Queens of Fennbirn (Three Dark Crowns, book 0.5)
By Kendare Blake
This book is two short stories of the Three Dark Crown Series.
The Young Queens
Blurb:
Three black witches, born to a descending queen. One would rise to become queen in her place. Perhaps the strongest of the three. Perhaps the cleverest. Or perhaps it would be the girl born under the best shield of luck.
Katharine, Arsinoe and Mirabella - three young queens born to fulfil their destiny - to fight to the death to win the crown. But before they were poisoner, elemental and naturalist, they were children, sisters and friends . .
Review: Three black witches, born to a descending queen. One would rise to become queen in her place. Perhaps the strongest of the three. Perhaps the cleverest. Or perhaps it would be the girl born under the best shield of luck.
Katharine, Arsinoe and Mirabella - three young queens born to fulfil their destiny - to fight to the death to win the crown. But before they were poisoner, elemental and naturalist, they were children, sisters and friends . .
There is a prologue to this book and the scene is when the three queens are actually born. I found this scene quite fascinating to be honest, to find out how the Queen giving birth knows what gift each Queen will have. It's also interesting to know how the Queens are named.
Reading this part of the prologue confirms what started to click in One Dark Throne. So I'm pleased that I have had that confirmed for me and that I don't need to keep going on wondering. I did sort of freak out before I read this book as I was reading someone elses review of One Dark Throne and some of the questions. Stupid me decided to read through and what others thought to then be told the main secret that gets uncovered. Oh well that will teach me!
The story then goes on to when Queen Camille has left for the main land and goes to when Jules was a young girl, alongside the three Queens.
Since Queen Camille changed her mind about the Queens just before she was due to depart with her King consort to the main land. Willa has treated the three sisters differently so that they all develop their own personalities and quirks.
When reading about the relationship that the three sisters had towards one another you can understand why Mirabella and Arsinoe are unable to kill one another and their other sister Katharine.
From such a young age they were taught about the cruel world to an extent as they were not taught about having to kill each other until they were within the homes of their gifts.
I found it really nice to see how their relationships with their best friends in Three Dark Crowns, and One Dark Throne developed. It was really sweet to see them stick up for each other as well and just form really good bonds with one another.
I also found the part where over the years they were not allowed to talk about their sisters and had to try and forget about them a bit strange. But I understand in another aspect why, because they would find it easier to kill one another.
This book was a really quick read, short chapters, fast paced, loads of content, extra twisters and a lot of sisterly love and friendship. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who has read the Three Dark Crown Series, it is a nice little book to clear up the majority of questions that had formed through out the main series.
Favourite Characters: Mirabella
Read: 07/09/18
5 stars out of 5
The Oracle Queen
Blurb:
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series introduces readers to the Oracle Queen in this riveting prequel e-novella.
Triplet queens born on the island of Fennbirn can be many things: Elementals. Poisoners. Naturalists. If an oracle queen is born, however, one with the gift of sight, she’s immediately drowned, extinguishing her chance at ever taking the throne.
But that’s not how it always was. This cautionary practice started long ago, with Queen Elsabet—the legendary, and last, oracle queen—whose reign was tinged with blood and horror.
Paranoid, ruthless, and utterly mad, Elsabet’s mistrust led to the senseless slaying of three entire houses of innocent people. At least, that’s the unchallenged tale carried down from generation to generation. But what really happened? Discover the true story behind the queen who, though born with the gift of sight, could not foresee her swift and sudden fall from power . . . until it was too late.
Fans of the Three Dark Crowns series will be enthralled with Queen Elsabet’s genesis, riveted by her madness, and compelled by her tragic—and bloody—reign.
Review:
There is also a prologue to this book as well, where Arsinoe and Katharine are playing in the gardens of the black cottage while Mirabella is sat on the step getting her hair braided by Willa. Arsinoe is quite mean to their sister Katharine and Mirabella tries to make sure she is nice. It seems that Mirabella is taking on the motherly role out of them all she tries to protect them from harm.
The prologue ends with Willa telling Mirabella about the song she taught them earlier that morning and Mirabella asks more about Queen Elsabet.
The main story is about Queen Elsabet from when she was crowned Queen until she was sentenced to jail in the west tower.
The main story is actually really good, to discover little things that you would expect from a Queen. Then to discover that the majority of the black council do not what Elsabet as the Queen because she does not follow orders and advice.
There are so many plot twists within this short novella and for them all to come together at the end is quite spectacular. I really loved it.
Accept I did hate one character quite a lot, William! The king consort. He is just a sly fox, just can't stand him, going behind the Queens back to have other romances. I really hate people who cheat. It's just really horrible and inconsiderate. Other people do have feelings. But what also annoyed me is that Elsabet was aware of it and it happened in front of her eyes but she just got angry over it and didn't actually do anything to him. Which is just so petty he doesn't deserve another chance he should be finished with immediately. A happy relationship cannot carry on with cheating going on. But the main bit about William that really annoys me is that he does it right in front of her eyes and the black council! He has no respect or dignity.
The ending of this book like I said before was incredible, it really did bring reason behind certain people's actions. I loved it but it was so different to what everyone was saying how she ended up in the west tower and what she had done to 3 different families.
But that's what people are like in the real world. They are two faced, liars and you can't really trust anyone, because if they want something and you're an obstacle to that path you will end up getting hurt. Which will more than likely hurt your family and friends around you.
This book was also another quick read but towards the end I did struggle, I felt like I was starting to go into another reading slump. But I think that is just because I was reading similar styles of writing all the way through the Queen's stories which are quite similar aspects. But there again quite a bit was happening in life when I was trying to finish it so I just may have not been in the mood.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves twists, cheating partners, secrets and stubborness.
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series introduces readers to the Oracle Queen in this riveting prequel e-novella.
Triplet queens born on the island of Fennbirn can be many things: Elementals. Poisoners. Naturalists. If an oracle queen is born, however, one with the gift of sight, she’s immediately drowned, extinguishing her chance at ever taking the throne.
But that’s not how it always was. This cautionary practice started long ago, with Queen Elsabet—the legendary, and last, oracle queen—whose reign was tinged with blood and horror.
Paranoid, ruthless, and utterly mad, Elsabet’s mistrust led to the senseless slaying of three entire houses of innocent people. At least, that’s the unchallenged tale carried down from generation to generation. But what really happened? Discover the true story behind the queen who, though born with the gift of sight, could not foresee her swift and sudden fall from power . . . until it was too late.
Fans of the Three Dark Crowns series will be enthralled with Queen Elsabet’s genesis, riveted by her madness, and compelled by her tragic—and bloody—reign.
Review:
There is also a prologue to this book as well, where Arsinoe and Katharine are playing in the gardens of the black cottage while Mirabella is sat on the step getting her hair braided by Willa. Arsinoe is quite mean to their sister Katharine and Mirabella tries to make sure she is nice. It seems that Mirabella is taking on the motherly role out of them all she tries to protect them from harm.
The prologue ends with Willa telling Mirabella about the song she taught them earlier that morning and Mirabella asks more about Queen Elsabet.
The main story is about Queen Elsabet from when she was crowned Queen until she was sentenced to jail in the west tower.
The main story is actually really good, to discover little things that you would expect from a Queen. Then to discover that the majority of the black council do not what Elsabet as the Queen because she does not follow orders and advice.
There are so many plot twists within this short novella and for them all to come together at the end is quite spectacular. I really loved it.
Accept I did hate one character quite a lot, William! The king consort. He is just a sly fox, just can't stand him, going behind the Queens back to have other romances. I really hate people who cheat. It's just really horrible and inconsiderate. Other people do have feelings. But what also annoyed me is that Elsabet was aware of it and it happened in front of her eyes but she just got angry over it and didn't actually do anything to him. Which is just so petty he doesn't deserve another chance he should be finished with immediately. A happy relationship cannot carry on with cheating going on. But the main bit about William that really annoys me is that he does it right in front of her eyes and the black council! He has no respect or dignity.
The ending of this book like I said before was incredible, it really did bring reason behind certain people's actions. I loved it but it was so different to what everyone was saying how she ended up in the west tower and what she had done to 3 different families.
But that's what people are like in the real world. They are two faced, liars and you can't really trust anyone, because if they want something and you're an obstacle to that path you will end up getting hurt. Which will more than likely hurt your family and friends around you.
This book was also another quick read but towards the end I did struggle, I felt like I was starting to go into another reading slump. But I think that is just because I was reading similar styles of writing all the way through the Queen's stories which are quite similar aspects. But there again quite a bit was happening in life when I was trying to finish it so I just may have not been in the mood.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves twists, cheating partners, secrets and stubborness.
Favourite Characters: Bess
Read: 10/09/18
5 stars out of 5
If you haven't already check out my review of
Book 1: Three Dark Crowns
Book 2: One Dark Throne
Book 3: Two Dark Reigns
Book 4: Five Dark Fates
written by Sammie
No comments:
Post a Comment