Back when I started reading SFF, longer ago than I care to remember, there really weren't that many writers to choose from in that genre represented in my local small-town library. However, Nancy Springer was one of those writers and I remember going through her Book of the Isle series avidly. As a result, I suppose I was borne away by a wave of nostalgia when I saw her name pop up on Netgalley with a new book - apologies to Ms Springer, I didn't realise she was still writing! Although she's subsequently written a number of Arthurian books, which are my absolute Kryptonite to be perfectly honest, the blurb for this sounded promising so I asked and duly received.

The basic premise of The Oddling Prince is that it's set in a vague post-Roman period bit of Scotland where our main character Aric is the only son of a king who (we later discover) fought his way to the throne by killing his older brothers. At the time the story starts, Aric and his father have gone out hunting and his father has been kidnapped by fae and spent a number of years with the Queen of Elfland, only to return exactly as he disappeared so nobody remembers it. He has, however, in that time away been busy doing problematic things with the Queen and produced a son called Albaric who is the spitting image of Aric, just prettier.

One thing I liked about this book was that it dealt with the dubious consent around the whole 'whisked away by the fae and made to fall in love with the Queen by magic' trope, which often gets hand-waved over when it's a guy who's on the receiving end of it. On the other hand, because of the time differential nobody on this side gets to think about the fact the king has been away at all and also it pretty much never gets mentioned again. So, for example, when the king is acting like a jackass towards his new-found son, nobody goes 'hey, maybe being raped by the Queen of Elfland has had an effect on the king!', which felt like a missed opportunity.

Anyway, beyond this, The Oddling Prince is a book where a lot of words are expended to support a fairly meagre plot. Aric and Albaric become besties, there's an ongoing threat to the kingdom from a moustache-twirling duke, while Aric turns out to be the heavily-foreshadowed White King who is going to magically make life better for everyone. All in all, this book felt very much like the books I was reading from this author back in the 1980's and I was a little disappointed by that. Another throwback were the comments about how pretty Albaric was and how people would think he was gay, questioning the relationship between the brothers as a result - though those are coming from the king (exclusively, I think) and he's not the most reliable character throughout, those kind of comments made me feel like I was reading something from the 80's and not in a good way.

I have to be honest, I loved the cover and being a Nancy Springer reader, naturally I clicked the request button on this title but this was different. It took me a while to get into the story, the writing made it a little difficult for me to really get sucked into the storyline. Nevertheless, I persisted.

The king is on his death bed with a strange sickness, which seems to be caused by the ring that he is wearing and cannot be removed. The king's only saviour is a stranger, Albaric, who happens to be his long lost son from the Fey Queen. The catch is that the king ends up having an extreme hatred for Albaric, but his human son, Aric, builds an equally strong relationship with his half-brother.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the relationships that Nancy Springer built between the brothers. It was so refreshing to read a story where siblings don't turn on each other and is not centered on rivalling brothers fighting for their father's attention. Instead it is a story of growth and finding happiness even with all the negativity that surrounds the characters and the story.

However, I do have to point out that there was a severe lack in world-building that really did, eventually, take from the story. I think that if there is a sequel, Nancy Springer can most definitely iron out any missing elements. That being said, this book was one that I liked, though it was long-winded at times and was paced slowly.

When a mysterious ring appears on King Bardaric's hand, the king falls ill and approaches the door of death. Prince Aric is a true-hearted and faithful son, not yet ready to become king of Calidon. He rejoices when an elfin figure calling himself Albaric removes the ring with his magic and saves the king's life. The prince feels a kinship with the stranger, and an inseparable friendship develops between the two. But when Albaric claims to be Aric's brother, begotten and forgotten by the king in the timeless realm of faerie land, the newly healed King Bardaric rejects his savior and becomes angry and vengeful. A sequence of adventures follow, with danger lurking when least expected and love and hate snarled into a tangled web throughout the court of Calidon. Aric is pushed to choose between his loyalty to his father and his troth to his friend. In the end, he must decide whether he will trust the trickery of the magic ring when all else seems lost.

This book fascinated me from beginning to end. The plot concept of Alabaric's origins felt wholly original and yet, at the same time, wholly mythological and ancient. The characters of Aric and Albaric reminded me of Jonathan and David from the Bible, and Albaric even had the detail of being a harper to solidify the comparison. The language was written in an old style reminiscent of Howard Pyle's books about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, a style which I happen to enjoy immensely. This book has received many mixed reviews, so it may not be for everyone, but I found it wondrous, gripping, and thought-provoking.

For my complete review, visit my blog: https://vicsense.wordpress.com/2018/06/29/arc-the-oddling-prince/

SUMMARY
Alric is the only son and heir to the throne of Dun Caltor, until a mysterious, otherworldly being appears one night, claiming to be the king's other son. Albaric, born from the queen of fey and king Baldric (Alric's father), he develops a fierce love for his half-brother and vows to protect him and follow him to the ends of the earth, if need be. Meanwhile, their father grows to hate his second son, more and more with each passing day, until he starts to hate his first son and his wife for wanting to protect Albaric. The more the king hates Albaric, the more the latter loves his brother and follows him everywhere, never leaving his side.

REVIEW
This novel reads like a long fairy tale, with elements of magic interspersed throughout the narrative, blending with the very real day-to-day life in medieval Scotland. I thought the characters were well thought out and I especially loved the intense and unshakable brotherly love. I thought that the king was downright mad because of his incessant hatred of Albaric, despite him not doing anything to be hated for (on the contrary, he is the most useful, capable, and skilful person in the castle). Albaric was sweet and utterly devoted to his half-brother, which made the pair very endearing. I wanted Albaric to be loved by his father, the way that he loved him. His innocent fey personality made him vulnerable and warranted protection and love from those around him. Luckily, Alric loved him as fiercely as he did, so at least he wasn’t completely alone in the human world.

The narrative flowed beautifully and was very lyrical. I loved the way old medieval Scotland came to life and was painted so vividly. The characters described very realistic and historically accurate things that they encountered in their daily lives. The writing style might be a turn-off for some readers, but personally, I really enjoyed the ‘old English’-ness of the text. It added to the overall feeling that I was reading an ancient fairy tale.

If you like fairy tales, old Scotish legends and a fierce brotherly love, you should give this one a shot. I was pleasantly surprised and I'm happy I picked it up to read while on holiday.

I’ll be honest, The Oddling Prince was mostly a cover based request… It was just so pretty and the synopsis did intrigue me a bit too. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in to this one since I’d seen both rave reviews and others that described it as boring. I can see both sides of the argument here and didn’t feel strongly either way.

Aric a prince in Northern Scotland and his father is laying upon his deathbed, at least until a mysterious stranger rides into the castle yard. This stranger is Albaric, who is a prince of the fae and Aric’s half-brother. Albaric saves the king (his father) from the enchantment put upon him by the slighted fae queen and all should be well. Except it is not. While Aric and Albaric immediately click, their father dislikes Albaric immensely and is hostile to the point of violence in some cases. This book primarily focuses on Aric and Albaric’s growing brotherhood and how they handle their father’s treatment of them and his changed personality since his miraculous recovery.

The Oddling Prince is written in a very classic fantasy style – think a style similar to Tolkein- rather than the more modern prose that most fantasy authors are using. Also, while not lacking in action, it’s certainly not the main focus of this book, which focuses far more on the relationships between our characters. I think these two factors are the biggest reasons why people are less than happy with this book. I personally didn’t mind that there was less action than in many fantasy books and this ended up being a leisurely read. My gripe with this book wasn’t so much the book, but rather Aric’s father. I couldn’t stand his character and felt like he was being a jealous a-hole and super paranoid, especially since both Aric and Albaric were clearly good hearted.

I liked that this book defied my expectations for Aric and Albaric’s meeting. I expected the usual immediate rivalry between the half siblings, but to my pleasant surprise they hit it off and became inseparable. Their interactions tended to be melodramatic at times but it worked with the storytelling. The Oddling Prince had a strong Celtic lore influence and it ended just as strangely as these tales tend to do.

This was a book that I liked but it didn’t grip me the way other books have in the past. That being said, it was well written and quite different from what’s being published in the mainstream fantasy field presently. The ocean scene at the end has quite a few people puzzled, but I thought it was a nice ending and a scene that I would like to see illustrated. This is a great book to break up the monotony of reading the same ol’ stuff all the time, but it definitely won’t be a good fit for everyone.

Long ago in the highlands of Northern Scotland there lived a kind and just king. However, one day he returned home from a hunting trip with his son Prince Aric and found that a cursed ring had suddenly appeared on his finger. With no way of removing it, the ring quickly caused the king to sicken until he was close to death. But just as his father was about to slip away, Prince Aric noticed a mysterious young man riding hard for the castle. Using his magic, this newcomer was able to remove the ring just in time to save the king’s life. He then introduced himself as Prince Albaric from the Faerie realm, revealing that he was also Prince Aric’s half-brother, conceived when the Fae queen seduced the king and transported him to the otherworld. His story also explained how the enchanted ring first came to be on the king’s finger.

But rather than feel grateful towards Albaric, the king refused to even acknowledge him as his son. Worse, as Aric and Albaric grew closer, their brotherly bond only caused their father’s hostility to worsen. No longer good and just, the king became bitter, paranoid, and angry. Concerned for his father and troubled by the changes wrought on the kingdom, Aric also started to worry for his half-brother. Exiled from the land of the Fae and with no home to return to, Albaric’s only hope was to be accepted by his mortal father, but sadly, the king’s mind would not be easily swayed.

In order to save the kingdom, Aric must somehow find a way to help Albaric make peace with their father before the king’s resentment can bring ruin upon them all. In essence, this familial conflict serves as the backbone of The Oddling Prince. A fantasy inspired by folklore and mythology, the novel lends itself to be compared to stories of Arthurian legend, as it is written in a style that evokes that same kind of quaintness and sentimentality. Much of this is due to the book’s somewhat archaic tone and language, which was elegant and lyrical but also served to bog down the prose. As a result, it took me quite a while to get into the flow of the story, for the same elements used to impart an old-fashioned flavor also made it very awkward and slow to read.

Tales of this type are also often heavy in metaphor and deep in meaning, but lighter in terms of character and story development. So even though I found The Oddling Prince to be a sweet and charming little book, I was not surprised to feel little to no connection to the characters. Like a Disney movie, you just knew deep in your heart everything would work out fine, despite all the seemingly insurmountable challenges thrown in the protagonists’ way. While I wouldn’t go as far as to say this novel was completely devoid of surprises, there were simply no genuine threats or high stakes to make you feel any real concern. There was also this thick layer of idealism in the depiction of Aric and Albaric’s relationship—which was intentional, I am sure, given the sentimental nature of this story. But again, this just made them feel like cardboard heroes out of a fairy tale, not real enough to relate to.

Still, there were a lot of aspects I really liked. Despite the book’s fanciful tones, there were some powerful tensions between Aric and his father. I wouldn’t say this story had a real antagonist, but with the king being such a huge jerk, I would say he came the closest. In the face of his irrational fury and jealousies though, Aric remained steadfastly on Albaric’s side, refusing to be cowed. This loyalty to his brother was heartwarming and beautiful, and ended up being the highlight of this book. And even though she was a rather late introduction, I also loved the character of Marissa. The portrayal of her relationship with Aric may have left a lot to be desired, but her personality was so lovable that she immediately became a favorite.

In the end, I thought The Oddling Prince was an enjoyable read, though at times it felt a little too light and lacking in substance. However, if you like reading fantasy stories that are heavily inspired by fae-related folktales or mythological influences, this one might be worth checking out. The underlying wistfulness and dated feel of the writing may take some getting used to, but all the same, these elements might prove to be the novel’s biggest selling point for those seeking an evocative tale told in an old-timey, sentimental style.

Did not like the style of writing or the story. There was no goal to the plot, it just went wherever, which is not a type of story I enjoy reading.

I honestly just found the language to stilted and occasionally hard to comprehend. I understood the feel that Springer was going for, and at times it was successful, but for the most part I just found myself getting frustrated, particularly with the dialogue and the way Albaric was written. I may revisit Springer's work at another time, though, as it definitely has potential.

I read Springer's "Book of the Isles" series when they came out and loved them. Then her work fell off my radar. Shame on me.
The Oddling Prince again shows her style and passion.
A tale of love and difference. Of having to live and deal with love, anger, and forgiveness and acceptance. Read for pleasure and learn and a lesson.

This was absolutely beautiful. What got me first was the writing style. It was quite prosaic, elements of older English mixed in, as well as poems and songs. It seemed to flow in a tranquil way, calm. I don’t know another way to describe it, but I fell in love with that writing style.

I have to admit, that in the beginning I had some problems finding into the story. But the more I read, the deeper I got sucked into it, understanding the characters more and more. The setting is a war-torn Scotland, but in the beginning the reader does not realize this completely. We get an introduction to the fey first, and while they are beautiful and wicked, they are not evil. Yes, they manipulate humans but they can also feel for them, though not like them. So this makes for some tension between some of the characters.
The king is on his death bed, a strange sickness taking him over. The source seems to be a ring he is wearing but that does not come off his hand. He can only be saved by a stranger, a fey named Albaric, who is the king’s son from the Queen of the fey. While the king does not accept him, even loathes him, the king’s human son, Aric, finally feels complete. The two brothers become inseperable, even defying the king. I loved the relationship between the two of them. It was so wonderful, the two boys love each other unconditionally, they are two parts of a medal. Where one has a weakness, the other has his strengths.

To be honest, I loved the relationships in general. I also loved to see how they change (or don’t change), when the king gets sucked into the madness of the cursed ring, when he starts seeing treason everywhere, wanting to get rid of everyone and everything. But despite everything, the people around him try to save him and his kingdom, all the while finding happiness on their own.

I also liked how the story was centered around the two brothers and their relationship with their father. Even though there is a love story as well, it only has a small part, but a beautiful one nonetheless. Even this relationship is pure gold.

While I thought this was going to be a hard read, I enjoyed it all the more. The writing style, the story, the characters. I came to love everything in the end.

When I heard that Nancy Springer was releasing a YA fantasy book, I was thrilled. If you didn't know I absolutely love her book, I Am Morgan le Fay. It is about the King Arthur's half-sister. It was one of the books that solidified my love for fantasy back in grade school before Harry Potter came out. I loved her writing and the dark, atmospheric setting. Morgan is a fascinating morally-gray character and it is still one of my favorite standalone fantasy books to this day. I will put up my review of the book on my blog soon. It's up on Goodreads already if you are interested. Can you tell how I'm subtly (not-so-subtly) trying to push this book on you? Read it. 

If you aren't familiar with Nancy Springer's writing, you might be a little confused when you read The Oddling Prince. This is not like present-day YA fantasy books. Nancy Springer has a very classic way of writing, and this is enhanced even more in The Oddling Prince because of the Old English that is used. The story takes place in Ancient Scotland so expect a more classic, almost-Shakespearish writing style. 

Synopsis
In the ancient moors of Scotland, the king of Calidon lies on his deathbed, cursed by a ring that cannot be removed from his finger. When a mysterious fey stranger appears to save the king, he also carries a secret that could tear the royal family apart.

The kingdom’s only hope will lie with two young men raised worlds apart. Aric is the beloved heir to the throne of Calidon; Albaric is clearly of noble origin yet strangely out of place.

The Oddling Prince is a tale of brothers whose love and loyalty to each other is such that it defies impending warfare, sundering seas, fated hatred, and the very course of time itself. In her long-awaited new fantasy novel, Nancy Springer (theBooks of Isle series) explores the darkness of the human heart as well as its unceasing capacity for love.

Writing Style
I love Nancy Springer's writing and this was her "coming out of retirement" book. She is pretty famous in the fantasy world for her children's fantasy books. The writing and characters are just so...pretty. I'm not sure how to explain it. While I Am Morgan le Fay was dark and foreboding, the writing in The Oddling Prince is delicate and light. This reads like a fairy tale but not like the fairy tales where the hero/heroine gets raped or someone has to dance until they die. This is more like the otherworldy, pretty, fairy tales you read as a child. Enchanted forests, queens and kings, fey, elves, and pretty maidens. It almost reminds me of Stardust by Neil Gaiman. 

The world-building is a little lacking in this one. We get hints at the fey world, but no specific details on how their magic works or how they live. We simply accept the world as it's given to the reader. 

Background Info
Now, I can't explain the story without sharing small spoilers. However, these spoilers reveal themselves very early on. Read on if you are still interested. 

The story is about two brothers, Aric and Albaric. Aric is the prince of King and has a wonderful relationship with his parents. In fact, this whole book is all about loyalty to family and to the crown. This is Ancient Scotland so fealty is important. The book starts off with Aric worried about his father. During a hunting event, the King found a magical ring appear on his finger. Since then, he has slowly become ill. At the beginning of the book, the King is on his deathbed when suddenly a fey being, an elf, appears in the courtyard. He claims to be there to help the king. Aric feels an immediate connection with this person and accepts his help. Turns out this elf, is actually half human-half elf. He has a strand of his mother's hair, Queen Theena of the Fey. This strand contains his mother's powerful magic and with it, he is able to remove the ring. This person is Albaric and he is half-brother to Aric. That's right. The King of Calidon and the Queen Theena of the Fey had a romantic affair. 

Unfortunately, the King had no idea this happened. The Queen tricked and kidnapped the King. During their time together, the Queen commanded the "trickster" ring to make the King stay with her. But it only made the Queen fall in love with the King. She ended up getting pregnant with Albaric, and Albaric and the King had a great relationship. However, the King was very unhappy as his thoughts kept going to his son Aric and his mortal wife, Queen of Calidon. In the end, the Fey Queen releases the King and allows him to go back home, but he returns with no memory of any of this happening. Time runs differently in the fey land so no time has passed in Scotland. 

"He possessed to the fullest an Elf's carefree, feckless, thoughtless beauty, yet he possessed also a heart; he knew affection and loneliness and longing."

Whew! That's the backstory. I know, it's long but I had to share it so you get an idea of the relationship between Aric and Albaric. Albaric is the Oddling Prince, since technically, he is prince in both lands. His mother is the Queen of the Fey and his father is King of Calidon. However, he is rejected in both lands so he is the oddling prince. Even though he gives up his immortality to save his father, his father rejects him as his son and hates him. 

The Brothers
Aric and Albaric have a really strange relationship. It almost seemed romantic at first because they are so connected to each other. Like Rhysand and Feyre mate connection status. When one is alert and nervous, the other feels it. They both attribute it to being brothers and the fact that Albaric is half-fey. As their father becomes more and more scornful towards Albaric, the brothers' relationship become more close. Aric for the first time in his life is unable to recognize his father. Albaric has no other family who loves him except for Aric. They make oaths to protect each other no matter what. There is a reason for their connection, but it isn't revealed until the end. 

Overall Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. I loved being back in NS' writing, but the story was a little lacking for me. The pacing was steady and kept me engaged. The first half of the book is very good and starts to get a little slower towards the end but no prolonged dragging of the story. The side characters were a little flat for me. They all seemed a bit like caricatures of characters you see in fairy tales. This somewhat contributes to the fairy tale vibe of the story, though, so perhaps it was intentional. The only side character I loved was Marissa. She represents the sweet maiden, but she was also very wise and is a seeress! 

I gave it 3.5 stars since I was expecting an amazing read. I feel like I hyped myself up too much because of my love for I Am Morgan le Fay.  I still really enjoyed it. I think it will be great for those who are a bit tired of the YA fantasy books out on the market right now and are looking for something different. Also, this is labeled YA but I feel it's totally fine for middle-grade readers too. I have a feeling it was given the YA label because of the Old English.

Happy dances are most certainly appropriate. This was quite possibly one of the best YA fantasy novels I have read in some time and I am purchasing the hard cover for my collection. Who knows maybe the dust jacket will take a place on honor in the wall paper of books too.

This is a must read and is completely enthralling and addicting. I would recommend this time and again.

I posted the wrong review on this book unfortunately. I still have yet to write one for this but I really enjoyed it.

The Oddling Prince was a bit of a sleeper surprise for me. I enjoy King Arthur tales and this had the same feel as those legends of lore. Much like when Aric first set eyes on Albaric, I was attached to this book from the start. So many YA fantasy titles today have a love triangle and spends too much time on "does s/he love for me the way that I love them." There was none of that nonsense here. It's a story of true friendship, brotherhood, and loyalty. A story of reflection of the demons we each have in our soul and how to overcome them. I haven't read anything else by Nancy Springer, but I will definitely be checking out her other titles.

I just read the novel "The Oddling Prince" by Nancy Springer and overall I was a little disappointed. I read the synopsis and was pretty excited about the story to come. I didn't really enjoy it. The language of the book felt inconsistent and a little archaic which pulled me out of the fantasy world frequently and made it hard to flow.

The story takes place in a land where a king falls ill on a hunting trip and comes home to die. A mysterious figure saves him in the night. This mysterious figure saves him by removing a ring from his finger. When all is revealed, the mysterious figure is actually the King's son with the Elvish Queen. Since he has a son and wife already, the King is rather put out and since he doesn't remember raising and training this second son (due to Elvish magic making him forget), he pretty much eschews this new boy. Luckily for the Elvish son, Albaric, the king's human son, Aric, forges an instant bond with his brother and they proceed to have an adventure together for the rest of the novel.

I felt that the relationship between the brothers was just out of place. Not that they couldn't have one, or that it had to be negative, but we have this teenage boy who immediately bonds with this stranger and for the rest of the novel has these insights and realizations about this other boy which essentially propel the story along. Not really believable for me. I think also there are some serious "hints" about myth and other stories that aren't really explained which left me feeling the story was a little incomplete.

After I finished the book I went and read some reviews who just were completely 5 star reviews to see if I was missing something. People were comparing her past work to some of Fantasy's Greats and so I then had to search what else she had produced. Most of her work I'd not heard of, then I got to a short story she wrote in 1986, "The Boy Who Plaited Manes". This was one of my favorite fantasy short stories because it was the perfect blend of eldritch elven behavior and the comparative stupidity of man (as a race). Not sure if this means I'll go search out her stuff or if I'm content thinking of her as a short story novelist. But it is something to consider.

This was such an interesting read! It's different from my normal fantasy reads as it doesn't have that much romance in it, but I wanted to read more about siblings and royals, and this seemed perfect. Then I read that there were faeries involved and I just /knew/ it would be perfect.

The plot was enjoyable, plenty of twists to keep me turning the page, and it was well-written. I found the writing to be intricate and beautiful in most parts (confusing in some), which helped absorb me in to the story and historical setting. The only thing I found jarring was the pacing, as it bounced around a lot of the time. Slow in some places, then it picked up, then I wasn't sure how long the course of the narrative took place. Little things like that don't tend to bother me that much if the plot isn't overly boring, and luckily it wasn't! I really enjoyed the narrative.

I loved the characters the most! It was too easy to read into Aric and Albaric's relationship as brothers as something more, but I did enjoy their brotherly bond. Aric is kind and generous, and the two have an instant connection and understanding between them. Although it felt quite sexually charged between the brothers, it subsided easily when Marissa was introduced. Sadly, I enjoyed the brothers' relationship far more than Marissa's contribution to the romance, but I liked her as an individual. It didn't matter to me that the romance wasn't heavily present because I felt the characters bonded well. I also loved Queen Evalin because she was such an enjoyable character. She was strong and level-headed, and I needed that.
And Albaric! The journey of how he came to be was so admirable. A journey I truly enjoyed reading. His bond with his brother felt so genuine, and the two of them seemed like wholesome, good people.

Although the writing seemed difficult to digest sometimes, this was a good read. I was engrossed and the characters were easy to empathise with. I was quite pleased when I finished it, finding that I enjoyed it. It's very different to my normal reads, but it was a pleasant book.

Sadly, I was really not a fan of this one. What stopped me from getting into this story and from connecting with any of the characters was the writing style. It tries to sound like it's written in Old English which might sound like a good idea in theory, but the execution of it felt kind of clunky and awkward and puts a barrier up between the reader and the main character. For example, the way a lot of the sentences were constructed felt quite strange - "only let me touch once more your face" - and there were random repetitions of words that didn't make much sense. There were also 'old' words thrown in to make it sound more legit I guess (?) such as "perforce" which did nothing for the world-building. There were also unfortunate instances of queerbaiting in parts which really put me off reading this. It's a relatively short book so I did consider attempting to finish it but I would have ended up disliking it more and just giving it an in-depth rant review and rated it really low, so I thought I'd save myself the trouble!

I am such a sucker for anything resembling a retelling of a fairytale or with Celtic/Scottish/Greek/Italian mythology linked to the storyline! In this case, it was Scottish folklore that drew me in as well as that gorgeous cover that I could just stare at for long periods of time to appreciate all the intricate designs!
This story takes place in the kingdom of Calidon in long forgotten ancient Scotland. Two brothers five for the throne one human and one fey. After the king falls ill from a mysterious illness and appears to lie dying, the kingdom is aghast when a fey child shows up claiming to be the son of the king and heir to the throne as well. Everyone is wary of Albaric except his brother Aric who finds a kinship with his long-lost sibling. The brothers vow to overcome the evil that has crept into the king thus causing him to fall ill.
It was so easy to become emotionally connected to this book and its characters. I immediately loved Aric because he is written as a humble well-liked character who strives to be great as his father but doubts his own abilities to fill the role that he will one day step into. Aric immediately connects with his new brother and feels his brothers sense of hopelessness and rejection when their father doesn’t seem to recognize him. Albraic is completely heartbroken when his father doesn’t recognize him after being his companion in the fey realm. Albraic is ready to embrace the mortal world and take up the crown if that means destroying the threat that hovers over his father. The rest of the cast is also very in-depth and multi-layered.
I became so engrossed in the story that I could not put it down! I totally empathized with the characters and felt like I was there seeing the world through their eyes. I would totally recommend this reading money who loves fantasy and middle-grade stories!
Thank you Netgalley and Tachyon Publications for allowing me access to this title exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about two brothers, one brother coming into his own, learning to adapt to his role; while the other no different than a new babe in this world, adapting to life and his surroundings. It is a story about their bond to one another and the tribulations that come their way. There is adventure, usurping and so many other things like fey and an insidious magic ring with a mind of its own. As well as a strand of magic hair and the wonders it can accomplish. I had initially requested this Arc because the cover, title and summary seemed interesting, and I am glad I did.

I enjoyed the authors writing style, because the words felt and sounded beautiful as I read through this tale. Almost like how on a waterslide the water smoothly delivers the inflatable doughnut like floats to the water pool at the end of the ride in an amusement park; that’s how the words seemed to flow from my tongue as I read through to the end. It’s what I enjoy about reading the different writing styles and how every word differs in each story, even if written by the same author.

There were some characters I liked very much in this story (not giving away any spoilers as to why), while others I was thoroughly annoyed by. I enjoyed seeing Aric, Albaric and Bluefire’s bond. I especially enjoyed moments when Queen Evaline was present.

Overall I gave this story I 3.9 star rating as I do all the stories I grow fond of.

In a fantasy version of historical Scotland, the king of Calidon lies on his deathbed, cursed by a ring that cannot be removed from his finger. His son Albaric manages to save him, and suddenly gets a fey brother whom the king doesn’t remember, and takes a sudden, violent hatred to.

But Albaric takes just as sudden a violent love for his fey half-brother.

And so begins a fairy tale novel that in the early chapters contained graceful, even elegiac descriptions that evoke Lord Dunsany, but as it developed gradually became less graceful and more studied, with sometimes abrupt transitions as facts come out of nowhere (we suddenly learn that the king had had a slew of brothers, all of whom he’d hated, before one of them pops up) and outmoded words are used awkwardly, that is not quite in the manner those words once were used.

But at the heart the story is about the brothers, written in such homoerotic language that one could be forgiven for assuming that this is a m/m romance, only without the sex. Let’s say, everything but the sex. A romance does occur, but the young lady is fourteen, so being told that her kiss “was that of a woman” and suchlike was kind of stomach-turning for me. (I do not give a novel written today for modern readers a pass for the fact that girls were often married off at fourteen in days of old.)

The ring and its trickster magic was intriguing at first, but about halfway through it began to feel more and more like a plot device to keep the angst on the boil.

There is a glimpse of the weird fey, and a castle attack with murky strategy and tactics, led by a one-dimensional baddy, until the end, with a weird magical turn that confirmed the feel of m/m.

I think the audience for this would be those who like a fairy tale feel, with all the dream-like sudden twists and turns that so often drive fairy tales. And of course those who like brotherly love. Lots of it, up close and personal.