One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake

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Synopsis:

Following up on the events of Three Dark Crowns, Blake brings the queen triplets to their fates as they fight for their lives. While the teen queens deal with suitors and advisors, they must also grapple with the reality of their tasks in killing one another for the ultimate throne. When Katharine seems to gather strength, Mirabella and Arisonoe must determine whether they can work together or if they even should. The author takes the cursed sisters to new exciting heights with a driving plot. A continued detailed development of characters carves out unexpected alliances with Blake's careful manipulation. Readers will appreciate the epic payoff of the first novel in this second installment. The present-tense style throughout underlines the drama of the plot. The large cast of characters may seem overwhelming at times, but each is characterized skillfully. Though Blake describes some violence, the gore is minimal, making this appropriate for a broad range of ages. VERDICT Dark indeed, and exploring themes of loyalty, this is a thrilling sequel with everything from action to romance to entice readers. A strong purchase for YA fantasy shelves.—Abby Hargreaves, D.C. Public Library

I cannot begin to explain how much I am loving this series. Kendare Blake’s writing amazes me, it flows so well and it captures you the minute you start reading. I love the fact that I’m never skipping over sentences or seem bored while reading over details. I’m always engaged and enjoying what I’m reading. The writing kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The anticipation of what will happen next had me flipping the page continuously without stopping. 

With the queens I’ll start by saying that Arsinoe, for some reason has always been my favorite. I’m guessing it’s because she’s the least favorable. The one everyone likes least and wishes dead. I grew to loving her character the fact that even if she’s out down throughout the whole story, she’s grown so much. I love how much she cares for her family, and friends. I love that she has never given up even though she was the weakest of the three and the most likely to end up dead.

“No matter how far I go, I'm still your person. We stand together now.” 

― Kendare Blake, One Dark Throne

Mirabella is my second favorite, she also has always cared for her other sister s and never wanted to really harm them. She also cares about the people around her and tries to protect them. She uses her gifts for good and it to take advantage of anyone. 

Katherine on the other hand, has never been my favorite. But she became sort of my favorite bitch queen. Arsinoe is still my favorite even so, but Katherine won m my heart over with her vengeance and will to murder. Even in In Three Dark Crowns I always felt like there was something lacking from her. I felt like I wanted to skip over her narrative all the time. In One Dark Thrown she’s grown into a darker person, seeking only revenge. The reason which is revealed in this book, after her fall in the pit. Even so, I feel like it adds such a good twist to the story. It makes me anticipate the next one even more. 

“But everyone knows that the Breccia Domain is more than an empty hole in the earth. Who knows what happened to the queens who were thrown down into the dark? Into the heart of the island, where the Goddess’s eye is always open. Who knows how she kept those queens or what she turned them into” 

― Kendare Blake, One Dark Throne

Jules is such a mysterious character full of twist and turns and plot twist. We’ve yet to learn so much more from her family, to uncover all of their hidden secrets. Which I hope will be answered in the next book. She has become as important as the three queens, and the book wouldn’t be where it’s at if she was not in it. 

For the most part, I loved this book as a whole. Everything about to the short fight scenes, to the love scenes and all the bitching from Katherine. I can’t wait to read more on these characters. I can’t wait to read more of Kendare Blake’s writing. 

5 out of 5 stars all around. 

Weregirl and Chimera by C.D. Bell Review

Weregirl and Chimera by C.D. Bell

  I was provided with a copy of Weregirl and Chimera by the author and publisher for an honest opinion. Thank you Chooseco for the opportunity to read these books.

In Weregirl we follow a high school Junior named Nessa Kurland who's main goal is to get a scholarship in cross-country to escape her small town. She gets noticed by one of the best runners in her team and was invited to run in the woods at night for practice. To Nessa's luck she runs late and while trying to catch with her teammate she runs into a trapped wolf. While trying to help this wolf Nessa unfortunately get's bitten by a white wolf who happens to encounter her while helping the trapped wolf. She then starts noticing changes in her body, and that she in now running a lot faster than usual. 

Overall, I really loved this book and could not have expected any more from it. I really loved the pace it set for the reader. It wasn't a slow story and I never felt like it dragged on either. The writing was really good and easy to follow. I felt like it flowed really well with the book and didn't falter.

I really enjoyed reading in the perspective of the main character, Nessa. She has us going on adventures and also I saw myself relating to her in some parts of her real life. Except the part in which she becomes wolf, obviously not a spoiler. I really loved the way the first book wrapped up and left you wanting more from it.

      I quickly pick up the second book, Chimera which was just a little slower. I blame it on the fact that I might have been on a bit of a slump. In this book Nessa has to deal with a lot more problems. Which I don't want to spoil for you guys, but you will be on the edge of your seats. Trying to find out what's going to happen next. We're on a different adventure  with Nessa and this time it's a bit more serious. 

This book was also just amazing as the first one. If you love the show Teen Wolf and love werewolf book with teenage main characters than this book is for you. I promise you'll enjoy reading in. Especially because its set at a great pace.

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Interview with Author Margaret Rogerson

Before we get started I wanted to thank Margaret Rogerson for being such an amazing person, and letting me interview her. As well as the publisher Beth Parker from Simon and Schuster for providing me with a copy of the book.

I would also like to add that I really loved and enjoyed this book, and I hope everyone reading loved or will love it just as much. I seriously loved her answer to all questions and that I got to know her just a bit more.

About the Margaret

Margaret writes fantasy for young adult readers. She lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and when she's not reading or writing she enjoys drawing, watching documentaries, making pudding, gaming, and exploring the outdoors in search of toads and mushrooms.

Q. When and why did you begin writing?

A. I grew up with my nose in a book, so I think I loved stories so much that I just started writing them as soon as I could. I remember being so frustrated, so crushingly disappointed by the stories I wrote when I was younger because they weren’t any good compared to the books I was reading. I couldn’t figure out how to put a plot together or come up with original ideas. I always dreamed of being an author, but getting published seemed impossible.

I can’t remember any period in my life during which I didn’t write, so the “why” is elusive to me—writing has always been my favorite hobby. However, I never took it seriously until a year or two after I graduated from college, when I decided that I wanted to write a book with the goal of publication. Getting published still seemed impossible, but I had to try!

Q. When did you consider yourself a writer?

A. That’s a good question. I guess I’ve always considered myself a writer, just by virtue of the fact that I’ve always done a lot of writing. But it’s not something I necessarily told people about or took pride in until I got a publishing deal, at which point I could finally tell myself and others that I was a professional writer! Incredibly, that fact is still sinking in.

Q. What inspired you to write An Enchantment of Ravens?

A. I love folklore, and I love stories about fairies/fair folk that explore the more traditional aspects of their mythology and present them to some extent as sinister, inhuman beings. I really wanted to write a book that incorporated that type of mythology, and which also felt like a Robin McKinley-esque fairy tale featuring a capable female protagonist. My background as a portrait artist played a role, too!

4. Who is your favorite Author and what really strikes you about their work? 

I have so many favorite authors, but if I have to choose one I’ll go with Diana Wynne Jones. I love how character-driven her work is, and how she has such a deep, sensitive, warm insight into the human mind. Oftentimes while reading her books, I have a sense that I’m gazing into the souls of real people whose flaws only make me love them more. Her talent for characterization is just out of this world.

Q. With your background as an artist, did that propel you to create Isobel's character?

A. Absolutely! I chose portrait art for her Craft because I knew it was something I could write about authentically and from the heart. I used dry media for my portraits, but fortunately my mom is an oil painter, so that helped fill in the gaps in my experience.

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An Enchantment of Ravens Review

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True Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

*Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing me with a copy of this book for a true and honest review.* 

Fae Princes with cocky and hilarious personalities and swoon worthy moments that make you want to jump into the book.

In this story our main character Isobel, she's a 17 year old painter who has spent most of her life indoors practicing her "craft." I quote "craft" because the author uses this word to describe everything a human practices. Isobel draws portraits of the fair folk in exchange for enchantments. Then one day she encounters a fae prince from the Autumn Court. She finds something humane in him and she draws it in her portrait not expecting it'll change everything in her near future. She is then carried away from her home in whimsy to stand trial in the autumn court. On her way there the Autumn Prince and Isobel encounter many problems. Also other things that might not be a problem at first but turn out it can cost them both their lives.

I went into this book knowing that I will love every single thing about it. The writing was so whimsical and flowed like poetry, but wasn't hard to read and understand. It was a really fast paced read, which grasped my every thought. It was so hard to put it down, without want to finish another page or another chapter.

I really loved the world in this book, I loved the different courts based on seasons. I loved that I could see every little detail she described in my head. Also the smell of the wind or the characters I could imagine a candle burning in my room that smelled just like Autumn winds. Which btw I would love a candle of like right now (candle companies please). I loved how the fair folk were described and how not only were they terrifying, but the mortals wanted to be around them a the same time.

I also thought the characters were portrayed really well. Isobel was a strong female lead, who knew exactly what she wanted. She was also quick to think in hard situations instead of dreading every moment she was in danger. And oh the Autumn Prince how I loved his cocky comments and how hilarious every moment with him and Isobel was.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and thought it was one of the best books I've read this year. It would have gotten a five star review if it want for that last chapter. I felt like it went too fast and I needed more details. I felt like everything was just over. As if I wasn't given what I needed to depart from the book walking away. Instead I was grabbed by the collar and kicked out the door.

I hope maybe there will be more to this and I'll get that feeling of completeness with this world. I'd really love to read more in this world. I would love to read more about these characters. Margaret Rogerson did an amazing job, and I'd love to read more writings from her.