Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, 2)

Never trust an assassin.

Celaena's story continues in the second book in this complete, #1 bestselling Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, author of the Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series.

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.

The second book in the #1 bestselling Throne of Glass series returns readers to a land destroyed by liars, where one woman's truth is the only thing that can save them all.

Other books in this series include:
Throne of Glass
Heir of Fire
Queen of Shadows
Empire of Storms
Tower of Dawn
Kingdom of Ash
The Assassin's Blade (prequel novellas)

Sarah Janet Maas (born March 5, 1986) is a #1 New York Times bestselling American author who has fundamentally shaped the modern "romantasy" genre. Born and raised in Manhattan, Maas spent her childhood exploring museums and reading global fairy tales, though she often felt frustrated by the lack of fierce, compelling heroines in fantasy literature. Drawing inspiration from strong pop-culture figures like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sailor Moon, she began writing the stories she wanted to read.

At sixteen, Maas started drafting a dark twist on the Cinderella fairy tale—imagining her not as a servant, but as a deadly assassin. She serialized the story, originally titled Queen of Glass, on the writing platform FictionPress, where it quickly became one of the site's most popular works. She continued developing her craft at Hamilton College, graduating magna cum laude in 2008 with a degree in creative writing and religious studies.

Her debut novel, retitled Throne of Glass, was published by Bloomsbury in 2012 and became a massive international hit, ultimately spanning an eight-book epic series. In 2015, Maas launched her second major series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR). Initially a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, the series transitioned her work into the "new adult" and adult fantasy spaces. The ACOTAR series became a viral sensation, largely driven by massive popularity on TikTok. In 2020, she introduced her third ongoing adult urban fantasy series, Crescent City.

With over 75 million copies sold worldwide and translations in nearly 40 languages, Maas stands as one of the most successful contemporary authors. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, whom she met in college, and their two children.

“Action-packed . . . What a ride!” ―Booklist on The Assassin's Blade

“A thrilling read.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Throne of Glass

“An epic fantasy readers will immerse themselves in and never want to leave.” ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on Crown of Midnight

“Celaena is as much an epic hero as Frodo or Jon Snow!” ―New York Times bestselling author Tamora Pierce on Heir of Fire

“Packed . . . with brooding glances, simmering sexual tension, twisty plot turns, lush world building, and snarky banter.” ―Booklist on Queen of Shadows

“Tightly plotted, delightful escapism.” ―Kirkus Reviews on Empire of Storms

“Turns a corner from sprawling epic to thrilling psychological fantasy.” ―HuffPost on Tower of Dawn

“A worthy finale to one of the best fantasy book series of the past decade.” ―Time on Kingdom of Ash

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas is the second book in the *Throne of Glass* series and continues the story of Celaena Sardothien, the famous assassin who has won the competition to become the King’s Champion. After surviving the deadly trials in the first book, Celaena now serves the cruel King of Adarlan. On the surface, she appears to obey him, carrying out his orders and killing his enemies. But in truth, Celaena is hiding a secret: she is not actually murdering the people the king sends her after. Instead, when she believes they are innocent or do not deserve death, she helps them disappear and brings back false proof to convince the king that the job is done.

Celaena’s position is dangerous because the king is ruthless and powerful. If he discovers her deception, he will destroy her and anyone connected to her. Still, Celaena cannot bring herself to become the king’s weapon completely. She has suffered under his rule, and she knows how much pain he has caused across the empire. At the same time, she is not yet ready to openly rebel against him. Much of the novel shows her struggling between survival and conscience. She wants freedom, but she is trapped in a role that forces her to live close to the enemy.

At the glass castle in Rifthold, Celaena’s relationships become more complicated. Dorian Havilliard, the crown prince, still cares about her, but their romance has ended. He respects her and remains drawn to her, yet he also begins facing his own problems. Dorian discovers that he has magic, even though magic has been banned and supposedly destroyed by his father years earlier. This terrifies him because if the king learns the truth, Dorian could be imprisoned, used, or killed. His secret power makes him question everything about himself and his family. He begins to understand that the king’s cruelty is not only political but deeply unnatural and connected to dark forces.

Celaena grows closer to Chaol Westfall, the Captain of the Guard. Chaol is loyal, disciplined, and honorable, but he is also loyal to the crown, which creates tension. He cares for Celaena and wants to protect her, but he does not fully understand the depth of her hatred for the king or the secrets she carries. Their relationship becomes romantic, and for a short time, Celaena experiences happiness and tenderness with him. Chaol gives her a sense of safety, and she allows herself to imagine a life that is not ruled by violence. But their love is fragile because both of them are standing on opposite sides of truths they do not fully share.

The story becomes darker when Celaena is ordered to kill Archer Finn, a charming courtesan from her past who is suspected of being involved in a rebel movement. Celaena knows Archer and is unsure whether he is truly guilty. As she investigates him, she becomes drawn into a world of political secrets, rebel plans, and hidden resistance against the king. Archer tells her about people who are trying to fight Adarlan’s tyranny, and Celaena begins to learn more about the rebel movement working in the shadows. However, trust is difficult in this world. Almost everyone has secrets, and it is not always clear who is honest and who is using her.

Nehemia, the princess of Eyllwe and Celaena’s close friend, plays an important role in the novel. Nehemia is brave, intelligent, and deeply committed to freeing her people from Adarlan’s oppression. She and Celaena care for each other, but their friendship becomes strained because Nehemia knows more than she reveals. She wants Celaena to take a stronger stand against the king, but Celaena refuses to become involved in rebellion. Celaena has already lost so much, and she fears what open defiance would cost her. Nehemia believes Celaena has a greater destiny, while Celaena wants to avoid being pulled into another cause that could destroy her.

A major turning point comes when Nehemia is brutally murdered in the castle. Her death devastates Celaena and pushes her into a state of grief and rage. She feels betrayed by everyone, especially Chaol, because he knew there might be a threat to Nehemia but did not tell her in time. Even though Chaol did not intend for Nehemia to die, Celaena sees his silence as unforgivable. In her fury, she attacks him and nearly kills him. This moment breaks the trust between them and changes their relationship completely. Celaena’s grief shows the depth of her love for Nehemia, but it also reveals how terrifying she can be when pain takes control of her.

After Nehemia’s death, Celaena stops holding back. She hunts for the truth and discovers that Archer is not the noble rebel he pretended to be. He was involved in Nehemia’s death and manipulated events for his own benefit. Celaena confronts him and kills him, finally accepting the harsh truth that she has been deceived. Nehemia’s murder was also connected to a larger plan meant to push Celaena toward action. This makes the loss even more painful because Celaena realizes that her friend may have knowingly sacrificed herself to force Celaena to face her destiny.

Throughout the novel, mysterious magical elements grow more important. Celaena explores secret passages beneath the castle and discovers ancient symbols, hidden tombs, and dark creatures connected to the king’s power. She learns more about Wyrdmarks, strange magical symbols that can open portals and control powerful forces. The king’s rule is not just based on armies and fear; it is tied to forbidden magic and something much darker. These discoveries expand the story beyond palace politics and show that the threat facing the world is far greater than Celaena first understood.

The biggest revelation comes near the end of the book, when Celaena’s true identity is uncovered. Chaol discovers that she is not just Celaena Sardothien, the assassin. She is actually Aelin Galathynius, the lost princess and rightful heir of Terrasen, believed to have died years earlier when Adarlan conquered her kingdom. This changes everything. Celaena has been hiding from her past, her royal blood, and the responsibility that comes with it. Her anger toward the king is not only because of his cruelty in general, but because he destroyed her family, her kingdom, and her childhood.

Chaol, realizing how dangerous her identity is and how unsafe she is in Rifthold, arranges for Celaena to be sent away to Wendlyn under the excuse of carrying out another mission for the king. He believes this will protect her and give her a chance to survive, though it also separates them. Celaena understands what he has done, and though their relationship is damaged, the ending suggests that her journey is entering a new stage. She is no longer only an assassin trapped in service to a tyrant. She is a queen in hiding, with a past she must finally face.

Crown of Midnight is a story about grief, betrayal, identity, and awakening. Celaena begins the book trying to survive by pretending to serve the king, but by the end, she is pushed closer to becoming the person she was always meant to be. The novel deepens the world of the series by introducing stronger political conflict, darker magic, and the truth about Celaena’s heritage. It is more emotional and intense than the first book, showing that freedom will not come easily and that Celaena’s greatest battles are still ahead.