Power of Three by Diana Wynne
Jones
For All Diana Wynne Jones Fans
Gair spent his time gazing out onto the Moor and brooding. Ayna could
answer questions about the future, Ceri could find things which were lost.
Gair seems to have no Gift and knew he was a disappointment to his
jovial, heroic father - who is Chief. Perhaps his feelings of not fitting in was
what made him so curious about these other different sorts of beings who
lived on the Moor - the Giants and the Dorig. Certainly it was because he
believed he was ordinary that he did his best to become wise, and to learn
as much as he could abou the three great Powers of Sun, Moon and Earth.
And when the crisis came, Gair found the knowledge he had gained was to
help save not only his own life but those of all his people.
Personal Review: Power of Three by Diana Wynne Jones
Combining the atmosphere of Celtic folklore with a plot reminiscent of
Shakespeare's "Hamlet", as well as an intricate plot (including a huge twist
halfway through that will completely turn your perception of the story on its

head) and likeable characters, "Power of Three" is one of Diana Wynne
Jones's best novels - and so inevitably it is one of her least known.
Set on moorlands inhabited by Giants, reptilian Dorig and tribes of warrior-
like clans, the first two chapters introduces the rest of the story to come.
First, Adara and her bullish brother Orban come across a young Dorig
princeling, and Orban demands the beautiful collar around its neck.
Refusing, the Dorig places a deep curse upon the collar that will bestow
bad luck upon the holder and the surroundings.
Chapter two takes place several years later when Adara elopes with the
chief of a neighbouring Mound. This reads like a Celtic legend as the hero
Gest must perform three impossible tasks concerning riddles, collars,
standing stones, Dorig and Giants, and exactly how he manages to
accomplish these feats is a mystery that (like the influence of the curse) is
explored more deeply in the rest of the book that skips onto the next
generation.
Gest and Adara's three children are Ayna, Gair and Ceri. Ayna the eldest
can answer any question posed toward her, whilst Ceri can not only find
anything that is lost but manipulate matter with his mind. Gair however is
devastatingly normal, and so considers himself a disappointment to his
entire community. But with the evil of the curse winding its way into all
aspects of life (including food supply, war with the Dorig, and an
unwelcome invasion of relatives into their Mound), Gair finally reaches
breaking point and heads for the countryside. Tailed by Ayna and Ceri, the
three siblings find adventures with both Dorig and Giants waiting for them,
and realisation that the Moor itself is in danger of destruction.
In terms of theme and plot, "Power of Three" may very well be the deepest
and most complicated novel for young readers that DWJ has written.
Exploring the definition of humanity, the worth of the individual and the
necessity for peace at its core, the book also has plenty of humour, quirky
characters and intricate subplots - far too many to properly explain in a
simple review. But it is worth saying that this book in particular has a range
of interesting and vivid characters - from saintly Adara, woebegone Gerald,
bossy Brenda, spoilt Ceri, sage-like Ayna and the odious Ondo. But the
spotlight mostly falls on Gair, and he is a protagonist that most will find
very easy to relate to - melancholy and serious, but determined and
intelligent, and altogether a likeable guy.
The author also makes some wonderful connections between characters -
the siblings in particular are warm and affectionate (most of the time) and
the friendships that Gair forges within the story are also realistic and
enjoyable to read. But then again, DWJ is an expert at portraying human
behaviour and it should come as no surprise to any familiar readers that
such things are handled just as well here.

"Power of Three" definitely has my recommendation, though I should warn
you about reading other reviews on the story, as some of them give away
the big twist - something that shouldn't be revealed if you want to truly
revel in DWJ's genius.
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