Review by lizethsreads - Three Dark Crowns

lizethsreads 's review for:

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

3.5

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I appreciated the unique concept of three sisters, each with different abilities, destined to battle for the crown. One of the strongest aspects of the book is the use of multiple points of view, it gave insight into each queen’s world and allowed for a broader understanding of their lives and challenges. But the strongest aspect of the book is also what made it harder for me to read. I did struggle with keeping track of the secondary characters. With so many names, roles, and locations introduced early on, it was difficult to stay oriented. This made it harder to stay fully immersed in the story at times. The shifting perspectives, while interesting, also felt inconsistent. Sometimes we were in the heads of the queens and at other times we were following their closest friends or random townsfolk. Especially toward the end, it became confusing to distinguish whose point of view I was reading. For example, I wasn’t always sure if I was with Arsinoe or Jules, or whether I was still following one of the queens or a side character reacting to them. This blurred perspective occasionally made it hard to tell whether I was siding with a queen based on her choices, or based on what someone else thought of her.

Overall, Three Dark Crowns had a strong atmosphere and compelling setup, but the inconsistent narrative structure and the abundance of secondary characters made it a more challenging read than expected. I’m curious enough about what happens next to consider continuing the series, but I hope the later books offer more clarity and tighter storytelling

Content Warnings