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Queen Katharine has waited her entire life to wear the crown. But now that she finally has it, the murmurs of dissent grow louder by the day. There’s also the alarming issue of whether or not her sisters are actually dead—or if they’re waiting in the wings to usurp the throne.
Mirabella and Arsinoe are alive, but in hiding on the mainland and dealing with a nightmare of their own: being visited repeatedly by a specter they think might be the fabled Blue Queen. Though she says nothing, her rotting, bony finger pointing out to sea is clear enough: return to Fennbirn.
Jules, too, is in a strange place—in disguise. And her only confidants, a war-gifted girl named Emilia and her oracle friend Mathilde, are urging her to take on a role she can’t imagine filling: a legion-cursed queen who will lead a rebel army to Katharine’s doorstep.
This is an uprising that the mysterious Blue Queen may have more to do with than anyone could have guessed—or expected.
Review:
This series is one I have really enjoyed, and I wondered how this next installment could possibly compare to the suspense of the other novels. As with Three Dark Crowns, and One Dark Throne, Two Dark Reigns is a page-turner. Filled with twists I didn't see coming, this was highly entertaining.
What I Liked:
Setting:I find the world where these books are set to be enthralling. The four gifts (that only seem to be bestowed on females) are elemental, poisoner, naturalist, and war-gifted. These gifts are explored even more in this book. I like that when they leave the island, the queen's gifts are weakened, suggesting the strong connection Mirabella and Arsinoe have to the land, itself.
There are also spirits at work in this book. Katherine gets her power from the dead queens. And Arsinoe is visited by the ghost of the Blue Queen.
Each book brings a further layer to the island. The most interesting feature in Two Dark Reigns is The Mist. The Mist is literally a thick fog that protects the island. Mainlanders cannot find the island unless The Mist decides to let them through. In this novel, The Mist begins to kill. It appears to be random, with some people who hit The Mist brutally murdered while others pass through it unharmed. The burning question is why is it behaving this way? Is it to oppose Queen Katherine? Can it be stopped?
Characters:
All of the four main female characters, Katherine, Mirabella, Arsinoe, and Jules, are trying to understand how they fit into their world. Most of the older people who would usually try to shelter them are gone. In their place are a strange mix of new faces who all want something from them. What the characters face is the decision of whether or not to let others manipulate them, or to think for themselves.
Even in a book of high fantasy, universal themes arise. As the young women transition into adulthood, they must begin to make their own decisions, figuring out who they can trust, and what they stand for. Although Katherine tries mightily to blame others for her mistakes, she is ultimately in control of what she does. The same goes for Mirabella, Arsinoe, and Jules. Others can lead them to a choice, but the decision to cross the line into selfishness, conceit, or even murder, is their own.
Story:
As Katherine struggles to maintain control as the crowned queen, her other two sisters, Mirabella and Arsinoe, begin the novel trying to find their place in a new reality not as queens. This isn't easy on the Mainland where women are subservient to men, and their gifts are weak. With the help of Billy (Arsinoe's secret fiance), they are making a valiant effort to fit in. But Arsinoe begins to dream of a queen from long ago, the Blue Queen. Are they just dreams? Is the Island trying to lure them back?
The story seems to say that they cannot deny who they really are. Even though they both should be dead, they have a responsibility to the Fennbirn.
The story also focuses on Jules, who has the "Legion Curse". The previous book reveals that Jules has two gifts. She is both a Naturalist, and War gifted. The rumor is that a Legion-cursed person will be driven insane by that much power. But her War gifts have been curtailed by Jules' mother. If her gifts are allowed to flow freely, will she lose her sanity?
Jules is also involved in another element in the story. Rebels are promoting her as the Legion Queen to rally the people against Queen Katherine. Do they really believe she can be a Queen to the island? Or are they merely manipulating her to further their own plans?
It seems to me that all four young women are being used by others for political gains. The people around Katherine seek to maintain their wealth and power. Mirabella and Arsinoe are being lured by the Blue Queen to do her bidding. And Jules is being elevated by the rebels to change the political landscape entirely. I found this fascinating.
What I Didn't Like:
Lack of a Recap:Although the author does do small retellings of the events in the other books, there needs to be more of an effort to re-introduce the characters. I had to really rack my brain to remember some of the supporting characters. This is a very minor criticism, as I truly loved this book.
Rating:
Release Date: September 4th, 2018
Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 464 Pages
Source: Public Library
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: If you are a fan of this series, what are you waiting for??? Read this and be thoroughly entertained. Do read the other two books first, if you haven't read them.
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