Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns #1) by Kendare Blake - Restarting February 14th 2022

[Maddie]

I'll have this one finished off tomorrow or the next day.

[Kirsty]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ I ended up getting sucked into this book and I couldn't put it down. It did take me awhile to get into and I think that is because it is the first book so there was a lot of set up that the author needed to do. The last portion of the book was full of action and a lot happened. I can't wait to see how the story progresses in the second book. >/spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Awesome :)

[Maddie]

Picking this one back up now. I should get finished today/tomorrow.

[Maddie]

Wish Audible showed total progress through the book, because I have no idea what page/% I'm up to, only Chapter.

[Maddie]

Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[Ugh here's the love interest for Mirabella. 'The boy was her age'. That's the red herring.

I have no idea who I want to win this contest! Wonder what's going to happen, if they'll all band together or some will die!
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[Wait what happened to Joseph?? Oh right someone had a dream about him, right?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[Oh wow they had sex?? Holy shit it's Joseph!!!!!!!!!! But wait does Arsinoe love Joseph?? I thought Jules loved Joseph! And even after he figures out what he's doing, he still cheats on Jules again??
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[Billy's Joseph's friend right?

Aaahhh Mirabella's meeting Arsinoe! Isn't that forbidden?
Never mind, Mirabella stayed hidden in the woods.
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Wait I can work out total % :D Yay! I'm 52% in approximately.

[Maddie]

Kirsty wrote: "43% [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I can't wait too, especially as we're getting invested in all of them!

[Maddie]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[Actually never mind, she did get seen because of her flashing knife.

Who is Ro? Her guardian?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19 (view spoiler)[Wait so they think that Mirabella won't actually kill her sisters, but that they'll die of other means and then Mirabella will ascend? Holy shit they're talking of assassinating Katarina and Arsinoe at the start of Beltane!
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[Ah so Billy is Joseph's friend, and supposed to be Katarine's suitor? I'm a little confused. Billy was there with Mirabelle and Arsinoe and Jules when they found Joseph?
Is Peter her trainer? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[Yeah what happened with that love potion?? They did burn it...
At least he told Jules. I seriously thought he would stay true!
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[Woah Mirabella really likes Joseph! This is so interesting, their lives intertwined now. This is when it gets confusing XD So Joseph loves Jules, Mirabella likes Joseph, and Joseph feels guilty for consciously cheating on Jules with Mirabella.
Oh no Elizabeth was punished for helping Mirabella escape! For giving the cloak!
(hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Chapter 23 (view spoiler)[Ah so Billy is Joseph's brother, and Arsinoe's friend, and also one of Katarine's suitors? Man this is confusing... I need someone on right now to straighten things out for me!

Oh wow that's what Madrigal did with her palm! She found her familiar! A grizzly bear??
Wow that bear wasn't her familiar, just an upset bear.

How did that bear die? Is Jules the White Queen maybe? How else would she have power?
(hide spoiler)]
Chapter 24 (view spoiler)[So many different POVs! I need to really focus when I listen to this book, unlike the other audios I've listened to that I don't really care about.
(hide spoiler)]
Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[Ooohhhh so Arsinoe grew up with Jules as a foster sister! That makes sense now! Thank gosh haha. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 26 (view spoiler)[And the rumours spread. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 27 (view spoiler)[Ah so Arsinoe knows that Billy is supposed to marry the rightful Queen? He's just her friend, and she's okay with him befriending Katarine? Oh wow she ran away with Billy XD (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 29 (view spoiler)[Did Peter just mime killing her? (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Kirsty wrote: "67% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[She has to look if she has a chance of winning. Just wonder when her and Katarine will find out there's a plot for them to be assassinated. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Chapter 32 (view spoiler)[Uh oh Jules can't find Joseph.

I really hope that they do kill each other, because that would make for good action and excitement. I don't want it to be boring and merciful.

Ugh Joseph stop kissing Mirabella! You love Jules! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 33 (view spoiler)[Oh my gosh Natalia wants to trick the others by forcing Katarine to eat the 'poisoned' food that isn't actually poisoned just to show that Katarine's strong! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 34 (view spoiler)[Who's planning on running? Jules? (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 35 (view spoiler)[Nope Arsinoe ran away with Joseph!
Holy crap they're hurting Arsinoe!
Yay Mirabella's defending Arsinoe! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 36 (view spoiler)[I didn't realise that Arsinoe knew about the plot.
..... Jules trying to hold the bear still for Arsinoe? How is she going to do that? She can't control animals can she? (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 37 (view spoiler)[Oh uh Billy only bowed to Arsinoe. Is that bad? (hide spoiler)]

[Rae]

Maddison wrote: "Going to listen to this one next.

Arsinoe is pronounced 'arson-oi'. As in, arson like fire, and oi as in yelling to someone."

THANK YOU!!!!

[Maddie]

Haha no worries :p When you first posted that I was only on Chapter 2, so didn't even know there was a character called Arsinoe haha.

I'll finish this off tonight. Wish I was reading the physical because I love the short chapters in physicals.

[Rae]

Oh yea!!! (view spoiler)[ the newly budding romantic relationship between Jules and Joseph is so romantic! Even though she and arsinoe may have been the reason he was banished for all that time, it really seems that he is genuinely falling for her if he is not already. arsinoe, is a bit tooo down on herself, she already feels like she has no chance. I have a strong feeling she is gonna be stronger than what she thinks she can be! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

How far through are you?

[Maddie]

Chapter 39 (view spoiler)[Talking about killing :( (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 40 (view spoiler)[He has to tell her :/ I love how he did before (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 41 (view spoiler)[Why is she promising that? Why is he saying something'll go wrong? (hide spoiler)] Starting to get a little confused again :/
Chapter 43 (view spoiler)[Ah Arsinoe has some concoction to drink so the bear doesn't want to attack her? (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 44 (view spoiler)[Ah okay so Katarine's now just eating poison. Does each of the sisters have to do something to show their strength? Hence why Arsinoe's got the bear? (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 45 (view spoiler)[What does she need to do with the bear?
So pleased that Jules managed to make the bear stand up and it went well! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 46 (view spoiler)[I like seeing them show their powers! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 47 (view spoiler)[Oh no! Jules sees the way Joseph looks at Mirabella and she loses control of the bear! This is when shit hits the fan! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 49 (view spoiler)[Oh wow Jules just ruined this. Probably killed Joseph. Weird if both of the sisters died from the bear. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 50 (view spoiler)[Yay Jules looked after the bear situation.
Oh oh now the dogs won't get sick and they'll know. All of the trickery! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 51 (view spoiler)[Ah did Peter know about the bear situation? Hence the warning? I stopped totally following this because I got confused. He threw Katarina into the pit!!?? (hide spoiler)] This is really complex.
Chapter 52 (view spoiler)[Oh noooo they know about the fake poison. The only one who truly did anything was Mirabella! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 53 (view spoiler)[They thought that Arsinoe meant to kill Mirabella! And now the revenge starts (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 55 (view spoiler)[Did people just assume that Arsinoe made the bear crazy?
Oh wow this talk will be intense. Wait, there's poison in the sweets?? They meant to kill Arsinoe!
Holy shit Arsinoe's a poisoner!! It explains everything!!! 2 Poisoner Queens?? And the fact that she didn't even need to condition herself to the poisons! Super powerful! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Woooooowwwwwwwww THAT ENDING!

[Maddie]

Kirsty wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

Me too I need #2!

[Maddie]

Tanaz wrote: "Page 199[spoilers removed]"

Yeah I found that really messed up too.

[Maddie]

Review: So I loved this book. Yes, it was complex, yes there were lots of characters, yes there was manipulation and trickery, but I managed to pull through and understand it (I think). It was tricky listening to this on audio, due to its complexity, but I'm so pleased that it did. The strange thing with audiobooks is that the ending arrives so fast, and it makes me wonder if anything actually did happen in the book. This book was just so good, everything connecting, and that ending holy wow. I want the second one now! It's such a cool idea that (view spoiler)[there are 3 sisters, they all grow up apart, and then when they're in their late teens they have a year to kill each other for the throne. (hide spoiler)] It took me a while to understand. And then the way (view spoiler)[Joseph and Jules and Mirabella overlapped, and Billy and Arsinoe (I think?) and Katarine. And how Katarine actually loves Peter, who was just supposed to train her in boys. (hide spoiler)] The relationships made me crazy haha. I hate Joseph though, for (view spoiler)[loving Jules so much (apparently) enough that he gave her the equivalent of an engagement ring were they in a different location, and then after 2 days away he's already fallen for Mirabella. It doesn't make sense. Did the love potion maybe work for Mirabella and Joseph rather than Jules? It's the only thing that makes sense. He seemed to set on Jules. (hide spoiler)] So anyway, after that rage, I just want to say that I love this book.

[Rae]

I'm about 1/3 through now.

[Maddie]

Awesome! This book's one of those books you either love or hate. Two people I know hated it.

[Rae]

*GASP* so I am finally starting to understand the book! (view spoiler)[ How backhanded!! Priestest Rho is conspiring with Luca to have Arsenoi and Katherine killed by the people since she really believes that Maribelle will not do it! I don't think she will either but why force it?? I hope they band together and go after her instead. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I know right! Told you it was quite complex!

Mind responding to some of my spoilers if you want to? XD

[Rae]

Maddison wrote: "Chapter 39 [spoilers removed]
Chapter 40 [spoilers removed]
Chapter 41 [spoilers removed] Starting to get a little confused again :/
Chapter 43 [spoilers removed]
Chapter 44 [spoilers removed]
Chap..."

(view spoiler)[ Yes!! Jules is all the way down on my sh*t list Ugh! I was so happy that Arsinoe was also a poison queen!!! I hate they she is always so down on herself!! THE POWER!!! (hide spoiler)] If you have any other books you want to buddy read let me know!! I love actually discussing the books instead of just posting stuff!!

[Maddie]

Haha yay you finished!

I'm constantly buddying books haha. It's the only way I read. But I'm fully booked until either December or January :p

[Abi]

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Reading from the 11th of October 2017

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

[Lisa]

11%: (view spoiler)[Although i still hope that somehow all of them will live, i think that Arsinoe should be queen because she's kind and smart and optimistic. Maybe she and Katherina aren't good with their powers because they have switched powers: Kath = nature, Arsione = poison? maybe? also: Kath doesn't seem to have had a great childhood(or non at all...) seems so sad :( Didn't read about Mirabelle yet, but we'll see :) (hide spoiler)]

[Felicia]

May jump in on this if I can get to it in the next couple days!

[Lisa]

Till now i'm alone, so great if you want to join me :)

[Felicia]

Perfect! I'm reading Rose Society now. I'm about halfway through, As soon as I finish I'll read. (:

[Lisa]

30% (view spoiler)[Mirabelle seems... nice and i really like Elizabeth(hope Pepper doesn't have to die), i don't like that Mirabelle is so influenced and controlled by the Temple. Also, Katherina gets more less sympathetic... (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Starting this one now! Better late than never!

[Lisa]

Right :) I stopped at 30%... should continue too :)

[Felicia]

So I started this two days ago and am only half way through chapter 2. Has anyone else had a hard time getting into this?

[Heather]

I've heard people say give it 100 pages for it to get good. I've also heard that this book just is a world builder for the second book. It's on my Around The Year in 52 books TBR so I will join you guys!

[Felicia]

I'm gonna give it a bit more time. Mostly because I bought the hard cover of this one and don't want my money to go to waste. Lol.

[Heather]

I will probably struggle just as much as you lol I have the paperback but still it'd be money wasted.

[Felicia]

I'm just so upset that I'm not getting into it like I wanted to. This book has been on my TBR list forever and when I found out it was going to be the BOTM for another group I'm a part of I went out right away and bought it! I've been so excited to read it! Lol. Just bleh. -.-

[Heather]

Haha I've heard the second book is tons better!

[Felicia]

Well good! I'm hoping I can get into it. I'm gonna give it another go when I get home from work. :D

[Jenn]

13%: (view spoiler)[So far just getting to know the sisters. Nothing major happening. A little bit of a slow start but I have a feeling it picks up soon *hopefully* (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

21%: (view spoiler)[ not sure which sister to cheer for. They all seem to have it pretty tough. Poor Katharine with all of the poisons and now with Petyr to look out for. Also what did the s do to Jules? (hide spoiler)]

[Felicia]

First three chapters.
(view spoiler)[
So, I read each of the first three chapters and met all three queens.

Katharine seems like she's had a hard time growing up. Like she wasn't allowed to be a child when she was an actual child. Maybe because the reigning queen was also a poisoner? I dunno.

Arsinoe hasn't came into her powers yet. So she's vulnerable. And she still doens't have her familiar.

Mirabella has her powers and is powerful. But still drains fast.

At this point, I'm not sure who I think is going to be crowned queen. Maybe it'll be a turn of events and all will live? Who knows. But I'm not sure who my bet is on yet.

I'm also not totally convinced I'm sold on this story.
(hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

38%: (view spoiler)[ so Katharine and this Pietyr character seem to be getting a little closer than they should be. Even Arsinoe had a boy courting her. But yet Mirabella remains all alone. Also she seems to be having second thoughts about killing her sisters. <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[c]

Starting this today!!

[Felicia]

25% (view spoiler)[Still not convinced I like this book or that I will continue it. I'm very close to slapping a big DNF on it... (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

51%: (view spoiler)[ ummm so Mirabella runs away only to run into Joseph and they fall in love? That seems a little weird. I thought his one true love was Jules but here he is getting it on with Mirabella. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Felicia wrote: "25% [spoilers removed]"

It's definitely a very slow moving book