One Dark Throne - (Three Dark Crowns) by Kendare Blake

About the Book

Book Synopsis

The sequel to the New York Times bestselling YA fantasy novel Three Dark Crown

The battle for the crown has begun, and the unforgettable events of the Quickening have left a mark on each of the three sisters. Katharine, once the weak and feeble queen, is curiously stronger than ever before. Arsinoe has discovered a secret about her gift which could be her salvation or her undoing. And powerful Mirabella, believing that Arsinoe has betrayed her, is finally ready to fight.

As time runs out on the Ascension Year, the triplets face attacks that will make them question their destinies and their paths to the throne. Friends and foes alike are forcing their hands, pushing them toward a shocking outcome that forever changes everyone involved.

Picking up where the New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns left off, One Dark Throne continues with higher stakes, jaw-dropping twists, and an ending readers will never see coming.

Don't miss Five Dark Fates, the thrilling conclusion to the series!

From the Back Cover

THE BATTLE FOR THE CROWN HAS BEGUN, BUT WHICH OF THE THREE SISTERS WILL PREVAIL?

With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, the week and feeble sister, has inherited a power stronger than even she realizes. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her magic, needs to figure out how to make it work in her favor before anyone finds out. And Mirabella, the elemental everyone thought would be crowned, faces attacks that put those around her in a danger she can't seem to prevent.

In this enthralling sequel to Kendare Blake's New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns, Fennbirn's deadliest queens must confront the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other.

Review Quotes

★ "Blake's already pitch-dark tale shades even darker. Exquisitely restrained prose, deliberate pacing, paying off in a tumultuous climax that piles one shocking twist upon another. Achingly gorgeous and gruesomely fascinating." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"This sequel to Three Dark Crowns loses none of that book's momentum, powering toward a conclusion that leaves several doors open. With wonderfully drawn characters and a lethal, unpredictable plot, this follow-up will leave readers breathless as the queens' fates unfold." -- ALA Booklist

"Blake skillfully guides readers through the complex chain of events while keeping her large cast of characters ignorant of each other's tactics and motivations. Fans of Game of Thrones and dark fantasies will revel in this story of betrayal and survival." -- Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

"New exciting heights with a driving plot. Dark indeed, and exploring themes of loyalty, this is a thrilling sequel with everything from action to romance to entice readers. A strong purchase for YA fantasy shelves." -- School Library Journal

"Riveting. This book hits the ground running and keeps you guessing with each unpredictable twist." -- Brightly

PRAISE FOR THREE DARK CROWNS: "Three Dark Crowns is a brutal and inventive fantasy that is as addictive as it is horrifying. I can't begin to guess the fates of these three remarkable sister-queens, but I'm salivating like poisoners at a feast to find out what will happen next." -- Marissa Meyer, New York Times bestselling author of the Lunar Chronicles

"Full of mystery, intrigue, and deadly girls I wouldn't dare cross, Fennbirn is a darkly magical world I'm both drawn to and frightened by. In short, this is a book I could linger in for months, with three girls I am rooting for with all my heart." -- Megan Shepherd, New York Times bestselling author of The Cage series (on THREE DARK CROWNS)

"With exquisite world building and luminous detail, this is high fantasy at its best. The magic is fierce and the plot intensely twisted, but at this novel's dark heart beats a story about sisterhood, the unbreakable bonds of family, and ties that bind enough to kill." -- Booklist (starred review)

"The opener to a pitch-black epic fantasy series. Blake has constructed an insular, matriarchal society from convincing intimate details, vivid, complicated characters, [and] sumptuous, poetic prose. Gorgeous and bloody, tender and violent, precise, and passionate; above all, completely addicting. " -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) (on THREE DARK CROWNS)

"I loved this book. Blake's THREE DARK CROWNS is hypnotic, twisting, and beautiful...as satisfying as a drop of poison in an enemy's cup." -- April Genevieve Tucholke, author of Wink, Poppy, Midnight

"Readers will be riveted by Blake's ingenious world-building, stunning developments of main and supporting characters, and spiraling tensions. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy action thrillers with strong female leads, such as Victoria Aveyard's 'Red Queen' and Sarah J. Maas's 'Throne of Glass' series." -- School Library Journal

"Blake is a sure hand with complicated and intricate plots, and if that's not enough to make readers stick around for the next installment, the cliffhanger ending certainly will." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Blake establishes myriad side plots and relationships, builds complex characters, and leaves plenty of compelling avenues to explore in future books." -- Publishers Weekly