Circle of Three (Tales of the Nine Charms) [Paperback]

Erica Farber (Author), J.R. Sansevere (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Tales of the Nine Charms

The first volume in a thrilling new fantasy trilogy in which the characters must fight evil using only their wits . . . and nine special charms.

Walker, ever the class clown, reaches into a fountain on a school field trip and sees that the joke is on him when he finds himself in the middle of a training camp for soldiers, worlds away from his own.

Niko wants to be a warrior, but his master insists he learn the ways of a philosopher. When he rebels against his master’s quiet ways, he finds the path to his destiny, but the price he must pay for becoming a hero is greater than he ever imagined.

Aurora can do simple gypsy magic tricks, but even she doesn’t know the true depths of her power until a mysterious woman asks to have her cards read and begs Aurora to come to her aid.

Drawn together by forces they don’t understand to combat an evil they can’t imagine, their only weapons are nine simple charms.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This first book in the projected Tales of the Nine Charms trilogy is unoriginal and scattered in its focus, a B-list choice for fantasy readers. The beginning is disorienting: three separate child protagonists pursue seemingly unrelated adventures. Only in mid-novel do they find themselves united in a fight against "The Dark One" who threatens the magical world of Sunnebeam--but the exact nature of the threat remains murky even at the close of the book ("The dark will rise again," says a villain, in one of several obvious echoes of Susan Cooper's classic The Dark Is Rising fantasy sequence). Smart-mouth Walker, an American, has been called into Sunnebeam to be "the Bearer," while Gypsy girl Aurora, gifted with second sight, is "the Protector." And smart but sexist Niko, formerly in training to become a kind of peaceful warrior, finds himself "the Chooser." Farber, formerly a children's book editor, and Sansevere, who collaborated with Mercer Mayer on children's computer programs, leave readers hanging--but their world of wise gypsies, sage warriors and magic charms may not be wondrous enough to bring any but the most ardent fantasy buffs back to learn the ending. Ages 8-12. (Jan.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-The first in a new fantasy trilogy, this book begins in our world but moves quickly to a parallel one. Walker Crane is on a school field trip when he falls into a fountain and finds himself in a strange place. His fate soon becomes entangled with that of two other young people who inhabit this world: Niko, a warrior in training, and Aurora, a Gypsy girl with unusual though untapped powers. Together these three become Bearer, Chooser, and Protector in a dramatic saga that pits the Lords of Time against the dark. Like Susan Cooper's "Dark Is Rising" series (McElderry), this title contains prophetic, cryptic rhymes and a quest for symbolic objects, in this case nine jeweled charms. The foes of the light are malevolent men served by merciless, cruel soldiers called Dragons. The plot twists and turns its way through numerous exciting but sometimes confusing adventures. Walker finds himself perilously caught in the midst of some Dragons in training. Aurora meets otherworldly spirits who may or may not wish her well. And Niko learns that his master has taught him well how to fight. The elements of high fantasy are here but the story never quite gels. Characters lack depth and the plot elements have little cohesiveness. Events occur, and readers will just have to trust that the pieces of the puzzle will eventually come together.
Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (July 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440415136
• ISBN-13: 978-0440415138
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,327,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charmed by the Nine Charms, February 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Circle of Three (Farber, Erica etc. (Hardcover)

This book was great!Hi I am Emmy Morse, Doughter of Anne Marie Morse and I just read this book.This is a great book for anyone who likes Harry Potter,Kinghts and castles,kings and queens,and a good book.The story is exciting and that makes this book hard to put down.If you havn't read this book I sugest you read this soon.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Darn Good, October 18, 2004

By 

Dragon Rider Girl "gangstagirlie1" (Queens, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Circle of Three (Tales of the Nine Charms) (Paperback)

I really liked this book. I'm in highschool and I don't think there are any baby novels. I felt like this was a prett good book about kids changing worlds. A normal boy thrown has been into the midst of strange world which he will probably never get out of.
He has found the first of the nine charms and has set into motion a huge war which threatens to tear this 2nd world apart.
The Gypsy was born and raised in this second world. AT a young age, she suffered a tragedy - her brother was taken by vicious warriors. Now she is the Protecto and it is her responsibility to protect the first boy.
There's enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat and I know that the book kept me wanting more.
I haven't read the others but I will and when I do I'll get back to you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally fantastic!, July 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Circle of Three (Farber, Erica etc. (Hardcover)

I thought it was great! It has a legend that starts to come true and it involes boy who wants to be a warrior; a gypsy girl; and a boy from our time gets sent back by the charm of fire. I couldn't hardly put it down!