pagesbycaroline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book definitely keeps you on your toes. There was so many ups and downs where you thought something was over and then it comes back later. A good sequel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
mia_luvsreading's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Animal cruelty, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and Vomit
thaliareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
3.0
Overall I enjoyed this book. Through probably an accidental pocket tap on my end while trying to pause the book, I'm pretty sure I skipped about an hour of the book towards the end, but didn't realize for a bit because I assumed it was just the jumpiness between perspectives. While I like the idea of the book and am glad I read it, I don't think I would have finished it if I were reading the physical book because I moved through it pretty slow. I do still plan to finish the series as I'm excited about the direction the story was moving at the end of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
This book is very dark. Be prepared for self-poising with the intention of getting stronger, animal attacks, and general violence and torture. Injuries are described in high detail. There are some animals that do die, and one animal that becomes neglected during this book.paperbackbookies's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book made me cry more then once. I’m mad and excited and I’m a mess?? This book had me sitting in the same position for hours while I read. Now I’m sitting here all covered in snot writing this review because WOW. My minds blown, my heart hurts, I’m devastatingly sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Sexual content
lrose02's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- 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
This book was so full of action I sped through it. Mirabella and Arsinoe just got more lovable throughout the book whilst my contempt for Katharine grew.
Spoiler
I’m glad they confirmed that Arsinoe and Katharine were switched. I loved that we got to meet Jules’ aunt. Fuck her Mum though. The only valid man in this series is Billy and Luke. The tiny side characters don’t count. I am sad to admit I was not upset when Joseph died. It was a very obvious build up as he kept bleeding even though he was “fine”. Natalie didn’t deserve that ending but it’s going to be interesting to see how Katharine is affected in the next book. It’s a really interesting plot point that now everybody knows Arsinoe is meant to be a poisoner. The poisoner vs the poison. I don’t get how Katharine was able to be crowned when her sisters were still alive- I’m surprised the island let her. I think it’s possible now that Mirabella and Arsinoe can rule together but Katharine is never giving up the throne. I like the twist at the end with her husband and what she has become. Jules is an interesting character because I’ve never really encountered a side character that is more powerful than one of the main ones and the ending is one that makes me go “ooooh bad idea”. Jules definitely should not have returned to the island but I can’t blame her after Joseph. She needs to learn independence and strength away from him and I hope the warriors help her do that
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Death
eddiroll's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: Violence , descriptions of blood and gore, death/murder, animal cruelty, infanticide mention
One Dark Throne is book two in the Three Dark Crowns quartet. I felt similarly about this book as I did the last book. The story is interesting, but some of the dialogue is still a little weird.
We pick up after the events of last book with Arsinoe is trying to keep her discovery to herself and Jules, as well as trying to figure out how not to die in the Ascension year. Arsinoe continues to be the best queen of the bunch and I want to see how she puts her gift to use in the coming books. As always, Jules is the real MVP and he she got to have a really fascinating discovery as well.
Queen Mirabella just wants to not have to kill her sisters. Even though she has been acknowledged as the chosen queen, she isn't doing as well as hoped. Not to mention the guy she's in love with belongs to someone else. We get to see more of Mirabella's powers at work here. I love that she can sail a ship with her elemental abilities.
And then there is Queen Katharine. She went through some shit last book that she truly didn't deserve, but her personality took a complete 180° turn. She went from being meek and sickly to evil and slightly less sickly. It isn't really explored why she's so different, but it is hinted at that it's connected to the Breccia Domain. I hope we get more of what she's thinking next book, because she just seems evil for evil's sake.
This is a decent series with good characters, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
One Dark Throne is book two in the Three Dark Crowns quartet. I felt similarly about this book as I did the last book. The story is interesting, but some of the dialogue is still a little weird.
We pick up after the events of last book with Arsinoe is trying to keep her discovery to herself and Jules, as well as trying to figure out how not to die in the Ascension year. Arsinoe continues to be the best queen of the bunch and I want to see how she puts her gift to use in the coming books. As always, Jules is the real MVP and he she got to have a really fascinating discovery as well.
Queen Mirabella just wants to not have to kill her sisters. Even though she has been acknowledged as the chosen queen, she isn't doing as well as hoped. Not to mention the guy she's in love with belongs to someone else. We get to see more of Mirabella's powers at work here. I love that she can sail a ship with her elemental abilities.
And then there is Queen Katharine. She went through some shit last book that she truly didn't deserve, but her personality took a complete 180° turn. She went from being meek and sickly to evil and slightly less sickly. It isn't really explored why she's so different, but it is hinted at that it's connected to the Breccia Domain. I hope we get more of what she's thinking next book, because she just seems evil for evil's sake.
This is a decent series with good characters, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Blood, Gore, Death, and Domestic abuse
rinku's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
5.0
In the second book of the Three Dark Crown series, One Dark Throne, the pace of the story finally picks up and the stakes are higher than ever. While the first book was more an introduction to the characters and the world, the battle between the sisters intensifies here and gets more dramatic-
I’m still so much invested in this intriguing story. Since I’ve bounded so much already with certain characters, I was always worried that something terrible would happen to them. This leads to a more suspenseful atmosphere than before. Adding to this is that Katharine has lost her mind which makes her even more unpredictable than before. Besides her, the other two queens develop so much in the course of the story which was amazing to see. Thanks to the many different POVs besides the sisters, we get a closer insight in the politics of Fennbirn and how they play a huge role in the fight for the throne.
The ending was so dramatic as well: .
Spoiler
It was so hard to see how Katharine became the queen and how Mirabella and Arsinoe couldn’t do anything to prevent it. They should be executed as well but Arsinoe was able to fake her own death while Mirabella thought it was her real death. Natalia’s death was so dramatic too, just as Nioclas’ death was brutal. After this, it is revealed that Katharine is barren, meaning that the whole system of the queens will probably end and nobody knows what will happen then. In the end, Mirabella and Arsinoe are able to flee but Joseph dies, and Jules goes back to FennbirnI’ve said it before, but all the characters are so well written. I’ve bounded so much with some of them (like Arsinoe and Jules) that I’m always worried that something will happen to them. My opinion on the queens has also changed a bit; the main ranking is still the same (Arsinoe > Mirabella > Katharine) but I don’t like Katharine now at all.
I mentioned this as well before, but I love that are only females in power positions. Besides this, there are so many great female characters. In comparison, the male characters, and the love triangle every queen has are just not great. I hate how Joseph couldn’t make a decision, and Pietyr’s justification for what he did was so weird.
In summary, One Dark Throne took all what made the first book great and extended upon it. There’s so much potential for the rest of the story since so many things happened that will change everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit
bookishgoob's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Such a beautiful and heartbreaking sequel. part of me doesn’t want to go to the next book from the fear of my heart breaking even more. Katharine is terrible and i can not stand any of the arryns. this book series is such an adventure and i very much recommend it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Torture, and Violence
taryn_g's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 Stars
I read Three Dark Crowns about a year ago, and I’m just now, finally, coming back to finish the series. This sequel definitely took me by surprise in that I wasn’t able to put it down. Every spare moment I had, I found myself reaching for One Dark Throne.
What perhaps most took me in this book was how well the tension is done. The whole time, the three queens are racing towards at least two of their inevitable dooms. Along with the tension, the pacing was also very well done. The action and the lulls aligned excellently, and there was never any time that I found myself getting bored.
The payoff and continued development from the events of the first book is was another aspect that I enjoyed, especially in regards to Katharine and Arsinoe. I was hoping for some more explanation on how it is that Arsinoe is a poisoner but was sent to the naturalists, and we did get a little, but that’s something I can look forward to learning in the coming books.
Much like in Three Dark Crowns, the atmosphere and worldbuilding is amazing. I love the world of Fennbirn and how vividly developed it is. I also liked how this book expanded the world, particularly by introducing more about the war gift through Jules’s story. I’m very interested to see where her war gift and legion curse go throughout the remaining two books.
The only reason that this isn’t a five-star book for me is just because it lacked that certain, extra “umph” that really pushes a book into five stars. It was a great, un-put-downable read, but there was nothing that was really mind blowing or left me totally surprised.
I think that One Dark Throne was a great sequel to Three Dark Crowns, and I’m very excited to see where this series goes!
2022: 14
I read Three Dark Crowns about a year ago, and I’m just now, finally, coming back to finish the series. This sequel definitely took me by surprise in that I wasn’t able to put it down. Every spare moment I had, I found myself reaching for One Dark Throne.
What perhaps most took me in this book was how well the tension is done. The whole time, the three queens are racing towards at least two of their inevitable dooms. Along with the tension, the pacing was also very well done. The action and the lulls aligned excellently, and there was never any time that I found myself getting bored.
The payoff and continued development from the events of the first book is was another aspect that I enjoyed, especially in regards to Katharine and Arsinoe. I was hoping for some more explanation on how it is that Arsinoe is a poisoner but was sent to the naturalists, and we did get a little, but that’s something I can look forward to learning in the coming books.
Much like in Three Dark Crowns, the atmosphere and worldbuilding is amazing. I love the world of Fennbirn and how vividly developed it is. I also liked how this book expanded the world, particularly by introducing more about the war gift through Jules’s story. I’m very interested to see where her war gift and legion curse go throughout the remaining two books.
The only reason that this isn’t a five-star book for me is just because it lacked that certain, extra “umph” that really pushes a book into five stars. It was a great, un-put-downable read, but there was nothing that was really mind blowing or left me totally surprised.
I think that One Dark Throne was a great sequel to Three Dark Crowns, and I’m very excited to see where this series goes!
2022: 14
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
Moderate: Body horror and Death