Roberta Writes – Book Review: The Power of Three by Teri Polen #bookreview #readingcommunity

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Picture caption: Cover of The Power of Three depicting three young men facing a house with a ghostly female figure rising from the roof with menacing yellow eyes.

What Amazon says

“Polen weaves an imaginative paranormal tale brimming with engaging characters, thrilling action, and well-crafted suspense. Perfect for fans of Supernatural and Grimm, The Power of Three will keep you on the edge of your seat until you turn the final page.” –Jane McGarry, fantasy author

Yesterday, a curse. Today, an inheritance. Tomorrow…may never come.

Beck Teller’s family bounced from one rental to another his entire life. When his father inherits an ancestral home, he and his siblings are thrilled to finally settle down, especially somewhere his family has roots. And those roots run deep—right to the on-site family cemetery where tombstone dates prove too many members met untimely fates.

When Beck and his two brothers begin experiencing inexplicable things, they grasp for practical explanations. Then their little sister gets a warning from beyond the grave, and the time for rationalizing is over. They pledge to protect their family and set out to identify the source of the danger and a means to defeat it.

They never expected to discover their house is haunted by a vengeful spirit who has vowed to destroy every descendant in the Teller line.

Centuries earlier, three Teller brothers battled the evil entity. Since then, her wrath has caused generations of suffering and untimely deaths. Now, three more Teller brothers will stand against this wicked being. But this time, the curse must be broken. If they win the final fight, they’ll banish the malevolent force forever. But if they lose, their family line ends…and they unleash hell on Earth.

My review

I really enjoyed this fast paced and interesting supernatural mystery story by Teri Polen. I have read other books by this author, all of which were terrific reads, but this one really absorbed and enthralled me.

Life has been a financial struggle for the Teller parents who have always rented a house, lived hand-to-mouth, and battled to pay the bills and keep their three sons in school. Their relationship was going through a rocky patch when Harper, a fourth late child, was born. Harper nearly died at birth and the Teller family all drew together to help her fight for survival. She is now the glue that holds the family together and her three older brothers and parents adore her.

The family’s luck appears to have changed when Mr. Teller learns that, as the last surviving Teller, he has inherited the mansion-styled ancestral Teller home. Thrilled, the family move into their new home, spirits and hope high. You never know whether an event is for the good or bad in life though and each of the three brothers quickly starts experiencing strange and unpleasant sensations and noises. After discovering the family graveyard, packed with the remains of Tellers, many of whom died very young and often within quick succession of other immediate family members, and some revealing equipment and books about the family’s history, the three brothers realise there is something very wrong with the house. They are slowly drawn into the drama of the greater Teller family’s past.

The author’s depictions of the three adolescent boys and their relationships with each other and their parents were realistic and enjoyable. The humour in day-to-day interactions, love interests, and the competitiveness between siblings is a great tool to lighten the darkness of the storyline from time to time. The devotion of the three brothers to their younger sister was heartwarming and an enjoyable addition to the book.

The introduction of the various ghosts and the supernatural elements in the novel are well done and quite believable. I had to read carefully to ensure I picked up all the scattered foreshadowing and hints at what was to come. There are a number of threads that all tie together neatly at the end in a satisfying way.

With its modern approach to romantic relationships and life for young people, this book is perfect for a young adult audience and the story is sufficiently complex and compelling to be enjoyed by a more mature and experienced reading audience too.

Purchase The Power of Three from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DCC5S4N6

Find Teri Polen’s other books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Teri-Polen/author/B01MYOUA6V

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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68 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Book Review: The Power of Three by Teri Polen #bookreview #readingcommunity”

  21. I’m doing a Snoopy dance, Robbie – you absolutely made my week! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the Teller family. The character of Harper, the little sister, was based on my niece. She has three older sisters instead of brothers. Endless thanks for reading and reviewing The Power of Three!!!

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  22. Congratulations to Teri! The story sounds intriguing.

    You did a lovely and very positive review Robbie. Thank You!

    The book cover is scary!

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  23. Terrific review, Robbie! This isn’t a genre I usually read, but having read this I’m now off to Amazon to have a look.

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