Every Spiral of Fate by Tahereh Mafi (This Woven Kingdom book 4)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first three books in the This Woven Kingdom series, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Check out Epic Reads if you need a recap of the first three books.

“At long last, the wedding day has arrived.

The Jinn queen and the enigmatic ruler of Tulan are to be married in a magical, enchanted ceremony—but Cyrus, tethered by a blood oath to his bride-to-be, can find nothing to celebrate in this union. He’s falling ever more deeply in love with the one person oathbound to kill him.

Sworn to an ancient, unbreakable magic, Alizeh can only fulfill the prophecy to free her people by ensuring Cyrus dies by her own hand. And Cyrus is forced to await his end all while Prince Kamran inches closer, ready to take his place by Alizeh’s side.

The countdown to murder coils tensions ever tighter, but the historic wedding has already drawn deadly attention. To prepare for war and protect her people, Alizeh must finally discover her magic—and outrun the enemies trying to stop her.

Alizeh and Cyrus, along with Kamran and their friends from Ardunia, must flee on dragon-back to begin the perilous journey into the legendary mountains of Arya, where a firestorm of revelations, magical discoveries, and fresh allies awaits them. Every allegiance will be tested, every darkness uncovered, and when the shattering secrets of the Tulanian king are finally revealed . . .

Nothing, and no one, will be the same.” - taken from Goodreads.

WOW! This book really picks up the pace where the story left off in the third book. Without giving too much away, the cliffhanger ending sets up the ultimate showdown between Alizeh and Iblees in the final book.

This series is slated to end with book five, due out sometime in 2026.

Visit Tahereh Mafi’s website.

Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao

 

Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao

“For Gemma's whole life, it has always been her and her mom against the world. As far as she knew, all her grandparents—and thus her ties to Taiwanese culture—were dead. Until one day when a mysterious man shows up at her door with two shocking the news that her grandfather has just recently passed, and the first clue to a treasure hunt that Gemma hopes will lead to her inheritance.

There's just one major problem: to complete the hunt, she has to go to her grandfather's home in Taiwan. And the only way she can get there is by asking her ex and biggest high-school rival, Xander, for help. But after swallowing her pride, Gemma finds herself halfway across the world, ready to unearth her life-changing prize. Soon Gemma discovers that the treasure hunt is about much more than money—it's about finally learning about her family, her cultural roots, and maybe even finding true love.” - taken from Goodreads.

Visit Gloria Chao’s website.

Games Untold: An Inheritance Games Collection by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Inheritance Games book 4.5)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t started this series, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“There is nothing frivolous about the way a Hawthorne man loves.

An amnesiac playboy and the woman with every reason to hate him. A daredevil, his favorite heiress, and three nights in Prague. An unlikely pairing between a cowboy and a goth. Four brothers with an inescapable bond, strengthened by the family they chose, in a house of wonders that promises to always deliver one more secret.

Discover their stories of love and loss, power, puzzles, and life-and-death secrets in this mind-blowingly romantic collection that proves that when you love the way Hawthornes love, there is no going back.” - taken from Goodreads.

That Night in Prague (novella) - a Jameson and Avery story

The Same Backward as Forward (novella) - the story of how Toby Hawthorne and Hannah/Sarah (Avery’s mother) met and fell in love.

The Cowboy and the Goth - inside look at two of the least known characters in the book, Nash and Libby 

Five Times Xander Tackled Someone (and One Time He Didn't) - complete hilarity via Xander 

One Hawthorne Night - in which Grayson must atone for ignoring his brothers, karaoke style 

What Happens in the Treehouse - the brothers Hawthorne throw Nash a unique bachelor party

$3CR3T $@NT@ - Christmas with a Hawthorne twist

Pain at the Right Gun - a surprising revelation to what really happened in Prague.

Book two in the Grandest Game spin-off, Glorious Rivals, is expected on July 29, 2025.

Visit Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ website.

The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller (Shadows Between Us book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! This book is a companion to The Shadows Between Us and is a continuation of the story.

“Chrysantha Stathos has won.

By hiding her intelligence and ambition behind the mask of a beautiful air-headed girl, she has gathered important secrets, earned her father’s constant care, and become a wealthy duchess—all by age nineteen. Now, she is only one elderly, dying duke away from having all the freedom, money, and safety she’s ever wanted.

Or so she thought.

Turns out her little sister somehow snatched the true victory away from her: Alessandra is wedding the Shadow King, the most powerful man in the world. Meanwhile, after the death of Chrysantha’s no-good, lecherous husband, a man claiming to be the duke’s estranged grandson turns up to inherit everything that should be hers.

Chrysantha is enraged. There is no way that she’s going to let some man take everything from her. Never mind that he’s extremely handsome and secretive and alluring with mysterious powers… No, Chrysantha wants Eryx Demos dead, and in the end, a Stathos girl always gets what she wants.” - taken from Goodreads.

Chrysantha thought she won but her younger sister Alessandra is about to wed the Shadow King. She is wed to an elderly duke that she hopes will soon die so that she can be free to live her life the way she wants. Her plans go awry when an unknown grandson shows up claiming Chrysantha's inheritance and freedom. Enraged that her chance at freedom is slipping away, she is determined to prove that Eryx is an impostor, no matter how handsome or mysterious he is. Alessandra and the Shadow King do make an appearance in this book 

Visit Tricia Levenseller’s website.

The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black (Stolen Heir duology book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Stolen Heir, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.

 

Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak will have to decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he’s always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign—even if it means ending Wren, too.



 

With a new war looming on the horizon and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak’s guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. It’s just a question of whom he will doom.” - taken from Goodreads

As The Stolen Heir was told from Suren’s POV, this book is pure Oak. Continuing the story, the race is on for Oak to discover who is plotting against his sister and the throne. The ending includes action with Jade and Carden.

Visit Holly Black’s website.

All This Twisted Glory by Tahereh Mafi (This Woven Kingdom book 3)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first book.

“As the long-lost heir to the Jinn throne, Alizeh has finally found her people—and she might’ve found her crown. Cyrus, the mercurial ruler of Tulan, has offered her his kingdom in a twisted exchange: one that would begin with their marriage and end with his murder.

Cyrus’s dark reputation precedes him; all the world knows of his blood-soaked past. Killing him should be easy—and accepting his offer might be the only way to fulfill her destiny and save her people. But the more Alizeh learns of him, the more she questions whether the terrible stories about him are true.

Ensnared by secrets, Cyrus has ached for Alizeh since she first appeared in his dreams many months ago. Now that he knows those visions were planted by the devil, he can hardly bear to look at her—much less endure her company. But despite their best efforts to despise each other, Alizeh and Cyrus are drawn together over and over with an all-consuming thirst that threatens to destroy them both.

Meanwhile, Prince Kamran has arrived in Tulan, ready to exact revenge. . . ..” - taken from Goodreads.

This is the book where all of our characters come together and the real story begins. I didn’t know going into this book that there would be five books total, but that’s a good thing. The action really picks up when everyone arrives in Tulan. Cyrus is having trouble keeping his secrets a secret, Alizeh is trying to do what is best for the Jinn, Kamran is looking for vengeance, and Hazan is being mysterious. Once again, readers are loft with another cliffhanger. This series is perfect for fans of the author’s Shatter Me series.

Book four is due out in 2025.

Visit Tahereh Mafi’s website.

These Infinite Threads by Tahereh Mafi (This Woven Kingdom book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, This Woven Kingdom, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first book.

“With the heat of a kiss, the walls between Alizeh, the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom, and Kamran, the crown prince of the Ardunian empire, have crumbled. And so have both of their lives.

Alizeh, the heir to the Jinn throne, is destined to free her people from the half-lives they’ve been forced to live under human rule. When Kamran, the heir to the human throne, falls in love with her, he’s forced to question everything he’s been taught about Jinn.

Kamran’s grandfather lays dead at the hand of Cyrus, ruler of the neighboring kingdom of Tulan. Cyrus has stolen Alizeh away to his homeland and plans to marry her there, giving her everything she needs to become the Jinn queen—and when she assumes the throne he will have fulfilled his own bargain with the devil.

Alizeh wants nothing to do with Cyrus’s deal or the devil. But without a way to escape Tulan, and with the fulfillment of her own destiny tantalizingly close, she’ll have to decide whether she can set aside her emotions to become the queen her people need.

Kamran, meanwhile, is picking up the pieces in Ardunia. Facing betrayal at every turn, all he knows is that he must go to Tulan to avenge his grandfather. He can only hope that Alizeh will be waiting for him there—and that she hasn’t yet become the queen of Tulan.” - taken from Goodreads.

This book was more about Alizeh and Cyrus. Now in Tulan with Cyrus, Alizeh is trying to figure out what kind of deal he has made with the devil. Meanwhile, Kamran is trying to find his new normal since the murder of his grandfather while trying to keep his crown. Lots of twists and turns take place as once again, this book ends in another cliffhanger.

Book three, All This Twisted Glory, is out now.

Visit Tahereh Mafi’s website.

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi (This Woven Kingdom book 1)

 

“To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight.

The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world.” - taken from Goodreads.

This is the first book in a trilogy that is inspired by Persian mythology but readers may be able to relate more to the familiarity with the fairy tale, Cinderella. Alizeh is working as a servant to survive since the assassination of her parents. Keeping her true identity a secret becomes even more complicated when Crown Prince Kamran sees her and believes she is a spy. Full of twists and turns with an incredible cliffhanger ending, fans will be eager to start book two immediately.

Book two, These Infinite Threads, is out now.

Visit Tahereh Mafi’s website.

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Inheritance Games book 3)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, The Inheritance Games and The Hawthorne, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first two books.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first book.

“Avery’s fortune, life, and loves are on the line in the game that everyone will be talking about.

To inherit billions, all Avery Kylie Grambs has to do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House. The paparazzi are dogging her every step. Financial pressures are building. Danger is a fact of life. And the only thing getting Avery through it all is the Hawthorne brothers. Her life is intertwined with theirs. She knows their secrets, and they know her.

But as the clock ticks down to the moment when Avery will become the richest teenager on the planet, trouble arrives in the form of a visitor who needs her help—and whose presence in Hawthorne House could change everything. It soon becomes clear that there is one last puzzle to solve, and Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are drawn into a dangerous game against an unknown and powerful player.

Secrets upon secrets. Riddles upon riddles. In this game, there are hearts and lives at stake—and there is nothing more Hawthorne than winning.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was an exciting ending to the mystery of why Tobias Hawthorne left his billions to the unknown Avery Grambs. With lots of secrets left to be uncovered and a new danger lurking, will Avery survive to inherit the money? 

And there’s more! Book four, The Brothers Hawthorne, is due out on August 29, 2023.

Visit Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ website.

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber (Twin Crowns book 1)

“Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister’s place in the palace. Trained from birth to return to the place of her parents’ murder and usurp the only survivor, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves. Or she would, if only a certain palace guard wasn’t quite so distractingly attractive, and if her reckless magic didn’t have a habit of causing trouble…

Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility. Marriage into a brutal kingdom awaits, and she will not let a small matter like waking up in the middle of the desert in the company of an extremely impertinent (and handsome) kidnapper get in the way of her royal duty. But life outside the palace walls is wilder and more beautiful than she ever imagined, and the witches she has long feared might turn out to be the family she never knew she was missing.

Two sisters separated at birth and raised into entirely different worlds are about to get to know each other’s lives a whole lot better. But as coronation day looms closer and they each strive to claim their birthright, the sinister Kingsbreath, Willem Rathborne, becomes increasingly determined that neither will succeed. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown?” - taken from Goodreads.

This was an incredible story of twin sisters separated at birth after the murder of their parents. Rose is raised as the princess she was born to be while Wren was raised by her witch grandmother in order to take back the crown and avenge the death of her parents. When Rose is kidnapped and Wren takes her place, the true depth of deception in the kingdom unravels.

Will the sisters join forces to take back the throne or do they battle one another for the kingdom? 

Visit Catherine Doyle’s website.

Visit Katherine Webber’s website.

 

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Inheritance Games book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Inheritance Games, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions—including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons. 

Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows that she’s not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had ever imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, two of the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions. And there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture—by any means necessary.” - taken from Goodreads.com 

The stakes are now higher after the cliffhanger ending of the first book. Avery is on the hunt to find the one person who may hold the answers to all of her questions about why Tobias Hawthorne chose her to inherit his billions. With the help of the brothers Hawthorne, more clues are discovered and several family secrets are revealed. Not to mention, Avery finds herself drawn to one brother in particular.

With another jaw-dropping ending, fans will be counting the days to August 30th, 2022 for the last book in the trilogy, The Final Gambit.

Visit Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ website.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Inheritance Games book 1)

 

“She came from nothing. They have everything. Let the games begin.”

“Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why--or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch--and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes.

Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a con-woman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I picked up this book because it was the reading selection for a book group that I am in. I'm absolutely glad that I did. Full of mysteries, secrets, and puzzles, the reader follows Avery Grambs as she tries to discover why Tobias Hawthorne left his billion-dollar fortune to her instead of giving it to his own family. It also doesn't help that it seems someone is out to kill her and she doesn't know who to trust. Without giving too much away, readers will be shocked by the ending reveal and we'll have to wait until book two to find out why Avery inherited the vast Hawthorne fortune.

The story will continue with book two, The Hawthorne Legacy, to be published on September 16, 2021.

Visit Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ website.

Five Dark Fates by Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns book 4)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first three books in the Three Dark Crowns series, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first three books.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first three books.

Check out Epic Reads if you need a recap of the first three books. 

“After the battle with Katharine, the rebellion lies in tatters. Jules’s legion curse has been unbound, leaving her out of her mind and unfit to rule. Arsinoe must find a cure, even as the responsibility of stopping the ravaging mist rests heavy on her shoulders, and her shoulders alone. Mirabella has disappeared. 

Queen Katharine’s rule over Fennbirn remains intact—for now. But her attack on the rebellion exacted a high price: her beloved Pietyr. Without him, who can she rely upon when Mirabella arrives, seemingly under a banner of truce? As oldest and youngest circle each other, and Katharine begins to yearn for the closeness that Mirabella and Arsinoe share, the dead queens hiss caution—Mirabella is not to be trusted. 

In this conclusion to the Three Dark Crowns series, three dark sisters will rise to fight as the secrets of Fennbirn’s history are laid bare. Allegiances will shift. Bonds will be tested, and some broken forever.

The fate of the island lies in the hands of its queens.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I couldn’t wait for the end of this story and I almost didn’t want to finish it and discover the ending. If I am truthful, this book ended exactly the way I thought it would. Does that make me happy? I’m not sure. Not a completely satisfying ending (I needed more background information on some of the history) and a bit open-ended, I was left a little underwhelmed. I literally devoured the ending so that I could see who survived. Hopefully, the survivors go on to find their happily ever afters.

Visit Kendare Blake’s website.

Whisper of the Tide by Sarah Tolcser (Song of the Current book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Song of the Current, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Caro has settled into a routine: Wake, eat breakfast, try to figure out who is going attempt to assassinate Markos today. The currents aren't exactly calm. Markos is in constant danger, and his claim to the Akhaian throne is largely unsupported. Without military strength he doesn't have a chance. Relief appears on the horizon when a powerful Archon wants to side with Markos in his fight for the throne. But in exchange for an army, Markos must marry the Archon’s daughter. They must decide which is more important: their love for each other or the fate of Akhaia. And Caro will have to decide if her destiny is to sail with the tide, or chart her own course.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I had put off reading this book for a while especially since I couldn’t find a recap of the first book. Fortunately, I surprised myself by not needing it at all. A few characters from the first book didn’t return but I feel like the author dropped a major hint involving a minor character. I hope that there is a third book or spinoff to flesh out this new storyline.

Visit Sarah Tolcser’s website.

Eden Conquered by Joelle Charbonneau (Dividing Eden book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Dividing Eden, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the series for you.

“The Trials of Virtuous Succession have ended. Prince Andreus is king—and Princess Carys is dead.

But even as he’s haunted by what he did to win the throne, Andreus discovers that his dream of ruling only brings new problems. The people love his twin even more in death than they did when she was alive. The Elders treat him as a figurehead. And worst of all, the winds of Eden are faltering. 

But despite what everyone believes, Carys is alive. Exiled to the wilderness, Carys struggles to control the powers that have broken free inside her. And as she grows stronger, so does her conviction that she must return to the Palace of Winds, face her twin and root out the treachery that began long before the first Trials started. 

The Kingdom of Eden is growing darker with each passing day. Brother and sister, former foes, must decide whether some betrayals cut too deep to be forgiven—and whether one will wear the crown or both will lose everything.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This book picks up immediately following the ending of Dividing Eden. Andreus is now King of Eden and everyone believes his twin Carys is dead. Carys is actually on the run and as the days pass, her newly discovered powers grow. As both Andreus and Carys uncover the deception of everyone around them, the must learn who they can trust. With a shocking revelation and an ending I wasn’t expecting, this was a satisfying conclusion to the story.

Visit Joelle Charbonneau’s website.

Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Three Dark Crowns, and One Dark Throne, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first two books.

“While Arsinoe, Mirabella, and Katharine all have their own scores to settle, they aren’t the only queens stirring things up on Fennbirn Island.

Queen Katharine has waited her entire life to wear the crown. But now that she finally has it, the murmurs of dissent grow louder by the day. There’s also the alarming issue of whether or not her sisters are actually dead—or if they’re waiting in the wings to usurp the throne.

Mirabella and Arsinoe are alive, but in hiding on the mainland and dealing with a nightmare of their own: being visited repeatedly by a specter they think might be the fabled Blue Queen. Though she says nothing, her rotting, bony finger pointing out to sea is clear enough: return to Fennbirn. 

Jules, too, is in a strange place—in disguise. And her only confidants, a war-gifted girl named Emilia and her oracle friend Mathilde, are urging her to take on a role she can’t imagine filling: a legion-cursed queen who will lead a rebel army to Katharine’s doorstep.

This is an uprising that the mysterious Blue Queen may have more to do with than anyone could have guessed—or expected.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Without giving too much away of the plot lines in this third book, I'll keep it simple. Arsinoe and Mirabella have left the island of Fennbirn while Jules stayed behind. When paranormal forces bring the two sisters back to the island, they discover that Queen Katharine has a tenuous hold on her throne. With rebel forces trying to overthrow the triplet queens, the unthinkable happens. 

The book ends in what is once again a cliffhanger.

Book four, yet untitled, is due out on September 3, 2019. 

Visit Kendare Blake’s website.

One Dark Thorne by Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Three Dark Crowns, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher on the first book.

“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, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Picking up the story where it left off in Three Dark Crowns, Mirabella, Arsinoe, and Katharine are in their Ascension year. But what soon happens, most not dared to think. With two queens reluctant to kill her sisters and one who will stop at nothing to wear the crown, no one on the island is truly safe. When a rare power rises up in someone who isn't a Queen, the playing field changes. Full of heartbreak and uncovered Secrets, book two exceeds and expands the wonderful story started in book one. Fans will be eagerly awaiting the next book to see who will survive.

Until then, a collection of short stories, Queens of Fennbirn, is out on April 4, 2018.

Visit Kendare Blake’s website.

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns book 1)

“Every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown.

If only it was that simple. Katharine is unable to tolerate the weakest poison, and Arsinoe, no matter how hard she tries, can’t make even a weed grow. The two queens have been shamefully faking their powers, taking care to keep each other, the island, and their powerful sister Mirabella none the wiser. But with alliances being formed, betrayals taking shape, and ruthless revenge haunting the queens’ every move, one thing is certain: the last queen standing might not be the strongest…but she may be the darkest.” - taken from Goodreads.com

OMG! There was not one thing but I didn't love about this book. Triplet sisters, each with their own special power/gift, are raised separately to fight the other two to the death for the throne. Each is leery of killing her sisters but as the time draws near, secrets have been exposed that change everything. The only good thing about waiting so long to read this book is that I can immediately pick up the second.

Book two, One Dark Throne, is out now.

Visit Kendare Blake’s website.