Three Crowns and the Dream Sofa, a fantasy sci-fi by Liliane Broberg, is a playful and entertaining read. Put together elements of Alice in Wonderland, King Arthur and a touch of Shrek - mix them all up in a magical story about three hopelessly incompetent kings, a jealous sister, a Book of Prophecies, the Bearer, and ultimately the magical Dream Sofa, and you have a fantasy which carries its own. The character development in this book is nicely done. The author doesn't overdo it, but she does create each of the players so that their identity stands out. The story takes the reader into the world of three brothers who are the rulers of the Kingdom of Viz, but who in fact are mere mantelpieces, figureheads and who are wasting away the riches of the land while doing nothing to effectively rule it, and heading it toward ultimate disaster. Their sister, Princess Experalda, is determined to dethrone the three and take charge. Meanwhile, an old prophecy is exhumed, about the Dream Sofa which disappeared years before, and in order to find it, they must first find the Bearer, the one who can interpret the Book of Prophecies. This is a worthwhile and fun story to read, one which demands the upcoming sequel in order to find out the fate of the three ruling bumpkins, the jealous sister, and moreover, the magical Dream Sofa and its role in restoring the Kingdom of Viz to its glory.
Review by International Writers Inspiring Change
About Liliane Broberg
IWIC: Tell us about yourself.
Liliane: Originally from Cameroon and the eldest of four siblings, I grew up exposed to books right from kindergarten. I remember we had a children’s library in our bedroom and amidst these books bought by my parents, a reading culture developed. An accomplished Human Resources Practitioner, with more than 15 years of combined experience in HR management, sales and marketing, general administrative support within international and field contexts, I am passionate about all creative works.
IWIC: What prompted you to become a writer? Liliane: From a very young age, I allowed my imagination to run wild and wrote and recounted stories. My love for writing was rekindled when I assisted my mum with one of her assignments and since then, I knew that someday I would pursue a career in writing.
IWIC: What do readers like about your writing? Liliane: Readers like the fact that my writing is entertaining while being educational and motivational. Upon reading my book, a niece of mine is already inspired to become an author and readers have told me they are looking forward to the sequel.
IWIC: Is there a message weaved into your writing? Liliane: The book talks about the intricacies of power, highlighting the effect of unprepared leadership. It also portrays women’s stand in society particularly in high spheres of leadership. The book also hints on climate change and deforestation.
IWIC: What is it that you want to inspire in others or change in the world through your writing?
Liliane: I want my writing to nurture hope as people face challenges in life. Moreover, it is not my intention to change the world because I know it results from several factors and takes a long process. Rather, I want to heighten awareness and enlighten youths on some societal issues already being discussed. Hopefully, this approach will contribute to bringing about behaviour improvement.
IWIC: Tell us about your most recent book and why you wrote it? Liliane: The first time I visited Sweden, I was so fascinated by its society and their national emblem of three crowns, as well as the Swedish Krona which was likened (in my mind) to crowns. Led by my long time desire to write a story on three brothers, I decided to write about three kings. The Dream Sofa is a convertible couch found in my husband’s parents home on which they slept when they were young. Inspired by all these, the book idea of Three Crowns and the Dream Sofa was brought forth.
