Book Review: One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns #2)

Release Date: September 19, 2017
Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: HarperTeen
Length: 464 pages
Source: Purchased Book

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, Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must face the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other.

    

Review:

Characters: Going into this book almost right after reading the previous installment, I wasn't rooting for any queen, in particular, to be seated on the throne by the end of this tale. However, as the story expands and deepens, as it is no longer a duology, we really get to see more from these characters than I ever thought we would. Arsinoe, after discovering her true gift longs to discover more about it and why she was sent to the Naturalists. Mirabella, after nearly getting attacked at the Quickening, wants to win her crown, but her love for her sisters still persists and she's shocked that Arsinoe would try and attack her even after Mirabella saved her life. Katharine, after crawling out of the Breccia Domain, is stronger than ever and she has her sights set on being the next queen and her ambitions and tactics are frightening. Even if I liked one or more of these girls less in this installment, that was more for their conduct and their personality, as characters in this story though they are all fantastic and I really liked seeing how their dynamics shifted and evolved in this installment.

Romances: So, the romances in this book are about as important to the story as the first installment, which wasn't that much, but there was a good amount of development between all couples involved. Without going into it too much, Arsinoe and Billy haven't yet fully confronted their feelings for each other, if there are true feelings there at all, then there's the fact that Billy's still a suitor and required to spend time with the other queens as well. Katharine and Pietyr are in a very rocky place ever since he shoved her down a seemingly endless pit and subjected her to who knows what horrors. Finally, Mirabella is stuck being one side of a very awkward love triangle between Joseph and Jules. I was pleasantly satisfied with how the romances developed in this installment and how some newer romances also entangled into this very tangled and sticky web.

World Building: The Ascension year begins and it's time for one queen to be Crowned. After the initial shock of just how much political intrigue there is in this book, and not even done by the three triplet queens, but their foster families, I really enjoyed how the world building was built in the first installment and while I wished, and still wish, for more clarification on just who the goddess is, I'm still holding out hope. The world did expand quite a bit though there weren't a lot of jaw-dropping twists that fleshed out the world, there are places seen that have not been seen before and new characters only referred to in the previous installment, and I can see why the author expanded this series, there's a lot still left to explore, but the bits and pieces, however large or small, that we got in this installment was fascinating and I can't wait to see how everything comes together.

Predictability: I did not expect this story to go that way. I think I had very strict expectations for this series going in and even when I saw the story diverting quite a bit, I never thought that it would get so off track. Don't get me wrong this story still sticks to its hook, but how everything comes into play in this story is phenomenal and I barely saw any of it coming. As the story progressed I began to understand and anticipate more and more, but it wasn't until one scene that had my jaw dropping that I really began to see how this story was unfolding and even got some hints on where the story might continue.

Ending: The final climax of this story is incredible, I mean, if you didn't know that this isn't the end of the story you would once you read this ending. Things get really exciting and as the story unfolds and plans are devised I still wasn't quite sure how everything was going to go down, and once the dust settles it gets kicked back up with a doozy of a cliffhanger!

Rating:

Wow! I was blown away by this story and I can't wait to see what else comes in this story. I have so many theories and ideas for where I think the story can go and I just want to know if I'm right, I hope I am!

Book Review: Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns #1)

Release Date: September 20, 2016
Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: HarperTeen
Length: 398 pages
Source: Purchased Book

When kingdom come, there will be one.

In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, 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.

    

Review:

Characters: So, before reading this story I wasn't quite sure what to make of the three queens in this story, well obviously, but mainly I wasn't sure how I would feel about all three. Going into this book I had the idea that I would glom onto one of the queens and hope that she'd make it. However, while all three queens are very different, I seriously cannot choose between them. As this story unfolds I really felt a connection to each and every one of the main characters. Katharine is a sweet little cinnamon bun that you just want to wrap up in your arms and protect, that is until you realize that perhaps she can protect herself. Arsinoe is fierce and brave, growing up in a community of love, even if her talent doesn't appear to be very strong. Mirabella, the girl that people say acts as if she's already Crowned with her stunning looks and powerful elemental gift, but deep down she remembers her sisters, specifically she remembers loving her sisters. Each of these queens is so well written and put together with an aspect to their personalities that makes it near impossible to choose between them.

Romances: With three main characters comes three different romances. Each romance has its own complications, mainly because whoever becomes queen is intended to marry someone from the Mainland in efforts to hold onto a peace treaty with them. I don't normally write about multiple romances in a single section but I'll try my best. Katharine's romance is the one least touched upon. A young lad named Pietyr offers to train her in the ways of flirting so that she can charm any and all of the suitors, however, real feelings develop, and that's really it in terms of non-spoilery things, and honestly I wish there was more to this because since it's not really touched upon there isn't really a whole lot leaving me to possibly root for them. Arsinoe's romance might not even be a romance at all, though she does form a connection of some sort with a boy from the mainland and a prospective suitor. I really enjoyed this relationship, even if it doesn't turn out to be romantic and I liked how these characters complimented each other. Finally, Mirabella's romance is too spoilery for me to talk much about but I will say that it both intrigues and infuriates me.

World Building: Going into this book I was expecting a Hunger Games-style survival story of these three queens ending in only one left standing. I knew there would most likely be other fantasy elements to it as well, but I never expected for it to be so detailed and well fleshed out. Don't get me wrong, I was expecting a fantastic book, I just assumed it would be more action-adventure and less intense fantasy. The really interesting part of this book is how the groups, that have raised these girls, interact and their own political schemes. How deeply rooted this tradition is in this kingdom is astonishing, though I do have to say that since the entire hook of this story is connected with the religious lore of this kingdom I wish we learned more about it. It just sort of feels like this is a thing that happens which people accept and there doesn't seem like a "good enough" reason as to why.

Predictability: I have to say this story threw me off my game a bit. I mean, on the whole, I wasn't able to predict that much of anything. as the story unfolded I was just along for the ride and I was totally okay with that. There were quite a few twists and turns that this story took some of which nearly made my jaw hit the floor. There is one twist though, arguably the biggest twist in this story and most definitely the last, that I thought about, dismissed, but still held onto despite what I thought was my better judgement, but when all was revealed I felt this surge of pride that I had truly picked up on something HUGE and I can't wait to see how it all ties into the next installment.

Ending: So the final climax of this story was a bit bittersweet, I mean it was awesome and epic in so many ways, but the consequences from that moment are pretty astronomical and while I was excited about the final climax, I can't help but shed a tear, metaphorically, for all that it set into motion. There is a bit of a cooldown period where things seem to get into position for the next installment followed up by a rather amazing cliffhanger.

Rating:

I really loved this tale and while it's more set up than I would have liked and I wish I knew more about the lore and mythology of this world, I have to say it's a fantastic first installment and I'm both excited and apprehensive about the next installment.