ELS library assistant Aimee loved Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (reviewed here) so much that she quickly picked up the sequel, One Dark Throne. Warning: spoilers ahead!

The second title in the Three Dark Crowns series begins during the aftermath of the Beltane festival, marking the beginning of the Ascension year which will end with one of the three sisters being crowned.

Following Pietyr’s betrayal and her surprise return, Katherine has come back into the story changed, something dark and twisted inside her, even more determined to slaughter her sisters and be crowned queen.

Arsinoe discovers, following an attempted assassination that she has hidden talents that could turn the tables, giving her a chance to stay alive. As punishment for Billy declaring his love and loyalty to Arsinoe, he is sent to stay with Mirabella to become her food taster, protecting her from a potential poisoning. This starts off as a hostile relationship but slowly develops into a mutual friendship as they find a common ground in their love for Arsinoe.

As the book draws to an end, Mirabella has to battle with the goddess of the island herself in order to win her friends’ freedom. We are left guessing where the story is going to take the queens next as their journey is far from over. I look forward to finding out in the next book, Two Dark Reigns.

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