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queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: Violence, self-harm, (traumatic) child birth, infanticide, death of a child, death of a parent, sexual assault, blood
Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake is book three in the Three Dark Crowns quartet. These books have been pretty consistent with keeping me engaged in the story, and keeps developing the characters. Arsinoe is still my favorite.
We pick up from the cliffhanger of the previous book (possible spoilers for the first two books), and we see Arsinoe, Mirabella, and Billy make it to the mainland. This is a struggle for the sisters going from being treated as queens on Fennbirn in a more equal society to now being in a patriarchal one that doesn't give women freedom. Although they survived the journey, the island is calling them back by sending Arsinoe visions and dreams of the Blue Queen (who turns out to be someone totally different than was recorded in history).
We also follow Jules Milone and her mountain cat familiar as she figures out how to use her newly discovered war-gift in conjunction with her naturalist abilities. On top of this, she is now being coerced into leading the rebellion against Queen Katherine, because the people are sick (no pun intended) of having poisoners on the throne. We finally get some explanation for what happened to Katherine in the Breccia domain, and she stopped being needlessly evil. Turns out she doesn't even have an ability! I stead she borrows from the dead queens that possessed her when she fell into the Breccia Domain .
I love seeing a rebellion! I'm also happy to continue following Jules, because she is awesome. We found out some major twists I wasn't expecting! This series certainly keeps you on your toes! And we are left with another doozy of cliffhanger. Just one book left! I can't wait to see how it wraps up and what happens to Fennbirn.
Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake is book three in the Three Dark Crowns quartet. These books have been pretty consistent with keeping me engaged in the story, and keeps developing the characters. Arsinoe is still my favorite.
We pick up from the cliffhanger of the previous book (possible spoilers for the first two books), and we see Arsinoe, Mirabella, and Billy make it to the mainland. This is a struggle for the sisters going from being treated as queens on Fennbirn in a more equal society to now being in a patriarchal one that doesn't give women freedom. Although they survived the journey, the island is calling them back by sending Arsinoe visions and dreams of the Blue Queen (who turns out to be someone totally different than was recorded in history).
We also follow Jules Milone and her mountain cat familiar as she figures out how to use her newly discovered war-gift in conjunction with her naturalist abilities. On top of this, she is now being coerced into leading the rebellion against Queen Katherine, because the people are sick (no pun intended) of having poisoners on the throne. We finally get some explanation for what happened to Katherine in the Breccia domain, and she stopped being needlessly evil. Turns out she doesn't even have an ability! I stead she borrows from the dead queens that possessed her when she fell into the Breccia Domain .
I love seeing a rebellion! I'm also happy to continue following Jules, because she is awesome. We found out some major twists I wasn't expecting! This series certainly keeps you on your toes! And we are left with another doozy of cliffhanger. Just one book left! I can't wait to see how it wraps up and what happens to Fennbirn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Child death, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Self harm
pageafter_paige's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am liking this series and want to continue. I think this book had a bit of a slower start but it picked up the pace pretty quick. I am very invested in these characters and I can feel the tension rising. This book left off on a big cliff hanger! If you’re new to fantasy and want to start with something easy to follow but still magical and lovable, yet also dark, then this is the book for you
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Blood, Self harm, War, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
_dear_reader_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Self harm, Murder, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Confinement, Death of parent, Torture, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Grief, Death, and Infertility
books_and_coffee_vibes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book seemed to drag on for me. I took forever for me to read because the first half I found so boring. I thought that the plot was being dragged on and on for no reason and I was waiting for some action that never came. This book isn’t her best as the first two were better.
The second half of the book was a lot better. It really picked up and I felt more interested to read it. At the end of the book I did not see that plot twist coming and it’s left me hanging. I can’t wait to get the next book to see where it goes.
The second half of the book was a lot better. It really picked up and I felt more interested to read it. At the end of the book I did not see that plot twist coming and it’s left me hanging. I can’t wait to get the next book to see where it goes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gore, Self harm, and Violence
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