Crown of Midnight Review: Where the Series Really Takes Off

Is Crown of Midnight better than Throne of Glass? Here's a breakdown of the reception to Sarah J. Maas's second book — and why reviewers consistently say it surpasses the first.

8/19/20263 min read

Crown of Midnight Review: Where the Series Really Takes Off

In our Throne of Glass review, we noted that near-universal consensus points to this series improving dramatically starting with book two. Here's a breakdown of what reviewers actually say about Crown of Midnight, and why it's considered such a major step up.

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Quick Answer

Reception is overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with reviewers repeatedly and specifically stating this book surpasses Throne of Glass — a rare thing for a sequel to accomplish, and one reviewer went as far as calling it one of the most worthy sequels ever written. With the world already established, reviewers describe the story finally digging into its mysteries and character depth in a way book one's setup couldn't.

What It's About

Now serving as the King's Champion, Celaena must carry out the tyrannical king's orders while navigating a deepening web of secrets — both about the kingdom's magic and dark history, and about her own past. As mysteries surrounding ancient portals, missing magic, and the king's true ambitions unfold, Celaena's relationships with Chaol and Dorian continue to evolve amid rising stakes and real personal loss.

What Reviewers Consistently Praise

Finally moving past setup into real payoff. Reviewers repeatedly note that with book one's worldbuilding groundwork already laid, this installment can focus on mystery, plot, and character depth in a way that feels far more rewarding.

Celaena's growth as a character. Multiple reviewers describe her assassin capabilities finally feeling convincing in this book, compared to some lingering doubts in book one — she's described as balancing lethal skill with a developing conscience in a way that makes her arc genuinely compelling.

A gut-wrenching, meaningful loss. Reviewers consistently cite a major character death as one of the book's most emotionally effective moments — a sacrifice that pushes Celaena toward her larger destiny, and one reviewer specifically describes being caught off guard by how real and permanent it turned out to be.

Deepened relationships across the whole cast. Reviewers note that the dynamics between Celaena, Chaol, and Dorian evolve in genuinely meaningful ways here, with one reviewer stating their emotional connection to the characters "exploded" compared to book one.

A realistically complicated romance. Rather than idealized simplicity, reviewers appreciate that the central romance carries real uncertainty and complication, fitting for a story centered on a hired assassin serving a tyrannical king — genuine swoon-worthy moments exist, but they're never uncomplicated.

Rich, immersive worldbuilding that continues to expand. Reviewers praise the way magical elements and mysterious creatures are introduced gradually, staying just out of full view before emerging at well-timed moments that build genuine anticipation.

Quotable, confident prose. More than one reviewer highlights the writing itself as a major strength, describing dialogue that conveys character and emotion without over-explaining, leaving room for readers to form their own theories about motives.

What Reviewers Note as Minor Frustrations

Celaena missing an obvious connection. At least one reviewer found it mildly frustrating that a fairly evident plot connection between two secondary characters took Celaena longer to piece together than readers likely will.

The book raises more questions than it fully answers. Reviewers note plenty of lingering mysteries by the end — the ancient portal mechanics, the king's ultimate ambitions, and unresolved character fates all remain open, though this is generally framed as effective anticipation-building rather than a flaw.

What to Know Before You Start

Read Throne of Glass first — this continues directly from its events and character dynamics.

Real character loss occurs in this book. Reviewers are clear that this installment isn't afraid to make emotional stakes permanent.

The love triangle introduced in book one develops further here, though reviewers note it resolves with real complications rather than a clean, simple outcome.

Who This Seems Right For

  • Anyone who read Throne of Glass and wants the payoff reviewers consistently promise

  • Readers who want assassin protagonists whose skill and complexity both feel earned

  • Fans of slow-building magical mysteries with real emotional stakes attached

Amazon Link: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Final Thoughts

Based on strong, consistent reviewer praise, Crown of Midnight delivers exactly the leap in quality that makes this series worth pushing past a slower opening book for — deeper characters, real emotional stakes, and mysteries that reviewers describe as genuinely gripping rather than just serviceable.