Review of The Three Card Trick
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Josephe-Anne
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Review of The Three Card Trick
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Three Card Trick" by Charles Townsend.]
Delvin and Princess Jarla embark on another mission to save the Duchy of Hengel in The Three Card Trick by Charles Townsend. After their attempt to arrest a villainous magician is thwarted, Delvin accompanies Jarla and Grimbolt to the neighboring Duchy of Argent. They meet a scene of chaos as members of the Guild of Magicians have been using their magician’s stones to control the people and cause them to riot and depose the duke. They soon realize that the magicians intend to do the same in Hengel. So, they rush to save Jarla’s sister, Princess Stella, from being forced to marry one of the magicians. Now, they must figure out a way to defeat the magicians, rescue the two dukes, and restore order to both duchies. Along the way, they meet a streetwise orphan, named Nippy, who uses his wits and acrobatic skills to help them out of some sticky situations. With Delvin still in possession of a magician’s stone, he learns to use it more effectively. This second installment of the Illusions of Power series promises to be just as exhilarating as the first!
The cover design is simple yet intriguing; it features the image of three playing cards. Two of the cards are facing downward, but the middle card is facing upward; it is the Queen of Hearts. The patterned gray background adds an element of mystery. The text is divided into thirty-eight chapters, and there are several maps which depict locations in the book. The themes of the story include magic, fantasy, adventure, humor, and friendship. There is some violence, and sexual acts are implied, but there is no foul language or religious content. This novel can be read as a standalone, but the text references and builds upon events that occurred in the previous installment.
The cast of characters includes everyone who was mentioned in the first installment as well as a newcomer. Delvin is up to his usual practical jokes, but he is a loyal citizen of Hengel. Princess Jarla is as fierce as ever, but her empathy for the suffering of others belies her aggressive tendencies. The same could be said of Grimbolt, the Duke of Hengel’s hitman. However, Grimbolt’s experience makes him more tactful than Jarla. As members of the Guild of Magicians, Magister Meldrum and Drandor are ruthless and power-hungry men who will stop at nothing to seize control of the duchies. Street-smart Nippy is an unexpected addition to the equation. His survival instincts have kept him alive thus far, but this clever lad is still a child who likes to play and explore. Each character is well-written and believable.
I enjoyed following the adventures of Delvin and his companions again, and the introduction of Nippy was a pleasant surprise. I liked the author’s attention to detail when describing the locations and scenery. I also liked the way Delvin kept coming up with all sorts of innovative ideas to get them out of difficult situations. These plans often used his rabbit, Freda, as a distraction. They also incorporated the tricks he learned as a magician. I appreciated the humorous moments that were woven into the narrative along with the danger, drama, and seriousness of the situation. In addition, the story depicts the strict separation of the classes under normal circumstances verses the near-abandonment of such practices during times of crisis. (Delvin and Nippy are treated as equals by the nobility while on their quest, but they are treated like “commoners” when the imminent threats are averted.)
There was nothing I disliked about the book. However, I did find quite a few errors in the text. In total, I found more than ten. Apart from that, I have no criticisms or suggestions to make.
Therefore, I have decided to give The Three Card Trick by Charles Townsend a rating of four out of five stars. The only reason I deducted a star was due to the number of errors I found. With another round of editing, this novel could earn a perfect score. Otherwise, this was an entertaining read that will appeal to fans of medieval-style fantasy fiction. I enjoyed the satisfying conclusion to this installment, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see where Delvin’s path will lead him next.
******
The Three Card Trick
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Delvin and Princess Jarla embark on another mission to save the Duchy of Hengel in The Three Card Trick by Charles Townsend. After their attempt to arrest a villainous magician is thwarted, Delvin accompanies Jarla and Grimbolt to the neighboring Duchy of Argent. They meet a scene of chaos as members of the Guild of Magicians have been using their magician’s stones to control the people and cause them to riot and depose the duke. They soon realize that the magicians intend to do the same in Hengel. So, they rush to save Jarla’s sister, Princess Stella, from being forced to marry one of the magicians. Now, they must figure out a way to defeat the magicians, rescue the two dukes, and restore order to both duchies. Along the way, they meet a streetwise orphan, named Nippy, who uses his wits and acrobatic skills to help them out of some sticky situations. With Delvin still in possession of a magician’s stone, he learns to use it more effectively. This second installment of the Illusions of Power series promises to be just as exhilarating as the first!
The cover design is simple yet intriguing; it features the image of three playing cards. Two of the cards are facing downward, but the middle card is facing upward; it is the Queen of Hearts. The patterned gray background adds an element of mystery. The text is divided into thirty-eight chapters, and there are several maps which depict locations in the book. The themes of the story include magic, fantasy, adventure, humor, and friendship. There is some violence, and sexual acts are implied, but there is no foul language or religious content. This novel can be read as a standalone, but the text references and builds upon events that occurred in the previous installment.
The cast of characters includes everyone who was mentioned in the first installment as well as a newcomer. Delvin is up to his usual practical jokes, but he is a loyal citizen of Hengel. Princess Jarla is as fierce as ever, but her empathy for the suffering of others belies her aggressive tendencies. The same could be said of Grimbolt, the Duke of Hengel’s hitman. However, Grimbolt’s experience makes him more tactful than Jarla. As members of the Guild of Magicians, Magister Meldrum and Drandor are ruthless and power-hungry men who will stop at nothing to seize control of the duchies. Street-smart Nippy is an unexpected addition to the equation. His survival instincts have kept him alive thus far, but this clever lad is still a child who likes to play and explore. Each character is well-written and believable.
I enjoyed following the adventures of Delvin and his companions again, and the introduction of Nippy was a pleasant surprise. I liked the author’s attention to detail when describing the locations and scenery. I also liked the way Delvin kept coming up with all sorts of innovative ideas to get them out of difficult situations. These plans often used his rabbit, Freda, as a distraction. They also incorporated the tricks he learned as a magician. I appreciated the humorous moments that were woven into the narrative along with the danger, drama, and seriousness of the situation. In addition, the story depicts the strict separation of the classes under normal circumstances verses the near-abandonment of such practices during times of crisis. (Delvin and Nippy are treated as equals by the nobility while on their quest, but they are treated like “commoners” when the imminent threats are averted.)
There was nothing I disliked about the book. However, I did find quite a few errors in the text. In total, I found more than ten. Apart from that, I have no criticisms or suggestions to make.
Therefore, I have decided to give The Three Card Trick by Charles Townsend a rating of four out of five stars. The only reason I deducted a star was due to the number of errors I found. With another round of editing, this novel could earn a perfect score. Otherwise, this was an entertaining read that will appeal to fans of medieval-style fantasy fiction. I enjoyed the satisfying conclusion to this installment, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see where Delvin’s path will lead him next.
******
The Three Card Trick
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Nneka Bridget
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The Three Card Trick sounds like an engaging addition to the Illusions of Power series, with well-crafted characters and an adventurous plot. I'm definitely going to try it out.
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NetMassimo
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I got the whole trilogy when the book were free but I have to confess that I still have to start it. The review of this novel confirms the positive impressions I had from the first book, and that's one more reason to read this trilogy. Thank you for your great review!
Ciao 
Massimo
Massimo
