Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns #1)
Published by HarperTeen on September 20th 2016
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Pages: 398
Format: Hardcover
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.
The Review
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake is the first book in a new series with a deadly battle for the crown. On this island, the Queen always gives birth to triplets. Now these triplets are no ordinary triplets, they each have a special power. One is a poisoner, one is a naturalist and one is a elemental. The year after they turn 16 they must kill one another until only one is left standing. Separated at birth, trained in everything it means to be a royal, these young queens are now ready for the battle of their lives… or are they?
Three dark queens
Are born in a glen,
Sweet little triplets
Will never be friendsThree dark sisters
All fair to be seen,
Two to devour
And one to be QueenThree Dark Crowns – Kendare Blake
Three Dark Crowns was such an interesting read. What was once supposed to be only a duology, has now turned into a quartet I believe. Now I don’t know how Blake is going to have a battle last over four books, but I am interested to see the outcome.
Blake’s writing style was really well done. It kept me engaged with the story, as well as interested in each individual character. Katharine, the poisoner was soft spoken and dainty. Arsinoe, the naturalist is tough and rough around the edges. Mirabella, the elemental is the strongest with her gift and very beautiful. Each one has such a distinct personality that Blake really took the time to make sure you knew who was who just by the way they spoke, interacted and did what they did. I applaud her for that.
Unfortunately, the story dragged a bit for me. It started out with the introduction to the world and characters nicely, but then it focuses on the year leading up to the battle. So there was very little action and excitement in my opinion. (Besides the end). So I am definitely looking forward to the sequel and all the battles that will ensue due to the ascension year.
There was one small aspect that I quite enjoyed about the world Blake built. In the naturalist kingdom, the people with the gift all have a familiar. A familiar is an animal that they have a deep connection and lifelong bond with. One of the girls bonded with a mountain cat, another was bonding with a crow, but my favourite of all was the one who was bonded with a rooster. That cracked me up. So adorable.
Anywho, overall I was quite pleased with the start of the series and I highly recommend picking up Three Dark Crowns for what is to come in the sequels!
Let me know what you guys thought of Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake! I would love to hear your opinions as well!
Until next time,
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Kendare Blake is the author of several novels and short stories, most of which you can find information about via the links above. Her work is sort of dark, always violent, and features passages describing food from when she writes while hungry. She was born in July (for those of you doing book reports) in Seoul, South Korea, but doesn’t speak a lick of Korean, as she was packed off at a very early age to her adoptive parents in the United States. That might be just an excuse, though, as she is pretty bad at learning foreign languages. She enjoys the work of Milan Kundera, Caitlin R Kiernan, Bret Easton Ellis, Richard Linklater, and the late, great Michael Jackson, I mean, come on, he gave us Thriller.
She lives and writes in Kent, Washington, with her husband, their cat son Tyrion Cattister, red Doberman dog son Obi-Dog Kenobi, rottie mix dog daughter Agent Scully, and naked sphynx cat son Armpit McGee.
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