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(4 / 5)
Three Dark Crowns #1
I liken the plot of Three Dark Crowns to spinning plates. As more and more plates are added, you becoming fascinated by the spinning, mesmerized by the swirling and constant momentum. And then there is a sudden crash breaking the silence, and you gasp as you see one of the plates smashed on the ground. You cringe expecting more to follow. But that’s it, there are no more casualties, except they are adding more plates. But everything is fine, and you start to relax, until another plate falls again. And everything continues in this manner, and every once in a while a plate breaks, but it’s okay because the overall spectacle continues as planned. And then suddenly, there is a cacophonous explosion as plate upon plate smashes to the ground, and it’s over before you even realize what has happened. But for one plate. One plate still spinning. And despite the fact that the show should be over, you can’t stop watching that one plate…to see what will happen.
Sorry for that rambling analogy, but that’s the best way that I can describe the pacing and flow of this delicious little novel. Kendare crafts a wonderfully tangled web of relationships between three sisters, three schools of magic, and the entities all struggling for power. It takes a little while to get into the story, as you’re introduced to the personality of each sister and the culture and customs of each society. But I soon found myself fascinated, glued to the page as I devoured this book in short order.
I can’t figure out which of the queens I like best, and so I still have no one to root for. At first I was drawn to Katherine, with her dark training and fierce resolve. Then I came to admire Arsinoe, her steadfast independence and unwavering loyalty. And then there is Mirabella; Mirabella who doesn’t have a cruel bone in her body and loves her sisters despite knowing what she is intended to do. There are wonderful side characters in here too: Jules, Billy, Pietyr, Elizabeth, and even Natalia (Joseph I just want to punch in the face).
My one complaint would be that the book ends just as the plot is really beginning to unfold. It is definitely not a book that would stand well on its own; you have to continue reading to get the whole story. But it was super engaging and interesting enough that I think that most people will be as eager to pick up the sequel as I am.