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the_castle_library's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It's dark and twisty and perfect for the upcoming spooky season! This is the first and so far only series I've read from @kendareblake , but certainly won't be the last! I love her writing style, imagery, and craft for world building š I am so sad this series is over. I want so much more history of Fennbirn, the Mainland, and all the other islands as well as the Queens and the Goddess. š©
My ratings for romance and action are ššš/šššš
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
kassidyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny and Violence
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, and War
grayscale08's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Gore, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Confinement, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, and Classism
maupi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Minor: Sexual assault and Violence
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake is book three in the Three Dark Crowns quartet. These books have been pretty consistent with keeping me engaged in the story, and keeps developing the characters. Arsinoe is still my favorite.
We pick up from the cliffhanger of the previous book (possible spoilers for the first two books), and we see Arsinoe, Mirabella, and Billy make it to the mainland. This is a struggle for the sisters going from being treated as queens on Fennbirn in a more equal society to now being in a patriarchal one that doesn't give women freedom. Although they survived the journey, the island is calling them back by sending Arsinoe visions and dreams of the Blue Queen (who turns out to be someone totally different than was recorded in history).
We also follow Jules Milone and her mountain cat familiar as she figures out how to use her newly discovered war-gift in conjunction with her naturalist abilities. On top of this, she is now being coerced into leading the rebellion against Queen Katherine, because the people are sick (no pun intended) of having poisoners on the throne. We finally get some explanation for what happened to Katherine in the Breccia domain, and she stopped being needlessly evil. Turns out she doesn't even have an ability! I stead she borrows from the dead queens that possessed her when she fell into the Breccia Domain .
I love seeing a rebellion! I'm also happy to continue following Jules, because she is awesome. We found out some major twists I wasn't expecting! This series certainly keeps you on your toes! And we are left with another doozy of cliffhanger. Just one book left! I can't wait to see how it wraps up and what happens to Fennbirn.
Graphic: Child death, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
mia_luvsreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Confinement, Infertility, and War
scourtheatlas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Body horror, Violence, Blood, and Murder
pageafter_paige's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
_dear_reader_'s review against another edition
- 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
Minor: Confinement, Death, Infertility, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
rinku's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Confinement, Infertility, and War