Three Dark Crowns

The dark YA fantasy tale of a brutal matriarchy, and its vicious method of choosing its rulers.

On an island kingdom steeped in magic and sadistic tradition, triplet girls are always born to the ruling queen. When they come of age, it is expected that these young queens battle each other to the death for the right to rule. This generation’s sisters are Katherine the poisoner, Arsinole the naturalist, and Mirabella the elemental—each representing a sub-peoples who possess their same abilities. And unfortunately for some, these queens are far from evenly matched…

What I Liked:

The beginning provides a good hook and sets the darker tone of the overarching story. The present-tense POVs alternate primarily between each queen, although there’s a sprinkling of side character perspectives as well—which all work and feel needed to deepen reader insight.

The complexity paid to the relationship of the three sisters holds solid interest. As they lived together and knew each other until they were six years old, there are variable memories some of them are able to dredge up. And despite the girls having been trained to hate each other so it will be easier to kill their siblings when the time comes, its clear that won’t be so simple. (This really brings the logic of these traditions into question, but this first installment doesn’t go about answering many of them. It may, however, drive readers to hang on further into the series in hopes of sorting out the reasoning.)

I have to applaud the twist at the very end. This reader didn’t see it coming, and it effectively heightened interest. It may very well make up the minds of readers on the fence about reading the next book in the series.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

-Despite their titles, the three queens turn out to have very little agency unto themselves. It becomes clear partway through that the girls are little more than pawns, being pushed about by those with actual power within their factions. There is some growth as they each attempt to assert control over their own fates, but ultimately a sense of futility. And this book’s lack of explanations regarding the magic system, traditions, origins, etc. may further frustrate that sense for readers who prefer more thorough worldbuilding.

-The pacing doesn’t pick up until the last 15-20% or so, and then it moves at near breakneck speed. While it was nice to see some action, it was also a bit jarring in effect after so much prequel-like setup with little forward momentum. If it were slow because of lush worldbuilding, that would have been easier to accept. But instead the bogging down seems more from an abundance of mundane day-to-day doings than on construction of the fantasy setting and/or rules to the magic system.

-The voices of the three queens sometimes lost their distinction, particularly through the more slouching middle of the story. This tended to exacerbate the lack of connection I was able to feel toward any of them. To the point where I pitied each girl—for slightly different reasons—but can’t say I ultimately liked or was rooting for any of them. (Except maybe Arsinole toward the end. I genuinely wanted her to escape the story entirely. But mostly because her page time seemed largely tossed away to instead focus on the romantic drama of Jules and Joseph.)

YA Content Notes:

* This reader is not AT ALL a fan of the sudden sex-with-a-stranger scene. Not just because it’s difficult to relate to (I do recognize that some people’s sexuality is that flexible). It's the lack of consent. Anyone half-drowned, hypothermic, feverish, and delirious to the point where they don't recognize reality is NOT able to give consent. Male rape is still rape. So, he’s confused when he does come to and admits he kind of liked it, but feels horrible he (sort of?) cheated on his fiancé… but there’s something nebulous going on about magical interference in free will…? Yeah, no.
If a male char had taken advantage of a female char like this, I can't see it going over well.

*Also, absolutely no mention or regard is paid to contraception at any point—despite two of the three queens being sexually active. But obviously, this is a far lesser issue compared with the rape.

Intriguing premise and promisingly dysfunctional sibling relationships, but overall probably more enjoyable for fans of romantic drama/insta-love/love-triangles who don’t mind their fantasy worldbuilding on the sparse side.

SERIOUSLY.....SERIOUSLY.....OH MY WOW!!!! WOW WOW WOW!!!! I am completely and utterly in awe of you, Kendare Blake..You amaze me!!

Is it possible to give a book more than 5 stars...because if it were....this book would have TEN!!!!! I have loved all of Kendare's books but this one is by far my favorite!!!!

Let's begin with THAT cover...Yes...THAT COVER!!! Three crowns...each covered in something different. The first is covered in plants and flowers, the second is covered in fire and smoke, and the third is covered in snakes..yes...snakes. Seriously..if that doesn't grab your attention..nothing will!

Three Dark Crowns (Untitled, #1)



These three young queens are faced with an impossible future full of heartbreaking choices that no young girl should have to make. There are three queens but only one can reign....So the three queens are raised and taught to develop their special abilities in order to kill the other two and take the crown.



Katherine-The Poisoner
Arsinoe-The Naturalist
Mirabella- The Elemental

Katherine, Arsinoe, and Mirabella are triplets who are separated at the age of 6 and taken to their respective islands to be raised and trained in the art of their ability.

Katherine is fed deadly poisons throughout her entire life in order to make herself immune so that she can fight against her sisters.

Arsinoe can command any plant or animal and they will do her bidding which will help her in the final fight against her sisters.

Mirabella can command fire and the elements and by the very beginning you can tell she is the fiercest of them all and the most deadly.

Three Dark Crowns is told from each of the queens perspectives so you learn how each of them is living and dealing with their destiny. I loved how each of the queens are telling their own stories and you get to experience their lives with them and the people that they each love and care about and how this horrible fate is affecting them all. I found myself loving each of the queens which makes it so difficult to think that only one of them will survive to take the crown.

Each queen has close friends that they love so dearly and each has their own special story that is so full of feels, heartbreak, and yet.... hope....I loved each and every page of this book...I was flipping pages late into the night just to be able to read more about these characters....Kendare writes each one in a way that you really connect with them all and you feel what they are feeling and I just cannot describe how great that makes this book...I mean seriously....Kendare...you KNOW how to write a story...

I really liked how the book was not only about the three queens but also their friends and their stories as well. Two of my favorite characters besides the queens were Jules and Elizabeth...Oh I loved them and their animal companions....(You have to read the book to understand ;) )

"Jules is a Beltane Begot, a child conceived during the festival of Beltane, like the queens. It is considered very lucky, and they are all supposed to be charmed, but it is a horrible birthday to have. Forgotten and overshadowed."

I could just write and write about this book because I loved it so much...but I want to leave the secrets for each reader to experience themselves. I love fantasy books and this is by far my favorite of this year!!! Three Dark Crowns has it all...Fantasy, romance, heartbreak and FULL of suspense.....I highly recommend this book and I know you will enjoy it as much as me!!! and I cannot wait to read the next one...If Three Dark Crowns was this amazing...then I cant wait to see what the sequel has in store!! WOW!
Kendare Blake...YOU ROCK!!!!

Three Queens, separated as children and raised under the knowledge that only one may rule while the others must die. Each with a gift that claims them to a particular sector of society; elemental Mirabella, backed by the temple, Poisoner Katherine, held by those who seek to maintain their hold on the capital, and Naturalist Arsinoe, running wild with those who connect with the living things of the realm.

I loved the dark premise of this novel and seeing how each sector of society manipulated their queen in order to cement their hold on the potential power. It was also interesting to watch how each group controlled their ward through both obvious and subtle means, but controlled nonetheless.

The novel did drag some in the middle. Two of the queens seemed more interested in finding love than finding power and it took a great deal of time to get them into the same place, during which the plot became rather tedious. In regards to the love interests, I was totally behind Katherine's and loved reading about them growing closer and how he was able to help her develop strength and confidence. However, I found Mirabella's love interest nauseating and wanted to smack both of them whenever they were together.

Where the first half or so of the novel dragged a little, the last third more than made up for it. I almost wish this was where the novel began, with all that came before it being condensed into a shorter intro. There are a couple of major plot twists, one I saw coming a mile away but one that I am still left trying to figure out long after I have finished the book. This bodes very well for the second book in the series, due this September.