Queens of Fennbirn by Kendare Blake | Book Review & Competition
A Review of the Queens of Fennbirn Novellas
There’s a giveaway at the end of this post where you could win a copy of the Queens of Fennbirn for yourself!
The Queens of Fennbirn (Three Dark Crowns #0.5) by Kendare Blake Series: Three Dark Crowns
Published by HarperTeen on January 1st 1970
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 232
Goodreads
Uncover the sisters’ origins, dive deep into the catastrophic reign of the Oracle Queen, and reveal layers of Fennbirn’s past, hidden until now.
The Young Queens
Get a glimpse of triplet queens Mirabella, Arsinoe, and Katharine during a short period of time when they protected and loved one another. From birth until their claiming ceremonies, this is the story of the three sisters’ lives…before they were at stake.
The Oracle Queen
Everyone knows the legend of Elsabet, the Oracle Queen. The one who went mad. The one who orchestrated a senseless, horrific slaying of three entire houses. But what really happened? Discover the true story behind the queen who could foresee the future…just not her own downfall.
Kendare Blake did it again! These novellas are brilliant and I really loved them, but first DO NOT READ THESE UNLESS YOU’VE READ THE THE SERIES SO FAR (the first Three Dark Crowns and One Dark Throne)
Honestly there’s major spoilers straight away that are KEY plot points to Three Dark Crowns so DO NOT READ THESE FIRST.
I’m going to avoid spoilers so this review will be brief, as the novellas themselves are brief also.
“Three black witches, the mainland would say. Born to a descending queen. One would rise to become queen in her place. Perhaps the strongest of the three. Perhaps the cleverest. Or perhaps it would be the girl born under the best shield of luck.”
The Young Queens Review
The Young Queens (Three Dark Crowns, #0.2) by Kendare Blake Series: Three Dark Crowns
Published by HarperTeen on December 26th 2017
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 112
Goodreads
Three black witches, born to a descending queen. One would rise to become queen in her place. Perhaps the strongest of the three. Perhaps the cleverest. Or perhaps it would be the girl born under the best shield of luck.
Katharine, Arsinoe and Mirabella - three young queens born to fulfil their destiny - to fight to the death to win the crown. But before they were poisoner, elemental and naturalist, they were children, sisters and friends . . .
The Young Queens shows us a time where the queens were still growing up in Black Cottage. We get to see their mother, Camille, and her father, Philippe, for the first time. We watch them grow up and we also are shown a lot of things that make us understand how they became the way they are. Little Katherine, Strong MIrabella, voracious Arsinoe (Arsinoe is the best though, right?).
It breathes life into the story of their childhood that we have only imagined up until this point. We get our hearts broken as the triplets are inevitably seperated and we see how they were brought up by the different families.
We get more of an insight into how the families themselves. We also get to see Arsinoe, Jude and Joseph grow up a bit together and see the history between them which really sheds some light on the happenings of Three Dark Crowns.
It was a great addition to the world, and I’m so glad that Kendare wrote this as I was so curious about these things!!
The Oracle Queen Review
The Oracle Queen (Three Dark Crowns #0.1) by Kendare Blake Series: Three Dark Crowns
Published by HarperTeen on April 3rd 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 120
Goodreads
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series introduces readers to the Oracle Queen in this riveting prequel e-novella.
Triplet queens born on the island of Fennbirn can be many things: Elementals. Poisoners. Naturalists. If an oracle queen is born, however, one with the gift of sight, she’s immediately drowned, extinguishing her chance at ever taking the throne.
But that’s not how it always was. This cautionary practice started long ago, with Queen Elsabet—the legendary, and last, oracle queen—whose reign was tinged with blood and horror.
Paranoid, ruthless, and utterly mad, Elsabet’s mistrust led to the senseless slaying of three entire houses of innocent people. At least, that’s the unchallenged tale carried down from generation to generation. But what really happened? Discover the true story behind the queen who, though born with the gift of sight, could not foresee her swift and sudden fall from power . . . until it was too late.
Fans of the Three Dark Crowns series will be enthralled with Queen Elsabet’s genesis, riveted by her madness, and compelled by her tragic—and bloody—reign.
Okay so The Young Queens was great because it gave backstory but The Oracle Queen was amazing in it’s own right!
Again no spoilers, but we learn that oracle queens are killed at birth in Three Dark Crowns because of an infamous oracle queen of the past, Elisabet. Now when reading Three Dark Crowns and One Dark Throne I always thought there was more to it than we were lead to believe, and boy I was right.
The characters were done really well, I was invested in their story, and again we also learn more about how the Arrons came more into power, those devious little…
As this is a novella and is short anyway I’m going to leave this review at that because I really don’t want to spoil it.
Again only read these if you’ve read the Three Dark Crowns and One Dark Throne!
*I was sent this collection of novellas for an honest review.
* GIVEAWAY *
I got sent two copies of this book so I thought I’d give one away to you lovely readers. Read below to find out how to enter the competition!
1. Follow me on Twitter and retweet the tweet below (mandatory)
You don’t have to be following my blog to win but you will get an extra entry if you do ☺
5 ✨ to The Queens of Fennbirn by Kedare Blake! 🐍🔥🌹
Here's my review 💕
👑 GIVEAWAY👑
Want to WIN a Copy?
RT & Follow to enter 😍
For an extra entry follow my blog 💕
Read the post for info!
INT Ends 17/7/18 #bookreview #giveaway #books #bookbloggerhttps://t.co/eLusevFGNO— Jenn ✨ ⋆ (@JennieLy) July 8, 2018
2. Follow my blog and comment.
For an additional entry you can follow at the bottom of the page on mobile or the side on desktop!
If you’re already following, That’s wonderful and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
If you want to enter and you follow please comment with your twitter username so I can make sure you get your two entries!
Good luck 😘
Terms and conditions
1. Winners will be chosen using a random number generator.
2. Competition closes 17/7/18,
3. No giveaway accounts
4. Must follow and retweet specified tweet to be eligible. Following the blog gains an extra entry on top of the retweet and follow.
5. This giveaway is International
Good luck and I hope you enjoy!
16 Comments
I never really read novellas, but Blake has been putting some real information in these. I have so many theories now, and it all has me even more excited for the next book.
I don’t usually either but honestly these are definitely worth reading!
I love the Three Dark Crowns series!! I have been looking forward to picking up these short stories but so far haven’t found a good deal anywhere. I’m so glad you enjoyed them! I’m definitely taking part in the giveaway, I retweeted as @BookaDreamer and I was already a follower of both your blog and twitter 😊
Thank you! Good Luck!
I follow you on WordPress and my twitter username is @ashortbooklover. Got all my fingers crossed for this!
Good luck!
Good luck lovely!
Sounds like you had a great time reading these stories! I didn’t realise the novel was so short, but I suppose it makes sense since it’s a prequel and most of the characterisation has already been built up in the main novels (which I still need to read). Nice review Jenn!
Good luck!
I think the wrong reply went though! Thank you lovely! Yeah they’re novellas but they’re so integral I feel!
They sound interesting. Thank you for the chance. @borntreadbooks
Definitely read this series!
Ahhh I still have to read One Dark Throne but you make this novella sound soooo good! I’m always down for a solid prequel! I can’t wait to read, great review Jenn! <33 (also my twitter is @VickyCBooks I've followed you since forever ago :))
Read One Dark Throne first!
i really need to read this series, it sound perfect for me
YES YOU DO NOW NOW NOWWWWW