Need a series to keep the mind occupied with an intriguing plot in which contains a sibling rivalry? If so, Kendare Blake (“Ungodly”) is the perfect author to look into.
Blake is the author of several novels and short stories, most of which you can find information about on her website. Her work is somewhat dark and always violent but balances it out with some fantasy aspects, depending on the book. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, but does not speak an ounce of Korean, as she was packed off at a very young age to her adoptive parents in the United States. She enjoys the work of Milan Kundera (“The Joke”), Caitlin R Kiernan (“The Drowning Girl”), Bret Easton Ellis (“American Psycho”) and Richard Linklater (“Dazed and Confused”). She currently lives in Gig Harbor, Washington where she has written many novels landing her on the New York Times Bestsellers list more than once.
Blake has explored a multitude of genres but is best known for her Young Adult (YA) Fantasy series “Three Dark Crowns.” The first book, “Three Dark Crowns,” where in every generation on the island, a set of triples is born. To be more specific, three queens who are all heirs to the crown and they each possess some form of a coveted magic.
Mirabella is an elemental which means she is able to spark hungry flames and vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katherine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache making her practically immune to it. Arsinoe is a naturalist with the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest lions.
While the three sisters are all queens, becoming the Queen Crowned is not solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister must fight for it in a game of life or death. On the night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle for the crown begins. The last queen standing gets the crown.
The “Three Dark Crowns” series takes place in the fictional land of Fennbirn taking readers on a journey through the eyes of each queen and their perspectives on what is expected of them. It is a story filled with unexpected twists that will have readers on their toes for the rest of the books. Overall, the series is incredible. The characters are easy to connect with, which could be a good or bad thing.
After writing the series, she went on to write two more books, one of which will not be published until January, 2022. The most recent release however, is called “All These Bodies” which released on Sept. 21. This one is a great read to get into for spooky season for those searching. It is a YA Thriller that is set in 1958 and is a true crime meets supernatural fiction. The scariest thing about the book is how closely it reads to true crime. This book is definitely not one to miss for those looking for books in the thriller genre.
To learn more about “All These Bodies” and many more novels from Blake, check out spoiler-free reviews from “The Nerd Daily” or “Kirkus Reviews.”
Image from Kendare Blake via Instagram
