Book Review: Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon

Gravemaidens
Gravemaidens Duology #1
Kelly Coon
October 29, 2019
Delacorte Press
eBook, Hardcover, audiobook 416 pages

BLURB
The start of a fierce fantasy duology about three maidens who are chosen for their land's greatest honor...and one girl determined to save her sister from the grave.

In the walled city-state of Alu, Kammani wants nothing more than to become the accomplished healer her father used to be before her family was cast out of their privileged life in shame.

When Alu's ruler falls deathly ill, Kammani’s beautiful little sister, Nanaea, is chosen as one of three sacred maidens to join him in the afterlife. It’s an honor. A tradition. And Nanaea believes it is her chance to live an even grander life than the one that was stolen from her.

But Kammani sees the selection for what it really is—a death sentence.

Desperate to save her sister, Kammani schemes her way into the palace to heal the ruler. There she discovers more danger lurking in the sand-stone corridors than she could have ever imagined and that her own life—and heart—are at stake. But Kammani will stop at nothing to dig up the palace’s buried secrets even if it means sacrificing everything…including herself.

My Review:

I was looking forward to this one from the first time I saw the title and then when I saw the cover... WOW!

Some books have gorgeous covers but lackluster stories but thankfully Gravemaidens does not fit into that category because I was hooked on this story from the get-go. Sisters Kammani and Nanaea couldn't be more different but their relationship is one I wished I had with my own sister. 

Kammani will do anything to save Nanaea from being sacrificed in a horrific tradition that everyone else sees as an honor. 

I loved this one from start to finish and I can't wait to read the conclusion of this duology!

My Rating:

🌟🌟🌟🌟

4 of 5 Stars!

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #48

After finishing The Thousandth Floor (a great book you definitely should read! Check out my review here) and finally receiving my book order from Books of Wonder, this "WIR"-Wednesday I'm reading...

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Blurb:

In 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. 

Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far:

Three Dark Crowns was part of my fall reads blog, and the blurb really appealed to me. When I saw I could preorder a signed copy from Books of Wonder I jumped at the chance. Since there was such a delay from them waiting for the preorder swag that came with the other book I ordered, Nemesis, the anticipation to read this book has been brewing for about six weeks. That being said, Three Dark Crowns isn't quite what I was expecting it to be. I'm not saying I don't like it, I was just expecting it to be different I guess. I've never read anything by Kendare Blake before so I didn't know what to expect. Three Dark Crowns keeps me interested in seeing what is going to happen next, but I don't have as much enthusiasm for it as I have for other books I've read lately.