manon blackbeak

Manon Crochan-Blackbeak is a half Ironteeth, half Crochan witch, and one of the main protagonists of the series. She is the former heir of the Blackbeak Witch-Clan and the last surviving Crochan Queen, making her the Queen of Witches.

She becomes one of the main protagonists of the Throne of Glass series in Heir of Fire, and like most of the main characters, she is absent in Chaol’s book, Tower of Dawn.

Origins & Upbringing

Manon was born to a Crochan mother and a Blackbeak father, making her a rare hybrid. Her Crochan heritage—traditionally the mortal enemies of the Ironteeth—was kept secret. Her grandmother killed Manon’s mother when Manon was still a child, forcing Manon to kill her mother’s lover in return. This act solidified her training into the Ironteeth worldview: loyalty to the clan, obedience to the Blackbeak Matron, and emotional suppression.

From adolescence, she excelled as a warrior, assassin, and leader, eventually commanding the elite Thirteen, a fearsome coven of warriors absolutely loyal to her.

Role in the Ironteeth Legions

Manon and the Thirteen are chosen to lead the newly revived aerial legion riding wyverns for the King of Adarlan. During the trials, Manon bonds with Abraxos, a supposedly defective wyvern who turns out to be cunning, powerful, and fiercely devoted to her. Her relationship with Abraxos is one of the first cracks in her ruthlessly conditioned exterior.

As Wing Leader, Manon grows increasingly uneasy with the horrors inflicted by the witch legions and their alliances with Valg forces. Her moral compass, long-buried, slowly begins to reawaken.

Encounter with Dorian & Moral Turning Point

Manon’s capture and imprisonment in Morath lead her to cross paths with Dorian Havilliard, the future King of Adarlan. Their complicated dynamic—half attraction, half hostility—forces Manon to face the humanity she had long denied.

When Manon refuses to execute a half–Ironteeth child at her grandmother’s command, she becomes a traitor to her own clan. The Thirteen flee with her, and she is cast out of the Ironteeth.

Alliance with Aelin Galathynius

Manon joins Aelin Galathynius and her court, forming a fragile but crucial alliance. Aelin recognizes Manon’s secret Crochan heritage and challenges her to reclaim her lost birthright. Manon aims to unite the long-feuding Crochan and Ironteeth witches—not for peace only, but for survival and sovereignty.

Claiming Her Legacy

Manon travels to the Wastes and confronts the Crochans, eventually revealing her identity as the last surviving heir to the Crochan Queen. After a brutal, politically fraught trial, she is chosen to lead both Crochan and Ironteeth witches toward a shared future.

In this role, Manon begins transitioning from feared executioner to visionary ruler. She dreams not of conquest but of rebuilding the witch kingdom destroyed centuries ago.

Heartbreaking Sacrifice of the Thirteen

During the war against Erawan, when Aelin’s forces are nearly overwhelmed in the battle for the Crochan Tower, the Thirteen sacrifice themselves in a devastating explosion of magic to destroy the witch towers and save Manon’s people. This loss becomes the defining emotional moment of Manon’s arc—shattering her, yet pushing her fully into her role as a queen.

War’s End & Future Path

After Erawan and Maeve are defeated, Manon commits herself to rebuilding the lost Witch Kingdom. She carries the weight of her ancestors, her hybrid identity, and the memory of the Thirteen. Though her romantic future with Dorian remains open and unresolved, their bond suggests mutual respect, desire, and potential for alliance between their two peoples.

Manon is an extremely beautiful witch with alabaster skin, long, moon-white hair, and eyes the color of burnt gold. She has the distinct traits for the Ironteeth—a set of retractable iron fangs and nails. After meeting her, both Dorian and Aelin say she is the most beautiful woman they have ever seen.

Before magic disappeared from Erilea, Manon looked no older than sixteen; however, ten years since the magic vanished and the aging process started, she looks to be in her mid-twenties.

Manon is often cruel and ruthless, yet cunning and resourceful. She can be cold, heartless, uncaring, and icy, but after she meets Elide Lochan she begins to question her beliefs, wondering if she has to be a monster. When she is forced to kill Rhiannon Crochan, Rhiannon tells her that she, and the other Ironteeth witches, were made wicked, not born that way. She begins to see hope and love in the world and begins to see that she was not born heartless and cruel but with a heart and emotions. She is slowly growing into a witch with emotions to challenge the others who think that they do not.

Manon also forms a relationship with Dorian Havilliard in Queen of Shadows and throughout Kingdom of Ash which strengthens her emotions and makes her see more love in the world.

She is loyal to the Thirteen and shares an affectionate relationship with Elide.

• Immortality: Through magic, Manon can maintain a youthful appearance and prevent physical aging. • Ironteeth Physiology: As an Ironteeth witch Manon possesses sharp, retractable iron teeth and claws. • Magic: Manon has inherent magical power that could be released in the form of the Yielding. • Flight: Manon is capable of flight through riding her wyvern, Abraxos, or her broomstick. • Combat: Manon is proficient in combat using her Ironteeth weapons and traditional weaponry.