A thrill ride from the first page to the last… Riveting.
Donnely strikes a perfect balance between powerful worldbuilding and rich thematic exploration as Mirana and Teague struggle against their fates in Donnelly’s third in The Kinderra Saga. Though her parents’ lives are in danger, it’s imperative for Mirana that she finishes her quest for Jasal’s Keep instead of returning home and put her homeland in danger. But saving her people from dark forces is not that easy: she can give the Dark Trine the key to the Keep’s power and save Kinderra from destruction, but that will put her homeland into the hands of a tyrant. And if she finds a way to unleash the Keep’s power herself, she can defeat the Dark Trine, but she has to sacrifice Teague. She must prepare herself and face her destiny. Donnelly is getting better with every book. The tension in this installment begins on a high note and keeps ratcheting higher. Mirana, Teague, Sido, and others are a fascinating group of multilayered characters, and the utterly ruthless Tetric makes for a malevolent villain: he uses his own lust for power to defend his behavior as he employs utterly nasty and violent solutions to people and things he sees as problematical: despite his claims of caring for the ones who trust him, he chooses to exploit their vulnerabilities instead of granting them the understanding they deserve. Mirana clearly has an intimate understanding of how hard it is to put your trust in someone when you’re betrayed by the one you trusted more than yourself. Watching Mirana come into her own and gradually realize the fact that her power as a trine is not so bad after all is heartbreaking but ultimately empowering. Fans of the earlier entries will certainly love this installment: characterization remains largely solid, as does the richly described worldbuilding and tight plot, making for an intricate and layered narrative; additionally, since the cast and the fantasy world is already well established and needs no introduction, Donnelly, here, plunges directly into the action. Relevant themes of acceptance, understanding, and self-discovery weave through a breakneck plot and intriguing worldbuilding. At the same time, Donnelly also offers authentic depictions of individual struggles, young adult angst, self-doubt, family, friendship, love and the sacrifices love can demand. This is the kind of book you stay up all night reading—Intricately layered and fabulously twisty… A spellbinding epic fantasy that has both heart and depth. Readers won’t be able to put down this riveting tale of power and self-discovery.
Trine Revelation, The Kinderra Saga: Book 3
C.K. Donnelly
Kibbe Creative Media, LLC
Pub date June 14, 2022
ISBN 978-1735051888
Price $17.95 (USD) Paperback, $28.95 Hardcover, $7.44 Kindle edition
