This is the second book in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. This post contains my thoughts on this book without any spoilers. However, it may contain spoilers for the first book. I recommend checking out my review on Throne of Glass first.
Synopsis
Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become the King’s Champion. But she is far from loyal to the crown. Though she goes to great lengths to hide her secret, her deadly charade becomes more difficult when she realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. Her search for answers ensnares those closest to her, and no one is safe from suspicion-not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a princess with a rebel heart.
Then, one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena’s world shatters, she will be forced to decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie . . . and what she is willing to fight for.
Review
Overall, I thought this book was good but I actually liked the first book better. That does not mean at all that I did not like this book. I still really enjoyed it I just think the first book was paced better. I know that is definitely an unpopular opinion. I can see how the author’s writing has improved with this book though.
The main plot is about Celaena trying to solve a mystery and figure out what the King is up to. The more we find out, the more interesting it gets. The plot of this book is continued from the first book but is on a much bigger and deeper level. We are also given more knowledge of the world and our perspective is widened.
I still really enjoyed Celaena as the main character in this book although if I’m being picky she can be a bit dramatic at times. She is totally a morally gray character which makes her that much more interesting. The dark side of her comes out more in this book.
I liked Dorian more in this book. I feel like we got to see more of his hidden side. I’m not really sure how I feel about Chaol. I think my feelings are neutral but I did enjoy the scenes where Celaena hung out with Chaol in his room. Especially when chocolate cake was involved.
I liked the plot twist at the end. It made me excited to pick up the next book. This book had a lot of tense moments that played with my emotions. The beginning was kind of slow but then something big happens and it’s a slippery slope after that with lots of action.
I’ve heard that the books get better and better as you go so I would definitely recommend picking up this book if you were unsure after finishing the first book. I’m really excited to see how the story advances in the next few books.