Two Dark Reigns (Three Dark Crowns, #3)

by Kendare Blake

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

This series just keeps getting better and better with each book. This story started strong from page one and didn't really let up any, in my opinion. Just when I thought I knew the ins and outs of this tale, Blake showed me that she still had quite a few details to add to this world and its history, and I say, bring it, Blake!

Two Dark Reigns expanded on much of the legend and lore we had previously learned. Blake revealed additional information about the dead queens, who were inhabiting Katherine's body, and let me tell you, these queens were restless. They were NOT letting Katherine enjoy a quiet reign.

I am still firmly team Arisone, though I am worried about her. She was being haunted via her dreams, which led her on a quest. For what? Arsinoe didn't know, but she had to pursue it or risk being driven mad.

Many of the things I latched onto in the TDC novellas were put into play in this book. Most notably, we saw the Blue Queen emerged as a player of sorts. I had been intrigued by the Blue Queen and though my theories regarding her were not correct, I was excited to learn the whole story behind this Blue Queen and getting deeper into her background.

Being team Arsinoe also makes me team Jules, and I was really excited to see her role in this story getting even bigger than before. Jules was still trying to learn about her legion gift, and when the oracles and warriors united with Jules, more and more was revealed about her gift and its curse. Jules' storyline was one of my favorites, because there was quite a bit of mystery surrounding her in the last book. Many details were unveiled, but I was still left with a multitude of unanswered questions, and nothing but concern and worry for our Jules.

A new character of importance emerged in this installment. The island and its mist played a large role in this book, and though the results were quite gruesome, I was enthralled by the mystery and history surrounding it. It's not clear what prompted the island's actions, but I know I am more than eager to get to the bottom of that story.

On the whole, I was really impressed with how these seemingly isolated people and events were tied together. The story's intricacies kept me flipping the pages and searching for more links. I am still enthralled by all the strong female characters inhabiting this world, and Blake continues to impress me with her ability to reveal additional layers to characters we have already met.

By the end of the book, I had nothing but genuine concern for Jules, Arsinoe, and Katherine. All three were in some sort of peril, as the island, the mist, and the dead queens were all wrecking havoc.

The island was revolting! The mist was revolting! The people were revolting! No one was safe.

More legends, more magic, more betrayals, more battles -- this book was just a lot more of the things I loved in the first two books.

Overall: Another fantastic addition to one of my favorite series! Be sure to buckle up, because Blake took me on a wild ride, and left me eager to get my hands on the next book.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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