Three Dark Crown (Three Dark Crown # 1) by Kendare Blake→ Start Date: February 8, 2017

[Kelly]

Join Katriann and I as we read Three Dark Crown by Kendare Blake

[Katriann]

Thanks for making the thread. I can't wait to read this. I got it from Santa. :)

[Kelly]

Same. :D

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I'm definitely in!

[Krista]

If I can get the book in time I'm in :)

[Belinda]

Hi, I would like to join you girls in this buddy read!

[Jessie (Saffity)]

Just got this book, looking forward to reading along!

[Brianna]

Joining

[Krista]

I just finished my current book I was reading so I will probably be starting a little early. :) How often are we wanting to post? Or do we just want to post when we feel like we have something to say?

[Katriann]

Can't wait to get started with this. :) I will probably make quite slow progress because I have to finish some library books this week, but I hope that won't matter. I don't really mind when we comment. If someone has an idea, I'll be happy to go with it.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

yay!!! Welcome everyone!!

I don't have my copy yet....do know how many chapters the book has? is there a way to break it down so it's works out pretty close to 4 or so updates?

otherwise, I should have my copy later today and can post a plan :)

[Katriann]

The chapters are not numbered, so someone would have to go through the whole book and count the chapters, if we wanted know how many chapters there are. Does anyone want to do that? I don't think I'll have time to do it before the buddy read begins.

Another option would perhaps be to comment after every hundred pages or something like that. There are 398 pages in the book, so that would make four updates.

[Krista]

They aren't numbered. It appears they are by location??? That's my understanding from the first chapter.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I'll go through the book and set up goals :)
but it'll be later tonight (many hours from now)

how's the start going Krista?

[Krista]

I'm about 20 pages in so far. I'm liking it but I think it will take a little bit to set up this world. Like their different abilities and understanding why their can only be one. haha

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

okay wow, this book is a tough one to buddy read!
it has no way for us to track our page/distance/spots to stop and chat...

So....does everyone have the Hard Copy version? It looks like it has about 400 pages, so how about we update every 100 pages or so?

Then it looks like:

first 100: 103
Stop at: Gravesdrake Manor
Finish: Rolanth

2nd update: page 203
stop at: Starfall Lake
finish: The Road From Wolf Spring

3rd update: page 301
Finish: The Breccia Doman
stop at: The Hunt

Does that look okay?
I'm gone most of tomorrow but will be back later in the night for me and start :)
I hope we love this one!

[Katriann]

That sounds okay to me Trisha. :) I have a paperback version but I hope it won't matter too much.

[Krista]

I have a hard copy of it as well. So I'm hoping this works :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Done with the first 100: 103

these first 100 pages were perfect - each location is a POV of each sister, and this group meant we read 2 POV from each.

Katharine(view spoiler)[ what a tough life. to be starved so much and then pinch and prodded only to be fed poison
yikes. I hope her skills kick up. (hide spoiler)]

Peityr(view spoiler)[ I wonder if he really means to help her. he seems to just want to court her....maybe he will be another layer of protection? (hide spoiler)]

Arsinoe(view spoiler)[ naturalist. She is struggling just like Katharine, They are all triplets, right?
I can't imagine being tasked with killing my 2 sisters....even if I didn't know them (hide spoiler)]

Jules(view spoiler)[ I like her. she seems like she really cares about Arsinoe, which is so different than Katherine (hide spoiler)]

Camden(view spoiler)[ OMG I want a pet large cat :D (hide spoiler)]

Joseph(view spoiler)[ he sounded sweet and in love with Jules. I wonder what she DID just do throwing that in the fire.
Interesting that the person he brought for Arsinoe will visit Maribella.... (hide spoiler)]

Maribella(view spoiler)[ and sister number three. and she controls the weather. but for as much nurturing she seems to have there...her powers sound stronger
and she's already been killing people. her training sounds much uglier (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Done with the first 100 pages. This book is really slow so far. My biggest issue is that there are so many characters. Every couple of pages a new character is introduce; I'm having a hard time keeping track.

Katharine: (view spoiler)[ I wonder if she has the war gift instead. Being head of the government for three generation has made the poisoners greedy. Base of what I understand their queens have not been strong. Instead the poisoners have been winning through deception. It explains why Natalia is so calm that Katharine gift is not as strong as it is suppose to be (hide spoiler)]

Arsinoe: (view spoiler)[ I wonder if she has the sight gift instead. My sister had a theory that Arsinoe is actually the poisoner and Katharine is actually the naturalist and a mistake was made during the claiming. (hide spoiler)]

Mirabelle: (view spoiler)[ I was not expecting her to be this nice. I think the priestesses know that she loves her sister that is why they are making her kill. I wonder if it is because she is so powerful that her sisters' gifts are so weak. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Kelly wrote: "Done with the first 100 pages. This book is really slow so far. My biggest issue is that there are so many characters. Every couple of pages a new character is introduce; I'm having a hard time kee..."

YES! I agree - too many names and people!! (view spoiler)[ but I did find that after reading 2 POV from one person, I was starting to remember who was where

but yeah, not a lot of slow building up - just plunks you right down into their day to day lives with SO many people! (hide spoiler)]

Theory(view spoiler)[ Oh!!! Katharine being war and Arsinoe having the sight. WOW! What an interesting twist! I didn't even think that they might be aligned incorrectly!
Now I'm excited to get through the next part!! (hide spoiler)]

[Katriann]

Okay, I finished the first 100 pages.

I also found the (view spoiler)[ number of characters a bit confusing in the beginning, but now I feel like I remember most of the names quite well. (hide spoiler)]

Katharine (view spoiler)[ Her life seems pretty awful. I understand they're trying to make her strong and keep her alive, but it's terrible how she has to suffer all kinds of poisonings all the time. I'm not sure Peityr genuinely wants to help Katharine. He could just be after power. I mean, he clearly said he wants a seat in the council. (hide spoiler)]

Arsinoe (view spoiler)[ She doesn't seem that worried about the fact that her gift has not showed. I wonder if she's simply accepted that she may not beat her sisters. I bet she will discover her power at some point in the book, but the question is when. (hide spoiler)]

Mirabella (view spoiler)[ She seems surprisingly nice. I expected her to be arrogant or something. It's interesting that she's having all those dreams but the other sisters are not. Does that mean that she is more scared of having to kill her sisters than they are of having to kill her? Maybe she cares more about them than they about her. (hide spoiler)]

@Kelly, (view spoiler)[ that's an interesting theory. It never occurred to me that Arsinoe and Katharine could have been switched. That would explain why they both struggle with their powers. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

2nd update Page 203: This book was not what I expected. I was expecting a magically hunger games but I do enjoy the politics

Katherine: (view spoiler)[ She was not as prominent in these couple of pages but it is so obvious that Pietyr is falling in love with her. I really don't think she is a poisoner. (hide spoiler)]

Arsinoe: (view spoiler)[ I feel like dabbling in low magic is going to blow up in her face. (hide spoiler)]

Mirabella: (view spoiler)[ She is favorite sister. I love that she does not want to kill her sister. However I don't understand why she would sleep with someone that she just save from drowning. This is probably not the direction that Kendare Blake is going but what if one of the queen gets pregnant with triplets before a queen is crowned happens. Do they forget about the current queens and begin claiming and training the newborns instead? And Joseph that SOB!! (hide spoiler)]

[Krista]

Katharine-(view spoiler)[Her life sounds awful and I was honestly hoping at the end of her tasting we would see her waking up from a bad dream or something haha. I don't trust Peityr at all at this point. If we didn't see the convo about him wanting on the council then maybe I would. He seemed nice when he was dancing with her though. (hide spoiler)]

Arsinoe- (view spoiler)[Not showing any powers at all and no one really be concerned is concerning. I like Jules and her character and I hope that spell being thrown in the fire doesn't mess her up too bad. (hide spoiler)]

Maribella- (view spoiler)[She obviously has the most power out of all of them, but doesn't want to use it for bad. (hide spoiler)]


Theory- (view spoiler)[I'm with your sister on this one. I think Katharine is a naturalist and that her familiar is that snake that never bit her. Then only thing I don't get about it is if she has been poisoned so much why hasn't it killed her? (hide spoiler)]

Which sister are you liking the best so far?

I also agree that the book is slow so far.

I'm hoping to read the next 100 today :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

200 pages (202)

Katharine(view spoiler)[ wow, her poison ability is definitely bad. She didn't partake of her own poison.
Katharine being next to Natalia and Natalia's ability - it really shows that poison is not her strongest ability

it's odd that Natalia re-trained the snake. Was that just to make Katharine feel better? (hide spoiler)]

Arsinoe(view spoiler)[ this side seems to be so much about Jules and Joseph. so sad, now we know the cost of the low magic. it's definitely steep for Jules
Billy seems okay. Interesting that he is the King consort to just whichever one lives. Yikes. (hide spoiler)]

Mirabella(view spoiler)[ she is definitely having visions - whether they are possible futures is still unsure
I can't believe she was with Joseph. I guess we know the cost of the fire now (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Kelly wrote: "Mirabella:..."

I was wonder(view spoiler)[ this exact same thing. If Mirabella becomes pregnant from this encounter - what then?? (hide spoiler)]

[Krista]

Kyle wrote: "Just finished the book. That was a great read. No spoilers here, I gotta admit I'm for all 3 girls. I'd comment more, but idk how to mark a spoiler. ^_^"

If you click on (some html is ok) it will tell you how to mark it. :) Hope this helps!

[Krista]

200 Pages

Katharine-(view spoiler)[I don't at all think that she is a poisoner. I was thinking naturalist because of the snake but that doesn't make sence anymore either. Isn't it a different snake that Natalia gave her? So that's why it tried to bit her? At least that's what I thought. (hide spoiler)]

Mirabella- (view spoiler)[I'm glad she doesn't want to hurt her sisters. i wish Rho hasn't come to take her away then things would have gotten interesting. Now I feel like we are just going to see a lot of the same things. Also, is she going to be in love with Joseph now? (hide spoiler)]

Arsineoe - (view spoiler)[I want to see more of her. I feel like more of her perspective is all about Jules and Joseph and their story. Hopefully that is all important to Arsineore's story. (hide spoiler)]

The wondering (view spoiler)[I hope there isn't a pregnancy in this. My thought was that Joseph isn't going to be able to forget about it and will suddenly be in love with Mirabella or something. (hide spoiler)]

Speed of the book (view spoiler)[anyone else thing this book is going slow? I feel like we spend some much time flipping between the sisters that not a whole lot has happened. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Krista wrote: "Speed of the book [spoilers removed]"

Yes, (view spoiler)[ OMG this story is SO SLOOOOOOOW (hide spoiler)]

[Krista]

@ Trisha Yes, ---(view spoiler)[I mean I'm interested enough that I'm going to finish it, but overall I don't feel like a lot has happened. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Kyle wrote: "I deleted my other comment, I apologize. I am new to Goodreads and the buddy read thing. I didn't see the post of sections at a time. I will post when everyone has finished =)."

awe, it was no worries! You can chat with us when we're done too!!
Do you need help with posting spoilers??

we have a thread that might help

it's Here if that helps :)

[Krista]

300 Thoughts

Kathrine- (view spoiler)[I wasn't sure about Pietyr feelings for her, but I'm thinking that his feelings as true. (hide spoiler)]

Rumor- (view spoiler)[I hate that they started the rumor about the Queens. I don't think any of them have what it takes to kill each other in the long run. I could be wrong though. (hide spoiler)]

Mirabella- (view spoiler)[I feel bad that she has been under lock and key for her whole like. I really want her to go after the high priestess and the other for doing all this to her. Plus, cutting off the hand of her friend? Really? I wanted her to fight after that but maybe they have taken all the fight out of her. (hide spoiler)]

Arsineoe- (view spoiler)[What do we think about her and Billy? I know he says he wants to be only friends but is that true? Or is it because he knows he will have to do what his father tells him. Also, wasn't he suppose to swim in shore and say she kicked him off? So did he stay with her or did he drown? So many questions with this one. (hide spoiler)]

Thoughts-(view spoiler)[I wish I liked one sister over the other, but I don't right now. Maybe that's partly why I feel like the book is going slow. I still haven't connected to any one girl. (hide spoiler)]

[Katriann]

203 pages

I definitely agree (view spoiler)[ that this book is slow. I mean, they haven't even started killing each other and we're halfway through the book. (hide spoiler)]

@Kelly (view spoiler)[ I also found it strange that Mirabella and Joseph slept together, when Joseph had almost drowned a while ago. You'd think they would have more important things to do. (hide spoiler)]

I also think (view spoiler)[ Arsinoe's parts seem to be mostly about Jules and Joseph. Maybe there is a reason, why Kendare Blake chose to focus on them. I guess we'll find out about it later. (hide spoiler)]

@Krista (view spoiler)[ I also think it is a different snake that looks like Katharine's old snake. Or that's how I understood and that's probably why it tried to bite her. (hide spoiler)]

[Krista]

@Katriann- (view spoiler)[That's what I think. I can't decide if the first snake was trained better or what happened. (hide spoiler)]

[Krista]

Finished

I have (view spoiler)[so many questions about where this book ended. If Arsineoe is a poisioner (which we all kind of guessed), then is Kathrine a naturalist? If she is, was that first snake her familiar or was it just her abilities that made the first snake not bit her?

I feel like the author was aiming for everything to hit the fan in the end and it kind of did, but some of it felt forced. All of a sudden all the sister want to hurt each other more than ever? Peityr just pushes Kat off a cliff and she just happens to survive? I'm very confused about that.

I guess I will be reading the next book to find out what happens but if it as slow as this one I might not make it through. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

ugh...this book is just dragging for me
but I"m going to push through and finish it (I'm so jealous Krista! Congrats on finishing!!)

and I completely agree with all your posts on this round!!

301 pages....

Kathrine- (view spoiler)[ I agree. I thought Peityr wasn't true but he really seems to be. it's wrong they can't be together (hide spoiler)]

Rumor- (view spoiler)[ this seems so dirty and unfair. They are priestesses and control SO MUCH of the fight. It seems like their queen would always win...when they control so much. seems like it should be on neutral ground with neutral people running it (hide spoiler)]

Mirabella- (view spoiler)[ what they did to her friend is just awful. and that they are going to kill her sisters. She may be powerful but she's definitely a reluctant queen (hide spoiler)]

Arsinoe- (view spoiler)[ Yes! Where did Billy go? And why didn't he swim back. I worry for both of them now (hide spoiler)]

Thoughts(view spoiler)[ I agree. there isn't really a sister I like most
Arsinoe seems off when she was laughing about her stitches
and Katharine doesn't seem strong enough
but Maribella's moment with Joseph is just odd. (hide spoiler)]

[Krista]

@Trisha

Rumor- (view spoiler)[From what I understood most of the time the priestesses are neutral but this time Luca choose favoritism. I feel like their trying to cover their own butt for doing it by creating this rumor. Plus, they don't like the council ruling the way that they do now? I guess (hide spoiler)]

Thoughts- (view spoiler)[I totally agree. I wonder what it would have been like if the sections from each sister were longer. I don't mean make the book longer but put more of the parts together or something. It just moves so slow! (hide spoiler)]

It took A LOT of me just reading a chapter at a time and then doing something else to get through it.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Krista wrote: "@Trisha

Thoughts- [spoilers removed]"

I actually read the 200 - 300 page point this way (view spoiler)[ I just skipped around until I was just reading one sister. I think they definitely should have kept the sections together (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

and I'm done

First thing(view spoiler)[ I wish somehow someone could warn you, the queen is not decided by the end of the book. I can't believe I read all those pages to STILL be in limbo (hide spoiler)]

Katharine(view spoiler)[ What!? I do mean...just What?! Why did Peityr push her? so......all this time, he was set to kill her? Or...wait, did pushing her in there make her stronger?
but if Peityr did push her, then why did he search for her? Was that all just a ploy? I am most confused by this storyline
also, yes, I think her familiar was killed. Can you have more than one? and, I mean, one of the crowns on the cover has snakes on it. Foreshadowing maybe? lol (hide spoiler)]

Maribella(view spoiler)[ I'm so glad she was pushed down a little from her pedestal. She needs to realize that she is not the only contender at the table. She kept acting like she would win and just "save" her sisters. She's not the only strong one (hide spoiler)]

Arsinoe(view spoiler)[ I'm glad she got Billy. I like him but with Peityr, now I know to trust no one

I also didn't think it was a surprise, like we'd all said, that she can consume poison. I'm just glad SHE finally figured it out. lol (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Kyle wrote: "To Trisha [spoilers removed]

To Trisha(view spoiler)[ oooh, was that the odd comment about the blood thirsty island or the blood thirsty something...I remember him making a weird comment but...I didn't tie it to anything. So he did it because he wanted her to die? but Why? I thought he loved her? Did he double cross her for the priestesses? I must have missed the hints along the way.... (hide spoiler)]

Arsinoe (view spoiler)[ that is a really good point. I wonder why the author did this. It doesn't really have a point in the plot unless we just don't know it yet..but I don't see any real reason for it (hide spoiler)]

This is to Trisha, Krista, and Anyone else who finished the book. (view spoiler)[ YES!! OMG yes, I completely agree. I honestly thought a plot twist might be that Jules was actually the sister and not Arsinoe only because so many of the chapters were all about her and Joseph.
and YES! his flip flopping - yes I love you, no I love her. I was ready to slap him and he wasn't even cheating on me! (hide spoiler)]

Yes, at the very least, it is 2 books - the 2nd book is already in goodreads: - but for some reason, I think it's 3 (and I don't know why lol)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Awe, Thank you Kyle(view spoiler)[ for some reason, I didn't put any weight to what he said but you're totally right. I wonder, when he finds out she's still alive, if he'll try to seek her out... (hide spoiler)]

and I completely agree(view spoiler)[ you made another great point that it would have been nice to know much much more about how the land and the people around each sister was different. We got very little - only knowing that Arsinoe was allowed to run a little freer than the other 2 sisters because they gave us the conversation with Jules where she wonders if they've done it wrong.

I wonder if it had been longer but gave us more world building, if it would have felt less slow.....

hopefully book 2 will build it all up for us much more! (hide spoiler)]


I'm so glad we buddy read this one! With everyone's comments, I realized more about the book than I would have reading it alone!

Thank you guys! :) hopefully we'll want to come back and read the next one together :D

Katriann, be sure to keep us posted as you get closer to finishing :)

[Krista]

@Trisha and Kyle (view spoiler)[I agree with both your thoughts on the book. Honestly, the more I think about this book the more I realized everything that was important that happened occurred in the last 100 pages or so. I'm glad we Buddy Read this because I'm not sure I would have finished it otherwise. Or would have finished it slower haha (hide spoiler)]

[Katriann]

Trisha wrote: "Awe, Thank you Kyle[spoilers removed]

and I completely agree you made another great point that it would have been nice to know much much more about how the land and the people around each sister w..."

Sure Trisha, I'll keep you guys posted. I'm sorry I'm taking this long. I have to read six classic novels for an exam and they effectively slow down my leisure reading. I didn't realize I would be this busy, when I signed up for this buddy read. :D

@Kelly, I hope you'll be able to post some comments too, when you get closer to finishing the book.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

no worries, you guys take your time :) we'll be here to chat!

[Kelly]

It took me a week but I've finally finished. If I was not buddy reading this with you guys I would have probably DNF it. It was sooooo slow and nothing of importance happen until the last 100 pages. If the book was as good as the last chapter then it would have been an easy 5 stars book.

Arsinoe: (view spoiler)[ I guess we were right about her being the poisoner. I wonder who screwed that up. I don't see why we wasted so much time with the low magic if she had a gift. (hide spoiler)]

Billy: (view spoiler)[ Poor Billy. He got thrown with a whole bunch of crazy. I say cut your losses and go home kid. (hide spoiler)]

Jules and Joseph: (view spoiler)[ I really did not like that majority of Arsinoe's chapters revolved around them. I just do not like Joseph and while Jules is more likely, I find her kind of boring. (hide spoiler)]

Katriann: (view spoiler)[ I do not think she is a poisoner or a naturalist. I think she may have the war gift. I really wish Kendare Blake elaborate on the war gift more. I think that was what Peityr guessed when he threw her off and he hoped that her gift would save her somehow. Maybe war gift is why she came back uncharacteristically vengeful. (hide spoiler)]

Maribella: (view spoiler)[ her relationship with Joseph is ridiculous. The priestess all deserved to punished. I hope that her sisters become equally as powerful. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Kelly wrote: "It took me a week but I've finally finished. If I was not buddy reading this with you guys I would have probably DNF it. It was sooooo slow and nothing of importance happen until the last 100 pages..."

right ? I would not have finished either....

Katriann(view spoiler)[ OMG Good guess!! That probably is why! I wonder if Peityr knew!! I didn't even pull the 2 things together - her vengeance and her strong pain tolerance (hide spoiler)]

Billy(view spoiler)[ LOL that is such a good point! (hide spoiler)]

Arsinoe(view spoiler)[ I agree, it was a slow book. why drag me through that?! (hide spoiler)]

[Katriann]

Okay, I finally finished.

I agree with all of you (view spoiler)[ that the book was sooo slow. I still kind of liked it though. I wasn't too bored with it, but some things do seem a little pointless now when I start to think about them. (hide spoiler)]

I didn't have (view spoiler)[ a favorite queen while reading the book. I kind of liked them all. Jules and Joseph on the other hand were a bit boring. Or more like Joseph was annoying and Jules was boring. So, I definitely agree with you Kelly. Arsinoe's parts could have been more about Arsinoe and Joseph's relationship with Mirabella was weird. (hide spoiler)]

@Kyle (view spoiler)[ Yeah, I don't really get the bear attack either. I have no idea why Arsinoe's face had to be torn like that. (hide spoiler)]

@Trisha and Krista, (view spoiler)[ I was quite confused about Peityr pushing Katharine off the cliff too. And seriously, how did she survive? I thought the pit was deep enough to seem bottomless. (hide spoiler)]

[Krista]

This is just a thought since I just remembered it, but (view spoiler)[do you think Arsinoe might be able to heal her face? Didn't someone in the book say poisoners could heal in past? Or something like that? (hide spoiler)]

[Katriann]

Krista wrote: "This is just a thought since I just remembered it, but [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I actually think someone did say something like that.

[Krista]

@Kyle (view spoiler)[me! I wanted her to fight them and fight them treating her like a baby or something. Her character just taking everything they could do to her annoyed me. (hide spoiler)]