Summary Of The Novel 'Throne Of Glass' By Sarah J Maas

“Celaena heard it now as if for the first time, the story of a Fae blessed with a horrible, profound power that was sought by kings and lords in every kingdom. While they used her to win wars and conquer nations, they all feared her―and kept their distance” (118). Sarah J Maas is an American Author best recognized for her Throne of Glass series. Its second installment, Crown of Midnight, follows Celaena as she spars with her loyalty. One grievous night forces her to choose allies and foes. To emphasize the main conflict, Maas utilizes themes of rebellion, oppression, and death.

The King of Adarlan is vastly known as a megalomaniac, from his own son to the prisoners in Callaculla. The king is on a quest to conquer all of Erilea. But in order

The kingdom of Eyllwe is a victim of Adarlan's dominion. The rebel princess of Eyllwe, Nehemia Ytger, is disheartened by her people's enslavement. Citizens of Eyllwe are subjugate to the harsh conditions of the prisons Callaculla and Endovier. "'My people are afraid... I must find a way to help my people. When does gathering information become a stalemate? When do we act'" (20-21)? As the proclaimed “Light of Eyllwe,” she must and is willing to take measures. On the contrary, Celaena is not. She firmly believes Nehemia will lose more than she gains. Thereafter, an Adarlan singer Rena Goldsmith is invited to the castle. There, she baffled everybody with a forbidden and archaic song of magic. “‘I have worked ten years to become famous enough to gain an invitation to the castle. So I could sing those songs, and you would know that we are still here—you may slaughter thousands, but we who keep the old ways still remember” (120). Rena embodies the oppressed. She did not come to the castle to heed warning, she simply reminds the tyrant that those subjugate will never forget what chaos he poured onto them. Albeit magic is prohibited, the oppressed eternally have the power to

As King’s Champion and notorious assassin, it is Celaena’s duty to kill. On the contrary, she has not killed anyone until after Nehemia Ytger was murdered. “That vibrant, fierce, loving soul; the princess who had been called the Light of Eyllwe; the woman who had been a beacon of hope—just like that, as if she were no more than a wisp of candlelight, she was gone. When it had mattered most, Celaena hadn’t been there. Nehemia was gone” (233). Consequently, Nehemia’s passing resonates with Celaena. Her raging fit of anger and remorse drove her to stab Chaol, who knew about Nehemia’s assassin beforehand and stood by, murder her assassin, and impale the mastermind behind the princess’ death. For the most part, Celaena still felt hollow. She was everything Celaena is not. Idyllic, bright, inspiring, why must a light like Nehemia be snuffed out? To answer, her death kick started a powerful message to the Adarlanian king. “‘You will not understand yet, but… I knew what my fate was to be, and I embraced it. I ran toward it. Because it was the only way for things to begin changing, for events to be set into motion. But no matter what I did, Elentiya, I want you to know that in the darkness of the past ten years, you were one of the bright lights for me. Do not let that light go out’” (363). From that moment on, Celaena knew what to do. She will no longer be a coward, she will complete what Nehemia has started regardless of the costs.