A Review: Thrice by Andrew D. Meredith

Short and provoking a sense of curiosity, the title Thrice by Andrew D. Meredith makes me wonder what three people, events, or places the story might be referring to. So, I dove in, wondering what fantastic tale I would uncover.

The story follows Jovan, the surrogate father for an exceptional and wise-beyond-his-years boy, Leaf. But when a mysterious figure that goes by the title of the Bear threatens to take the boy and exploit him for his special talents, Jovan is willing to move heaven and earth to stop him.

Jovan is stoic with a huge temper. While that might seem like an oxymoron, his approach to conflict feels completely natural. He’s cool and level-headed until relentless cool no longer does the trick. He doesn’t fear taking action (or almost anything, it seems), and he funnels his temper into the protection of the innocent child in his care. Leaf is mysterious in his talent. Discovering his origins and the reasons behind why so many people seem to want to take him away from Jovan drove my interest in the story. 

Thrice is one of those novels that might make for a perfect introduction to an author’s catalog. The adventure is self-contained and refuses to overstay its welcome. But despite its brevity, it doesn’t suffer from a lack of lure. During their travels, Jovan and Leaf interact with several characters, many of whom share worldbuilding details in a compelling way—stories within stories.

The novel leans briskly episodic in the first half of the story. Because of this, you might struggle to find the core of the plot at first, but sometime around the story's midpoint, everything begins to click into place as betrayals and twists lead to a ride that culminates in an exciting conclusion. 

If you’re looking for a high fantasy novel with a moderate length and quick pacing, themes of intellect vs. wisdom, and the “children in jeopardy” trope, this story should be on your radar.

There are more adventures to be had in the world of Continua as well. You can grab the first story in this world for free!