The Starkin Crown

The Starkin Crown #3

by Kate Forsyth

Last, the smallest and the greatest...
Though he must be lost before he can find,
Though, before he sees, he must be blind,
If he can find and if he can see,
The true king of all he shall be.

Prince Peregrine, rightful heir to the starkin and wildkin crowns, longs for adventure. But Vernisha the Vile, who seized the starkin throne, seeks to destroy Peregrine, his family, and all the wildkin of Ziva.

With Stormlinn Castle under attack, Peregrine flees with his best friend, Jack, and Lady Grizelda – a starkin girl. Together they seek the Spear of the Storm King – the long-lost weapon which, it is prophesied, will destroy the starkin throne.

But a hunter is on their tail and someone close doesn't want them to succeed...

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Childrens, Middle Grade, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction, Magic

282 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2011

About the author

Kate Forsyth wrote her first novel at the age of seven, and is now the internationally bestselling author of 40 books for both adults and children.

Her books for adults include 'Beauty in Thorns', the true love story behind a famous painting of 'Sleeping Beauty'; 'The Beast's Garden', a retelling of the Grimm version of 'Beauty & the Beast', set in the German underground resistance to Hitler in WWII; 'The Wild Girl', the love story of Wilhelm Grimm and Dortchen Wild, the young woman who told him many of the world's most famous fairy tales; 'Bitter Greens', a retelling of the Rapunzel fairytale; and the bestselling fantasy series 'Witches of Eileanan' Her books for children include 'The Impossible Quest', 'The Gypsy Crown', 'The Puzzle Ring', and 'The Starkin Crown'

Kate has a doctorate in fairytale studies, a Masters of Creative Writing, a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, and is an accredited master storyteller.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this one, althought I wish I'd read the previous books as trying to get my head around the differences of the Wildkin, the Hearthkin, and the Starkin was a little hard at first.

Great book though!

[Maryanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The gripping final in the Starkin trilogy, with a prince on a quest, his devoted friend and a snooty princess-turned ally. As always, the humbler characters are wonderfully drawn and very appealing.

The snooty princess gradually becoming a friend device, echoes and reflects each layer in the trilogy.

In this third installment, the lovers didn't ring quite true for me - perhaps they were not tested as much, or they became aware of their mutual attraction too soon; the mutual attraction gradually unfolding by the characters in the Starthorn Tree was beautifully done, by contrast.

Overall, the writing is as beguiling, the scenes and landscapes as fresh and wonderful and the storytelling as magical as all Kate Forsyth's Children's fantasy.

[Jhenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the second book in this series* I was looking forward to reading this. Once again I loved everything about the book. Honestly, Kate Forsyth is one of my favourite authors ever and The Starthorn Tree is my favourite book so I'm a tad biast. But I do mean it when I say that this is a fantastic read. I loved the romance because it isn't what you'd expect :D


* Techincally The Wildkin's Curse and The Starkin Crown are companions to The Starthorn Tree and it can be taken as a series or not, depending on the reader.

[Jodie Moloney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the final instalment of the series and as expected continues from the next generation, like the pervious book. Out if the three I enjoyed this book the most and not because it was the last one. This book does answer all the questions from the previous two books and doesn't leave anything for the author to wonder about ... expect maybe who Jack marries. And it does end on a happy note and gives the reader a nice feeling and in my opinion (could be wrong here) conveys a message of - this is going to sounds really really really corny - hope that if these races of people who viewed each other as different species can learn to make peace and live without prejudice and racism maybe our society can too. Which would be nice.

Her writing style hasn't change but evolved very similar to the previous two books but something seemed ... different. Not that this was a bad thing. The plot was a little predictable as to whom the betrayer was, or maybe I'm just an awesome detective, I don't know. I liked the characters here best and it seemed like a typical movie plot, kind of like How to Tame a Dragon. Where the wimpy kid proves to be the best of them all. I partially liked the character Molly even though she was a noble she still acted like a peasant, no airs and graces about her. Which made her so likable.

I wouldn't read this book if you haven't read the previous two and also if you didn't like them. Nothing much has changed that would make you like it. They seem like the kind of books you read by a fire on a rainy day.

[Bronte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loves everything in this book, it's probably my favourite out of the three. It was a beautiful read and I loved how in the end all of the main heroes were together (well almost). I was continuously screeching, muttering and hyperventilating during the course of reading this book and the two companions. So glad my sister let me read this series.

[Ju Transcendancing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prince Peregrine in this seemed somehow much younger than the other children in the previous books, he seems more innocent and naive. That said, he has a health condition and his parents and grandparents have all been through gruelling quests of their own, so their protectiveness for him makes sense. Nevertheless, destiny and prophecy have a habit of messing with the best of parental protectiveness and Peregrine ends up off on his own adventure.

I really love Molly as a character for her forthrightness and practicality. I found Grizelda an interesting character because I wanted to like her, wanted her to be ‘good’ and yet there was so much about her and her story that didn’t ring true, didn’t come about. This story doesn’t take place on as big a scale as the previous book, not in terms of place or distance. However, as far as ideas go it’s an escalation – the final part of the prophecy falls into place and the day will either be won or lost once and for all – that’s huge! Especially when it’s resting on the shoulders of sheltered children. And yet, they rise to the challenge beautifully and this is ultimately a very satisfying conclusion to the series.

(Review reposted from my blog The Conversationalist).

[Katharine (Ventureadlaxre)]

Katharine is a judge for the Sara Douglass 'Book Series' Award. This entry is the personal opinion of Katharine herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.

I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the AA are over.

[Lyn Battersby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyn is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. This review is the personal opinion of Lyn herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.

I will be reviewing and rating this once the AAs are announced.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book in this series, The Starthorn Tree, was my absolute favourite childhood book and I can still read it and enjoy it today - but from there, it's all gone downhill. Forsyth should've just stopped at the first.

[Yona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was a great book,very suspenseful and mysterious. I reccommend this book to anyone who has a taste for adventure. :D

[Mia Scarlet Star]

I loved it because it had suspense and in the end... love...