mara • (chaotic reader)'s Reviews > Crown of Midnight

4.5 stars
Hear ye, hear ye all who seek adventure, ass-kicking and romance come forth! The second installment doth not disappoint! Our heroine is back as the King's Champion so expect action galore. Hear ye, hear ye . . .

Her lovely dresses and ornate clothes were gone, replaced with an unforgiving, close-cut black tunic and pants. Her hair pulled back in a long braid that fell into the folds of that dark cloak she was always wearing. She was a beautiful wrath …

This book turned up in my room dressed in dark robes, whispered the first few sentences like a secret incantation and before I could utter 'By the Wyrd' I was under its spell (not saying that this book has magical powers, but this book has magical powers . . . in fact I'm pretty sure Sarah J. Maas is Fae). It swept me down a path of ink and words, and every time I thought it had given me its all, 'surely it can't get better than this . . . surely,' it would open its robes to unveil yet more wondrous things.

Then it took a boot to my love for female assassins and pushed hard and now I'm sitting at the bottom of a canyon singing to myself:

O' hither she came ,
and stole my heart,
henceforth I shall never be the same, 
your jewels to her you will part, 
or so is the King's claim, 
a jewelley thief? O' she played it smart,
she is of much greater fame,
your body she will cart,
this deadly daggered dame,
your name you will never part,
before she takes her aim.

(You're writing it love poetry? Really Mara, REALLY?)

Characters:
I've already made my adoration towards Celaena quite clear so I'd like to take a moment to appreciate our two leading men: Chaol (still firmly Team Shirtless Chaol) and Dorian (and I wouldn't mind seeing him shirtless too).

Chaol, Chaol, wherefore art thou Chaol? I am, as we speak, arranging to become a fictional character so I can stalk meet you.



The Captain of the Guard is as strong and fierce as he was in ToG but in this installment we get to see more of his softer side. The beautiful friendship between Celaena and him takes front stage in CoM. Sarah really takes the opportunity to flesh out their relationship in all it's banter-teasing-tension glory. There's talk of books (sigh) and late nights spent next to the fireplace.

While Chaol's compassion and loyalty are beacons of light in the darkness of the Royal Court, the question is where exactly do his loyalties lie? With the Crown he has fought so hard to protect? Or with his friends who have made the glass castle a home for him?

"Why are you crying?"
"Because," she whispered, her voice shaking, "you remind me of how the world ought to be. What the world can be."

Then there is Dorian our charming prince. But again Sarah sucker punches stereotypes and leaves them panting for breath on the floor. Dorian isn't your garden variety indestructible, white horse riding, fierce, saves-the-day prince. Instead he can be fragile and confused and he is made all the more strong for it. Shocking isn't it that boys can experience the same emotions as female heroines (cough)? Sarah doesn't kick him to the curb either. Rather another layer of mystery is added when strange things start happening to him . . . things that put his life at risk.

The most refreshing aspect of this trio's relationship is that Celaena is not turned into a Mary Sue mess in the face of these male "interests." Four for you Sarah J. Maas.




I am not at all done with these characters and I'm ready for their next adventure. CoM had it all: magic, adventure, epic fights, romance, mystery and secrets . . . so many dirty little secrets that aren't as neatly tucked into the nooks and crannies of the Royal Court as their owners would like to think. The ending left me as hungry for more as when I started. This series is going to go wondrous places in the next instalment and I can barely wait.


_____________________________

PRE-REVIEW: 30/09/2012:

2013?! No no no no no. Why are you so far away?! 2013 is finally here!
 

I just can't. Okay? I need me some more Dorian and Chaol. Pweeeeaaaaase?
 

Be strong my shipper heart. Dear lord wilt thou not grant patience to my poor shipper heart?!
Team shirtless Chaol.