Book Shelf: Two Dark Reigns (Three Dark Crowns #3) by Kendare Blake

One Crowned, Two Exiled, A Revolution Rising.

The battle has been fought, blood has been spilt and a queen has been crowned, but not all are happy with the outcome.

Katharine, the poisoner queen, has been crowned and is trying to ignore the whispers that call her illegitimate, undead, cursed.

Mirabella and Arsinoe have escaped the island of Fennbirn, but how long before the island calls them back?

Jules is returning to Fennbirn and has become the unlikely figurehead of a revolution threatening to topple Katharine's already unsteady rule.

But what good is a revolution if something is wrong with the island itself?

Kendare Blake's Two Dark Reigns is the heart-stopping third book in the bestselling Three Dark Crowns series. Discover more about Fennbirn and the three queens in the thrilling start to the quartet, Three Dark Crowns, and its sequel One Dark Throne.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Two Dark Reigns is the thrilling and explosive third novel in the Three Dark Crowns series by Kendare Blake and once more draws readers into a treacherous world of danger, magic and a land on the brink of war as a rebellion rises and a Queen struggles to retain her crown.

Queen Katherine has been crowned. The battle is over with blood spilled and Arsinoe and Mirabella escaping the island of Fennbirn. Even though Katherine now sits on the throne whispers still follow her and as the mist rises up and begins to take the lives of her people, the rumored undead queen will have to justify her reign. Far away on the mainland Mirabella and Arsinoe try to let their past go but as a series of dreams seem to call Arsinow back to the island, she, Mira and Billy must decide if they will return. As a rebellion rises and the mist rebels, all three sisters face another fight, once again for their very lives....

I have to say that that Kendare Blake truly does electrify with Two Dark Reigns, the third instalment in the Three Dark Crowns series, bringing once more to life her deadly and darkly dangerous would of Fennbirn. This series is so addictive; drawing you into a world of danger and featuring harrowing voices and characters who are complex and layered.

After the last novel, Two Dark Reigns picks up with Katherine now the Crowned Queen and her sisters living in the mainland having fled the island with Billy in order to survive. Yet the island isn’t going to let Arsinoe and Mirabella stay away with forces already conspiring to send them back as Kendare Blake brings to life new aspects of the series.

Two Dark Reign was as exciting as its predecessors but also has somewhat of a fresh feel with this the first novel where the Ascension is not the focal point; the sisters are no longer solely focused on killing each other and are instead facing other challenges. I really enjoying this aspect of the novel. Arsinoe and Mira are developing (or reconnecting I should say) such a sweet relationship as sisters and it’s nice seeing them care for each other while Katherine is coming into her role as Queen. She’s in no way perfect but there is still her own brand of kindness and innocence to her even if she has been twisted by the dead queens.

As Jules role in the storyline continues to develop, all the characters I’ve come to love play an important role within the novel. Arsinoe and Billy's romance is a highlight for me, but I do enjoy all the characters, even the "villains" and poisoners including Katherine and Pietyr. Blake explains and explores some interesting history of Fennbirn in this installment and manages to offer up some explanation to queries I’ve had even as she posed more questions.

Two Dark Reigns races to a climactic and heart-racing conclusion that leaves me dying to see what Kendare Blake has in store next. I can’t wait until I can get my hands on the next novel to see what happens to these diverse and dynamic individuals and the world they live in.

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $17.99
Release Date: September 25th 2018
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: Another great book with a thrilling ending; I can't wait for the next one to be released!