Scan barcode
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 π 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. π©
My ratings for romance and action are πππ/ππππ
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
kassidyreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, and War
maple_dove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"Give him to me," Mathilde says, and holds out her arms. The baby reaches for her and gurgles. "I was near when your light came into the world, and I will always sense when it is near."
Little Katharine. Gone as Little Mirabella is gone, and how she mourns them. How all women must mourn the loss of those little girls, relegated to shadow as they grow.
(One of) My Favorite Scene(s):
!!!HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
The mist is rising, racing up alongside the dead queens. It swoops up above them and dives back down, swallowing them whole and tearing them apart, spitting wisps of blackness into the sky. Arsinoe and Pietyr freeze as they stare at the battle, the dead queens shrieking, becoming a maelstrom of writhing arms and bared teeth, as the mist wraps around and around them.
The dead queens do not stand a chance. The mist devours. The mist protects. Arsinoe sees the queens of old, hidden inside its depths. She sees Illiann and even Daphne. She feels Mirabella's might as the mist crashes against the Volroy like a thunderstorm. She recognizes Katharine in the sharp, twisting quickness as it slices strands of darkness and casts them off in ribbons. She sees them fight, for her and the island, until all that remains of the dead queens are tatters and ashes floating in the air.
[...]
"It was them," she says, panting. "Mirabella and Katharine."
"It was them," Pietyr agrees, and knocks his head against the stone. "And now it is finished."
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, and Torture
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
grayscale08's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
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
Five Dark Fates by Kendare Blake is the fourth and final book in the Three Dark Crowns series. This is such a good and underrated YA fantasy series! So many strong female characters, a cool magic system, a matriarchal society, and lovable and dynamic characters. Warning for spoilers of previous books.
This book did a great job bringing the series to an exciting climax and satisfying conclusion. I loved seeing how each of the sisters grew and changed throughout the four books. I love that it was a story about sisters, and about how none of them were what they were supposed to be. Mirabella, the oldest and a strong elemental unwilling to harm or fight others; Katherine, the youngest raised as a poisoner, but giftless and possessed by the dead; and Arsinoe, raised as a naturalist while actually being a poisoner, who ultimately, was only really good at low magic. The island needed them all, while breaking the line of queens.
I love that Jules got more of a role in this book as the Legion Queen. She's our powerful bisexual babe. I also liked the unexpected growth of Pietyr Renard. He's not someone I really liked in the other books, but he kind of grew on me. This edition also had a bonus epilogue, so we got a really cute reunion scene. I really want to be friends with Camden (cougar) and Braddock (brown bear).
This is a great series if you like dark fantasy, different types of magic, sister dynamics, animal companions, and political intrigue.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, and War
cardlikecredit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Torture, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility and Kidnapping
sarcasticheart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.25
Graphic: Death, Blood, and War
pagesbycaroline's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture and War
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, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual content
pageafter_paige'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
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail