When something surpasses the original, I call it Emperor Strikes Back, because it is one of the greatest sequels of all time, and one of the best Star Wars films ever. Off topic, I know but there’s a point to it. Heir Of Fire pulled an Emperor Strike Back.
No spoilers, but spoilers if you haven’t read Throne of Glass. Warnings over.
Celaena is now the King’s Champion and that title comes with her doing what she was created to do…kill. The King gives her a name and she must kill them, without question, and prove that she completed the task. Even though she’s won the competition, the war has just begun. Something evil still lurks in the castle and the King is aware.
This is where it starts to get confusing. Celaena learns that there are three keys, wrydkeys, that open the Wydgate. Basically anyone who has them are the most powerful, like some Gandalf all mighty. She must find them before the King does because he’s definitely someone you don’t want to have all that power. With all the clues, and riddles and fae lore, it was starting to get harder and harder to keep track of it all.
The names alone felt like I was reading Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings, add the faes and all powerful sword and powerful keys, I leaned more on the Lord of the Rings. Love both, but was just stating it was a bit rough to get through. I will say that with all the clues I swear I thought it was gonna go one way for it to spin and shock me. Props for that!
It was interesting to see Celaena’s and Chaol relationship blossom into something that I kind of some saw coming yet it took me but surprise. It was more of a “okay sure” than a “FUCK YES, I SHIP IT” reaction. Still on the fence on my shipping status. But what I saw coming was that this chick was going to be pushed to the edge and sure enough it happened but it was bad ass. Hasn’t she suffered enough? What was done did have me going, “was that really necessary to point her in the right direction?”
What I most definitely did not see coming was the course in Dorian’s story. Reading I saw Dorian as just someone that completed the love triangle between Celaena, and Chaol. But let me just saw it did break my heart a little bit when Dorian and Chaol would talk. I applaud Sarah J. Maas for her ability to make you think a character can be just a secondary character and make them a very important one.
This book did answer some questions you had from book 1 but left you with a ton more. Which I love! It makes you want to pick up the next book and continue on the journey. I mean there’s 4 more books left! Answer some, leave me guessing, answer some, leave me guessing and then give it a Return of the King ending. That’s a bad ass ending if you didn’t understand the reference.
Crown of Midnight, surprised me and glad it did. I’m glad I continued on and I want to see more of the characters and how it all plays out. There were some areas where I was really confused but it picked up and it managed to have a good pace. I had a really good time with it and would recommend it. And if you’re like me and didn’t really enjoy Throne of Glass, believe me when I say that this redeemed itself.
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