One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns #2) by Kendare Blake - Restarting June 23rd 2020

[Alaina]

Andrea wrote: "It's not bad, just not as good. Probably 3/3.5 stars whereas this will be 5 I'm pretty sure"

yikes.. you're kind of scaring me! I don't know if I want to read it now :(

[Alaina]

Chapters 33-48: (view spoiler)[

So Arsinoe has been shot by a poison arrow…but none of her friends know that she can actually handle the poison and Katharine cannot. But of course people are starting to figure out that she has the poisoner gift. Also, people are starting to realize Jules gifts too--which can be even more dangerous for Arsinoe.



I'm really happy that Arsinoe has survived from the arrow and the poison. I'm glad that Jules was there with her.

But while this is all happening Mira is freaking writing a letter challenging the shit out of Katharine. This is of course because of the poison arrow that Katharine shot at Arsinoe.



Like I said earlier, sometimes I wonder how this book would be if the sisters actually liked each other. I really hope that they stop their hatred towards one another and team up together and destroy this silly competition for the throne.



AND OMG I FIND OUT WHAT THEIR MOM SABOTAGED HER OWN FREAKING KIDS.



Their mom is kind of cruel for basically calling Arsinoe and Katharine weak as fuck and claiming that Mira is the stronger one of the triplets. CRUEL AS FUCK!

And now Arsinoe wants to help Mira take down Katharine?!?! Why can't they just ask her why she wants to kill them? I mean she was almost killed and betrayed and that is why she is seeking revenge.. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Read the blurb see if you find it interesting. Idk the MC whined too much for me. I like kickass MCs or at least ones who are curious about stuff and figure shit out for themselves. Juliette in my mind is just too much of a damsel in distress.

[Tayla]

I thought this was October 14th????

[Alaina]

Andrea wrote: "Read the blurb see if you find it interesting. Idk the MC whined too much for me. I like kickass MCs or at least ones who are curious about stuff and figure shit out for themselves. Juliette in my ..."

Will do before I read it then.

[Dr. Andy]

Alaina wrote: "Chapters 33-48: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah so Arsinoe was trying to get a truce with Mira but Jules kinda ruined it when the bear attacked Mira at Beltane in book 1. So Mira and Arsinoe are trying to reconcile. I think by the end of this book they'll be allies of some sort. However, Katherine has super changed and idk if she'll be okay with not getting revenge, killing her sisters and taking the throne. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Tayla wrote: "I thought this was October 14th????"

It is!! But you can read the book before that day or after. Just as long as it is in October or within 14 days after the start date.

[Dr. Andy]

Tayla wrote: "I thought this was October 14th????"

Yeah we just started early. My book is due the 11th and I wasn't sure how long I'd take to read it.

[Tayla]

I’ve been using this site since 2012 and this is the first time this has happened to me lol. Every buddy read I’ve ever had starts on that date

[Alaina]

Andrea wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Chapters 33-48: [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I remember that part from the first book between (view spoiler)[Mira and Arsinoe (hide spoiler)] but I can also see why (view spoiler)[Katharine has changed so much. I mean she was pushed into the endless pit or neverending pit or something like that in the first book. And somehow escaped that crazy shit (hide spoiler)] and if that happened to me... I mean heads would roll then too.

[Dr. Andy]

That's very true!

[Dr. Andy]

Tayla wrote: "I’ve been using this site since 2012 and this is the first time this has happened to me lol. Every buddy read I’ve ever had starts on that date"

Wow that's awesome. I'm trying to start early rather than late lol

[Alaina]

Tayla wrote: "I’ve been using this site since 2012 and this is the first time this has happened to me lol. Every buddy read I’ve ever had starts on that date"

Oh hmm. Well during last months challenge I messaged Sarah and she said it was fine if we posted before the day it starts.

[Alaina]

Yeah I usually start on the day the BR is but I have so many planned for this month and a lot are series. So, I'd rather be ahead of the game than like wayyyy behind.

[Dr. Andy]

Alaina wrote: "Tayla wrote: "I’ve been using this site since 2012 and this is the first time this has happened to me lol. Every buddy read I’ve ever had starts on that date"

Oh hmm. Well during last months chall..."

Yeah it is

[Alaina]

Chapters 49-64: (view spoiler)[UGH PETER. Okay, I get that he went to the pit to see if the "real" Katharine is down there but he doesn't find that at all. I don't know if I can trust him since he's the one who pushed her down the pit to begin with.

Then the whole bomb drop to Mira and Katharine when Arsinoe shows up to their little challenge.



But then her and Jules get noticed and get arrested. And of course they don't understand what has happened to Katharine but then they don't really care because she has tried to kill them so many times in this book. So it's basically kill or be killed at this point.



HOWEVER, I am still hoping that the sisters pull through this. That they end up changing the game. They all survive. No Queen dies. I mean they all know Mira is supposed to be the true queen so why not just let her take the throne and then the rest of the sisters can marry and be happy. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Chapters 65-76, aka…
Finished: (view spoiler)[

Natalia has been murdered!!! But then the guy who killed her was killed...



Mira and Arsinoe are both on the run and rebellious as fuck. The island has crowned it's Queen and now they are planning on sacrificing the other two.



and holy crap that ending was good. I'm really rooting for the girls.

I don't think I can wait till next year for the next book :( (hide spoiler)]

[Tayla]

Oh I’m not saying you guys are wrong it’s just new for me

[Dr. Andy]

81% (view spoiler)[ HOLY SHIT I CAN'T BE AT THE CROWNING ALREADY. KATHERINE CAN'T BE QUEEN NO (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Andrea wrote: "81% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I know! right? I felt like it crept up on me so quickly! Then here winning was just mind blowing. And then what happens after...
just... oh my... (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Alaina wrote: "Andrea wrote: "81% [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

OMG I KNOW I JUST FINISHED

[Dr. Andy]

Alaina wrote: "Chapters 65-76, aka…
Finished: [spoilers removed] "

(view spoiler)[ OMG I can't wait either. I can't believe Katherine is poison! How did that happen??? And Jules went back like shit. That means they all be back. Also I'm still wondering if Katherine will end up being a naturalist and find a familiar. Watch them each actually be really freaking powerful which is probably why the mom switched them (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Andrea wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Chapters 65-76, aka…
Finished: [spoilers removed] "

[spoilers removed]"

I know right?!? I hope the next one is going to be way more interesting!

[Dr. Andy]

It's going to have to be!!

[Valerie]

52%
(view spoiler)[I'm thinking Katherine actually has a war gift?? It seems fairly obvious, especially since she gets sick from poisons even after the whole Breccia Domain thing.
Also Jules's war gift?? It kinda came from nowhere, if you don't count her temper (like during Beltane) there were like, zero signs?
Also WHAT THE HELL STOP HURTING MY BABY ARSINOE WHAT IS THIS
Also cool finally seeing aunt Caragh after hearing so much about her! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Valerie wrote: "52%
[spoilers removed] "

(view spoiler)[ Katherine doesn't have the war gift. I'm not exactly sure what's up with her and it's not really spelled out in this book. (hide spoiler)]

[Valerie]

Andrea wrote: "Valerie wrote: "52%
[spoilers removed] "

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I wouldn't be so sure, I mean, her proficiency with knives and arrows came basically out of nowhere? And it's not like it's stated anywhere explicitly that she doesn't have a war gift and she doesn't have much of a poisoner's gift either, her ability to consume poison might just come from the fact that she consumed them all her life and now has at least some sort of immunity which regular people irl might develop as well.
Then again it might have come from the Breccia Domain incident, so who knows ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

(view spoiler)[ Her ability to eat poison is explained a bit later but it's not a poisoner gift and I'm pretty sure she's been training with weapons for a while since that's what poisoner's use. Especially if you compare her to Jules, she definitely doesn't have a war gift. (hide spoiler)]

[Valerie]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Honestly, the finale confused me a bit. The book was going strong and all that, and then the finale kinda flopped? It feels a bit like "well I can't give you a fully or at least mostly satisfying conclusion or you won't read the next books" tbh. I mean, I see the threads that were left open, but I'd rather it be a good solid duology than a stretched-out series? Idk, I'm still not sure how I feel on this.
And if I'm not looking at the last bits, the book was pretty great! I really liked the political intrigue and the plot twists and I actually grew to like Mira a bit better? Honestly I kinda hated her in the first book lmao
And Katherine? I loved how complicated she and her whole situation is to the point where you don't know whether to root for her or not.
I think I liked Arsinoe a little less compared to the first one? Went from 8 to 7, more or less, but still my favourite. I actually started to like her dynamic with Jules? Especially since in the first book I felt that Arsinoe was being overshadowed by Jules, it was like the narration itself cared about her more, but now I feel like it's more complicated than that.

All in all? A good solid four, and I'm thinking I'll reread the two books before the next ones come out, just to see if I feel any different and to paint a better picture in my head, I guess. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Chapter 1

(view spoiler)[Yaaas Katharine. You are no mouse, girl. Katharine was my favourite in the last book out of the three queens so of course I want her to win. I'm so happy she's finally becoming a boss ass bitch. You go girl! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Chapters 2-3

(view spoiler)[Even though it wasn't that long ago since I read the first book, I've forgotten a lot of what happened in it haha.

I forgot that I hate Joseph and Mirabella, and how sorry I am for Elizabeth for her having her hand chopped off.

If this book is gonna tackle more of the sister's trying to kill each other then I'm here for that. Whoop! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Chapters 4-10 (Up to The Suitors Arrive)

(view spoiler)[i don't know why Jules puts up with Joseph's shit. Why does he need to go see Mirabella to tell her it's over? If this guy end up with Mirabella again, I swear to god I will scream.

I'm a bit concerned that Katharine has had a complete personality overhaul. What's going on there?? (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Chapters 11-19

(view spoiler)[I need more Katharine. I need more of her badass revenge. I want to see her murder the shit out of Pietyr.

I don't want to care about Mirabella, but that chapter with her and Billy sitting down to eat what he has cooked, made me care for her a tiny bit. But I hope she manages to keep her hands off Billy. I know it's not her fault that Joseph was taken when they got together, but still. I don't want them to fall in love because I kinda like Arsinoe and I don't want her to get hurt by her sister. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Chapter 20

(view spoiler)[Argghhh Katharine, that was your chance!! You should have slliced that traitor up for what he did to you. I hope she doesn't regret keeping him alive.

I'm starting to ship Katharine with Nicolas. He's sooo much better than Pissy Pietyr. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Chapters 21-34

(view spoiler)[Loved the idea of a Queens hunt, didn't love how wimpy Mirabella was.

Arsinoe can't be dead. She just can't be dead already. The poison won't affect her. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Chapter 35

(view spoiler)[Knew it! I don't think this book (or this series for that matter) will have the guts to kill any of the queens off. I just have a sneaking suspicion that none of them will dead and I think that's the cowards way out if I'm honest. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Chapters 36-46

(view spoiler)[I wonder of Katharine was possessed in some way when she fell down into the Breccia Domain? And is Pietyr gonna make it out alive?

I'm soooo excited for the duel, I wanna see these girls fight out and if Arsinoe could make her epic return, that would be great. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Chapters 47-55

(view spoiler)[Ahhhh so much is happening. Arsinoe and Mirabella are imprisoned. Katharine has been crowned. Natalia is dead. Billy finally stood up to his dad. His dad is now also dead.

I'm not sure who I'm supposed to be routing for at this point. Like in the first book, Katharine was my favourite but now I'm not so sure. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Book Finished

(view spoiler)[Nicolas and Joseph are dead tooo!!! What??? I need the next book. I can't have the little 'happy ending' of Mirabella and Arsinoe running off into the sunset and escaping the island. I need the three sisters to come together and tear down the rules of the island.

Really enjoyed this book though. I wasn't totally keen on the first one, but this book was soooo much better. Looking forward to the 3rd book. (hide spoiler)]

[Tayla]

Just started

[Jenn]

5% - literally just started but am so excited to dive in especially after that freaking ending. (view spoiler)[ so Kat isn't telling anyone who actually pushed her and Arsinoe is keeping her poison affinity secret. Cannot wait until this all comes out! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

20%: (view spoiler)[ the queens are getting vicious right now. I really want them to team up together and take over everything but I don't see that happening. And holy crap, Kat had gone kind of mad. I wonder why she keeps ingesting poisons when she knows her body can't take them. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

34%: (view spoiler)[ all three queens about to meet again. This cannot be a good thing. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

46%: (view spoiler)[That bear better not die! Katharine needs to chill the eff out! I think that Arsinoe and Mira may end up teaming together because they both seem to not want to kill each other. It's just Kat... (hide spoiler)]

[Tayla]

So I have the ARC: uncorrected proof version and I don’t see chapters? Lol

[Tayla]

Ashleigh wrote: "Chapters 4-10 (Up to The Suitors Arrive)"

Yes exactly (view spoiler)[ I’m glad she said she doesn’t trust him. Even tho the spell is obviously at work, what’s done is done. I wish arsinoe would just tell them about it. Whenever he sees mirabelle he’s just going to fall for her again ugh. Why is Jules still with him. He shouldn’t be alowed to double dip. (hide spoiler)]

[Tayla]

Jenn wrote: "5% - literally just started but am so excited to dive in especially after that freaking ending. [spoilers removed]"

Yesssss (view spoiler)[ so it seems like mirabella is normal while arsinoe and Katherine are supposed to be switched. I’m excited to see how this plays out (hide spoiler)]

[Tayla]

Side note: (view spoiler)[ I was thinking. Maybe Katherine hasn’t found her familiar because she poisons every animal she comes in contact with lol (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Tayla wrote: "So I have the ARC: uncorrected proof version and I don’t see chapters? Lol"

There aren't chapter numbers in the published version either lol. That's why I keep using %

[Jenn]

56%: (view spoiler)[ at least Braddock isn't dead. I was about to rage quit if they killed that bear. I really want to know how people are going to react knowing Arsinoe is alive. And now with Billy and Mirabella pledging themselves to each other. Shit is about to go down (hide spoiler)]