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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
This was one of the best series I have read in a long time. I was hooked from the first book and I finished the series in three weeks. Luckily I have the two novellas from this series, but I will be so saddened once I finish those. I don't want to leave Fennbirn. I so badly want this series to be picked up for a series on TV or even movies (though a tv series would be far superior). Overall, Kendare Blake is a brilliant writer and I am looking forward to reading Champions of Fate!!!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Now that I’m done this series, what’s going to entertain me for the rest of the pandemic? haha...
I have mixed feelings about this book. I know once Mirabella died that there was no other hope of Katherine living and that even Arsinoe's fate would be up in the air, but I still can't say I'm not happy that the sisters weren't able to all live and be happy.
I would have preferred they overturned the system and ruled together or even raised up Jules by their own choice to rule to free their line from the madness battle royale. And who decided this triplet slaughter fest? Was it really the island goddess or perhaps it was some other families who were jealous of a bloodline where any of the gifts could manifest making them thus more versatile and powerful.
There are a lot more issues that have bothered me, but I don't have the time at the moment to write it all out, but I may do so for my blog.
I would have preferred they overturned the system and ruled together or even raised up Jules by their own choice to rule to free their line from the madness battle royale. And who decided this triplet slaughter fest? Was it really the island goddess or perhaps it was some other families who were jealous of a bloodline where any of the gifts could manifest making them thus more versatile and powerful.
There are a lot more issues that have bothered me, but I don't have the time at the moment to write it all out, but I may do so for my blog.
So Five Dark Fates is the fourth and final primary novel in the Three Dark Crowns series and it. Was. AMAZING. Basic rundown for those who have forgotten everything (like I did)? 3 queens are destined to battle it out for a single crown in order to rule and keep Fennbirn happy (Fennbirn is the island they live on). Stuff happens, someone should be dead but instead she is inhabited by the souls of all the queens before her. The other two refuse to die/kill their siblings and so the island gets angry. There’s also naturalist Jules who also has a war affinity and should have been drowned/killed at birth because in previous experiences, the legion cursed go crazy and mass murder everyone around them. And at the start of FDF, everyone is out to settle the score once and for all. Now what did I think?
At the start of the novel, it was a little ho hum. No one seemed to be doing much and everyone was feeling a little antsy because, well, everyone wants everyone else dead… But crossing the half way point, things started happening so quickly, this reader had to go back and reread certain parts of the previous few chapters in order to gain a better understanding of where everyone was. Now, if you have read previous novels, all the Crowns books are like shortened versions of Game of Thrones whereby everyone moves around the tiny land expanse so quickly that sometimes you can miss things. But that’s what maps are for and when reading this one, I actually pulled out my well worn copy of Three Dark Crowns so as to track everyones movements (the map changes between the first and second novels and I’m all for it because cartography is kind of my jam.)
But enough about the maps. Going in to this final instalment, both myself and many people who I have not so gracefully thrown these novels at, were worried as to how it would be concluded. But let me assure you, Blake has outdone herself with tying up all the loose ends in this one. Pretty much every character has a fitting ending, from the most beloved queen to that priestess who I just wanted to go away because eyeroll. Let me warn you though, as in Game of Thrones, the final victor was not who I expected. They deserved the monarchy, yes, but it was not how I expected it to pan out.
Being the series that it is and having a minimal amount of fighting/death (poisoning ‘traitors’ aside), the sheer volume of conflict and gore in this conclusion took me aback just a little. The scenes however are so well coordinated that it did not feel over the top or out of place, instead feeling like a logical culmination to the conflict of the Fennbirn Queens. I also loved that the island itself set out to take its revenge because there is nothing better than a chunk of land gaining sentience and inflicting its own punishment on those that have wronged it.
Also, there is a massive revelation contained within the pages of FDF that was hinted to in Two Dark Reigns but really blew the expected out of the water. To elicit an audible gasp from me is a hard task but throughout the span of 450 pages, Blake shows her writing chops as she caused me to be surprised more than once.
So I guess what I want to say is well done to Kendare Blake for bringing this epic series of novels to a close that was not only entertaining but also sensical, a rare occurrence in the current climate of fantastical novels. Characters who seemed to go by the wayside finally had a purpose, all the plotting and scheming culminated in an epic fashion and it was an all round enjoyable read. My one main criticism of the whole thing was what happened with a certain newborn because they seemed to just disappear and now I’m confused as to their purpose…
At the start of the novel, it was a little ho hum. No one seemed to be doing much and everyone was feeling a little antsy because, well, everyone wants everyone else dead… But crossing the half way point, things started happening so quickly, this reader had to go back and reread certain parts of the previous few chapters in order to gain a better understanding of where everyone was. Now, if you have read previous novels, all the Crowns books are like shortened versions of Game of Thrones whereby everyone moves around the tiny land expanse so quickly that sometimes you can miss things. But that’s what maps are for and when reading this one, I actually pulled out my well worn copy of Three Dark Crowns so as to track everyones movements (the map changes between the first and second novels and I’m all for it because cartography is kind of my jam.)
But enough about the maps. Going in to this final instalment, both myself and many people who I have not so gracefully thrown these novels at, were worried as to how it would be concluded. But let me assure you, Blake has outdone herself with tying up all the loose ends in this one. Pretty much every character has a fitting ending, from the most beloved queen to that priestess who I just wanted to go away because eyeroll. Let me warn you though, as in Game of Thrones, the final victor was not who I expected. They deserved the monarchy, yes, but it was not how I expected it to pan out.
Being the series that it is and having a minimal amount of fighting/death (poisoning ‘traitors’ aside), the sheer volume of conflict and gore in this conclusion took me aback just a little. The scenes however are so well coordinated that it did not feel over the top or out of place, instead feeling like a logical culmination to the conflict of the Fennbirn Queens. I also loved that the island itself set out to take its revenge because there is nothing better than a chunk of land gaining sentience and inflicting its own punishment on those that have wronged it.
Also, there is a massive revelation contained within the pages of FDF that was hinted to in Two Dark Reigns but really blew the expected out of the water. To elicit an audible gasp from me is a hard task but throughout the span of 450 pages, Blake shows her writing chops as she caused me to be surprised more than once.
So I guess what I want to say is well done to Kendare Blake for bringing this epic series of novels to a close that was not only entertaining but also sensical, a rare occurrence in the current climate of fantastical novels. Characters who seemed to go by the wayside finally had a purpose, all the plotting and scheming culminated in an epic fashion and it was an all round enjoyable read. My one main criticism of the whole thing was what happened with a certain newborn because they seemed to just disappear and now I’m confused as to their purpose…
you know I had my worries when I first started the series but the ending was pretty good.
Three Dark Crowns Series
- enjoyed the different chapter perspectives.
- Katherine was my fave character, I don’t know why
- I only started liking mirabella towards the end then she had to go and mess up Jules and Joseph’s relationship
- ONE DARK THRONE
- I knew that Katherine and arsinoe had powers
- More action
- More secrets
- I hope jules joins the warriors of Bastian city
- TWO DARK REIGNS
- I enjoyed the insight into Jules’ point of view
- Mirabella what is she up to? What is her plan?
- Katharine I dislike in this book, just because she thinks she’s all high and mighty now she’s queen
- FIVE DARK FATES
- more action then before
- A lot goes on and happens in this book that I’m still trying to process.
- Katherine I learned to like towards the end
- I’d have liked to have known what happened between Arsinoe and Billy after everything that happened, but the ending rounded up the series nicely
- Definitely worth a read
4/5*
#books #bookshelf #bookblogger #bookreview #books #bookstagrammer #bookshelves #igreads #goodreads #booklover #reader
- enjoyed the different chapter perspectives.
- Katherine was my fave character, I don’t know why
- I only started liking mirabella towards the end then she had to go and mess up Jules and Joseph’s relationship
- ONE DARK THRONE
- I knew that Katherine and arsinoe had powers
- More action
- More secrets
- I hope jules joins the warriors of Bastian city
- TWO DARK REIGNS
- I enjoyed the insight into Jules’ point of view
- Mirabella what is she up to? What is her plan?
- Katharine I dislike in this book, just because she thinks she’s all high and mighty now she’s queen
- FIVE DARK FATES
- more action then before
- A lot goes on and happens in this book that I’m still trying to process.
- Katherine I learned to like towards the end
- I’d have liked to have known what happened between Arsinoe and Billy after everything that happened, but the ending rounded up the series nicely
- Definitely worth a read
4/5*
#books #bookshelf #bookblogger #bookreview #books #bookstagrammer #bookshelves #igreads #goodreads #booklover #reader
This finale was deeply satisfying for me. I know there are a lot of people out there who disagree, but it is what it is. Of course there were some issues in this final installment, but overall I loved this series and feel like it concluded well. So very glad this novel picked up after the third installment, which was a bit tedious for me.