Three Dark Crowns

Three Dark Crowns is the first novel in Kendare Blake’s five-part fantasy series by the same name. It is followed by One Dark Throne, Two Dark Reigns, and Five Dark Fates. The prequel collection, Queens of Fennbirn, includes two novellas: The Young Queens and The Oracle Queen. Three Dark Crowns sets the stage for the series’ narrative arc and introduces the themes and main characters—the sisters Katharine, Arsinoe, and Mirabella.

Three Dark Crowns is set in the island kingdom of Fennbirn, which has a dark and deadly monarchic tradition: In every generation, triplet daughters are born to the reigning queen, and each possesses a gift—she could be either a naturalist, an elemental, or a poisoner. Upon coming of age, the sisters must battle to the death, and the victor is crowned queen. The prequel novellas that comprise Queens of Fennbirn reveal more about the sisters’ origins in addition to the island’s history, highlighting how memories, early relationships, and community history can influence identity. 

In this first installment, Katharine, the poisoner, begins as the weakest of the sisters, and she is manipulated by the powerful Arron family. Her relationship with Pietyr, Natalia Arron’s nephew, initially seems to be empowering—he teaches Katharine to be bold and seductive—but it takes a dark turn when he tries to kill her by pushing her into a chasm. Katherine survives and returns ready for revenge; she is prepared to claim the throne. In the sequel, One Dark Throne, she becomes a formidable force: “Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, [becomes] stronger than ever before” (“One Dark Throne.” Kendare Blake). 

Meanwhile, at the end of Three Dark Crowns, Arsinoe discovers a shocking truth: Her naturalist gift never manifested because she is, in fact, a poisoner, contrary to everything she’s been taught about herself. In the sequel, she “must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before” (“One Dark Throne”). The three sisters continue to grapple with The Impact of Power and Expectations on Identity as well as The Moral Complexities of Fighting for Survival as they navigate their changing selves and relationships as well as the ethics of killing for power.

In Two Dark Reigns, the third novel in the series, Katharine takes the throne, but her reign is marred by dissent. Further, “Mirabella and Arsinoe are alive, but in hiding on the minland [sic] and dealing with a […] specter they think might be the fabled Blue Queen” (“Two Dark Reigns.” Kendare Blake). It is eventually revealed that Queen Camille, the triplets’ mother, switched Arsinoe and Katharine’s identities at birth to prevent another poisoner queen from rising. Thus, the triplets’ personal journeys continue to highlight The Impact of Power and Expectations on Identity.

The series concludes with Five Dark Fates, in which relationships are tested. Arsinoe’s friend Jules begins to lose her grip on reality. So, “Arsinoe must find a cure, even as the responsibility of stopping [a new threat to the kingdom] rests heavy on her shoulders” (“Five Dark Fates.” Kendare Blake). Queen Katharine still rules, but she loses her beloved Pietyr while quelling a rebellion led by Jules. Without him, she has no one to rely on when Mirabella offers a truce, revealing how much her relationships with others impact her sense of self. In the novel, “[a]llegiances will shift. Bonds will be tested, and some broken forever” (“Five Dark Fates”). As the triplets hone their gifts and realign themselves with one another, their experiences continue to reflect the themes initiated in Three Dark Crowns.