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Castles in Their Bones #3
Poison in Their Hearts
Immerse yourself in the final book in the epic fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Pricess series. Follow three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown.
They were promised for marriage since birth, and raised to bring down kingdoms, but the triplet princesses of Bessemia’s true destiny has always been to die—and one already has. Since Sophronia’s murder Princesses Daphne and Beatriz have discovered the truth: that they are pawns in their mother’s game. A scheme that will see her empress not just of Bessemia, but the entire continent of Vesteria. But the princesses have their own plans.
Beatriz and Daphne are still separated by a continent, and there are enemies everywhere, but now they have allies, and they stretch across the borders of Vesteria. Sophronia’s husband, the deposed King Leopold; Violie, a former spy for Empress Margaraux; and Beatriz’s missing husband, Pasquale and his lover, Ambrose. Now, with their help and the magic of the stars above, the princesses are ready to make their final stand.
But whispers of an ancient prophecy follow them--there are secrets from the their past that have yet to be revealed—and every move they make, the empress seems to always be one step ahead them. If there’s any hope for the princesses, the girls will need to use every skill their mother taught them, trust in the magic in their veins, and defy fate, itself—or all is lost for the people of Vesteria.
They were promised for marriage since birth, and raised to bring down kingdoms, but the triplet princesses of Bessemia’s true destiny has always been to die—and one already has. Since Sophronia’s murder Princesses Daphne and Beatriz have discovered the truth: that they are pawns in their mother’s game. A scheme that will see her empress not just of Bessemia, but the entire continent of Vesteria. But the princesses have their own plans.
Beatriz and Daphne are still separated by a continent, and there are enemies everywhere, but now they have allies, and they stretch across the borders of Vesteria. Sophronia’s husband, the deposed King Leopold; Violie, a former spy for Empress Margaraux; and Beatriz’s missing husband, Pasquale and his lover, Ambrose. Now, with their help and the magic of the stars above, the princesses are ready to make their final stand.
But whispers of an ancient prophecy follow them--there are secrets from the their past that have yet to be revealed—and every move they make, the empress seems to always be one step ahead them. If there’s any hope for the princesses, the girls will need to use every skill their mother taught them, trust in the magic in their veins, and defy fate, itself—or all is lost for the people of Vesteria.
544 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2024
70 people are currently reading
3554 people want to read
About the author
Laura Sebastian
11books4,161followersLaura Sebastian grew up in South Florida and attended Savannah College of Art and Design. She now lives and writes in London, England, with her two dogs, Neville and Circe. Laura is the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series: Ash Princess, Lady Smoke, and Ember Queen, as well as the Castles in Their Bones series: Castles in Their Bones, Stardust in Their Veins, and Poison In Their Hearts; Half Sick of Shadows, her first novel for adults; and Into the Glades, for middle-grade readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
May 16, 2024
The time for hiding and sneaking is done. It’s time to show Empress Margaraux exactly who she raised her daughters to be.
“And make her regret it.�
At this conclusion of Castles in Their Bones trilogy, it is time to revenge on the one poisoning our girls' hearts.
"None of us are the worst decisions we’ve made."
This is a very unique and I think gravely underestimated trilogy, with many betrayals and lies, twists and turns, a fantastic storyline, great characters building and I love the magic in this world!
Here it is, look at the three covers, Beatriz, Daphne, Sophronia, three daughters of Empress Margaraux who were born and raised to help their mother conquer all of Vesteria.
I very much enjoyed adventuring with the three, getting to know them, seeing them grow and change, when I reopened again their story they were like old friends, knowing the sisters I never had and wondering this is how it would be a sisterhood relationship...
Although, technically I did not physically open anything as it was a digital book, thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley for ARC. I received the first two books of this series in 2022 and here the last, I am truly grateful.
The publication date is 18 Jun 2024, so I highly recommend starting the whole series now!
“And make her regret it.�
At this conclusion of Castles in Their Bones trilogy, it is time to revenge on the one poisoning our girls' hearts.
"None of us are the worst decisions we’ve made."
This is a very unique and I think gravely underestimated trilogy, with many betrayals and lies, twists and turns, a fantastic storyline, great characters building and I love the magic in this world!
Here it is, look at the three covers, Beatriz, Daphne, Sophronia, three daughters of Empress Margaraux who were born and raised to help their mother conquer all of Vesteria.
I very much enjoyed adventuring with the three, getting to know them, seeing them grow and change, when I reopened again their story they were like old friends, knowing the sisters I never had and wondering this is how it would be a sisterhood relationship...
Although, technically I did not physically open anything as it was a digital book, thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley for ARC. I received the first two books of this series in 2022 and here the last, I am truly grateful.
The publication date is 18 Jun 2024, so I highly recommend starting the whole series now!
May 21, 2024
There's so many series where I could say they would likely be better as a duology, but this series truly needed to be a duology. For most of Stardust and Poison, the story moves forward at a snail like pace, and this was hampered by the page count of both books totalling over 500 pages each. I started Poison thinking that we would finally see some action, but it actually felt slower than Stardust.
I don't think I've ever read a book where so little happens. Violie and Beatriz make moves towards Bessemia, and Daphne waits there in her mother's castle for the final showdown. When this finally arrived in the very last chapters, it was over so quickly if you had blinked you'd have missed it. After this, the story was quickly wrapped up and done.
I was so disappointed by the lack of character growth, and I wanted more of Daphne and Beatriz spending time with each other. They've been apart for three books, losing their sister, and I barely registered when they finally met again. The romance, story and background characters all felt lacking, and I left feeling like I wasn't rewarded for the time spent reading this series.
I don't think I've ever read a book where so little happens. Violie and Beatriz make moves towards Bessemia, and Daphne waits there in her mother's castle for the final showdown. When this finally arrived in the very last chapters, it was over so quickly if you had blinked you'd have missed it. After this, the story was quickly wrapped up and done.
I was so disappointed by the lack of character growth, and I wanted more of Daphne and Beatriz spending time with each other. They've been apart for three books, losing their sister, and I barely registered when they finally met again. The romance, story and background characters all felt lacking, and I left feeling like I wasn't rewarded for the time spent reading this series.
Want to read
January 6, 2023Just setting a place card here. Suck it anti-pride deplorables.
Currently reading
June 21, 2024What do you think about this one will be called? I bet it will be something in their blood; like Murder in their Blood or Vengeance in their Blood. I'm not sure; we already have castles and stardust, I think this one will include the darker side of being a Bessemian princess.
August 1, 2024
This whole series was very good. All the plotting and betrayals, and knowing that whatever our MCs did, the big bad was several steps ahead and it felt truly impossible at times.
Daphne was really good in this book, I really enjoyed her part in this at trying to go head to head with her mother and not knowing what she knew or not or if her cover was blown. Her mother forcing Daphne to watch her poison Daphne was very intense and knowing that if she did something, her game was up and everyone she cared for was in danger. But if she didn't, someone that she cared about would be so upset.
Beatriz, she's my favorite, but I felt her going back to Cellaria was a bit less fun. I do like that she played up the saint part, but her stuff with Giselle and Nicolo and Enzo was a bit of a drag. I do like that it really came down to Beatriz in the end, the one her mother really didn't care about either.
Violie was alright, but I actually didn't particularly like the direction she went. I'm fine with her wanting to make amends to the people of Temaria and what not, figure out who she is. I just didn't like her falling in love with Leopold and vice versa. It's been a MONTH since Sophie lost her head. Her and Leopold DID love each other. I'm not saying it couldn't happen but I MUCH rather them just be friends and trust each other and maybe ONE hint that there could be something later would be fine. They try to smooth it over with by saying Sophie would want them to be happy and Sophie giving her blessing which I believe that of Sophie but it just felt unnecessary at the short amount of time.
Violie getting a fallen star in her chest and Sophie saying you might wish for death felt like nothing really happened with that. Okay, the star saved her life but what happened to all the Stardust vials???
Moms really SUCKED in this book. The Empress for basically being like yeah I'll raise 3 daughters to do my dirty work and then kill them. Her immediately trying to backtrack when Daphne had her cornered was so funny like no one trusts you? And Aurelia?? Switching her son with the Queen of Friv's?? So Bairre really WAS the heir and let another woman raise a son that was going to die because she didn't really want one was crazy!!!
The end was just a bit of a flop for me. I think personally Beatriz SHOULD have died. It would make the ending bittersweet and that magic has consequences. And fitting since Daphne would have to be the Empress. Also, yes I am 100% aware the sun is a star. That makes sense. But the suspension of my belief unfortunately cannot get past the sun going dark for TWO DAYS and everything being fine. Like LMAO I watched the total eclipse and it got CHILLY in the minutes the sun was covered. If the sun was DARK it would BE FREEZING, IT WOULD CAUSE DRASTIC EVENTS IF NOT DEATH. (And in one of the books it talks about big wishes having effects elsewhere like when Nigellus cures the drought but elsewhere had problems because of it).
Sophie taking Beatriz's place and "becoming the sun" was such a cop out. And in their brief reunion going "oh I give my blessings to Violie and Leopold" 🙄
Overall, a really fun YA series of plotting and betrayals. Nothing too deep in the themes although there was one talking and comparing how King Cesare could throw literal tantrums and be accepted, but Giselle through all her machinations and manipulations spoke too loudly and sharply, and immediately everyone dismissed her as hysterical and shrill and how unfair that was. That was really good.
Daphne was really good in this book, I really enjoyed her part in this at trying to go head to head with her mother and not knowing what she knew or not or if her cover was blown. Her mother forcing Daphne to watch her poison Daphne was very intense and knowing that if she did something, her game was up and everyone she cared for was in danger. But if she didn't, someone that she cared about would be so upset.
Beatriz, she's my favorite, but I felt her going back to Cellaria was a bit less fun. I do like that she played up the saint part, but her stuff with Giselle and Nicolo and Enzo was a bit of a drag. I do like that it really came down to Beatriz in the end, the one her mother really didn't care about either.
Violie was alright, but I actually didn't particularly like the direction she went. I'm fine with her wanting to make amends to the people of Temaria and what not, figure out who she is. I just didn't like her falling in love with Leopold and vice versa. It's been a MONTH since Sophie lost her head. Her and Leopold DID love each other. I'm not saying it couldn't happen but I MUCH rather them just be friends and trust each other and maybe ONE hint that there could be something later would be fine. They try to smooth it over with by saying Sophie would want them to be happy and Sophie giving her blessing which I believe that of Sophie but it just felt unnecessary at the short amount of time.
Violie getting a fallen star in her chest and Sophie saying you might wish for death felt like nothing really happened with that. Okay, the star saved her life but what happened to all the Stardust vials???
Moms really SUCKED in this book. The Empress for basically being like yeah I'll raise 3 daughters to do my dirty work and then kill them. Her immediately trying to backtrack when Daphne had her cornered was so funny like no one trusts you? And Aurelia?? Switching her son with the Queen of Friv's?? So Bairre really WAS the heir and let another woman raise a son that was going to die because she didn't really want one was crazy!!!
The end was just a bit of a flop for me. I think personally Beatriz SHOULD have died. It would make the ending bittersweet and that magic has consequences. And fitting since Daphne would have to be the Empress. Also, yes I am 100% aware the sun is a star. That makes sense. But the suspension of my belief unfortunately cannot get past the sun going dark for TWO DAYS and everything being fine. Like LMAO I watched the total eclipse and it got CHILLY in the minutes the sun was covered. If the sun was DARK it would BE FREEZING, IT WOULD CAUSE DRASTIC EVENTS IF NOT DEATH. (And in one of the books it talks about big wishes having effects elsewhere like when Nigellus cures the drought but elsewhere had problems because of it).
Sophie taking Beatriz's place and "becoming the sun" was such a cop out. And in their brief reunion going "oh I give my blessings to Violie and Leopold" 🙄
Overall, a really fun YA series of plotting and betrayals. Nothing too deep in the themes although there was one talking and comparing how King Cesare could throw literal tantrums and be accepted, but Giselle through all her machinations and manipulations spoke too loudly and sharply, and immediately everyone dismissed her as hysterical and shrill and how unfair that was. That was really good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2024
Wow
Just�. Wow!
This is how you write a conclusion, I’m literally speechless. Absolutely adored every minute of this book. I was torn between wanting to finish it and wanting to savor every page. Laura has really outdone herself with this whole trilogy. These books are so underrated and deserve so much more recognition.
I’ve always been a fan of Daphne, but this book made me love her even more 🥹🫶🏻 Loved seeing the sisters getting closer and the dynamics between them. They’re such fierce girls 🔥🔥🔥 And that ending, with the sun *ifkyk* 👀 Had me balling my eyes out and I SWEAR I almost never cry while reading a book 😭❤️
2 of my favorite quotes from the book:
“The time for hiding and sneaking and subterfuge is done. It’s time to show her exactly who she raised us to be.� “And make her regret it�.
✨✨✨✨✨✨�
“Only when I let the lies crumble could I see what I was truly made of. I used to think of myself as a poison, brewed and distilled by Mama to wield as a weapon. But she’s the one poisoning our hearts, poisoning all of Vesteria through us. I won’t be her poison. I intend to be the antidote.�
Just�. Wow!
This is how you write a conclusion, I’m literally speechless. Absolutely adored every minute of this book. I was torn between wanting to finish it and wanting to savor every page. Laura has really outdone herself with this whole trilogy. These books are so underrated and deserve so much more recognition.
I’ve always been a fan of Daphne, but this book made me love her even more 🥹🫶🏻 Loved seeing the sisters getting closer and the dynamics between them. They’re such fierce girls 🔥🔥🔥 And that ending, with the sun *ifkyk* 👀 Had me balling my eyes out and I SWEAR I almost never cry while reading a book 😭❤️
2 of my favorite quotes from the book:
“The time for hiding and sneaking and subterfuge is done. It’s time to show her exactly who she raised us to be.� “And make her regret it�.
✨✨✨✨✨✨�
“Only when I let the lies crumble could I see what I was truly made of. I used to think of myself as a poison, brewed and distilled by Mama to wield as a weapon. But she’s the one poisoning our hearts, poisoning all of Vesteria through us. I won’t be her poison. I intend to be the antidote.�
February 8, 2025
Un dernier tome de trilogie d’une saga que j’avais trouvé incroyable sur les deux premiers volumes !
Mais j’avouerai avoir un sentiment moins enthousiaste sur ce tome 3.
On retrouve nos trois PoV, les éléments s’enchaînent, les complots également et comme pour les autres tomes : on se laisse prendre au jeu et à se demander : mais comment va se terminer ce tome 3?
J’ai trouvé cette fin peut-être trop facile pour le coup, plus YA que ce que nous avait habitué les tomes précédents. Et c’est mon principal regret.
Alors je décide de me concentrer sur le reste: sur ces sœurs unies, sur leurs amours naissant qui sont cute à fond.
D’ailleurs j’ai relevé une citation, c’est assez rare pour moi : «Je sais qui tu es, et je m’en souviendrai pour toi si tu l’oublies» hiiii 💕
Anyway. Je garderai un bon souvenir général de cette saga que je recommanderai pour ces protagonistes féminines fortes, astucieuses et compétente !
Mais j’avouerai avoir un sentiment moins enthousiaste sur ce tome 3.
On retrouve nos trois PoV, les éléments s’enchaînent, les complots également et comme pour les autres tomes : on se laisse prendre au jeu et à se demander : mais comment va se terminer ce tome 3?
J’ai trouvé cette fin peut-être trop facile pour le coup, plus YA que ce que nous avait habitué les tomes précédents. Et c’est mon principal regret.
Alors je décide de me concentrer sur le reste: sur ces sœurs unies, sur leurs amours naissant qui sont cute à fond.
D’ailleurs j’ai relevé une citation, c’est assez rare pour moi : «Je sais qui tu es, et je m’en souviendrai pour toi si tu l’oublies» hiiii 💕
Anyway. Je garderai un bon souvenir général de cette saga que je recommanderai pour ces protagonistes féminines fortes, astucieuses et compétente !
June 25, 2024
3'5-4 stars
I'll be talking about the book on my channel on July 10th, 2024 here
I'll be talking about the book on my channel on July 10th, 2024 here
June 23, 2024
I really loved the first two books. I love Sophronia, Beatriz, and Daphne as characters and reading about their individual stories as they grow in their new kingdoms and roles. And having the final book in the trilogy is here! And it felt so...anticlimactic.
First off, it was WAY too long. There was a lot of repetitiveness, a lot of self reflections (the same ones over and over), and just too much waiting for the final showdown that this was setting us up for. They introduced new characters that were not given a lot of depth to get to know them. So when they popped up later in the book, I didn't remember them nor care about it. One character (won't name to avoid minor spoilers) they bring into the story, and then nothing happens with them. And they seemed like an important figurehead where they would come up later in the final fight with Empress Margareaux!
Speaking of, the final fight was just...over. The pacing from this point felt so rushed that it felt very lackluster when it was all over, and I felt disappointed by that.
It always makes me sad when the final book in a trilogy/series falls flat. It makes it feel like the whole journey wasn't worth it.
First off, it was WAY too long. There was a lot of repetitiveness, a lot of self reflections (the same ones over and over), and just too much waiting for the final showdown that this was setting us up for. They introduced new characters that were not given a lot of depth to get to know them. So when they popped up later in the book, I didn't remember them nor care about it. One character (won't name to avoid minor spoilers) they bring into the story, and then nothing happens with them. And they seemed like an important figurehead where they would come up later in the final fight with Empress Margareaux!
Speaking of, the final fight was just...over. The pacing from this point felt so rushed that it felt very lackluster when it was all over, and I felt disappointed by that.
It always makes me sad when the final book in a trilogy/series falls flat. It makes it feel like the whole journey wasn't worth it.
January 15, 2025
4⭐️
�
Une lecture sympathique mais qui ne vaut pas les deux premiers tomes selon moi 🙈
�
2 raisons principales à cela �> déjà on a un problème de rythme : si on est d’emblée lancé dans les complots, ça s’essouffle assez vite et on a un milieu de bouquin où on se balade un peu partout sur la map (ma hantise 😱), mais concrètement l’histoire avance bof 🤷🏼♀� En gros, à part me dire tous les 3 paragraphes qu’� «Cellaria posséder de la poussière d’étoile est dangereux car passible de la peine de mort sous Cesare» il se passe pas grand chose🤣 J’étais re-hypée à ~300 pages MAIS BON, un peu dommage quand même 🥲
�
Le 2eme élément PAS OUF de ce tome est que si j’avais beaucoup aimé les 2 premiers opus de la saga c’est notamment pour certains partis pris plutôt audacieux de l’autrice (surtout pour des YA 👀) �> mais là, j’avoue que je suis clairement restée sur ma faim et on tombe même plusieurs fois dans la facilité scénaristique (bouuuuh c’est mal) 😭😭 La fin est mims mais bon plus facile tu meurs quand même 🤣
�
Évidement j’ai apprécié retrouver les persos : Beatriz restant ma pref ever 🩷 (ça, ça bouge pas ) mais c’est la romance de Daphné pour laquelle j’ai donné mon âme 🥹😏 Vraiment ILS SONT TROP MIMS je ne veux rien savoir 😭 (les autres romances sont un peu courues d’avance et m’ont clairement laissé de marbre, en mode «ok c’est super, next»mais elles m’ont pas fait lever les yeux au ciel et c’est déjà pas mal écoutez 🥳)
�
ENFIN c’est très appréciable d’avoir des persos féminins sur le devant de la scène du début à la fin de la saga, dont les romances OU LE KEUM ne prennent pas le pas sur le reste de l’histoire 🤌🏻
�
Bref une très bonne saga YA que que je reco sans hésiter 🥰
�
Une lecture sympathique mais qui ne vaut pas les deux premiers tomes selon moi 🙈
�
2 raisons principales à cela �> déjà on a un problème de rythme : si on est d’emblée lancé dans les complots, ça s’essouffle assez vite et on a un milieu de bouquin où on se balade un peu partout sur la map (ma hantise 😱), mais concrètement l’histoire avance bof 🤷🏼♀� En gros, à part me dire tous les 3 paragraphes qu’� «Cellaria posséder de la poussière d’étoile est dangereux car passible de la peine de mort sous Cesare» il se passe pas grand chose🤣 J’étais re-hypée à ~300 pages MAIS BON, un peu dommage quand même 🥲
�
Le 2eme élément PAS OUF de ce tome est que si j’avais beaucoup aimé les 2 premiers opus de la saga c’est notamment pour certains partis pris plutôt audacieux de l’autrice (surtout pour des YA 👀) �> mais là, j’avoue que je suis clairement restée sur ma faim et on tombe même plusieurs fois dans la facilité scénaristique (bouuuuh c’est mal) 😭😭 La fin est mims mais bon plus facile tu meurs quand même 🤣
�
Évidement j’ai apprécié retrouver les persos : Beatriz restant ma pref ever 🩷 (ça, ça bouge pas ) mais c’est la romance de Daphné pour laquelle j’ai donné mon âme 🥹😏 Vraiment ILS SONT TROP MIMS je ne veux rien savoir 😭 (les autres romances sont un peu courues d’avance et m’ont clairement laissé de marbre, en mode «ok c’est super, next»mais elles m’ont pas fait lever les yeux au ciel et c’est déjà pas mal écoutez 🥳)
�
ENFIN c’est très appréciable d’avoir des persos féminins sur le devant de la scène du début à la fin de la saga, dont les romances OU LE KEUM ne prennent pas le pas sur le reste de l’histoire 🤌🏻
�
Bref une très bonne saga YA que que je reco sans hésiter 🥰
June 15, 2024
please hold for a second....*loud screaming in process* what in the everloving fucking fresh hell was this???? i refuse to believe that such a great trilogy has such a let down for an ending. What was supposed to be a great, big showdown between two sisters confronting their diabolical mother about their destiny as well as avenge their sisters death, succumbs to a drag of sitting around and talking, walking around and talking, riding around and talking, scheming while sitting, scheming while standing and scheming telepathically because why not. As well as focusing on every other character but the two sisters, a romance that is shoehorned in about as bad as the ever flip-flopping loyalties of everyone to the point where you start flip-flopping through the pages hoping the movement of the pages would generate the excitment the plot is sorely lacking, but to no avail. It still sucks. And while the dreaded and not at all earned happy ending proceeds to happen, i say: live long and suck it!
August 9, 2024
*Source* Library
*Genre* Young Adult Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Poison in Their Hearts, by Laura Sebastian, is the third and final installment in the author's Castles in Their Bones trilogy. This is a series that is set in a place called Vesteria but with different countries like Bessemia, Friv, Cellaria, and Temarin. 17 years ago, Empress Margaraux wished upon the stars for daughters using a person called an empyrea. She was awarded with Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz. They were promised for marriage since birth, and raised to bring down kingdoms, but the true destiny of the triplet princesses of Bessemia has always been to die—and one of them already has.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
*Genre* Young Adult Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Poison in Their Hearts, by Laura Sebastian, is the third and final installment in the author's Castles in Their Bones trilogy. This is a series that is set in a place called Vesteria but with different countries like Bessemia, Friv, Cellaria, and Temarin. 17 years ago, Empress Margaraux wished upon the stars for daughters using a person called an empyrea. She was awarded with Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz. They were promised for marriage since birth, and raised to bring down kingdoms, but the true destiny of the triplet princesses of Bessemia has always been to die—and one of them already has.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
July 27, 2024
This should have been a duology.
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
July 7, 2024
A cover. And a title. June is so far😫
March 30, 2025
4.25/5 Stars. It would have been 4 stars if not for the very end.
The beginning/middle was dragged out for far too long. If you're going to have three different plots all going at the same time, at something has to be happening in at least /one/ of them. On top of that, the ending seemed rushed and was unsatisfying for the most part. It was anticlimactic and left a few loose ends I would have preferred to see tied up. Also a few plot holes.
I did enjoy the plotline over all and I like that the romance remained very much a subplot, though honestly there didn't even need to be romance at all.
-Spoilers Ahead-
The beginning/middle was dragged out for far too long. If you're going to have three different plots all going at the same time, at something has to be happening in at least /one/ of them. On top of that, the ending seemed rushed and was unsatisfying for the most part. It was anticlimactic and left a few loose ends I would have preferred to see tied up. Also a few plot holes.
I did enjoy the plotline over all and I like that the romance remained very much a subplot, though honestly there didn't even need to be romance at all.
-Spoilers Ahead-
November 21, 2024
4,25⭐️ - Bonne lecture
J'ai beaucoup aimé les deux premiers tomes de Souveraines et j'attendais cette fin avec tellement d'impatience 💕
J'ai beaucoup apprécié ma lecture, retrouvant cet univers avec joie, et ce tome est clairement dans la lignée des deux précédents. L'intrigue est bien rythmée par les 3 POV et on ne s'ennuie jamais.
Néanmoins, c'est quand même le tome que j'ai le moins aimé je pense, car quelques petits détails m'ont chiffonnée : je trouve qu'on a un peu trop de deus ex machina un peu trop commodes, je trouvais que l'autrice faisait des choix courageux dans les tomes précédents mais ici on est un peu plus dans la facilité.
Les personnages sont toujours très attachants, j'étais ravie de les revoir se mettre dans des situations pas possibles et contente de lire la fin de leur histoire (et en plus les romances sont mims).
J'ai beaucoup aimé les deux premiers tomes de Souveraines et j'attendais cette fin avec tellement d'impatience 💕
J'ai beaucoup apprécié ma lecture, retrouvant cet univers avec joie, et ce tome est clairement dans la lignée des deux précédents. L'intrigue est bien rythmée par les 3 POV et on ne s'ennuie jamais.
Néanmoins, c'est quand même le tome que j'ai le moins aimé je pense, car quelques petits détails m'ont chiffonnée : je trouve qu'on a un peu trop de deus ex machina un peu trop commodes, je trouvais que l'autrice faisait des choix courageux dans les tomes précédents mais ici on est un peu plus dans la facilité.
Les personnages sont toujours très attachants, j'étais ravie de les revoir se mettre dans des situations pas possibles et contente de lire la fin de leur histoire (et en plus les romances sont mims).
March 11, 2025
I were writing a completely different and much happier review.
I’m finishing this trilogy more certain than ever that it should have been a standalone or at most a duology. There simply wasn’t enough content to justify three books, leading to obvious and repetitive filler. I ended up completely detached from all the characters, and especially from the couples, who had lost all chemistry by the end. I’m really disappointed with the direction the story took, considering the first book was one of my favorite reads of the year—it gave me such high hopes for the rest of the series, only to let me down. I disagreed with many of the plot choices, and some still feel incredibly shallow to me.
I’m finishing this trilogy more certain than ever that it should have been a standalone or at most a duology. There simply wasn’t enough content to justify three books, leading to obvious and repetitive filler. I ended up completely detached from all the characters, and especially from the couples, who had lost all chemistry by the end. I’m really disappointed with the direction the story took, considering the first book was one of my favorite reads of the year—it gave me such high hopes for the rest of the series, only to let me down. I disagreed with many of the plot choices, and some still feel incredibly shallow to me.
December 22, 2024
3.5 stars
The constant back-and-forth plotting and backstabbing took my head out of the book many times. It’s seemed like it was more prolific in this book than the first two, but maybe that’s because I waited so long to read this one. I still really appreciate the world this series is set in and absolutely adore the voice narrator Roisin Rankin. I liked the ending!
The constant back-and-forth plotting and backstabbing took my head out of the book many times. It’s seemed like it was more prolific in this book than the first two, but maybe that’s because I waited so long to read this one. I still really appreciate the world this series is set in and absolutely adore the voice narrator Roisin Rankin. I liked the ending!
August 2, 2024
4.25 stars
April 4, 2025
Das war ein wirklich schöner Abschluss dieser Reihe, auch wenn ich das Gefühl habe, dass Violie alles bekommen hat, was eigentlich Sophronia zugestanden hätte. Ich bin einfach nicht so herzensgut wie Sophronia, dass ich es ihr einfach so gönne.
May 20, 2025
Sehr gelungener Abschluss der Trilogie mit spannender Handlung, guten Wendungen und ein paar Längen. 💫
June 24, 2024
Daphne and Beatriz work together with their friends to finally take down their mother once and for all. A satisfying end to the series and I am going to miss these books and characters. I just felt like there wasn’t a purpose to Sophronia’s death since Viole is pretty much a copy of her. I also would have enjoyed more romance and more backstory about Margaraux.
June 8, 2024
The cover is stunning
June 15, 2025
„Zur Königin erwählt� von Laura Sebastian ist das Finale der „Thrones & Curses�-Trilogie. Fantasy für Jugendliche ab 14 Jahren.
Erneut knüpft die Geschichte nahtlos an seinen Vorgänger an. Beatriz findet sich wider Willen in Cellaria wieder und sieht sich erneut mit einer Zwangsehe konfrontiert. Daphne hat sich endlich gegen die Kaiserin ausgesprochen und muss sich ihr prompt stellen. Violie hat Sophronias Platz eingenommen und versucht gemeinsam mit Leopold, Temarin aus den Klauen Bessemias zu befreien.
Ich kann nur sagen: was ein Abschluss! Sebastian ist es tatsächlich gelungen, sich mit jedem Band zu steigern. Die Entwicklung aller Charaktere, egal ob Haupt- oder Nebenfiguren, ist einfach großartig. Das ist auch gut so, denn bis zum Schluss liegt der Fokus aller drei Bände eben auf den Charakteren anstelle großer Action. Langweilig wird es trotzdem nicht, eher im Gegenteil. Schon in „Für die Krone geboren� steigert sich das Tempo zusehends, in „Zur Königin erwählt� legt Sebastian noch eine Schippe drauf.
Was die „Thrones & Curses�-Trilogie in seiner Gesamtheit nun zu einem Highlight für mich macht, ist aber etwas ganz anderes: denn Sebastian schreibt hier tatsächlich eine Reihe von Frauen für Frauen. Zwar werden viele Bücher damit beworben, aber dies ist ungelogen das erste Mal, dass es zu 100 % stimmt.
Natürlich gibt es relevante männliche Charaktere in der Reihe, aber die treibenden Kräfte liegen immer bei den Frauen. Die wahren Gegenspieler der Prinzessinnen? Die Kaiserin, die Königinmutter in Temarin, Gisella in Cellaria, die Himmelsdeuterin Aurelia in Friv. So mag es sein, dass sich Beatriz gegen die sexuellen Übergriffe des cellarischen Königs erwehren und Daphne gegen Attentäter kämpfen muss, doch die Strippenzieher sind immer weiblich. Ja, unsere Heldinnen sehen sich mit alltäglichen Sexismus konfrontiert, aber die einzig würdigen Gegner sind die genannten Damen.
Dabei büßt keine dieser starken Frauen ihre Weiblichkeit ein. Sebastian macht aus ihnen keine Brienne von Tarth (obwohl ich überhaupt nichts dagegen hätte, mal wieder so einem Kaliber zu begegnen � dieser Charakter hat meinen größten Respekt!), sie gibt ihnen keine übernatürlichen Fähigkeiten (die eine Ausnahme mal ausgenommen). Unsere Pro- wie auch die Antagonistinnen sind unterschiedlich clever, haben unterschiedliche Talente, sind manipulativ und skrupellos � und vor allem sind sie alle in ihren jeweiligen Fachgebieten extrem gut ausgebildet. Gerade Letzteres lassen viele AutorInnen gerne unter den Tisch fallen. Ebenso sind eher negativ konnotierte Eigenschaften wie Manipulation und Skrupellosigkeit selten bei Protagonisten zu finden � für mich sind sie deswegen aber nicht weniger die Helden dieser Geschichte.
Ebenso beeindruckt haben mich die rationalen und brutalen Entscheidungen, die die Prinzessinnen und ihre gefundenen Freunde stellenweise treffen müssen. Hut ab! Gleichermaßen erinnere ich mich an keinen einzigen Mord, der aus Freude am Leid anderer verübt wurde. Wie gesagt, auch die Protagonisten müssen unschöne Dinge in diesem Krieg tun, aber es wird nie verherrlicht, sondern als das Elend dargestellt, das es ist.
Langer Rede, kurzer Sinn: Laura Sebastian hat sich mit dieser Reihe meinen Respekt verdient. Ganz klare Leseempfehlung � 5/5 Sterne.
Erneut knüpft die Geschichte nahtlos an seinen Vorgänger an. Beatriz findet sich wider Willen in Cellaria wieder und sieht sich erneut mit einer Zwangsehe konfrontiert. Daphne hat sich endlich gegen die Kaiserin ausgesprochen und muss sich ihr prompt stellen. Violie hat Sophronias Platz eingenommen und versucht gemeinsam mit Leopold, Temarin aus den Klauen Bessemias zu befreien.
Ich kann nur sagen: was ein Abschluss! Sebastian ist es tatsächlich gelungen, sich mit jedem Band zu steigern. Die Entwicklung aller Charaktere, egal ob Haupt- oder Nebenfiguren, ist einfach großartig. Das ist auch gut so, denn bis zum Schluss liegt der Fokus aller drei Bände eben auf den Charakteren anstelle großer Action. Langweilig wird es trotzdem nicht, eher im Gegenteil. Schon in „Für die Krone geboren� steigert sich das Tempo zusehends, in „Zur Königin erwählt� legt Sebastian noch eine Schippe drauf.
Was die „Thrones & Curses�-Trilogie in seiner Gesamtheit nun zu einem Highlight für mich macht, ist aber etwas ganz anderes: denn Sebastian schreibt hier tatsächlich eine Reihe von Frauen für Frauen. Zwar werden viele Bücher damit beworben, aber dies ist ungelogen das erste Mal, dass es zu 100 % stimmt.
Natürlich gibt es relevante männliche Charaktere in der Reihe, aber die treibenden Kräfte liegen immer bei den Frauen. Die wahren Gegenspieler der Prinzessinnen? Die Kaiserin, die Königinmutter in Temarin, Gisella in Cellaria, die Himmelsdeuterin Aurelia in Friv. So mag es sein, dass sich Beatriz gegen die sexuellen Übergriffe des cellarischen Königs erwehren und Daphne gegen Attentäter kämpfen muss, doch die Strippenzieher sind immer weiblich. Ja, unsere Heldinnen sehen sich mit alltäglichen Sexismus konfrontiert, aber die einzig würdigen Gegner sind die genannten Damen.
Dabei büßt keine dieser starken Frauen ihre Weiblichkeit ein. Sebastian macht aus ihnen keine Brienne von Tarth (obwohl ich überhaupt nichts dagegen hätte, mal wieder so einem Kaliber zu begegnen � dieser Charakter hat meinen größten Respekt!), sie gibt ihnen keine übernatürlichen Fähigkeiten (die eine Ausnahme mal ausgenommen). Unsere Pro- wie auch die Antagonistinnen sind unterschiedlich clever, haben unterschiedliche Talente, sind manipulativ und skrupellos � und vor allem sind sie alle in ihren jeweiligen Fachgebieten extrem gut ausgebildet. Gerade Letzteres lassen viele AutorInnen gerne unter den Tisch fallen. Ebenso sind eher negativ konnotierte Eigenschaften wie Manipulation und Skrupellosigkeit selten bei Protagonisten zu finden � für mich sind sie deswegen aber nicht weniger die Helden dieser Geschichte.
Ebenso beeindruckt haben mich die rationalen und brutalen Entscheidungen, die die Prinzessinnen und ihre gefundenen Freunde stellenweise treffen müssen. Hut ab! Gleichermaßen erinnere ich mich an keinen einzigen Mord, der aus Freude am Leid anderer verübt wurde. Wie gesagt, auch die Protagonisten müssen unschöne Dinge in diesem Krieg tun, aber es wird nie verherrlicht, sondern als das Elend dargestellt, das es ist.
Langer Rede, kurzer Sinn: Laura Sebastian hat sich mit dieser Reihe meinen Respekt verdient. Ganz klare Leseempfehlung � 5/5 Sterne.
April 9, 2025
I have such mixed feelings about the second and third installments of this series! I adored the first book, but the following volumes devolved into a lot of back and forth traveling, continuous backstabbing, and triple-crossing everyone. I really think this should have been a duology - the last two books would have packed a bigger punch had the action been condensed into one volume. Not everything needs to be a trilogy!
A few thoughts on the series overall -
- I wish the characters had been older. The sisters act more mature than their age (remember, they are barely sixteen!) and are faced with serious and dark problems. There's a lot of drinking and murder, and they're constantly outsmarting adults. Like, yes, they were raised to be weapons and have been taught to scheme from birth, but sixteen felt too young for what the plot put them through. Not to mention that three out of the four countries on the continent are now ruled by sixteen year-old teens. I'd have liked them to be closer to nineteen or twenty - it would have made for a more believable story.
- Speaking of, how tiny is Vesteria that there are only four countries on the continent, and it only takes a couple of days to get from country to country? I liked the world-building in book one and getting to know the different locations, but that was pretty much done when it came to books two and three. We learned a bit more about Friv, but that was it. For how much travel the characters did, the writing was short on continued world-building, which was kind of a bummer.
- The villains were rather one-note. It was hard for me to believe that multiple mothers would want to murder their own children for power. The Empress's motives were pretty bare-bones - she just wanted power for the sake of power and would do anything to get it. A villain for villain's sake. Not particularly compelling.
The final confrontation was a bit anti-climactic, and I'm not sure I agree with who ends up on the throne. Still, I enjoyed this series a lot more than most recent young adult books. Sebastian did something different here, which I really appreciate. Sisterly bonds, girls as weapons, subterfuge and machinations, all great fun. I hope this series gets more exposure and more folks pick it up!
A few thoughts on the series overall -
- I wish the characters had been older. The sisters act more mature than their age (remember, they are barely sixteen!) and are faced with serious and dark problems. There's a lot of drinking and murder, and they're constantly outsmarting adults. Like, yes, they were raised to be weapons and have been taught to scheme from birth, but sixteen felt too young for what the plot put them through. Not to mention that three out of the four countries on the continent are now ruled by sixteen year-old teens. I'd have liked them to be closer to nineteen or twenty - it would have made for a more believable story.
- Speaking of, how tiny is Vesteria that there are only four countries on the continent, and it only takes a couple of days to get from country to country? I liked the world-building in book one and getting to know the different locations, but that was pretty much done when it came to books two and three. We learned a bit more about Friv, but that was it. For how much travel the characters did, the writing was short on continued world-building, which was kind of a bummer.
- The villains were rather one-note. It was hard for me to believe that multiple mothers would want to murder their own children for power. The Empress's motives were pretty bare-bones - she just wanted power for the sake of power and would do anything to get it. A villain for villain's sake. Not particularly compelling.
The final confrontation was a bit anti-climactic, and I'm not sure I agree with who ends up on the throne. Still, I enjoyed this series a lot more than most recent young adult books. Sebastian did something different here, which I really appreciate. Sisterly bonds, girls as weapons, subterfuge and machinations, all great fun. I hope this series gets more exposure and more folks pick it up!
January 21, 2025
Na conclusão da trilogia, Beatriz e Daphne seguem sendo separadas uma da outra pelas maquinações de sua mãe enquanto tudo o que buscam é vingança: pelo envenenamento contínuo da imperatriz em seus corações, pelos estrategemas que desde o ínicio anteviam as suas mortes, pelas crueldades feitas àqueles que elas aprederam a amar e pela perda de Sophronia.
Daphne e Violie iniciam o livro envoltas em um jogo perigoso com Margaraux: com a mãe em Friv, Daphne procura esconder a mudança de sua lealdade enquanto ainda tenta proteger a si mesma e àqueles que seu coração permitiu amar. Violie, por sua vez, precisa manter a farsa de sua nova identidade, além de salvar a si e Leopold das garras da imperatriz.
De volta à Cellaria, Beatriz se vê sem aliados e sem poderes em uma corte majoritariamente comandada por Gisella: sua ex-amiga que, aparentemente, foi incubida pessoalmente pela imperatriz de assassinar a princesa. Com apenas as estrelas como companheiras incertas e sem poder contar com a ajuda da irmã, Beatriz tenta sobreviver a um novo casamento, embora seu único objetivo seja parar a mãe.
E sinceramente? É assim que uma conclusão é escrita! Amarrando todas as tramas do continente de Vesteria, a Laura Sebastian finaliza "Veneno em seus corações" nos deixando completamente desesperados por mais: mais desses personagens tão bem construídos, desse universo rico em magia e dessas cortes envoltas em intrigas e traições. Eu terminei esse livro completamente encantada por Daphne, Beatriz e Sophronia, encarando-as como velhas amigas das quais pude acompanhar o crescimento e a evolução com uma satisfação enorme!
Não é segredo que a Daphne sempre foi a minha favorita, mas nessa conclusão ela atinge outro patamar! Seus sentimentos conflitantes entre si, sua relação de amor e submissão com a mãe e suas fragilidades, enfim, encaradas como partes dela. Fiquei apaixonada pela relação dela com o Bairre e pela forma como ambos evoluíram desde o primeiro livro, crescendo em conjunto e descobrindo um amor genuíno em meio a um casamento arranjado.
O finalzinho do livro me deixou completamente emocionada e a última cena entre Beatriz e Sophie foi absolutamente preciosa. Fiquei feliz que, mesmo em outro plano, a trigêmea mais velha teve um final feliz e foi capaz de ajudar as irmãs a se manterem vivas e unidas.
Ainda assim, o meu apelo por mais é sincero: preciso saber o que houve em Friv, se Temarin foi retomada, como está o reinado da nova imperatriz e se Cellaria sobrevive à nova rainha. Por favor, Laura Sebastian, eu preciso de mais desses personagens e universo tão bem trabalhados.
Daphne e Violie iniciam o livro envoltas em um jogo perigoso com Margaraux: com a mãe em Friv, Daphne procura esconder a mudança de sua lealdade enquanto ainda tenta proteger a si mesma e àqueles que seu coração permitiu amar. Violie, por sua vez, precisa manter a farsa de sua nova identidade, além de salvar a si e Leopold das garras da imperatriz.
De volta à Cellaria, Beatriz se vê sem aliados e sem poderes em uma corte majoritariamente comandada por Gisella: sua ex-amiga que, aparentemente, foi incubida pessoalmente pela imperatriz de assassinar a princesa. Com apenas as estrelas como companheiras incertas e sem poder contar com a ajuda da irmã, Beatriz tenta sobreviver a um novo casamento, embora seu único objetivo seja parar a mãe.
E sinceramente? É assim que uma conclusão é escrita! Amarrando todas as tramas do continente de Vesteria, a Laura Sebastian finaliza "Veneno em seus corações" nos deixando completamente desesperados por mais: mais desses personagens tão bem construídos, desse universo rico em magia e dessas cortes envoltas em intrigas e traições. Eu terminei esse livro completamente encantada por Daphne, Beatriz e Sophronia, encarando-as como velhas amigas das quais pude acompanhar o crescimento e a evolução com uma satisfação enorme!
Não é segredo que a Daphne sempre foi a minha favorita, mas nessa conclusão ela atinge outro patamar! Seus sentimentos conflitantes entre si, sua relação de amor e submissão com a mãe e suas fragilidades, enfim, encaradas como partes dela. Fiquei apaixonada pela relação dela com o Bairre e pela forma como ambos evoluíram desde o primeiro livro, crescendo em conjunto e descobrindo um amor genuíno em meio a um casamento arranjado.
O finalzinho do livro me deixou completamente emocionada e a última cena entre Beatriz e Sophie foi absolutamente preciosa. Fiquei feliz que, mesmo em outro plano, a trigêmea mais velha teve um final feliz e foi capaz de ajudar as irmãs a se manterem vivas e unidas.
Ainda assim, o meu apelo por mais é sincero: preciso saber o que houve em Friv, se Temarin foi retomada, como está o reinado da nova imperatriz e se Cellaria sobrevive à nova rainha. Por favor, Laura Sebastian, eu preciso de mais desses personagens e universo tão bem trabalhados.
December 25, 2024
Raised to be weapons in their mother's arsenals, princesses Beatrice and Daphne have united forces and turned against her. But to defeat her once and for all, they must not only convince their allies but the people themselves that they have what it takes.
This is the action-packed conclusion to the Castle in Their Bones series, which follows a trio of princess sisters who, after parting to wed into - and destabilize - three neighboring countries, reevaluate those goals and decide to work against their mother instead. After plenty of budding friendship and romances and discoveries about magic and unexpected deaths and lots of politicking and scheming, we've finally reached the end.
As you can guess from that list, there's a lot of elements to juggle and reconcile. I thought the author did a decent job of managing everything, even if we get a handful of thus-far unmentioned characters and plot elements to make it go smooth. Each of the separate strands related to each kingdom were wrapped up in satisfying ways without making them too easy or neat, especially as there's still plenty of work to be done in some cases especially.
I also liked how the author chose to wrap up the arcs of Daphne, Beatriz, and Violie, as well as the supporting characters. She does not always go for the most obvious solution, but ones that in hindsight make better sense. You can imagine their lives going on, and how they'll get to the business of running the new world they've set into motion. And, considering how we started off the series, I'm glad we got to see one certain character one more time too.
This is the action-packed conclusion to the Castle in Their Bones series, which follows a trio of princess sisters who, after parting to wed into - and destabilize - three neighboring countries, reevaluate those goals and decide to work against their mother instead. After plenty of budding friendship and romances and discoveries about magic and unexpected deaths and lots of politicking and scheming, we've finally reached the end.
As you can guess from that list, there's a lot of elements to juggle and reconcile. I thought the author did a decent job of managing everything, even if we get a handful of thus-far unmentioned characters and plot elements to make it go smooth. Each of the separate strands related to each kingdom were wrapped up in satisfying ways without making them too easy or neat, especially as there's still plenty of work to be done in some cases especially.
I also liked how the author chose to wrap up the arcs of Daphne, Beatriz, and Violie, as well as the supporting characters. She does not always go for the most obvious solution, but ones that in hindsight make better sense. You can imagine their lives going on, and how they'll get to the business of running the new world they've set into motion. And, considering how we started off the series, I'm glad we got to see one certain character one more time too.
April 6, 2025
öܳ
Bei diesem öܳ handelt es sich um den 3. und finalen Band der Trilogie. Das öܳ ist 17 Stunden und 14 Minuten und wird wieder abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Dagmar Bittner, Michaela Gaertner und Katja Sallay vorgelesen. Insgesamt mochte ich die Vertonung sehr, aber ich mag Katja Sallay als Sprecherin nicht, sie liest einfach zu monoton vor, selbst, wenn man auf 1,5 hört.
Diese Rezension wird Spoiler zu den vorherigen Teilen haben, falls ihr diese noch nicht kennt, solltet ihr hier aufhören zu lesen.
Ich bin sehr gut in die Handlung gekommen. Die Geschichte wird aus der Sicht der 3 Hauptfiguren erzählt. Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass ich Daphne mal richtig mögen würde, die mochte ich am Anfang am wenigsten von den drei Schwestern. Wenn ich von Anfang an sehr mochte war Beatriz, die bleibt auch weiterhin mein Lieblingscharakter, alleine schon wegen ihrer Rolle im Finale. Ich muss gestehen, dass ich Violies Rolle bis zum Schluss nicht notwendig fand.
Insgesamt fand ich Teil 3 wieder sehr gut, aber es gab auch einige Längen. Für mich hätte die Handlung auf eine Dilogie aufgeteilt werden können. Das Ende war auf jeden Fall stimmig und endlich hat auch das dramatische Ende von 1 einen Sinn ergeben. Insgesamt mochte ich die Reihe, aber es ist für mich kein Highlight gewesen. Ihre anderen Bücher mochte ich mehr. Ich vergebe 4 von 5 Sterne.
Bei diesem öܳ handelt es sich um den 3. und finalen Band der Trilogie. Das öܳ ist 17 Stunden und 14 Minuten und wird wieder abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Dagmar Bittner, Michaela Gaertner und Katja Sallay vorgelesen. Insgesamt mochte ich die Vertonung sehr, aber ich mag Katja Sallay als Sprecherin nicht, sie liest einfach zu monoton vor, selbst, wenn man auf 1,5 hört.
Diese Rezension wird Spoiler zu den vorherigen Teilen haben, falls ihr diese noch nicht kennt, solltet ihr hier aufhören zu lesen.
Ich bin sehr gut in die Handlung gekommen. Die Geschichte wird aus der Sicht der 3 Hauptfiguren erzählt. Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass ich Daphne mal richtig mögen würde, die mochte ich am Anfang am wenigsten von den drei Schwestern. Wenn ich von Anfang an sehr mochte war Beatriz, die bleibt auch weiterhin mein Lieblingscharakter, alleine schon wegen ihrer Rolle im Finale. Ich muss gestehen, dass ich Violies Rolle bis zum Schluss nicht notwendig fand.
Insgesamt fand ich Teil 3 wieder sehr gut, aber es gab auch einige Längen. Für mich hätte die Handlung auf eine Dilogie aufgeteilt werden können. Das Ende war auf jeden Fall stimmig und endlich hat auch das dramatische Ende von 1 einen Sinn ergeben. Insgesamt mochte ich die Reihe, aber es ist für mich kein Highlight gewesen. Ihre anderen Bücher mochte ich mehr. Ich vergebe 4 von 5 Sterne.
June 20, 2024
I have loved this series from book one. Through the trauma and danger, heartbreak and happiness and all the wondrous twists the author has thrown at us. With a series like this, one that has been building and building to it’s inevitable climax, there’s always that little worry that it wont hit the way you want it to, but Sebastian blew this one out of the park, and I thought it was the perfect ending to the sister’s story.
Pretty much every character in this book endears themselves to the readers in some way and, despite how many there are, we never loose focus or get confused, even those who don’t get a POV have their own voice and presence within the story. But the stars of the story are without a doubt our three POV’s Daphne, Beatriz and Violie. I have loved following these characters on their journey of self discovery, even with Sophronia in book one. Sebastian makes them all wondrously complicated, and she does call them out for their double standards in this book, which I loved. But I think all of their more morally grey traits just make them seem more human, more relatable and realistic. They may have started this journey to save their own necks, but it quickly became about so much more than that. Something that they would actually risk themselves, their lives for. Daphne, for me, was definitely the more complicated of the characters, and the one I had the hardest time empathising with at first, but she really shines in this book and shows who she can be out of the shadow of her mother.
The magic system has always been something I’ve found interesting, and we get an even deeper dive into it with this book. The magic comes from stars and stardust, stardust being able to deal with smaller wishes, but those called Empyrea have the ability to call down the stars themselves, which is how our Princesses� came to be in the first place. I wont go into too much detail about what we learn in this book because it would give away some pretty big plot points, but it’s safe to say that Sebastian knows how to foreshadow, and I adored how the magic almost went full circle from the start of the sisters story to the end. Sebastian really knows how to use her magic, not only to create wonder and intrigue, but also add depth and some pretty big emotional reveals, and I really loved how she ended up weaving the magic into our MC’s lives.
Relationship wise, this book is filled to the brim with all sorts. We have tension filled and heartbreaking romance, tenuous alliances, familial relationships and friendships born out of trauma and self respect. I really love how Sebastian wove all of these together, making our bunch of misfit characters somehow work together when they just shouldn’t. But the stars of this book were Violie and Leopold. We get hints of their romance in the second book, but it’s only in this one that they start admitting to themselves how they feel. I loved them together, but I also enjoyed how Sebastian dealt with the death of Sophronia that was hanging over their heads. I also just want to shout out to my faves Daphne and Bairre who I have adored since book one and just lived for any scene they had together.
I mentioned it above, but Sebastian really does know how to foreshadow with her books. There were so many plot points from the first two that popped up again here and ended up being vitally important to the story. From the get go, this series has been filled with twists and turns and, even though I didn’t think anything could beat the twist at the end of book one, Sebastian still managed to shock me with this one. The twist towards the end broke me, in the best way, and I pretty much sobbed (both sad and happy tears) my way through the last part of this book. It’s political and scheme-y at it’s best, but there’s also a few action scenes for those who prefer their fights at sword point.
I love this series so much and have been invested in these characters since book one, so I was happy with how Sebastian decided to write their endings. It’s happy, but also bittersweet, they may get their ending, but they also suffered plenty of loss and betrayal along the way. Anyone who likes their YA on the darker side, love some good political scheming, and a magic system that grows with each book, I can’t recommend this enough, and I can’t wait to see what Sebastian writes next.
Pretty much every character in this book endears themselves to the readers in some way and, despite how many there are, we never loose focus or get confused, even those who don’t get a POV have their own voice and presence within the story. But the stars of the story are without a doubt our three POV’s Daphne, Beatriz and Violie. I have loved following these characters on their journey of self discovery, even with Sophronia in book one. Sebastian makes them all wondrously complicated, and she does call them out for their double standards in this book, which I loved. But I think all of their more morally grey traits just make them seem more human, more relatable and realistic. They may have started this journey to save their own necks, but it quickly became about so much more than that. Something that they would actually risk themselves, their lives for. Daphne, for me, was definitely the more complicated of the characters, and the one I had the hardest time empathising with at first, but she really shines in this book and shows who she can be out of the shadow of her mother.
The magic system has always been something I’ve found interesting, and we get an even deeper dive into it with this book. The magic comes from stars and stardust, stardust being able to deal with smaller wishes, but those called Empyrea have the ability to call down the stars themselves, which is how our Princesses� came to be in the first place. I wont go into too much detail about what we learn in this book because it would give away some pretty big plot points, but it’s safe to say that Sebastian knows how to foreshadow, and I adored how the magic almost went full circle from the start of the sisters story to the end. Sebastian really knows how to use her magic, not only to create wonder and intrigue, but also add depth and some pretty big emotional reveals, and I really loved how she ended up weaving the magic into our MC’s lives.
Relationship wise, this book is filled to the brim with all sorts. We have tension filled and heartbreaking romance, tenuous alliances, familial relationships and friendships born out of trauma and self respect. I really love how Sebastian wove all of these together, making our bunch of misfit characters somehow work together when they just shouldn’t. But the stars of this book were Violie and Leopold. We get hints of their romance in the second book, but it’s only in this one that they start admitting to themselves how they feel. I loved them together, but I also enjoyed how Sebastian dealt with the death of Sophronia that was hanging over their heads. I also just want to shout out to my faves Daphne and Bairre who I have adored since book one and just lived for any scene they had together.
I mentioned it above, but Sebastian really does know how to foreshadow with her books. There were so many plot points from the first two that popped up again here and ended up being vitally important to the story. From the get go, this series has been filled with twists and turns and, even though I didn’t think anything could beat the twist at the end of book one, Sebastian still managed to shock me with this one. The twist towards the end broke me, in the best way, and I pretty much sobbed (both sad and happy tears) my way through the last part of this book. It’s political and scheme-y at it’s best, but there’s also a few action scenes for those who prefer their fights at sword point.
I love this series so much and have been invested in these characters since book one, so I was happy with how Sebastian decided to write their endings. It’s happy, but also bittersweet, they may get their ending, but they also suffered plenty of loss and betrayal along the way. Anyone who likes their YA on the darker side, love some good political scheming, and a magic system that grows with each book, I can’t recommend this enough, and I can’t wait to see what Sebastian writes next.
June 15, 2024
Poison in Their Hearts is the third and final book of the trilogy. It’s a series I have loved since the first book, and I have both anticipated and feared reading this book. Like in the previous books there’s lush world building, an intricate magic system connected to stars and prophecies. Not to mention it’s filled to the brim with relationships of all different kinds.
There’s also a really big cast of characters, and with the plots very intertwining with each other, much more than earlier books, it ended up becoming hard to keep track of everyone. Especially since half the characters are introduced and then do a triple bluff. Which isn’t a bad thing in itself, if you have a political court intrigue then there’s going to be plotting involved. But the problem here is that there are so many characters and so much back and forth that it’s hard to get a grip on them as characters.
The last big show-down went down with more of a fizzle than a bang, which was a bit of a disappointment. But the very last few chapters were really emotional and sweet, and made the book still feel like a nice send-off to this world and characters.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
There’s also a really big cast of characters, and with the plots very intertwining with each other, much more than earlier books, it ended up becoming hard to keep track of everyone. Especially since half the characters are introduced and then do a triple bluff. Which isn’t a bad thing in itself, if you have a political court intrigue then there’s going to be plotting involved. But the problem here is that there are so many characters and so much back and forth that it’s hard to get a grip on them as characters.
The last big show-down went down with more of a fizzle than a bang, which was a bit of a disappointment. But the very last few chapters were really emotional and sweet, and made the book still feel like a nice send-off to this world and characters.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
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