Three Thieves Vol. 1: Tower of Treasure

Gr 5 Up–As a circus troop rolls into the kingdom of Knightsbridge, three performers—Dessa the acrobat, Topper the juggler, and Fisk the strongman—see the castle and know there will be a chance to steal from the treasury. Topper, as always, has a plan, and the entertainment of the circus itself will provide some of the distraction needed. There are three mysteries in play as well: Dessa’s brother was taken when she was younger by a soldier wearing the same livery as Knightsbridge troops; the queen’s Chamberlain has many secrets, some kept from even the queen herself; and Captain Drake of the Royal Dragons still longs for the peace kept by the previous king. All these threads combine to create the beginnings of a wonderful fantasy action story. Reminiscent of other books in the genre, Chantler uses archetypes but threads them through a medieval lens. Two standout sequences include a scene of the characters dealing with the traps before the treasure, and a long but exciting chase sequence showing off Dessa’s acrobatic skills. This first installment lays a wonderful foundation for future volumes.