Jaclyn’s Review: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

 

Three Dark Crowns
written by Kendare Blake
published by HarperTeen 2016

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Did I enjoy this book? This one is definitely for fantasy buffs. If you are OK with jumping into a story about a matriarchal kingdom (queendom?) where people have supernatural powers like controlling animals, controlling the elements, and eating poison without consequence–this book is for you!

I thought this book was well written. I liked the characters that I was supposed to like, and I hated the characters I was supposed to hate. The characters from “the island” don’t really use contractions when speaking, which makes their speech sound halting and formal. I thought this was a great way to convey “otherness,” and it contrasted with the speech from the “mainlanders.” My only complaint throughout the book was that I thought the plot moved too slowly. I’d routinely check my progress and think “there is no way she can wrap up this plot with *this* much of the book left!” Turns out–I was right! Three Dark Crowns is the first book of a series, which I didn’t realize until the end of the book. With this knowledge, the author did a great job with character development–giving you enough background to get you through the first book, while leaving room for more in the subsequent books. The ending was EXACTLY what I wanted the ending to be–not predictable, not neat. I immediately started searching for a release date for the next book.

 

 

Would I recommend it? Yes, I would recommend this book. I think this book would be good for teenagers (some threatened/implied violence, but nothing too crazy) through adults. The main characters are supposed to be 16, and I feel like that would be a good age for a reader–though I certainly enjoyed it as an adult! I’m looking forward to the rest of the series!

 

 

About the book – from Goodreads: 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.

If only it was that simple. Katharine is unable to tolerate the weakest poison, and Arsinoe, no matter how hard she tries, can’t make even a weed grow. The two queens have been shamefully faking their powers, taking care to keep each other, the island, and their powerful sister Mirabella none the wiser. But with alliances being formed, betrayals taking shape, and ruthless revenge haunting the queens’ every move, one thing is certain: the last queen standing might not be the strongest…but she may be the darkest.

 

 

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** This post first appeared on Every Free Chance Books (everyfreechance.com) on November 21, 2016.