Title: Five Dark Fates
Author: Kendare Blake
Series/Standalone: Three Dark Crowns Series (Book #4)
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 452
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2019
Format: Audiobook
"After the battle with Katharine, the rebellion lies in tatters. Juless legion curse has been unbound, leaving her out of her mind and unfit to rule. Arsinoe must find a cure, even as the responsibility of stoping the ravaging mist rests heavy on her shoulders, and her shoulders alone. Mirabella has disappeared.
Queen Katharine's rule over Fennbirn remains intact- for now. But her attack on the rebellion exacted a high price: her beloved Pietyr. Without him, who can she rely upon when Mirabella arrives, seemingly under a banner of truce? As oldest and youngest circle each other, and Katharine begins to yearn for the closeness that Mirabella and Arsinoe share, the dead queens hiss caution- Mirabella is not be trusted.
In the conclusion to the Three Dark Crowns series, three dark sisters will rise to fight as the secrets of Fennbirn's history are laid bare. Allegiance will shift. Bonds will be tested, and some broken forever.
The fate of the island lies in the hand of its queens."
My Rating: 4.5/5
I can't believe that this riveting series is actually over. And what an ending at that. I've been reading this series for a while now and have grown so attached to different characters as well as the island of Fennbirn itself, although sometimes growing fearful of the same characters and atmosphere. Kendare Blake's writing is truly transportive and it puts you at the heart of the story of this island, filled with magical abilities, warring politics and dynamic characters. The only reason that I ended up docking .5 stars is the ending wasn't all I hoped for. I just had envisioned it going a completely different direction and while it was good to be surprised, for myself personally it did fall al little flat. I hope to continue reading works by this author and hope to revisit this world often.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
I haven't written one of these in a long time and this is kind of the space that I used to write my full feelings, spoilers included. It isn't my best writing work but its where I rant or gush about characters and scenes, etc. I just felt that after the conclusion of this series I need to write my feelings based on character dynamics that changed throughout the story.
Do I remember every tiny detail that went on in the series? Of course no because I read these over the course of a year and there was quite a gap for me between the third one and the finale in the series.
This series has such a great setting on the island, shrouded by mist and in more ways than one the mist starts to take on characteristics itself. It is interesting to explore the different realms on the island. It really gives a great impression of how each of our queens is raised and how different they are from each other. The idea of being on a magical, mysterious island is also so intriguing just in concept in all.
I also think that the political aspect is just amazing in the series, the way these queens are thrown at each other to compete and win. Along with the families that come with this is just an amazing aspect. I hated the Aarons at the beginning of this series, but the more I heard about Natasha the more I started to respect her choices and how she raised Katharine. I only wish that she had helped her through the struggle with the dead queens, but I understand why her character had to be killed in order for other aspects to happen. I think that Mirabella had one of the most interesting childhoods. She was reckless with her abilities and also had a memory of her sibling so in order to understand her, you must understand that at the temple in some ways she was almost worshipped (or that's how I interpreted it).
Let's talk about some (not all ok, I'd be here forever) ....
Characters:
Mirabella: Her ending wrecked me. I think that she was such a strong person physically as well as emotionally. She was the only one who was willing to put herself in such danger repeatedly to give love to siblings that didn't even remember her childhood. I think that watching her go from graceful Priestess pet to rebel and back to warrior was so interesting to watch. I just wish that she had met a different end, but I do understand why this hand to happen.
Arsinoe: I'm just going to say it. I wish that she would have taken the throne. I'm under the opinion those who don't want to rule often do the best job. Because they are grateful and understanding to those who they rule over. I do wonder what will happen in her life. Would she end up birthing triplets in the long run?
Katharine: She was absolutely terrifying, but she was also the underdog, so it makes you wonder how she would have lived throughout the storyline without the dead queens. And how much of her personality in the last 3 books were based strictly on those inhabiting her? I think it started slow and built to be out of control. In some ways, I was grateful at how she ended, while in others I was sad.
Juless: I didn't like that she was the one who ended up being the leader. She just didn't seem to have the conviction for it. She didn't stand for what she believed in frequently enough it bothered me. I do like her as a character and Camden as well, I just wish she hadn't gotten the ending she had. I mean she was happy, but not what I wanted personally.
Pietyr: Who would have thought at the end of this whole thing I would like this asshole? I thought from the start that he was a piece of junk up until the end of Book 3 and through until the tower scene. It was a true turning point for him.
Billy: I hoped for more for him, but throughout the series he had to become the "man" of his house back on the mainland. That being said he did fight beside Arsinoe through so many things that were certainly not his fight.
Joseph: His death still hurts me.
Overall this is a great damn series. If you've read it fully let me know your thoughts down below.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Two Dark Reigns
Author: Kendare Blake
Series/Standalone: Three Dark Crowns Series (Book #3)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 464
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2018
Format: Audiobook
"Queen Katharine has waited her entire life to wear the crown. But now that she finally has it, the murmurs of dissent grow louder by the day. There's also the alarming issue of whether or not her sisters are actually dead- or if they're waiting in the wings to usurp the throne.
Mirabella and Arsinoe are alive, but in hiding on the mainland and dealing with a nightmare of their own: being visited repeatedly by a spectre they think might be the fabled Blue Queen. Though she says nothing, her rotting bony finger pointing out to sea is clear enough: return to Fennbirn.
Jules, too, is in a stranger place- in disguise. And her only confidants, a war-gifted girl named Emilia and her oracle friend Mathilde, are urging her to take on a role she can't imagine filling: a legion-cursed queen who will lead a rebel army to Katharine's doorstep.
There is an uprising that the mysterious Blue Queen may have more to do with than anyone could have guessed- or expected."
My Rating: 5/5
This was just another enthralling installment in the series. I love this series so much it's political, magical and dark. Everything I love from a fantasy. I especially would recommend the audiobooks the narration is beautiful and atmospheric without being over the top. I will say that upon starting out the series it is hard to keep track of the characters as each sister has their own group that comes with them. But please if anything about three sisters, a magical island and a throne that may belong to only one of them interests you I urge you to pick it up.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So let's just start by saying that I absolutely love this series. It is dark, political and fantasy. It was interesting to see the past in this world.
The Young Queens:
I really enjoyed that the queens were young enough to not quite understand what was going to happen between them. I didn't realize that they didn't know from birth what their roles were going to be. Watching them together, then watching them split apart was hard, but important to better understand their characters in the main series. I especially enjoyed Mirabella's storyline because it helps us to understand why she still remembered her sisters so vividly. It was horrible but beautiful. Exactly what I've come to expect from the series (I mean this in the best possible way.
The Oracle Queen:
I think that this is one of my favourite novellas to have read in any series. There are so many hints dropped in the main storyline about the "Mad Oracle Queen" who is the reason that any Oracle queen born is put to death. Watching how this queens story unfolded was heart-wrenching. I can't imagine what she must have gone through in her last years in the tower. It also helped us better understand the families that remain in great powerful houses under the queens.
I enjoyed these novellas immensely and can't wait to finish the series and see how Kendare Blake manages to wrap the story. That being said, I know that I will be sad when it has come to a close.
Final Line: "'I do like it, Gilbert. I love it.'"
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: One Dark Throne
Author: Kendare Blake
Series/Standalone: Three Dark Crowns Series (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 464
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2017
Format: Audiobook
"The battle for the Crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail?
With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before- ones that put those around her in danger she can't seem to prevent.
In this enthralling sequel to Kendare Blake's New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns, Fernbirn's deadliest queens must face the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other."
My Rating: 4.5/5
This book was the sequel we deserve. This series is so well done. The world-building is phenomenal and it seems that in the third book we get to explore the neighbouring mainland. I can hardly wait to see how different characters are viewed there versus how they are viewed on the island. The character development was also amazing. The relationships between the sisters and their respected houses are ever-changing. There were some hard-hitting changes of alliances which were unexpected. I will warn anyone interested in this series there is some action but overall this is a political drama.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Three Dark Crowns
Author: Kendare Blake
Series/Standalone: Three Dark Crowns (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 403
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2016
Format: Audiobook
"When kingdom come, there will be one.
In every generation on the island of Fernbirn, a set of triplets is born- three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.
But becoming the Queen Crowned isn't solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it's not just a game of win or lose... it's life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.
The last queen standing gets the crown."
My Rating: 5/5
I was unsure of whether this book would truly draw my interest. I had heard some people say that the plotline and the action were slow. That being said this book is filled with political intrigue and world-building. It's done in a way that is interesting and entertaining for the reader without dumping things on them all at once. I will say that I'm very interested in the world and what will happen to the queens. I'm deeply invested in the characters. and the world at this point. I'm extremely curious about the past of the islands and the mainland.
I would also recommend the audiobook. It helps to keep track of the different perspectives and different areas in which the story takes place.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
