Book Shelf: One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns #2) by Kendare Blake

The battle for the crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail?

With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, the elemental sister once thought to be the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.

Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must confront the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other.

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Review:  

One Dark Throne is the second novel in Kendare Blake’s Three Dark Crowns series and is an explosive and eventful follow up to its predecessor that brings new developments and dangers to this passionate world of magic and treachery.

As the Ascension Year continues, sisters Katherine, Mirabella and Arsinoe continue to battle for the crown. Poisoner, Elemental and Naturalist; each Queen has her own strengths and weaknesses but as various secrets begin to impact the ongoing fight for control, what once seemed like a certain outcome is now far from. Weakling Kathrine suddenly has strength and cunning no one expected and previous favourite Mirabella is struggling with the idea of killing her sisters. As the battle rages on both physically and mentally, who will be crowned the Queen of Fennbirn is anyone’s guess and the casualties will be more than few…..

Three Dark Crowns was an unexpected favourite of mine in 2016 but despite my excitement to read its sequel, it has taken me a little while to get around to reading One Dark Throne. Partly due to there being so many books to read and partly due to my nerves; I knew this novel was going to be action packed and full of purpose. I wanted to read it in the right frame of mind and with the next instalment set for release shortly, I decided now was the time to dive in.

Drawing readers back into the world of Fennbirn, Kendare Black picks up where the last novel left off with sisters Katherine, Mirabella and Arsinoe vying for the crown and needing to kill each other in order to obtain it. One Dark Throne is a darkly dangerous world of deception, betrayal and death. Featuring a brutal concept where three sisters must kill each other in order to become Queen Crowned there’s no lack of trickery, duplicity and manipulation throughout the novel.

Written in the third person, there are a number of characters featured in the story, although sisters Katherine, Mirabella and Arsinoe are still our focal point, alongside Arsinoe’s best friend Jules. The other supporting characters including suitors, confidants and clan members offer insight into the overall complexity of the land of Fennbin and help to detail the story over a broader spectrum. Kendare Blake has created a vivid and darkly brutal world where trust and love are often lost amongst self-preservation and power.

Given that the overall storyline within this series features three young women fighting to kill each other, Kendare Blake does a good job in painting her heroines in colours of grey. There is no outright villain amongst the sisters—they are all flawed, complex personalities who wish to survive and please; having been groomed since girlhood to step into their roles as killers and rulers.

As the reader, you’ll find yourself emphasising with Mirabella, Katherine and Arsinoe as they takes drastic actions. After being betrayed by someone she cared about, Katherine is the most drastically changed, having managed to claw her way back and become more ruthless than ever. Katherine is determined to become reigning Queen and has the least amount of qualms about killing her sisters out of the three, while Mirabella and Arsinoe struggle with the idea of murdering each other. As the kinder and perhaps softer of the trio, the connection developing between Mirabella and Arsinoe is a sweet inclusion to the story.

Full of danger and deception, but also adorable moments of romance and heartbreaking loss, One Dark Throne is a fantastic sequel and has me eager to begin the next novel straight away. I can’t wait to see what Kendare Blake does next!

Rating:
Source: Bought by me
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 21st 2017
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: A great sequel; I can't wait to begin the next one!