vivianne's review
4.0
The Oracle Queen: 4.25 stars
The Young Queens: 3.5 stars
Three Dark Crowns: 4.25 stars
One Dark Throne: 4.25 stars
Two Dark Reigns: 3.75 stars
I think I should have probably read this earlier in the series. I recommend to read after book 1.
The Oracle Queen: 4,25 stars
Rather enjoyed this. I loved the twist in the end that you kind of never knew if you didn’t read the prequel. I felt so bad for Elsabet. Fun addition and I just really liked to know something about the history. I think I would read anything from any queen in this world. Also, in this short story it just shows how well the author can write characters and make you believe the friendships. I did wish we got to see a little bit more about what is was like to be a queen, so for example the politics and daily tasks.
The Young Queens: 3,5 stars
Also a really lovely addition to this series and I am glad that it exists. I liked to see the queens grow up and to see them as children and how they then interacted before they “knew”. Also liked to see the time jump and to see how Cara ended up where she was in the present series. But for me this didn’t really give me any need to know information.
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
3.0
The Young Queens, I felt gave more information then the novel itself did. I rather liked it. 3.5
The Oracle Queen was going great up to that rushed ending. 2.5
For an overall rating of 3.
The Oracle Queen was going great up to that rushed ending. 2.5
Spoiler
The queen didn't even get a trial? Also how did they convince everyone so easily? Why did the Queen go from screaming at being deceived to just being compliant and meek? Why did her foster brother not do anything when it was clear he was on her side in the end? How did they get away with it? It was just so rushed and unexplained that the story felt so incomplete.For an overall rating of 3.
tamtasticbooks's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
kerrisbooks13's review
4.0
Super short and sweet, a good dive back into the world of Three Dark Crowns. I liked getting to read about our fav triplets as little girls and to see that history might not be what everyone says it is
leann_ange's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
alexiskov_'s review
4.0
4/5
Queens of Fennbirn must be my favourite book of the series right now (besides Three Dark Crowns). I read prequels before, but they didn't hook me up quite like this one did (like, i finished this book in 6 days, and it could've been less if I wasn't busy).
I liked discovering more about our queens' past, and surprisingly, "The Young Queens" made me like Mirabella more than I did in the whole "Three Dark Crowns" series, and it also gave us some answers regarding the series. Oh, and the fact that I could see Natalia alive again?? *chef's kiss*
The Oracle Queen broke me. It absolutely broke me. Maybe if it wasn't for the Oracle Queen I wouldn't have rated this 4 stars (because in my opinion, The Oracle Queen is a 5-star short story). There were moment when I did not and I couldn't put the book down, even if I knew I needed to go to sleep or I needed to get ready so I can leave the house. It is a gpood type of pain and I rooted for Elsabet until the ends, even if I knew from the books that she is still considered crazy.
Anyway, let me get a little bit into detail, so this is a big SPOILER ALERT AHEAD .
Starting with the Young Queens, i have some thoughts:
1. I felt like the author just did not have that spark when it came to filling some of the plot holes and questions when it came to the series, because I would've wanted for the reason why the young queens forget each other to be more... interesting. Not just that "they have a short memory". Like, they have a whole ritual for when the queens go with their respective families, and not when they forget??
2. Caragh and Matthew's relationship made me reeealy uncomfortable. I don't have any problems when it comes to the age gaps (even though 6 years is my maximum acceptable age gap), but the fact that when we were presented this relationship Matthew was 17 and Caragh was 22?? And that's not the end, because his marriage proposal was not the first one, so that means that, probably, their relationship started waaay back.
Besides that, I couldn't believe that Caragh gave Cait the argument of "Matthew sees Jules as his child" when Cait said she did not think the relationship was ok (which in fact, IS NOT). HIS CHILD???? He was 11 when Jules was born, he basically grew up with Jules and his brother and you want me to believe that Matthew sees Jules as HIS CHILD??? 3 years ago he was saying that he did not want to wait 3 years just so Caragh can accept his marriage proposal.
3. I'm just sad we did not get a whole action seen of the run-away. It would've been fun.
4. The fact that the Aarons were sooo hated (and the author seemed like she wanted to make us hate them even more) but Natalia was the only one who knew how to take care of a child?? I swear to god, my "Young Queens" part of the book is full of annotations of "she's a CHILD", "you can't treat a child like that" etc. I mean, you can't tell a 6 year old kid that she will have to kill their sister so they can become the one and only queen or other things. OR LOCK THEM UP IN A BASEMENT?????
And coming to the Oracle Queen:
1. Francesca is a jealous bitch and I figured waay before the grand reveal that she's the one who's having intimacy with William (another fucker) and wants to take Elsabet down and take everything she has for herself. Oh, and of course she is an Aaron.
2. Gilbert's???? reason???? for poisoning????? his sister???? was???? that he was threatened????? Oh, and promised a place in the Black Council, which he already kinda had??? I was so mad at him.
3. Also mad that we didn't get to explore Elsabet and Jonathan's relationship more.
4. In love with this novella. ;)
Queens of Fennbirn must be my favourite book of the series right now (besides Three Dark Crowns). I read prequels before, but they didn't hook me up quite like this one did (like, i finished this book in 6 days, and it could've been less if I wasn't busy).
I liked discovering more about our queens' past, and surprisingly, "The Young Queens" made me like Mirabella more than I did in the whole "Three Dark Crowns" series, and it also gave us some answers regarding the series. Oh, and the fact that I could see Natalia alive again?? *chef's kiss*
The Oracle Queen broke me. It absolutely broke me. Maybe if it wasn't for the Oracle Queen I wouldn't have rated this 4 stars (because in my opinion, The Oracle Queen is a 5-star short story). There were moment when I did not and I couldn't put the book down, even if I knew I needed to go to sleep or I needed to get ready so I can leave the house. It is a gpood type of pain and I rooted for Elsabet until the ends, even if I knew from the books that she is still considered crazy.
Anyway, let me get a little bit into detail, so this is a big SPOILER ALERT AHEAD .
Starting with the Young Queens, i have some thoughts:
1. I felt like the author just did not have that spark when it came to filling some of the plot holes and questions when it came to the series, because I would've wanted for the reason why the young queens forget each other to be more... interesting. Not just that "they have a short memory". Like, they have a whole ritual for when the queens go with their respective families, and not when they forget??
2. Caragh and Matthew's relationship made me reeealy uncomfortable. I don't have any problems when it comes to the age gaps (even though 6 years is my maximum acceptable age gap), but the fact that when we were presented this relationship Matthew was 17 and Caragh was 22?? And that's not the end, because his marriage proposal was not the first one, so that means that, probably, their relationship started waaay back.
Besides that, I couldn't believe that Caragh gave Cait the argument of "Matthew sees Jules as his child" when Cait said she did not think the relationship was ok (which in fact, IS NOT). HIS CHILD???? He was 11 when Jules was born, he basically grew up with Jules and his brother and you want me to believe that Matthew sees Jules as HIS CHILD??? 3 years ago he was saying that he did not want to wait 3 years just so Caragh can accept his marriage proposal.
3. I'm just sad we did not get a whole action seen of the run-away. It would've been fun.
4. The fact that the Aarons were sooo hated (and the author seemed like she wanted to make us hate them even more) but Natalia was the only one who knew how to take care of a child?? I swear to god, my "Young Queens" part of the book is full of annotations of "she's a CHILD", "you can't treat a child like that" etc. I mean, you can't tell a 6 year old kid that she will have to kill their sister so they can become the one and only queen or other things. OR LOCK THEM UP IN A BASEMENT?????
And coming to the Oracle Queen:
1. Francesca is a jealous bitch and I figured waay before the grand reveal that she's the one who's having intimacy with William (another fucker) and wants to take Elsabet down and take everything she has for herself. Oh, and of course she is an Aaron.
2. Gilbert's???? reason???? for poisoning????? his sister???? was???? that he was threatened????? Oh, and promised a place in the Black Council, which he already kinda had??? I was so mad at him.
3. Also mad that we didn't get to explore Elsabet and Jonathan's relationship more.
4. In love with this novella. ;)
deardominique's review
3.0
Before reading this I really didn't see the point in novellas half way through a book series. I was never sure if reading them was worth it but this time, it was SO worth it. Queens of Fennbirn gives you some pretty deep insight into the twist at the end of Three Dark Crowns. Furthermore, it unravels some of the mystery surrounding the oracle queen and boy oh boy... you're in for a treat!
My only complaint about this is that for the second half especially there is far too much fluff. Some of the scenes really weren't necessary and made it a bit, dare I say, boring to trudge through. I just wanted to get to the juicy bits!
My only complaint about this is that for the second half especially there is far too much fluff. Some of the scenes really weren't necessary and made it a bit, dare I say, boring to trudge through. I just wanted to get to the juicy bits!
chelsbells1994's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
theroamingleo's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
3.75
I’ve read the Three Dark Crowns series a couple times but have not read the novellas until now. Enjoyed the glimpse of the young queens, and the story of the oracle queen.
neville_lvr_reads's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5