A review by daumari
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

3.0

Crown of Midnight is slightly better than its predecessor because we get some actual deaths (I think the on screen kill count is higher, for sure) for a book ostensibly about a teenage assassin, and our leads definitely spend more time investigating the central plot (with Feelings along the way!)

I...still don't really like the protagonist, y'all. I appreciate having flaws in your protagonist, but the scene where Nehemia is asking Celaena to help do *anything* and Celaena's like "Why should I help you possibly get people killed; why can't I be selfish?" HOOBOY, I'm reminded of people who see modern societal struggles and shrug with, "Well, it doesn't affect *me* personally so why should I care about [black lives/immigration/etc.]"

Spoiler

And like in real life, it's the indifference of said shruggers who lead to the deaths of people of color, wtf. Farewell, only sensible character Nehemia.

I did notice a poison (bloodbane) is used in both Crown of Midnight & A Court of Mist and Fury- coincidence? Overlapping worlds? Or does the author like to use the same fantasy poisons? Both seem to allude to the presence of fae...

Will continue reading the series probably because I like completing things.