MG Fantasy Review: Crown of Three by J.D. Rinehart

Published: June 2nd, 2015 by Aladdin
Genres: MG  Fantasy

Pages: 416

Format: Hardcover

Source:  Library 

"In Toronia, realm of three,

A tempest has long raged.

By power's potent siren call, 

Weak mean are enslaved.

Too much virtuous blood has spilt

In this accursed age.

When the stars increase by three

The kingdom shall be saved.

Beneath these fresh celestial lights, 

Three new heirs will enter in.

They shall summon unknown power, 

They shall kill the cursed king.

With three crowns they shall ascend,

And true peace, they will bring."

So, the prophecy states that triplets will be born who will in turn kill their father and rule in his place, bringing peace to the land.  Yet, when they are born the wizard Melchior fakes their death  and  sends them off in different directions for their own protection.  

This is the first book in what is to be a series, and introduces the now thirteen year old children and their abilities.  Tarlan  has grown up in a frozen wasteland with the ability to communicate with animals, specifically three large birds who are his only friends.  Elodie  was sent to live with Lord Vicerin, who would love to put her on the throne for his own gain.  Knowing that she is King Burtan's daughter, she is the one of the three who I enjoyed reading about the least.  Her character comes off as entitled, over confident, selfish and pretty mean at times.   Her abilities aren't revealed until much later in the story.  Agulphus or "Gulph" is a contortionist with a traveling team of entertainers, he can easily make his way through almost any enclosure.  Early on he becomes a captive of the castle and is locked into a cell.   The story is told in alternating points of view and chronicles their quest to reunite and fulfill the prophecy.   There are plenty of side characters, but they aren't as detailed as the triplets.  Of the characters, Tarlan was my favorite.  He seemed to be the one who was most level headed and I enjoyed his character development the most.  Plus how cool is it to have a huge bird as your best friend and travel companion?  I enjoyed how the characters where connected by the prophecy and how they eventually come together, even if somethings that happened were unexpected.  Like some of the gory descriptions of a particular rescue come to mind, with a few decapitations.   Plus when the King is killed in the first few chapters, I was like what?  Isn't the prophecy fulfilled now?  But yeah, no, despite the cliffhanger ending, I still see myself continuing with the next book in the series when it releases in March.  

For those interested here is a link to the preview for the first five chapters at : Simon and Schuster