Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

19 reviews

akirma's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The premise is so promising, but the writing style made reading this like pulling teeth. The characters seem flat, there's no discernible rationale behind their actions. The author throws the world at your feet and just expects you to go along with it. I kept thinking "this scene would be great if it were written by someone competent". It's a pity, seeing as the plot twists at the end of the book make me want to know what happens next but I just can't take 400 more pages of this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Animal cruelty, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

pagesbycaroline's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Second read of this book. It's been long enough since I read it the first time that most everything was a surprise, which was delightful. There are many twists that I did not remember, so it was almost like reading it for the first time. I very much enjoy the dark nature of this story and cannot wait to continue reading the series. I remember in the beginning, Katharine was my favorite, but now I am leaning more towards Arsinoe.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Murder, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Blood, Torture, Sexual content, and Physical abuse

sskalon's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, Murder, Body horror, and Blood

cc0906's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Medical trauma, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Physical abuse, Torture, and Vomit

thaliareads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I had a bit of trouble with this book, and I think I might have had trouble finishing it if I hadn't been listening to it. I like the concept, but had some trouble with the pacing and inconsistent order and switching of POVs. I don't think it necesarily detracted from the book on its own, but I think that personally it led to some difficulties. 

I liked the concept and the characters. The plot progression was good, if a bit slow at times, but I kept loosing track of how close or far they were from different milestones they'd need to reach. 

However, I think the last handful of chapters really brought this up a notch for me. I was sincerely excited to read the next book to see what happens, despite not really enjoying this book as much as some of my recent reads. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

This book doesn't spare any details. This won't be for you if you don't like wounds to be graphically described. Additionally, the self harm/torture and physical abuse all relates to the intentional and repeat poisoning of one character to develop their resistance. This is however out of a desire to live, not a desire to die.

paperbackbookies's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This was a quick read! I enjoyed it more then I originally thought I would, but I did find some things very predictable. 

The queens are introduced by their flaws. Right off the bat, every queen has something weighing them down. 

 
Arisone being a poisoner all along, Maribella thinking with her heart, and Katherine being looked at as someone weak. I love them but I also love to hate them. I cant wait to see how they handle their rage in book 2 !!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Gore

Moderate: Sexual content

catherinedsharp's review against another edition

This just wasn’t the book for me. I bought it years ago as a teenager and haven’t read it. The blurb is misleading in my opinion of what the text is, and there is very brutal treatment of characters done ‘out of love’ which just does not agree with me. 

This fantasy is an interesting premise but the cruelty it shows in comparison to the YA style of writing, just didn’t agree with me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

em_davies7019's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Blood, Infidelity, Animal death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Vomit, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gore

Minor: Sexual content and Confinement

words_and_dreams's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Dark fantasy YA

Premise in a nut shell is that each generation a set of triplets are born and one must kill her sisters to rule and become the Queen. Each is supposed to develop a different power and live in that area. There are elementalists, poisoners, naturalists, warriors etc. 

There were definitely elements that I liked including the magic systems and the world building. It had a darker atmospheric feel to it, I mean sisters are trying to kill each other. Lol.

I was annoyed that the girls didn't club together to otherthrow the archaic systems holding them back. Although this is only the first book of a series so maybe that does happen down the line. 

Also Josh was the literal worst.  Delirious, worst excuse ever. Eurgh.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Sexual content

rosenau's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Gore, Murder, Animal death, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Death, Abandonment, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Vomit