Crown of Midnight: Full Book Recap, Deep Dive & Theories: Meeting Aelin Galathynius, the Lost Heir of Terrasen?! MIND BLOWN

#076: This week on A Novel Bunch, we’re covering Crown of Midnight in FULL and Bunchies, this book just changed the entire game.*SPOILERS AHEAD*Celaena is officially the King’s Champion, but surprise: she’s secretly not killing his targets. Instead, she’s helping them disappear, including her latest assignment, Archer Finn, a childhood friend who reveals that rebels are searching for the lost heir of Terrasen:Aelin Galathynius.OH RLY.Meanwhile, Celaena and Chaol are getting VERY close. Nights together, dancing, birthday dates, talking about leaving Rifthold and yes, they finally become a couple.Alyssa is suffering. Dorian deserves JUSTICE.Speaking of Dorian…DORIAN HAS MAGIC.During a council meeting, his anger literally cracks stone and shatters a window. He also notices that the King, Duke Perrington, and Roland are all wearing matching black rings.Nothing ominous about that!!!Then Baba Yellowlegs drops some MASSIVE lore: the Valg are demons from another world, there are three Wyrdkeys capable of opening Wyrdgates between realms, and the King may already possess one.MULTIVERSE ALERT.And then everything falls apart.Nehemia begs Celaena to fight for Eyllwe, but Celaena refuses. Nehemia’s final words to her?“Nothing more than a coward.”Chaol later learns about a threat against Nehemia but keeps it from Celaena. He gets kidnapped, Celaena races back to the castle……and Nehemia has been murdered.Celaena completely snaps and nearly kills Chaol, until Dorian uses his magic to stop her.From there, we finally see the assassin everyone has been warning us about.Celaena hunts down Grave, walks into the King’s council carrying his head, and declares war on everyone responsible for Nehemia’s death.But the BIGGEST betrayal is still coming.Celaena eventually learns Archer ordered Nehemia’s assassination. He planted the threat, kidnapped Chaol, and manipulated Celaena into blaming him.Then he TAKES FLEETFOOT INTO A PORTAL. Obviously we lost our minds. Celaena follows and TRANSFORMS INTO FAE.She kills the creature inside the portal, saves Fleetfoot and Chaol, and then kills Archer.After everything that happened, Chaol realizes Celaena is no longer safe in Rifthold and arranges for her to be sent to Wendlyn.Before she leaves, he tells her: “I love you.”Her response? “I’m sorry.”Then Celaena whispers a date into his ear, the day her parents died. Chaol finally puts the pieces together.Celaena Sardothien isn’t just Celaena Sardothien.SHE IS AELIN ASHRYVER GALATHYNIUS.THE LOST QUEEN OF TERRASEN.Let’s get into it, Bunchies!