Crown of Midnight Chapters 6–11: Celaena vs. Destiny – Who’s in Control?

Book Talk for BookTok

Welcome to Book Talk for BookTok! In Episode 2 of our Crown of Midnight season, Jac and Amy analyze chapters 6–11 of Sarah J. Maas’s second book in the Throne of Glass series. Celaena Sardothien navigates haunted hallways, political games, and romantic tension, but beneath it all lies a deeper struggle between fate, freedom, and identity. This is part 1 of this week's episode.

This week, we ask:
Which expectations placed on our characters are new, and which have carried over from the previous book?

We unpack major literary themes and moments, including:
– Mirror imagery and characters as reflections of each other
– Fate vs. free will, especially for Celaena, Dorian, and Nehemia
– The weaponization of sex and gender roles
– Ownership, isolation, and who really “knows” Celaena

From Mort the talking skull to Celaena’s deadly dinner with Archer Finn, this section reveals how destiny and denial shape the heroine’s next steps. As always, we apply two academic literary lenses to guide our analysis:

– Jac uses a feminist lens to explore power, perception, and performance
– Amy uses a Marxist lens to analyze rebellion, control, and structural pressure

Spoilers ahead for Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire.

Sponsors:

Babbel: We're partnering with Babbel to gift you 55% off subscriptions, but only for our listeners. Go to Babbel.com/BOOKTALK.

ZocDoc: Stop putting off those doctor's appointments and go to Zocdoc.com/BOOKTALK to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.

Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured!
Submit them at booktalkforbooktok.com for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion.

Support the Show:
Patreon: patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok
Merch: Etsy Store

Follow Us on Social:
Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok
TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok
YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices