Scan barcode
grayscale08's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, and Blood
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, War, Cursing, Child death, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Gore
Minor: Grief, Sexism, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Ableism, Alcohol, Body horror, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Forced institutionalization, and Classism
zaesbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Kendare Blake is a master of plot twists, with tiny little surprises sprinkled throughout the story. The multiple plot points going on throughout the story really helps to drive it and keep the reader engaged. Such an absolute fan. Cannot wait to see how this ends.
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Sexual assault
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Child death, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Self harm
mia_luvsreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Confinement, Infertility, and War
eddiroll's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Murder, and Violence
pageafter_paige's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Mental illness, Blood, Self harm, War, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
rinku's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Gore, Violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Infertility, War, and Confinement
kibiiiariii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood, War, Sexism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Violence, and Pregnancy
emily_mh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Death, Child death, Murder, Pregnancy, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Ableism, and Animal death
Minor: War, Abandonment, Death of parent, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Body shaming, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Vomit, Grief, Infertility, Confinement, and Infidelity
lexabrielle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
My queen ranking after finishing this book: Mirabella = Katharine << Arsinoe.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Gore and Violence