Disappointing.. Crown of Midnight ♥ Sarah J. Maas | Review

• Crown of Midnight
• Sarah J. Maas

• Series: Throne of Glass(Book #2)
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (August 27, 2013)
• Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
• ISBN-13: 978-1619630628
• Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Nobles
• Source: Personal Kindle Purchase
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• *Note: The synopsis and review has mild spoilers for the previous novel.
• Synopsis: She is the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But where will her conscience, and her heart, lead her? After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes. Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice. Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she willing to fight for?

• Unpopular opinion time so brace yourself - I won't be brutal about a series that everyone likes, neither will I rave about it though. This is more of a personal review. I do like the cover, it is beautiful and catchy. Crown of Midnight continues with Calena after she has won the king's contest, now she is the royal assassin champion. Yet, she still has secrets of her own. She is hiding things from everyone especially the king. Now, she is given a task that could ruin everything she has worked hard for. What will she choose? Now am I honestly the only one who did not like Crown of Midnight? I don't understand what's so special about this series: Throne of Glass. Maybe it's just me, because I have not seen ONE negative review about this book on Goodreads or even on Amazon. In the beginning when this series started to get popular, I didn't care for it. I started to see it everywhere, then the hype got to me and I finally caved in to try this series. 

• I tried to like this book, I really did try guys because so many of my fellow bloggers demanded I read the next book in the series. I really wanted to love it, however, I guess when you want to love a book - usually the opposite happens. Crown of Midnight was kind of a disaster for me. The first installment Throne of Glass was average, I actually liked it more than this one though, TOG was still a fun read. Crown of Midnight really frustrated me, I wanted to chuck my kindle out the window. Many readers prefer this over the first book which baffles my mind. 

• I disliked Dorian's character, he was like a love struck puppy who couldn't handle rejection from Celaena. It did make me pity him when Chaol and Celaena showed him attitude all the time. If I was a princess and someone talked to me in such a way, I would throw them in the dungeons. Actually.. not really, that's inhuman so I would just tell them to SHUT THE HELL UP and if they are rude again, I will kick them out of my palace. It's one thing to make a suggestion, but they're so harsh on him, and Dorian honestly does not deserve that. He is still a good person with a kind heart. 

• I loved Chaol in the first book, but I don't like him anymore. I said I was Team Chaol Forever<3 You know, forever is a very long time.. I know what you're thinking.. Chaol, you sir, I hope you rot in hell. I didn't expect something so typical of the author, the plot twist was unnecessary. I would expect to see such a thing in New Adult novels.. The "plot twist" is just something to keep the story going, it shouldn't be there. I don't want to spoil what happened for people who haven't read it - most people have by now, but some haven't. I actually love plot twists, but only when they're executed well. I did like Celaena in this book sometimes, which is quite ironic because I hated her in the first installment. She does have character growth to her, and her hubris is not there as much anymore. She has learned to humble herself. I also liked when she was vulnerable, that was a pleasant surprise. 

“It was like coming home or being born or suddenly finding an entire half of herself that had been missing.” 

• I wasn't feeling the romance when the two characters I wanted to get together finally did together. Every guy is in love with her, uhm.. how can you love an assassin honestly? It's an inhuman profession. Yes, I understand she was wronged in her childhood, it's not like she likes to kill people, but that doesn't make me pity her. It doesn't change the fact that she's a murderer though. I'm surprised this book is about an assassin, but there are barely any assassinations, is that the author's way of telling me, Celaena has a change of heart? I don't buy it. It's not quite justified to put an amazing concept of an assassins, and there is barely any action. 

• I would have liked it more if Celaena was an assassin and she OWNED that, if she worked with that such as Ismae did in Grave Mercy. Celaena's childhood was saddening, but that doesn't justify what a killer she actually is. Many times, I felt I was given justifications for why things are the way they are. I feel like the reasons to like the character is being shoved in my face. In my own version of TOG I would have made Caleana pure evil with no sob story to justify her. She would still kill sure, but for the right reasons now. Kinda like Dexter, you know? Yes, I know murder is never right(except self-defense), but in novels/movies usually the bad guy goes down and everyone is happy about it.

“Some things you hear with your ears. Others, you hear with your heart.” 

•  This is more action packed than the first installment though, but I found it quite.. BORING. I skimmed a lot in this novel, and when I start skimming, I know it's not meant to be. I did finish this whole novel though, the ending was actually unique  - however, it's not enough for me to make me continue this series. It did feel a little rushed, and I'm just thinking over here, is that another plot twist that is supposed to make me like the story? A lot of people consider Sarah J. Maas the "queen." Honestly, why though? I disagree, I've read books about assassins before and they're better such as, His Fair Assassin. The queen of fantasy is J.K Rowling, it's not nice to put someone on her level. She's original, she made fantasy what it is today. 

• I pre-ordered Mass' new novel A Court of Thorns and Roses, but now I'm not sure if I want to read it now.. I'm still excited for it though, I'll still buy it alone for that stunning cover. I believe in giving an author another opportunity, so let's see. I don't see the hype about this series TOG though, it lacks depth for me. I can't connect with any of the characters and the actual content is quite boring. The dialogue is still witty and cute, but not better than the dialogue in TOG. So long Throne of Glass, you had potential to be a masterpiece, but it was nice knowing you. I won't be continuing you. 

Recommended for fans of His Fair Assassin, The book of Ivy, and The Hunger Games.

Shukran for reading this! Leave your blog links in the comments & I'll be sure to check them out & follow :) Stay in tuned pretty creatures..

“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” —Nora Ephron 

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