Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

After being named the King's Champion in Throne of Glass (2012), Celaena Sardothien serves as the king of Adarlan's personal assassin--at least, she pretends to--in a densely plotted sequel. If the king catches Celaena disobeying his orders, he will execute her closest friends. However, she can't stomach advancing his agenda, especially if it means murdering innocents in cold blood. When the king uncovers traitors in the city, the first name on his hit list is Archer Finn, a popular courtesan and Celaena's old friend. Plotting Archer's escape, Celaena takes the opportunity to make him her personal informant about the rebellion, which Celaena hopes will help her infer the king's plans--plans she is thoroughly conflicted about challenging, for as much as she hates the king, she thinks opposing him would only get her killed. Secrets damage her nuanced relationships with Chaol and Nehemia. (The complex friendship between these two formidable women is a particular treasure.) Meanwhile, Celaena unravels the mystery of Adarlan's sudden strength, a magical subplot that intersects with Dorian's dangerous self-exploration. Vivid Celaena, loving and brutally violent in turn, is a fully realized heroine. The ending comes at the right time--at the close of one storyline and prologue of another--to leave readers impatient for the next installment. An epic fantasy readers will immerse themselves in and never want to leave. (Fantasy. 14 & up)

ALA Booklist

Now that Celaena Sardothian is safely ensconced as the king's assassin, after Throne of Glass (2012), she's begun to consider the true price of her freedom. Tasked with killing her tyrant king's enemies, Celaena has a tricky balance to strike: proving her loyalty and preserving her life, and trusting the growing voices decrying the king's power-hungry schemes. But that balance crumbles with an unexpected death and a frenzied search for both the killer and the secrets that murder was meant to hide. Meanwhile, Celaena finds herself in the midst of a steamy love triangle, with jealous glares flying almost as fast as her own daggers. There's a lot to like in Maas' latest gic, witches, betrayal, love, page-flipping action d it's balanced by an equally tantalizing secret: Who is Celaena, and what is she hiding? It's probably best to start at the beginning of the series, and fans will be satisfied not only by the intricate plot, dishy romance, and rich world building but they will be thrilled by the prospect of deepening adventures in the next volume. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Author tours, conference appearances, social-media campaigns, global marketing: this up-and-coming author will be making the rounds. Expect her large online fan base to follow.

Horn Book

As the King's Champion, Celaena must assassinate anyone the king chooses, but she undermines his rule--and stays alive--by faking her targets' deaths. Secrets abound in this epic fantasy's second volume, and rebel activity, the king's nefarious plans, a murder mystery, a love triangle, and figuring out whom to trust keep the bad-ass heroine busy and readers engaged through the final reveal.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

After being named the King's Champion in Throne of Glass (2012), Celaena Sardothien serves as the king of Adarlan's personal assassin--at least, she pretends to--in a densely plotted sequel. If the king catches Celaena disobeying his orders, he will execute her closest friends. However, she can't stomach advancing his agenda, especially if it means murdering innocents in cold blood. When the king uncovers traitors in the city, the first name on his hit list is Archer Finn, a popular courtesan and Celaena's old friend. Plotting Archer's escape, Celaena takes the opportunity to make him her personal informant about the rebellion, which Celaena hopes will help her infer the king's plans--plans she is thoroughly conflicted about challenging, for as much as she hates the king, she thinks opposing him would only get her killed. Secrets damage her nuanced relationships with Chaol and Nehemia. (The complex friendship between these two formidable women is a particular treasure.) Meanwhile, Celaena unravels the mystery of Adarlan's sudden strength, a magical subplot that intersects with Dorian's dangerous self-exploration. Vivid Celaena, loving and brutally violent in turn, is a fully realized heroine. The ending comes at the right time--at the close of one storyline and prologue of another--to leave readers impatient for the next installment. An epic fantasy readers will immerse themselves in and never want to leave. (Fantasy. 14 & up)