Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Two prequel stories deftly explore betrayal and power.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In QUEENS OF FENNBIRN, we meet The Young Queens in the first novella, when they are born, as they grow up together, and when they are separated at age 6 to live with the houses that will nurture their respective powers. Queen Mirabella grows to be not only the most powerful, but also the most stubborn. In The Oracle Queen, we get the real story of Queen Elsabet, who reigned 500 years before. Elsabet is supposed to be the reason that all queens with the Sight as a power are drowned young. But was it madness that turned her into an outcast or other power-hungry forces at work?
Is It Any Good?
Fans of this deliciously dark series about murderous triplet queens will fawn over these novellas that explore the power struggles on the magical island of Fennbirn. Previously released separately online, the novellas seem quite different at first. The Young Queens shows the queens from the Three Dark Crowns trilogy growing up, separating, and moving in with their guardians to grow their magical gifts. The Oracle Queen steps back 500 years to when a queen was betrayed by the power-hungry. Both together are clever cautionary tales for the queens as they come of age. They ignite a foreboding for the outcome of the rest of the trilogy. Questions arise: Will the poisoners ever relinquish control? How much power are the queens really given after all they go through? Is there any way to abolish tradition?
There are places these novellas could have dug deeper and been much more than the novella format allows -- it's especially disappointing when Mirabella's fascinating story is cut short. But overall, Queens of Fennbirn serves the Three Dark Crowns trilogy well. It adds another delicious layer to author Kendare Blake's dark fantasy confection.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about power plays in The Queens of Fennbirn. How do the Arrons wield their power in both novellas? What is so dangerous about Queen Mirabella in the eyes of her guardians? Is it her power or knowing her own mind?
What do Queen Mirabella and Queen Elsabet have in common?
How do these novellas add to the Three Crowns trilogy? Do they change how you view the queens?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperTeen
- Publication date : April 3, 2018
- Number of pages : 240
- Available on : Paperback, Apple Books
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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