Five Dark Fates

Five Dark Fates by Kendare Blake

At longgggggg last, the series finale has arrived. This is book four, the final book, in the Three Dark Crowns series. I previously reviewed book one, THREE DARK CROWNS, the second book, ONE DARK THRONE, the bonus side stories, QUEENS OF FENNBIRN, and the third book, TWO DARK REIGNS.

If you don't want anything spoiled about any of these books, or this series in general, then don't read this review. I also want to do a bit of a series recap on this one, because I gots some thoughts world.

An amazon summary, "In the final book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns series, an all-out war is brewing—one that will pit sister against sister and dead against undead.

After the grim confrontation with Queen Katharine, the rebellion lies in tatters. Jules’s legion curse has been unbound, and it is up to Arsinoe to find a cure, even as the responsibility of stopping the ravaging mist lies heavy on her shoulders, and her shoulders alone. Mirabella has disappeared.

Katharine’s reign remains intact—for now. When Mirabella arrives, seemingly under a banner of truce, Katharine begins to yearn for the closeness that Mirabella and Arsinoe share. But as the two circle each other, the dead queens hiss caution—Mirabella is not to be trusted.

In this conclusion to the Three Dark Crowns series, three sisters will rise to fight as the secrets of Fennbirn’s history are laid bare. Allegiances will shift. Bonds will be tested. But the fate of the island lies in the hands of its queens. It always has." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE

Alright. This whole series has been a wild and crazy ride. So one last time, a little recap.

So, Arsinoe, Jules, and Emilia are in the rebellion camp. They're resisting Katherine's reign for various reasons that have been previously established. Mirabella is with them, until she is determined to find out what is wrong with her younger sister, Katherine. Mirabella ends up leaving the camp and heads for the capital where she meets up with Katherine. Katherine, is understandably suspicious.

Meanwhile, Arsinoe comes up with a way to wake up Jules. She's going to tether Jules power to Emilia to lessen the burden of the naturalist, war gift, and legion curse. They need to wake the true queen.

And, you know, that's enough summary because I'm kind of upset.

So, if you don't want any spoilers, just stop reading now, because I have some things to say.

Seriously, the break down of the rest of the book begins now, because how did we get to this conclusion.

So some stuff happens. Midway-ish through the book, Katherine and Mirabella go on this like little adventure. They find the first temple on the island. Inside, they discover the very first queen was also a legion queen. Which, for some reason is the clear sign that Jules is the one who should be the queen of the island. Then there's a scuffle, Mirabella knows Katherine is full of the dead queens, Katherine knows the dead queens want Mirabella as their host and try to make a break for it. So... instead of letting the dead queens have Mirabella, Katherine kills her. ...because yeah. HOWEVER. Since basically book one, I could have called it that Mirabella was not going to be the one to survive. There was way too much emphasis about how powerful she is, and allusions to how the island need a strong leader at the moment rather than actual strength... but whatever.

Anyways, so the book starts winding down, and there's like this kind of show off thing with Katherine and Arsinoe. Can you guess who would win? CAN YOU? This showdown also felt like such a huge let down. The wind down process of the book to the ultimate conclusion felt like.... kind of a waste. Like, I've actively struggled with trying to figure out why this process was drawn out over four books when all the pieces were very present in book one.

I know, I know, but the plot, the intrigue, the character development, the mainland, the mist, all the mysticism of the island, the mythology and how it all unravels, but like BOOO. BOOOO. BOOOOOO I SAY. This series could have just been shorter. I'll get off of this soapbox now.

But also, the end of the book felt like such a freaking let down. The mist is gone, so does that mean the island is losing it's power? Will everyone's abilities still work? Is it the sign of a true change, of a new lineage taking over? What if Jules doesn't bear the triplets? Or, was the mist created in the first place as a sign for when the lineage took a downfall, to when the island started going to ruin?

I don't freaking know. I can't be more frustrated when a series/book where it gives you some very clear answers about very specific things, but then leaves these other things completely unanswered that were made out to be a big deal at periodic points throughout the book?

PLUS. How is Jules going to bear triplets if she's hooking up with Emilia? Does this mean she's bisexual? WHY COULDN'T THAT HAVE BEEN A CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT/STORYLINE? 

Bah Hum Bug.

All in all, if you haven't invested in reading the series, I wouldn't recommend starting now. If you have invested in reading some of the series and just want to know how it ends, I would continue reading but be prepared to be disappointed.

More, bah hum bug.

EDIT: I came back to yell about the book title. WHOSE ARE THE FIVE DARK FATES? I get Mirabella, Katherine, and that one soldier who, I'm sorry, I can't remember her name but bore the burden of the dead queens that made her war gift go hyper crazy. But like......... everyone else turned out mostly okay. So, who are the other two fates?! WHO. Are they from previous books? But then why reference them here? Or is it supposed to be some kind of implication that there's never a happy ending on the island!? I don't know, and it upsets me.

Happy reading!