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If you’re a fan of the BRITFIELD adventure book series for ages 9 – 18, then you’ve been waiting for the third book in the series, BRITFIELD AND THE RETURN OF THE PRINCE, to release. It’s promoted as the “unparalleled finale of sacrifice, romance, revenge, and loss.”

We shall see if that’s true.

I’ve read and reviewed all of the Britfield books. My favorite, by far, is the first one, BRITFIELD AND THE LOST CROWN, published in 2020. Even though each book could be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading them in order to gain a richer reading experience. In fact, if you’ve not read any of the previous books, you may want to hop over to my review linked above to get some background information.

The Author

As a child, C.R. “Chad” Stewart favored the writings of Beverly Cleary and Roald Dahl. When he grew older, The Hardy Boys captured his attention. Also, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and C.S. Lewis influenced Stewart’s growing appreciation for literature and creativity.  

Today, Chad Stewart’s talents lie in writing, film and media production, global strategy, and international marketing. Among other degrees, he has earned a Bachelor of Arts in British Literature and European History. His extensive knowledge of European history is evident in his writing.

The Setting

The settings vary from book to book. England serves as the setting for Stewart’s first Britfield book. The second in the series is set primarily in France. For this third book, we dash in and out of Switzerland, Scotland, Italy, and Austria. But, most of the adventures take place in Italy.

What’s the Same, What’s Different

Tom and Sarah are still in search of Tom’s parents and the Britfield Codex, which will prove his true place as the rightful heir to the throne.They still have some of the same fears, but they’re growing stronger through their experiences and through the covert training they received at the Academy.

There are familiar faces in this book—Gowerstone, Fontaine, Oliver, Kate, and Henry. But, a new character is on the scene. Hunter, Tom’s younger brother, is rescued by Tom and Sarah in an unbelievable escapade. He tags along in this adventure bringing a sense of humor with him.

In this book, there is a G-rated introduction of friendships developing into something more. As with all of the Britfield books, this one is deemed as a “clean-read.” No foul language or lewd acts are found between its covers. Of course, the “bad guys,” known as the Committee, continually pursue the three teens and an anyone who comes between them.

The Intensity Increases

With each subsequent book in this series, the violence increases. Mind you, readers are spared gory details. But, there are plenty of detailed descriptions of weaponry and snipers paired with various terms for eliminating the enemy. The teens are constantly being hunted down in order to be killed. 

We read a good bit about computer hackers and how to change appearance, how to blend in with a crowd, and other ways to avoid detection and capture. This may bother some readers. However, I think there’s enough exaggeration in the story to remind us this is a work of fiction. 

I find the descriptions of what people are wearing delightful, and a bit humorous, because they remind me of the narratives from the J. Peterman catalog.

And yet, throughout the BRITFIELD series, the author conveys subtle warnings about protecting our privacy, our freedom, and avoiding a one-world order. 

Recommendation

Overall, I liked this book. But, as I mentioned earlier, it is not my favorite in the series. It seems that some scenarios from the previous books repeat themselves in this one with just a few minor changes. The chase has gone on for a long, long time. While the main characters have developed, and the action scenes are more intense, the overall story seems to be lagging. It didn’t seem like an “unparalleled finale.” I’m hoping the next book will actually wrap up this quest and allow Tom and Sarah to move on to other missions.

As a parent/teacher, I’d love to see more of the teaching resources that, thus far, have only been provided for the first book in the series. Of course, kids probably don’t care as much about that. They simply want to enjoy reading about the adventures! And, the author definitely delivers!

I recommend this book for kids in middle school and up, especially for those who enjoy mysteries and action-packed adventure stories. 

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This review originally appeared on Sally Matheny’s blog.

At least three people in the U.S.A. go by the name of Sally Matheny. She is the Southerner who likes her tea sweet, her chocolate dark, and her coffee strong. Her southern roots began in Georgia, where her dad was stationed in the Air Force. Before she could learn the Georgia drawl, they moved to a beautiful, little town in western North Carolina. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, she still picked up a way of talking with a few extra syllables and interchanging vowel sounds. It’s a talent.

A freelance writer and blogger, Sally Matheny’s writing is published in worldwide, national, regional, online and print publications including Appleseeds, Clubhouse Jr., Homeschooling Today, Practical Homeschooling, Keys for Kids, and The Old Schoolhouse. Sally also writes wholesome and entertaining books for children. She is the Write2Ignite Pinterest Editor.