MAIN THEMES:
Deadly Assassin Protagonist (morally grey FMC)
Double-Agents
Secret Identity
Political Intrigue
Forbidden Romance
Mortal Enemies
If I thought Throne of Glass was good, Crown of Midnight made me lose sleep because it was so addicting!
One of my favorite parts of this book was the constant push and pull between Celaena and Chaol. The tension, the chemistry, the moments of vulnerability, and the struggle between duty and desire had me completely invested. I loved watching their relationship develop while knowing that Celaena was keeping so much of herself hidden.
And can we talk about how much I LOVE Celaena secretly working against the king?! There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching her sneak around, make her own moves, and undermine his authority while he remains blissfully unaware that his own Champion is defying him right under his nose. Every secret meeting and calculated risk made me love her character even more.
But what really elevated this book was how quickly everything could shift. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, Maas reminded me that nobody is safe from heartbreak, betrayal, or the consequences of their choices. I definitely had one solid ugly cry and then a few more tears shed throughout.
Celaena is such a fascinating combination of strength, vulnerability, stubbornness, and carefully guarded secrets. She’s far from perfect, and that’s exactly what makes her so compelling. She’s my favorite mainstream FMC of 2026 so far!
This might be a hot take, but I genuinely think that the TOG series deserves all the hype that ACOTAR is getting. Feyre is NOT my favorite FMC by any stretch of the imagination and Celaena is so strong, she is empowering to read - like, I feel more powerful within myself when I’m immersed in her story.
The romance, the political intrigue, the secrets, the heartbreak, and THAT ending?! I was completely hooked.
Five stars, without hesitation. This series is only getting better, and I cannot wait to see what happens next. 🖤
Trigger Warnings:
Graphic Violence
Blood and Gore
Murder, Death of a Friend
Grief
Slavery, Imprisonment, & Torture
Sexual Assault & Rape (referenced)
Suicidal Ideation/Attempted Suicide
Trauma
Child Abuse (recounted)
Forced Sex Work
Kidnapping
Body Horror
Oppressive Regimes
