I am not sure which cover version I like more. The one the German edition is showing or the one, the English edition has. Anyway, after I had read the first book, I HAD to read the second one as well. The end of Three Dark Crowns was just too thrilling, and I NEEDED to know how things would continue. That they would continue the way they did in One Dark Throne, wasn´t foreseeable, at least not for me. And one hell of a fantastic read!


One Dark Throne*
by Kendare Blake
Three Dark Crowns Series #2
Publisher Harper Teen on September 19, 2017
Genre Fantasy
Pages 464
Format Softcover
Source Purchased
✶✶✶✶½

With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before – ones that put those around her in danger she can´t seem to prevent.  
Story
Arsinoe is sick and tired of fighting. Why has everything to go on as tradition wants it? And why on earth is Katharine like this all a sudden? Where has the once kind and sweet to look at girl gone? With the discovering of her real power and the knowledge that she knows nothing about it, Arsinoe is determined to figure out a way to keep herself and her sisters alive and well. But that´s easier said than done. Especially when one of them is willing to sacrifice everything and everyone, and a person intrigues as if there´s no tomorrow.

Style
Again, the author told her story about the Three Crowns in a haunting and very fascinating way. The tone is soft and the writing style easy to read with strength and power in it – wow! I am not exactly sure how Kendare Blake does it, but there isn´t one single sentence or page where you get bored. I was eagerly reading page by page and very often absolutely stunned when something unexpected happened or the author brought some twists and turns into her plot that made you jump because she turned things in a way you never thought that would happen. 

And that one scene, when Katharine has to learn that she´s gone too far. When her secret comes to light and everything she holds dear is anything but safe and sound. That scene gave me goosebumps. I mean, to know everything about poison is one thing, but to live that truth, to accept it, and to plan a future with that knowledge seem to be different things.

Characters
Three sisters who have to fight for the crown one of them is supposed to wear. Three sisters who do everything to survive and to be in advance of the other two. But the conflict appears very soon to the reader and is shown by the author in a very emotional and yet pragmatic way.

Arsinoe is, on one hand, happy that she has a secret weapon. On the other hand, she has no clue how to use that to her advantage. And when she learns it the very bitter way how dangerous her powers are, and how deadly if not used with knowledge, she is desperate and wants this fight to end.


Conclusion
Holy moly, that was one heck of a fantastic fantasy novel. And THAT END! Mrs. Blake seriously?! At first, I was shocked, then even more shocked. Until I found out that there will be another book and hopefully in it some answers to all my questions. If you haven´t read Three Dark Crowns or this one, DO IT ASAP!



Happy reading











*The German edition was published by Penhaligon on September 25, 2017 



Kendare Blake
Kendare Blake ©Shawn H. Nichols Photography




Kendare Blake holds an MA in creative writing from Middlesex University in northern London. She is the author of Anna Dressed in Blood, a Cybils Awards finalist. Her books have been translated into eighteen languages, have been featured in multiple best-of-year lists, and have received many regional and librarian awards. Kendare Blake loves animals of all kinds and is also fascinated by Greek mythology. She lives and writes in Kent, Washington.

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4 comments:

  1. I loved this and can't WAIT for the next one!

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    Replies
    1. After the end of book two I am so HAPPY that there will be a next one. I NEED some answers! *smile* Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  2. I thought this was even better than the first one. Blake definitely upped her game and I am so on board with the direction she taking this story. I liked it so much, I even read one of the novellas (and I hate novellas). It had some good information/background and it planted a seed (at least in my head). I feel like Jules is way more important than I originally thought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here. Jules feelings toward Arsinoe and her powers, I do hope that her role will become even more important than she already is. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete

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