The Young Queens by Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns 0.2)

I really enjoyed this story. It helped me understand why the triplets acted the way they did. It shows how Queen Camille switched Katharine (Kat) and Arsinoe at birth. She does this because she believes that Mirabella (Mira) will win because of how strong she is. Kat has a weak naturalist gift and Arsinoe has a weak poison gift. No one will notice how weak they are compared to Mira.

Six years later the Claiming happens. Mira refused to forget her sisters. She still does throughout the books. Mira causes quite a scene when she wants her sisters back. The Westwoods kept her in the basement to try and control her. It didn't work. The Westwoods eventually take Mira to Starfall Lake in hopes that the priestesses can control her. Mira almost kills High Priestess Luca in the beginning but grows to love her throughout her life.

Arsinoe kept looking out her room window to see if Mira was going to come visit like she said she would at the claiming. Arsinoe eventaully forgets about her life in the Black Cottage and makes friends with her foster sister, Jules and her friend Joseph.

Kat goes with the Arrons and just does what she is told. She if fascinated by Indrid Down. She misses her sisters for a short amount of time and she begins to listen to Natalia.

The small backstories of the queens helped me understand a lot about them. I get why Mira doesn't want to forget about her sisters and why she fought to see them. I mean wouldn't you? Kat is the youngest, shes used to being coddled so when she had to leave her sisters she had to grow up to survive. Arsinoe held hope, but she could only hold for so long.

All in all I loved this novella. Would recommend.