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Feb 18, 2011

Kaion rated it:

Complex magical setting which is slow to unravel? Winsome and “untalented” boy protagonist? Allegorical plot solved via several unveilings of reality? There are not really any elements that separate The Power of Three from some of my absolute favorite Diana Wynne Jones novels (the Chrestomanci novels, among many others come immediately to mind). And with that in mind, it is really amazing how consistently enjoyable I find her work when The Power of Three shows how easily such disparate parts can More...

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Feb 25, 2011

Julie rated it:

Though the Moor is enchantingly beautiful, it holds great perils for the people who inhabit it. Powerful Giants, with extraordinary magical machines, clumsily roam the land, while silent Dorig, who possess devious shape-shifting abilities, terrify anyone unlucky enough to happen upon them.

Then there are, as they call themselves, "the People" and it is among them that this story takes place. A cursed gold collar, a broken promise, ignoring a warning vision, and the clash of cultures for More...

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Oct 04, 2011

Soybean rated it:

This book by DWJ was surprisingly more complicated in terms of the characters' maturity's evolution process and provides the young reader with much to think about. It deals with differences in 'race' in a different but effective way, without touching on any sensitivities relating to 'colour'. In here, three types of 'race' are portrayed as initially having many differences at the onset of the story, when the main characters are still ignorant and still held on to the belief that the other races More...

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Jul 16, 2010

Punk rated it:

YA Fantasy. Three siblings must use their Gifts to rescue their family from the fishy Dorig and stop the Giants from flooding the Moor.

I like the way Jones plays with perspective here. There are three groups of people, each with a different set of names for their enemies, and they all come to learn that their ideas about each other are completely wrong. That's what happens when you rely on rumor to build an impression of someone. And then the day is saved by compromise and diplomacy! More...

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Jan 05, 2009

cameron rated it:

In the power of three, three children, Ayna, Ceri, and Gair, discover their gifts. Ayna, the gift of knowing, which allows her to answer anything. Ceri, the gift of finding, allowing him to find anything asked. But Gair seems to not have one. But the town views Gair as someone very wise. They view him as this because he sits in his windowsill and he is quiet thinking. Their biggest allies in the end are their worst of enemies, the dreaded shape-shifting Dorig. They have a grudge against the hum More...

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Feb 25, 2008

Sarah rated it:

Yet again, Diana Wynne Jones has come up with an entire new, innovative concept for a novel. Let's hear it for an allegorical novel that isn't so cheesy you want to puke!

1 comment like

Oct 14, 2011

Peter rated it:

This is a great children's book that I first read when I was about ten or eleven. I re-read it recently and still found it very enjoyable. I love the quality of Diana Wynne Jones' writing, her style is warm and friendly like a bedtime tale, even though the story has some shocking events. It has a strong message of racial tolerance and peace between peoples, told through simple situations of childhood bullying and adventure that mirror the adult world where tribes and people are at war. In a norm More...

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Dec 01, 2010

Laura rated it:

I feel like this is a book that generally gets overlooked. A lot of people have read the Chrestomanci series or other books by Diana Wynne Jones, but I haven't met very many people who have read this one, and that saddens me because it's probably my favourite of all her work. The world is, like most of her works, familiar and yet unfamiliar; you understand that it's supposed to be taking place in the world that we live in yet it's so totally different to anything that we have. This is one of tho More...

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Oct 17, 2011

Myles rated it:

DWJ Book Toast, #14

Diana Wynne Jones is one of my favorite fantasy authors, growing up and now, and I was saddened by the news of her death. I can't say I'm overcome with emotion - as personal as some of her work is to me, its not like I knew her after all - but I wish I could put into words how I feel about her no longer being out there, writing new adventures and laughing at all of us serious fans thinking so hard about her words when we should simply get on with the business of en More...

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Dec 04, 2010

Nic rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Feb 24, 2011

Jack rated it:

I wasn't sure why, but I picked up the book anyway. It was the first book of Diana Wynne Jones that I actually bought which then began my long love affair. A very long one which should say something as Jones' books were never what I would ever call an easy read. Actually, I would say it was pretty much a struggle to read. Unlike every other story that I came to love, I did not fall for this book over the first line. I mean, who would? "This is the story of the children of Adara -" That More...

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Aug 12, 2007

Brownbetty rated it:

Diana Wynne Jones' Power of Three is, if memory serves me correct, the first book I ever owned. It was given to me for Christmas, when I was quite young. I loaned it to a friend in seventh grade and it came back to me smelling of applesauce. It no longer smells of applesauce, but I remember pressing my face into the book for the smell. I've glued the spine back together once, and a section is currently trying to fall out again. I don't want to replace it.

Jones' particular genius is w More...

1 comment like

Mar 27, 2011

Sian rated it:

This was my most favourite book when I was younger. The characters, the storyline, all drew me in and I read it a fair number of times. Others on goodreads have said it's rather slow, but I found every part of it intriguing. It's what got me into Diana Wynne Jones' stories to start with, and although it's rather different to the Chrestomanci series it's just as enjoyable.

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Feb 14, 2010

Jennifer rated it:

Always creative, always captivating, yet another enjoyable read from Diana Wynne Jones. I liked Howl's Moving Castle better, but this was still very entertaining.
Three different groups of people who each think the others are not people have conflict over land. Their children (of course) get together and find common ground, and they are to resolve the conflict.

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Jun 12, 2008

Bess rated it:

Loved this book as a kid. The detailing of these separate communities, with their separate rituals, traditions is lush. The children's characterisation was really well developed, from Gair's completely understandable fears of being the ordinary child out of his siblings and concerns regarding his place within the family, Ayna's concerns re the responsibility that came with her gifts, and Ceri blessed twice and as unfazed by the concerns his siblings faced as only the youngest child can be! I lov More...

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Mar 29, 2011

Cat rated it:

My most favorite of her stories. I've read it a hundred times. The story is intresting in its complexity but not so complext that you get lost in the telling. I also love that not all the adults are stupid and that they end up helping with the solution to save everyone.

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Jun 10, 2011

Paula rated it:

The 'Power of Three' started with a murder, a curse of grave magnitude, and a promise (under threat of a curse) to keep the murder and curse secret. It's the children who search for a peaceful solution while the adults fight on. Number one priority is to remove the curse which is poisoning the entire Moor. Even the giants are being affected and they had no hand in said curse. Just remember that the spoken word has power and don't give your name to just anyone.

I thoroughly enjoyed More...

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May 05, 2010

yengyeng rated it:

Fairies, watersprites and giants deal with housing problems, caused by overpopulation and displacement, and environment issues in a sort-of UN summit showdown. Useful notes provided by author on negotiation tactics using hunting metaphors.

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Sep 09, 2011

Candy added it

Brilliant use of perspective to keep readers guessing--are we in a typical high-fantasy world where one child wonders where he fits in among siblings with magical powers and where he feels overshadowed by his father's heroic reputation, a world threatened by dangerous Giants and slimy, water-dwelling Dorig, or is this world (where the Giants are named Gerald and Brenda, and the Dorig think of themselves as people and hate the sneaky Lymen) a whole lot closer to home? Does one of the three groups More...

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Oct 24, 2009

Cait rated it:

Hmno... not what I expected. For the first 100 pages or so, this book was brilliant, but it just failed to keep me interested. I find it hard to explain why, can't pinpoint it, but I really had trouble finishing it.

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Feb 13, 2010

Breanna rated it:

This is one of those books I'm pretty sure I read in middle school. I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure.
I read a lot of books by Diana Wynne Jones in middle school. I am mostly sure this was one of them.

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Jun 24, 2010

A. J. rated it:

Sons with problematic relationships with their fathers crop up a lot in Diana Wynne Jones's books. This one has three boys with similar parent issues. One of my favourite books.

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Aug 24, 2011

S-- rated it:

Full thoughtrs/review here.

Why I Started: Because I heart Diana Wynne Jones' stories and I want to read them all (slowly) and it was recommended to me as a good read for when you're in a slog.

Why I Finished: I enjoyed it! It was lovely! And exactly what I was looking for.

Rereadability: High! I thoroughly enjoyed this!

Recommendation: Anyone! (Yes, sorry. Totally hopeless with this right now.)

Rating: Liked More...

2 comments like

Sep 07, 2010

Flora rated it:

I really enjoyed this book, the power of three, by Diana Wynne Jones. It is about Gair, who is the middle child of three children, and completely devoid of any magic. To avoid his cousins taunts, he must face the giants and dorigs, maybe to realize he has never been missing something.

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Jun 04, 2010

Ginny rated it:

This was the first book I read by this author, so it has a special place in my heart - for introducing me to a life long appreciation of Diana Wynne Jones

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Jan 21, 2010

Megan rated it:

I read this a couple years ago and I can't remember much about it. It was an ok story, but I didn't get much out of it. Howls Moving Castle was much better.

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Jul 11, 2009

Joy rated it:

This was one of my first Dianna Wynne Jones books. Fascinating, surprising, much more complex than it first seemed. A great fantasy read!

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Jul 29, 2011

Angel rated it:

Fanflippingtastic! Now my favourite DWJ book, together with the Lives of Christopher Chant and Fire and Hemlock.

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Jul 27, 2009

Kellyann rated it:

Maybe one of Jones's best books, from a technical perspective. Great storytelling with intriguing surprises.

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Mar 19, 2011

Xeyra rated it:

Wow, I really liked this book. The writing was great, the story itself filled with great characters and even some interesting mysteries and twists, and a little twinkle of magic to brighten things up. I've truly enjoyed the books by Diana Wynne Jones I have read so far and have wondered often why I never read anything of hers before. The three main characters, the siblings, were well fleshed out, with their little personality quirks, their fears and desires and abilities, and it was a real pleas More...

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