This is the second book in the 'Throne of Glass' series.
Background (with minor spoilers): In the debut novel, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is released from slavery in a salt mine.....
.....to
compete in a contest set up by King Havilliard of Adarlan, a tyrannical
and oppressive ruler whose court is in Rifthold. The contest winner
will win a large amount of gold and become the king's 'Champion' - his
personal assassin.
During
the competition - with nice rooms, good food, new clothes, and a maid -
Celaena regains her beauty and poise. Being intelligent, talented,
well-read, and well-spoken, Celaena draws the attention of two members
of the king's retinue.
The two courtiers, who are actually close friends, are the Captain of the Guard Chaol Westfall.....
.....and
Prince Dorian Havilliard, the king's oldest son. Both men are attentive
to Caelana, but she's wary of getting seriously involved with either
one.
Celaena
wins the competition, and becomes King Havilliard's 'Champion', which
means she's obliged to kill anyone the king wants to dispatch.
*****
As
'Crown of Midnight' opens, Celaena - who King Havalliard ordered to
kill Lord Nirall and his wife - strides into the monarch's Council
Chamber carrying a sack. Celaena presents the king with the decaying
severed head and hand of a man, and the rotting severed hand of a woman -
both hands bearing distinctive rings.
Satisfied
that Celaena completed her assigned task, King Havilliard says "There's
a growing rebel movement here in Rifthold, a group of individuals who
are willing to do anything to get me off the throne...Your next
assignment is to root out and dispatch them all before they become a
true threat to my empire." The king goes on, "There are several people
on the list of suspected traitors, but I will give you one name at a
time. The castle is crawling with spies." And the king passes Celaena a
piece of paper with the name 'Archer Finn.'
Celaena
is shocked because she's known Archer Finn since she was a child.
Celaena has no intention of killing Archer, and in fact, Celaena hasn't
assassinated any 'traitors' for King Havilliard. Instead, Celaena warned
the 'victims' to leave the kingdom, and used decaying corpses from the
morgue to fool the monarch.
Celaena
arranges to meet Archer, a handsome courtesan, and - in return for
information about the king's enemies - gives Archer four weeks to get
his affairs in order and leave the region.
Celaena
plans to use Archer's information against the king. For months, Celaena
and her friend Princess Nehemia of Ellywe, whose population King
Havilliard has decimated, have been plotting against the monarch. 
And
Celaena has resources. She discovered hidden tunnels beneath the
castle, and found the ancient tomb of Elena, the first queen of Adarlan.
Queen
Elena's spirit wants to rid the kingdom of evil King Havilland, and her
ghost provides assistance to Celaena. By way of a talking doorknocker
called Mort, Elena says the king has acquired supernatural powers, and
Celaena must find the source of his powers and take it away.
In
her quest to learn how to dethrone King Havilliard, Celaena confronts
danger and death in Rifthold, and encounters hellish demons in the
castle's tunnels. Finally, Celaena finds a book and a riddle that point
her in the right direction.
The
riddle speaks of a trio of hidden Wyrdkeys (ancient magic symbols).
Whoever finds all three Wyrdkeys will be able to open a Wyrdgate and
acquire great power. It seems King Havilliard has found one Wyrdkey,
which helped him conquer neighboring regions, but he's searching for the
other two symbols.....so he can take over the world.
<
In the midst of all this, there's a great deal happening in Rifthold:
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King Havilliard places Lord Roland Havilliard of Meah (Prince Dorian's cousin) on his council, and Roland has an agenda. 
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Celaena
decides Prince Dorian isn't an appropriate match for her, and she
becomes romantically involved with Captain of the Guard Chaol Westfall.
Regardless, Dorian and Chaol remain close friends. 
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Prince Dorian has an experience that will change his life. 
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Prince
Dorian's spoiled ten-year-old brother Hollin returns from school, and
the Queen engages the 'Carnival of Mirrors' to entertain Hollin and the
court.
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At
the Carnival of Mirrors, Celaena consults a witch called Baba
Yellowlegs about Wyrdkeys - not knowing the witch has secret plans.
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Chaol
Westfall's father, Lord Westfall of Anielle - from whom Chaol is
estranged - comes to Rifthold to try to convince Chaol to return home.
As
the story unfolds, Celaena learns that people are not always what they
seem, and she experiences grief and enlightenment. At the book's climax,
Celaena embarks on a special assignment for King Havilliard, and Chaol
Westfall learns a secret. It will be interesting to see what happens
next.
The novel is engaging and moves the story along nicely. Recommended to fans of heroic fantasy books.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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