I enjoyed this book- read it in one sitting- to me, it was like a cross between The Princess Bride and Poe’s The Raven. It’s written in that old school fantasy lens where even real world problems come across as fantasy, which I found it to be an excellent way to address real-world problems, the main one being loss of love within he family unit, and hatred of the unknown. I loved the instant bond between the brothers and how nothing can break their love for each other, and how even in historical times where women were not allowed any power, Queen Evalin is not one to be trifled with. She’s regal and powerful in her own right, regardless of husband or son. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys light fantasy.

I’ll be leaving reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

The Oddling Prince, by Nancy Springer (Tachyon Publications) is pure, classical Nancy Springer. In a faroff land, not unlike northern England, a king returns from a mysterious absence, wearing a magical ring that rapidly drains his life force. Just as he is about to perish, a young man appears, riding a steed of untamed light, and lifts the curse. The narrator, the king’s son and heir, befriends this stranger, his half-fae half-brother. But all is not well, as residual evil poisons the king’s mind and danger lurks just beyond the borders. Springer’s style sometimes reminds me of Tanith Lee, yet is completely her own. The love and fidelity of the two brothers, the steadfast discernment of the queen, the twists and turns and unexpected character developments, all kept me enchanted, page after page. Springer is in fine style!

First off, I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing me this ARC to review. Please note that the version I read was an advanced copy, and certain events/language may be changed in the published edition.

Stars (Out of 10): 5/10 Stars

Favorite Character: Albaric

Spoiler Free: When I checked out the Goodreads reviews after being accepted for this book, I was quite worried. It was sitting around a 3.06, and that’s probably the lowest scored book on Goodreads I’ve ever read. While in the end I did like it more than expected, there were many things I agreed with in some of the negative reviews I read.

Let’s start at the premise. The main selling point of this book will be the Faerie influence, as that’s a hot subject in YA Fantasy at the moment. Unfortunately, I have to say that this book fails to deliver much of anything on that front. The main purpose of the Faerie/Elfland was to give a backstory to Albaric, but besides that, it doesn’t mean anything at all. In fact, the entire “plot” of the book revolves instead around an entirely unrelated set of lore, and therefore I don’t classify this book as a Fae one at all.

When it comes to the writing, this seems to be a hit or a miss with most readers. While I enjoyed it stylistically, it made everything take ten times as long, since no sentence was ever simple. However, without it, I doubt I would’ve even liked the book at all.

In terms of the characters, this is where I feel the book succeeded the most. The main reason this book wasn’t a DNF was due to the interesting relationship between Aric and Albaric, and while it feels like insta-love but a sibling version, it does get explained later. Additionally, the pure love and caring between these two brothers was just interesting to read, since sibling rivalry is much more common in YA. Additionally, when it came to other characters, most played into the story quite well, and the complex relationships between everyone was where this book truly shined.

However, that did not fully make up for the lackluster plot and under explained world. While the world being weakly developed wasn’t that much of a problem due to its irrelevance to most of the plot, it was a bit frustrating not understanding the situation the book takes place in. We get hints here and there of Vikings and weaker civilizations outside of Calidon, but not much more than that. Even the inner workings of Calidon itself isn’t truly explained, and this leaves the plot unsupported and dull.

Additionally, the plot itself is rather overshadowed by the characters themselves. Aric doesn’t care about much besides Albaric, and therefore really only feels through Albaric, instead of feeling himself for the actions going on around him. We see his worry for his mother and father at times, but it is always overshadowed by the bond between Aric and Albaric. Lastly, the plot itself isn’t actually a tough thing to solve, and when the characters actually are forced to face the problem, it gets solved in a chapter. This ended up making the middle of the book feel very boring, with most of it consisting of Aric and Albaric frolicking around with occasional plot heavy chapters here and there.

All in all, I’m not sure if I’d recommend this book. It is an interesting tale about family and kinship, and an emotional one at times, but not much more than that.

I would give this 3.5 stars. Like it's title, it is an oddling book. I feel as if it is a fairy tale and a moral tale as well. There are contradictions but I found it enchanting. It touched my heart. Reviewers will not rave over this one. People will pick it apart. I am sorry for that because I thought it was a beautiful tale. The kind of tale a bard would tell. That is what this book is to me. A heroic song of a long ago bard. With treachery and nobility and romance from a time long ago and far away

In the ancient Kingdom of Calidon, the king is dying due to a mysterious magical ring that no one is able to remove from his finger. On the brave King's final hours, a strange young man from the Kingdom of fairies arrives and saves his life.

The King's son, Prince Aric, feels an uncanny connection to the strange man that has saved his father. Something makes him feel connected to the strange man, and he will soon discover a painful secret that confirms the connection between the two of them. As the Kingdom is threatened with war by neighboring countries, and the King seems eerily changed after his recovery, the two young men will have to work united in order to save the country.

A heartwarming fairy tale, The Oddling Prince is an interesting read. There is a very strong start to the story, immediately catching the reader's attention. The story is filled with emotional scenes and heartbreaking parts, which add up to the fairytale effect.

A very interesting feature of the book is its language. From the first page up to the very last one, the story is written in a formal form of narrative, resembling a tale that a bard would narrate. Its form gives the story the medieval character it holds, and the vast vocabulary the author uses helps towards that direction.There is also quite a bit of humor in the dialogue between the two young men, lighting up the mood after emotionally heavy scenes.

*I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
**review may include spoilers**
While I think that the premise of this book is interesting, the book itself didn’t grasp my attention. Honestly, it was hard to get into and I marked it as DNF almost halfway through. The author borrows a lot from Lord of the Rings - especially when talking about the ‘ring of power’ - and the writing style seemed a bit immature. The descriptions were beautiful, but he world-building was lacking. I also didn’t feel any sort of attachment to the characters whatsoever. I think that this author is talented, however, the world building and character dynamics need improvement. It overall lacks the depth and emotional attachment that keeps me coming back to read page after page.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was very much a fantasy story and almost read like a fairy tale or legend. While I didn’t dislike it, I’m not really sure that I enjoyed it. The style of story definitely made it hard to connect to the characters and to what was going on. I liked the fae aspects of the story but I would have liked to see them explored more.

I liked most of the characters, especially Aric. He was a very open and honest person who felt deeply and it made him very genuine. Albaric was also an enjoyable character and I loved how loyal the brothers were towards each other. Queen Evalin and Marissa were strong female characters who I really respected. Evalin kept her cool and was very wise and Marissa was fearless and insightful.

I think what really made this book fall flat for me was the lack of a clear conflict. Dialogue and explanations were so flowery and they rarely gave you anything concrete to go off of. I guess I could tell that the story was meant to build up to something, but when the moment came I can’t say that I liked the solution.

Overall, I guess it was an ok read but it didn’t pack the punch that I was hoping for.

Having never read any of the author's previous works, I wasn't sure what to expect of this medieval-esque fantasy book. Especially since it's written in an old-fashioned prose reminiscent of old folktales and legends. While it did take me a few pages to get used to the writing, overall I ended up quite enjoying the prose and the imagery the author so beautifully evoked.

Plot-wise, the story is rather slow but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Given the book's overall medieval style, I thought the slower pacing worked well with the story. That being said, some people might find the pacing a bit daunting.

And although I think the story worked its way to a rather satisfying conclusion, I can see how some people would find the story a bit rushed. The book is indeed on the shorter side.

With regards to the characters, I do think that the characters were not fleshed out enough and that there was not much room for satisfying character growths. While I loved both of our main characters, Aric and Albaric, I would have wanted their character arcs to be developed a bit more.

If your preference leans more towards action-heavy and plot-driven stories, this might not be the book for you. Would I still recommend this book? Absolutely. If you're in the mood for a mystical, fae story reminiscent of classic fairy tales and old medieval stories, you'll probably really enjoy this book.

Good premise, but the writing made the story seem slow and boring. It felt forced and too formal.

I received an ARC copy from netgalley for my honest review,  so thank you netgalley and publishers for offering me this book! ♡
This story is about two brothers, one fae and one human, It is basically about their journey and how they get along.
This was my first book by this author, It was okay. It was slow paced but it was alltogether an easy read. ♡ I give this book a
2 star rating!

The writing seems like it would be wonderful, but all in all its airy fairy at best and the characters are probably some of the dimmest characters I've read in such a long time. This is quite surprising as the author has seemingly written better books with higher ratings and praises. I'm a tad disappointed with this book and I'm not finishing it, 7 chapters in and I can't continue. Sorry. received as an ARC via NetGalley.

The premise is interesting and the language is very period-accurate, but this book is not an easy read, and consequently, not an enjoyable read. The relationship between the two brothers felt unrealistic and romantic at times and honestly the language and descriptions were so heavy I couldn't really get into the plot. The story is well written and well planned out, but its not for me.

The Oddling Prince is a beautiful story about two brothers, one fae and one mortal and their unwavering love for each other. Beautifully written, Nancy Springer creates a rich and magical world that is so easy to get wrapped up in to. I had a very hard time putting this book down! The story was so unique and the characters were genuine. A perfect book for fantasy lovers.

What I liked: I wanted to like this book. I really did. The premise of the story was super appealing. I liked that idea that the King traveled through time to fairy land and then returned to exactly where he had been.


What I didn't like: The relationship between the brothers. At the beginning it was cool like Aric had a gut feeling that Aldric was his brother. But then their relationship seemed almost romantic. The pacing of the story was not to my liking. It was slow and drawn out. I felt myself wanting to put the book down and read something else. I felt it was slow and plodding.


Star Rating: 2.5


My Thoughts: This is the problem. I don't have many thoughts about this book. I read it and have really no feelings about it. I was not invested in the characters or the story line. The brother's relationship kinda weirded me out..either your brothers or you hook up. You can't have both...(it's illegal). LOL No offense meant to anyone I just could not wrap my head around where Springer was going with their relationship. So well that was really the only feeling I had. This isn't a book that I would recommend nor really read again. Just not for me.

The Oddling Prince by Nancy Springer and Tachyon Publications is available May 15, 2018.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Oddling Prince tells the story of Aric and Albaric, brothers who are born on different sides of the veil. While out hunting with his son and guards, Bardaric, the King of Calidan is noticed by the Queen Theena of the Fey. Because she desired him, she brought him over to the fey side of the veil. Unfortunately for the Fey Queen, while their relationship produced a child, it did not produce mutual love. The Queen allowed King Bardaric to leave, but he left with no memory of his time as a father and lover of the Queen. After becoming mysteriously ill from a magical ring that the King has no recollection of putting on, a mysterious man saves his life. This man turns out to be Albaric, the son of the King and Fey Queen and now brother to the Prince Aric. From here, the two brothers work together to restore the love that Bardaric once felt for Albaric while fending off castle invasions, potential wives, magic, and bitterness.

While there seemed to be a lot going on in the story, it all felt flat and forced. Aric was instantly on the side of Albaric before he knew who he truly was. In fact, their relationship seemed less brotherly and more romantic on more than one occasion. King Bardaric’s wife, Queen Evalin took the entire story in stride like it was perfectly normal for her husband to have a relationship with another woman and then just make nice with the offspring. King Bardaric’s character felt very uneven-he had to act like a King, but ended up throwing multiple tantrums. And Aric, he just seemed unable to see the bad in anyone. This story was not for me.

This is a slow paced fantasy set in scotland about two brothers, one fae, one mortal, and how they get along.

As I finished this book I had no idea how to rate it. I'm not gonna lie, it is weird. Like, did that actually happen-weird, or at least the ending was. At the same time I actually enjoyed it, and while it definitely resides well outside of the "normal" of YA fantasy it is an intriguing story.

The setting is beautifully magical, with an old-fantasy feel to it, more fairytale than Tolkien. There are princes and kings and fae queens in a land filled with wild green forests, castles and mysterious magic, surrounded by Vikings (which is always a plus for me, when correctly portrayed). The language is strange but beautiful in its own unique way. 

The plot was a lot different from what I was expecting after reading the premise. I thought this was going to be one of those adventure/battle-heavy, warriors-bonding-while-at-war-with-a-dark-protagonist kind of book, but it's really not. This book is about emotional journeys more than anything. About the bonds of family, and how they can be used both to strangle and strengthen. It's about fear and how it can turn good people into monsters, and how love has the power to heal. 

The Oddling Prince is an enchanting, lyrical and, well... odd tale. It reminded me more of the old Scandinavian stories from my childhood than of an actual novel, with the difference that it was told in the first person POV and therefore felt a tad more modern. While it is weird and not as epic as Tolkien or George R R Martin it is still one of those tales that will stick with me for years to come. I did have some problems with it, and sometimes it got a little too much, but in the end it left me with a warm fuzzy feeling I can't really explain, so I've decided to give it 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 out of 5!

The Oddling Prince is the story of brotherly love. Aric, the prince is watching his father, The king of Calidon, on his deathbed. A mysterious stranger shows up to save the king. Right away we find out that this stranger is actually the son of the king. The king doesn't remember this son. He was charmed by a fey. The king, though saved by the son, doesn't want anything to do him. Aric, wants to love his brother. He feels a kinship with him right away. He feels torn between his brother and his king. The story is lovely. I have a little brother and love him so much. I could understand the brothers love. Great little book!

I almost wanted to say I disliked this book. The first part was difficult to get through, stilted, and frankly boring. As the plot developed it improved, but it just never made it all the way to likeable. "the world's okayest fantasy book" would be a good title. The world setting wasn't bad, but I felt most of the characters were underdeveloped and it could have done with being twice as long. The end was a bit of a bust too - 2 seconds and it was over once everyone got their "feelings" out. I was at least hoping for a dark witches curse or something to lead into the next book.

I’m struggling with a way to begin this review that won’t sound like I’m incoherently babbling about how much I loved reading this because, for me, it’s just that great a book. So, I’ll start in the usual way, with a short summary of the book.

The Oddling Prince takes place in the kingdom of Calidon in ancient Scotland and revolves around two princes, brothers, one of them fey. One day Prince Aric is out riding with his father when suddenly a ring appears on his father’s finger as if from no where and after that the king falls ill. After being ill for some time, and as he lay dying, suddenly a fey boy shows up claiming to want to save the king. He declares himself Albaric, son to King Bardaric and brother to Aric. This causes a great shock to the royal family, and most everyone seems to fear the fey boy, except for Aric who feels an immediate affinity with Albaric. Together they’ll work to overcome the darkness that has invaded the King and the kingdom of Calidon since the king’s illness.

To start off, the immediate thing that grabbed me about this book was the prose. I was hooked from the first page because I fell in love with the way in which this book was written. It’s a very stylistic prose, and at times may feel a bit archaic to some, but this wasn’t a barrier for me and instead felt like an invitation to another time and place. This is just the type of touch that draws me in to a story.

I was so emotionally involved with this book and its characters. There are certain types of stories, or parts of stories, that I empathize with more than others. The thing that makes me weep, that pierces my heart, is when a character, innocently, naively, is yearning to be loved. And then is cruelly denied that love and doesn’t always understand why–why are they not able to be loved? This book has a lot of that, with Albaric having no one, except Aric, who accepts him in this new mortal world. He seems strangely alright with facing his own mortality, and is even willing to end things when his father, once his only companion in the fey lands, doesn’t remember him and rejects him. King Bardaric is constantly hurting Albaric, by not only ignoring him, but by actively and cruelly pushing him away and trying to separate him from Aric. Because of their bond, Aric, from whose POV the story is told, feels his brother’s anguish and is the only one that can bring him comfort. He is the only one that understands. And so, yes, I wept through much of this book. (But it was a good crying! The best, most cathartic, kind of crying!)

I loved both Aric and Aldaric, but there were other characters to love as well. Queen Evalin is a wonderful character. Full of love for her family, but also practical and full of strength, she does her best to hold everything together when things start to fall apart. And then there is Marissa, a headstrong young girl, daughter of King Bardaric’s enemy. At first she seemed precocious but there is a reason that she seems a little wise beyond her years. Like Aric’s mother, she is practical as well, and also has a great capacity for love. One of the things I loved most about this is that it is full of characters that you want to see achieve happiness. Aric is already a good person at the beginning of the story. You immediately love him and want to root for him in all things. But he doesn’t see himself as being able to be as great as his father, his king, whom he idolizes.

This is a story about love–not romantic love–but about love of your family but also (and maybe especially) love of yourself. Prince Aric, from the beginning, talks about how ordinary he is, and how he doesn’t feel very prince-like. He has these self-doubts throughout the story here and there but they become overshadowed by more immediate concerns, his worry for his new brother and over his father’s sudden personality change, not to mention an invasion from one of their vassals. Through all of these things, and especially through love of his brother, he learns to love himself and who he has become by the end of the tale. This is an extraordinary tale of transformation of self, not just of Aric, but also of his father, who didn’t know how to deal with the trauma of a horrific ordeal he went through in the fey lands and had to learn to accept himself again in order to accept others.

I know it’s only February, it’s early yet and there are a lot of books ahead of me, but this very well could end up being my favorite book of the year. Rated 5/5 stars on goodreads.

I’d like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book for review. The Oddling Prince comes out May 25th from Tachyon Publications.