He is so loyal and honorable and good. The relationship that starts between Chaol and Celaena is perfect and amazing. They tease each other and amidst all the horribleness, there is a bright spot that is found in each of their smiles and laughs. Chaol and Celaena have moments that make my heart swell and my breath stutter. And here, prepare yourselves to be barraged by some of my favorite quotes.
“Dance with me, Celaena.”
And they fit perfectly. “In that moment, after ten long years, Celaena looked at Chaol and realized she was home.” Oh, my heart.
“You know, the courts weren’t always like this, Nehemia had said. There was a time when people valued honor and loyalty– when serving a ruler wasn’t about obedience and fear…. Do you think another court like that could ever rise again?
Celaena hadn’t given Nehemia an answer. She hadn’t wanted to talk about it. But looking at Chaol now, at the man he was, and the man he was still becoming…
Yes, she thought. Yes, Nehemia. It could rise again, if we could find more men like him.”
I. loved. them. I loved their every touch, every look, every yearning wish that they could just be another boy and another girl and not the Captain of the Guard and the King’s Champion. I love Chaol with all my heart and love how much he loves her.
That being said, we all know what happens. We all know that Nehemia had to spur Celaena into action and she did what needed to be done. Sure, it worked but their relationship became, as my friend Rebecca so succinctly put it, collateral damage. And even though Celaena realizes it’s not actually Chaol’s fault, there’s still a rift between them and it KILLS ME. Because I want happiness for Celaena and I wish with all my heart that this ship will sail.
Okay, back to my list. Three: Rereading made me see so many more little details that I had forgotten! Really interesting to see the introduction of the Ironteeth Witches and that they are working for the King and oh my god, the evil King of Adarlan with the Ironteeth Witches? *wince*
Four: MAGIC. We figure out more about magic and Wyrdmarks and different worlds and just how scary the King of Adarlan and how much scarier he can be but maybe he could still be thwarted.
Five: DORIAN. Oh sweet, funny, lovely Dorian. I love that he will still be a true friend to Celaena and vice versa. “This prince who was smart and thoughtful and kind, who inspired good men like Chaol to serve him…” <3
This book was… emotional. Fantastic. Filled to the brim with overwhelming feelings. Celaena is badass and scary in all the best ways.
I’ll leave you with this end quote….
“It’s never made any difference to me when it came to you. I’d still pick you. I’ll always pick you.”
Hit me with your thoughts, flails, feels, etc. All the love to this book!
STAHP. MY FEELS.
Gah! This book KILLED my feels the first time around and reading your review just brought them all back! You’re right: I loved The Assassin’s Blade and Throne of Glass but Crown of Midnight just brought EVERYTHING to a whole other level and made me an obsessed fangirl for life XD Awesome review^^ ♥
CHAOL FOREVER <3 <3 <3 That's pretty much all I have to say about Crown of Midnight. And I mean forever in the sense that I personally will want him for myself forever 😉
“I’ll always pick you.” I think I might cry reading these quotes… Seriously my feelings are just exploding. I’m at work..not doing work…and I’m getting super emotional over here. I need to get it together.