Three Dark Crowns
By Kendare Blake
Reviewed by: Melody Wolf
In this story, there are three queens and only one crown.
A set of triplets is born in every generation on the island of Fennbirn, and all three have the chance to become the Queen Crowned. The three sisters all bear their own special power: Mirabella is an elemental who can spark flames and conjure storms, Katharine is a poisoner who can ingest the deadliest poisons, and Arsinoe is a naturalist who can control animals and bloom flowers. They are separated into their own individual kingdoms once they reach a certain age and handed off to caretakers who are not their parents. This means that the girls only know their sisters from their childhood memories and rumors. They grow up being told that they need to become stronger because the other sister is said to have become so powerful. The queens learn to control their powers, but they also learn that it will take more than determination to be the only survivor. Throughout this story you watch the sisters’ powers develop so that when they turn sixteen, they can fight for the crown.
This story is really thrilling because it does not at all carry on the way that you think it will. You get to see all of the sisters’ lives from their perspective and you learn to love them all. That’s what makes the final goal so difficult to read towards! I also loved reading about the environment and lore, because both are very rich and play big parts in the story. I recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, has the faintest soft spot for romance, and just enjoys a good royal competition.
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