When kingdom come, there will be one
Synopsis
In 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. Katherine 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 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.
About the book
The story is set on a semi-secret, magical island shrouded in mist and mystery. Among those born on the island, many have one of five magical gifts: you can be an elemental who controls the elements, a naturalist with dominion over nature and animals, a warrior with the ability to fight and guide weaponry with your mind, an oracle who can read the future, or a poisoner who is immune to all toxins and an expert assassin. The island is always ruled by a queen and every queen eventually gives birth to triplet girls. Unfortunately for those girls, when they turn sixteen, they have to murder each other. And whichever queen wins, well, she gets to rule the island. In this generation, the three queens are an elemental, a naturalist, and a poisoner. The elemental is favoured to win, but the poisoners have won the last three times and won’t go down easy, and the naturalist wants to live. The book is a bit of a slow burn throughout. Blake primarily focuses on the characters’ pasts and personalities for the most part. ‘Three Dark Crowns’ focuses more on getting to know the characters and building up the magic system and the political spheres, essentially setting the stage for the rest of the series which is where the battles truly begin. So, for those who came for the blood, drama, epic showdowns, and heart-wrenching deaths, you might have to wait for book two which is ‘One Dark Throne’.
The world and characters are very well-developed. There’s a lot of care in developing the history of the island, the workings of the monarchy’s rituals/traditions, and tensions between different sects of the island and the sister-queens that represent them. The magic system is truly impressive. It is much grander and more expansive than initially anticipated, and it is set up so it can be further developed in future books. The side characters do not have much of a presence but Katherine, Mirabella, Arsinoe, and Jules are all gorgeously unique and it is very enjoyable to read from their perspectives. They all have individual character arcs and character developments through the story. Despite the struggles to stay engaged with the story, there is much to love about it. Even though the beginning is very slow-paced and there aren’t that many significant and intense scenes, the story really picks up by the end. The climax of the story or rather the final plot twist and cliffhanger really are what truly capture the readers.
Reviews and ratings
“Readers will be riveted by Blake’s ingenious world-building, stunning developments of main and supporting characters, and spiraling tensions. Highly recommended…” – School Library Journal
“…a brutal and inventive fantasy that is as addictive as it is horrifying” – Marissa Meyer, The New York Times bestselling author of ‘The Lunar Chronicles’ series
“…hypnotic, twisting, and beautiful…as satisfying as a drop of poison in an enemy’s cup” – April Genevieve Tucholke, author of ‘Wink Poppy Midnight’
“Full of mystery, intrigue, and deadly girls I wouldn’t dare cross, Fennbirn is a darkly magical world I’m both drawn to and frightened by” – Megan Shepherd, The New York Times bestselling author of ‘The Cage’ series
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‘Three Dark Crowns’ by Kendare Blake
03 Jul 2022
‘Three Dark Crowns’ by Kendare Blake
03 Jul 2022
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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!