4.5 / 5 ⭐️
0 / 5 🫑

Such a well-written story!
Political intrigue ✅️
Hidden identities ✅️
Persecution of witches and women ✅️
Unique magic system ✅️

If you are a Star Wars fan like me, this book might strike you as familiar. Ahsoka? Shakti? A pacifist race of witches (Jedi)? A fallen witch (bloodthirsty Jedi)? An emperor set on destroying these witches? It has it all!! But this is no space drama. Deeply set in Indian lore, this story is more unique than a Star Wars fanfic. Ahsoka is the pacifist prince, and Shakti is the fallen witch. Although these two are the main characters, this is not where the subtle romance in the book lies. I can't wait to read Book 2 and see what troubles these two get into next!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this eARC.

***Thank you to Harper Voyager for providing an advanced copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

First things first, The Prince Without Sorrow was NOT a romantasy or even romantic fantasy. I have no idea why it is tagged as such on Goodreads. If you are looking for a book that leans heavily into romance, this is not it. There was actually hardly any romance at all, just some suppressed feelings. I do think that there could be the potential for more romance as the series goes on, but we’ll see.

The Prince Without Sorrow could have REALLY used a few more rounds of editing before getting into the hands of readers. I don’t usually complain about minor typos or other errors in an ARC, but this one had a lot of problems that were not minor. So many scenes were hard to follow because of how they were written. I’m also left wondering if the author understands the meaning of a lot of words. I was scratching my head at quite a few word choices because I don’t think they meant what the author thought they did. Overall, the writing just wasn’t that great, and I seriously hope the book was heavily edited before being sent to the printers.

That being said, The Prince Without Sorrow had some interesting ideas. The nature spirits were really cool, and I found the magic to be fascinating. The themes were also quite compelling. The story questioned whether pacifism is a suitable vehicle for revolution or whether violence is a necessary evil to prevent worse atrocities. Both of the main characters had to grapple with that question in different ways, especially since one of them was raised by pacifists and the other by a bloodthirsty tyrant. Their naivete and single-mindedness did muddy the overall exploration of the central theme, though, as did the inclusion of a mind control element.

The plot of The Prince Without Sorrow kept me seated from start to finish. I loved all of the family and political drama. There was always something going on, and I never got bored with the story. I actually ended up reading most of it in one day. A lot of things did happen a bit too conveniently, though, and so much was left unanswered by the end. I know that it was the first book in a series, but I prefer at least some resolution in each installment. Specifically, I really wanted more of an explanation for how Shakti got access to the Collective so easily. With it seemingly passed down from royal to royal, it made no sense to me that it would just jump to her because of a curse. Do the royals typically kill each other for access? Like, what was the typical mechanism of transfer. I just had a hard time buying the whole thing.

All in all, The Prince Without Sorrow had some good ideas. It just needed better execution of them. There was enough of interest here that I’ll likely pick up the sequel. However, I’m not sure that I can wholeheartedly recommend it, especially for those wanting a tale with significant amounts of romance. Therefore, I rate this book 3.25 out of 5 stars.

The third son of a tyrant Emperor isn’t supposed to be a peaceful man. Prince Ashoka’s pacifist ideals are a disappointment to his father and a sign of weakness to his two power-hungry siblings, each eager to continue their father’s legacy. Chief among their goals is the destruction of all mayakuri, innocent witches who swear to do no harm yet are hunted and burned under the emperor’s rule. But when orphaned mayakuri Shakti forgoes her oath and seeks vengeance for her people, she sparks a chain reaction that leads directly to Prince Ashoka. Together, they have a chance to change the empire—but how far can rigid ideals bend before they break?

Early reviewers are right to note that The Prince Without Sorrow’s character dynamics, central theme, and magic system echo Avatar: The Last Airbender—Ashoka is the Aang to his siblings’ Zuko and Azula, and the benefits, limits, and ultimate privilege of pacifism as a political strategy in the face of tyranny are explored with similar nuance. By the halfway point, though, Wijesekara’s plot truly comes into its own, deftly balancing Ashoka’s journey toward leadership with Shakti’s impulsive yet justifiable acts of revenge. As a male protagonist, Ashoka’s softness is rare, refreshing, and much-needed in the literary world, and I thoroughly enjoyed the (albeit very brief) hint of a M/M romance to come between him and another favorite secondary character.

I absolutely adore political intrigue in fantasy and The Prince Without Sorrow serves politics in spades, calling to mind favorites like The Goblin Emperor, Navola, and The Well of Ascension—though perhaps falling short of their literary prowess. Wijesekara never takes a firm stance on the pacifism the book explores, and though I don’t dislike a nuanced approach, the overall message feels slightly confused as a result. Some lines needed additional editing for clarity, and both age/maturity and character motivation occasionally felt difficult to discern.

Still, The Prince Without Sorrow offers a promising start to an epic political fantasy series I’m eager to continue, and is a great pick for anyone seeking closed door/no romance fantasy featuring nature spirits and magic, a quest for revenge, and a slow-building fight for the throne!

This is one of my new favorite fantasy series! I was sucked in from the beginning, with the incredible world building and all of the richly multi-facted characters. I was absolutely hooked and I CANNOT WAIT for the next book in this trilogy. Any fantasy reader will fall head over heels for this new series because it has the makings of an incredible trilogy.

Loved the story, but I do wish the characters had an official plot to what they were doing. They kind of just existed, and occasionally had a thought of ‘just do it,’ and they just went along with that.

3.5 Stars I didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t entirely memorable either. Another Prince and another Witch. Only this time, it’s not a lovers' squabble that occupies the story plot. Prince Ashoka’s father, the king, has been killed by Shakti (a mayakari), a product of a curse. A curse that has left her bound to the king and, ultimately, his children. Prince Ashoka is the youngest of the Maurya Monarch. The Prince does not believe in cruelty. The Prince wants to free the witches, appease the Nature Spirits, and… claim the throne. I found the political turmoil and environmental aspects similar to real-life conflicts, and I liked the voice between the lines of a call to action. The imagery and world-building were surface-level, and the characters didn’t have much depth or direction. However, the storyline was extremely unique, and for that, I stuck around! I’d say this is more YA than adult; the romance is subtle, and other than some musings about kissing, there’s no spice—so I wouldn’t call it a Romantasy. I am interested in seeing where this series is headed and I thank NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the advance reader copy.

This one was tough to get through, but I’ll admit—the ending pulled things together nicely. The story had a solid foundation, but the execution wasn’t quite there. Some parts dragged on way too long with too much explanation, while others needed more detail to really land the emotional impact they were going for. It made the pacing feel uneven, which made it hard to stay engaged.

The characters had potential, but some of their interactions felt a little flat. There were moments that should have been intense or emotional, but they didn’t quite hit because the build-up wasn’t strong enough. It’s like the book almost got there but didn’t take the extra step to really make you feel it.

That said, the last part of the book was easily the best. The resolution actually felt satisfying, and I didn’t walk away feeling like I wasted my time. If the whole story had the same energy as the ending, this could have easily been a four-star read.

Not a bad book, just one that needed better balance. If you can push through the slower parts, the ending at least makes it worth it.

The Prince Without Sorrow centers around the outcast and pacifist, Prince Ashoka and a witch out for revenge, Shakti. It is told in both perspectives, which is always a tough one to have an opinion on because I always feel like we don’t get enough time in any one person’s head to form a clear opinion of their story. That is unfortunately what happens here, as I felt like we clearly understood the why but didn’t dig down deep enough to understand what the end goal was for any of the characters. Without being on board with their goals, the character’s development falls a little flat.

The world building in this book really shined, which was great to see in the first book of a trilogy. Hopefully because this foundation was laid in the first book, the second will have more of a focus on character development.

There is little to no romance here, but I knew that going in. I’m hoping for more in the second, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this leans more heavily into fantasy throughout. Overall, if that is what you’re looking for, I don’t see you being disappointed in this book. I do think it is important to keep in mind that this will be a trilogy, so pick this up anticipating a slow start.

This book was so good to me.

I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

This is the ultimate story of how getting your lick back may not be the best decision or how turning the other cheek may be the best decision. Imagine being so angry that you shift the entire world's atmosphere—whew!

This book has romantic ideas about sibling rivalry but no romance on the page, which I enjoyed. The conflict setup was solid, and the story never ran dry. Right when I thought I knew what was going on, there was a new twist! I actually felt like I was writing the story as I read it, filling in the blanks left behind..this read was a good time!

This was a ride for me. The world and character building were well thought out, but the magical elements could have been unfolded more. This is only book 1, so I am sure book 2 will continue to unfold this story.

The ending left me with my mouth hung open... what happens with the spare king!? They were not expecting his moxie. I can't wait for book 2!

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager, and Maithree Wijesekara for the ARC of the Prince Without Sorrow.

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Loved this! Definitely worth the read!

What an epic start to what is sure to be a wonderful fantasy series! Drawing from the Mauryan Empire of ancient India, The Prince Without Sorrow combines equal parts compelling characters, heart pounding plot and lush worldbuilding. I really enjoyed how clearly inventive and thought out the plot was and I LOVED Shakti as a main character. I truly feel like the plot could go anywhere in the sequel and I’m excited to see where it goes!

I can definitely see how this book would draw in fantasy lovers! Sadly the writing didn't work for me as well, but I am interested to see where the series goes.

*longer review to come and this will be updated.

Getting right to it, this was... fine. The novel is set in a world where witches, mayakari, are ruthlessly hunted by the violent emperor until one day he drops dead. It turns out that Shakti, the main mayakari we follow, has broken one of their four rules and cast a curse now she has to suffer the consequences.

We also follow the emperor's three children. Ashoka is the youngest and is hellbent on not following in his father's footsteps. He is viewed as soft and incompetent because he refuses to take innocent lives.

Shakti and Ashoka cross paths and do what they can to work together to save the mayakari. The problem is neither one of them has a true thought out plan. They operate on vibes alone. What seems best at this very moment?

Honestly I was slightly bored with the novel and didn't care about any of the characters until almost the very end. I did enjoy watching Ashoka change (was it for the worse? Who knows?) and morph into someone that seems like a totally new person.

My main problem with this debut is that it feels like it's purpose was to set up for the rest of the series. It was really slow and then bang it was over. I do think the second installment could be better.

Dnf at 17%.

Mmmno, sadly. The writing is just a big no.

This book nearly had me with the flying snakes, but it’s impossible for me to get over the writing style. Too much flowery prose, and the phrasing is so convoluted, every few paragraphs I was pulled out of the story because I had to make sense of it. The dialogue between characters is just used as exposition 2.0, and it feels so stilted and artificial, it lacks any kind of emotion.

This could have been such a cool concept for a book, but the writing just does it a great disservice.

‘The Prince Without Sorrow’
Maithree Wijesekara
4 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC for review.

‘The Prince Without Sorrow’ is the debut book of author Maithree Wijesekara, it draws inspiration from the Mauryan Empire and brings the reader on an adventure with spirits, serpents, and a touch of swords. I enjoyed the dual POVs of Shakti and Ashoka, their personalities that both ‘don't fit’ in the lives they were meant to lead were refreshing to read about, both deemed imperfect but knowing in their hearts that what they are doing must somehow be justice.

The magic system was familiar and easy to grasp, and the world-building was never so convoluted that it was hard to understand, which I appreciated. This book also tackles a lot of modern-day themes with fantasy twists and handles the nuance rather well, but I am interested to see the plot develop more with our main characters buckling down on how to enact their plans and ideals into the world around them more.

Overall, I am excited to see what comes next for the characters in this novel and it was a solid 4-star read for me. I loved the representation and political pull; however, if you are looking for Romantasy, this would not be your cup of tea.

I really really wanted to like this book, it had a lot of great potential to be more interesting. The plot of the story seems great at times unfortunately pacing and having some unanswered questions just didn’t do it for me.

thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
4.5 out of 5 stars rounded up.

A prince born into violence, seeking peace. A witch shackled by pacifism, seeking revenge.

The Prince Without Sorrow is an exceptional debut. A well built fantasy with a solid plot, strong world building, a consequential magic system that i feel is unique to the genre, and a stunning demonstration of character development and growth.

It was such a pleasure following along the main characters, Ashoka and Shakti: one the third son of a tyrant emperor and the other a young witch who has spent her entire life dodging persecution brought about from the emperor's cruelty, And following along two fundamentally very different people from very different worlds kept me going until the very end.. Considering that Shakti and her kind continue to be and have historically been persecuted by Ashoka's family, it was interesting to see from both perspectives the consequences of violence and cruelty laid upon each other. Also, the fact that these two were not at all romantically involved (as is the trend in fantasy) was such a great move on the author's part. It allowed the focus to remain on their relationship as two who have been pitted against each other by their upbringings, fighting against that urge for violence and revenge, and as political allies who will do what they must to serve their own best interests.

This was such a breath of fresh air in fantasy and I simply cant wait for the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!

It’s refreshing to come across a dual POV fantasy story where the two POVs aren’t love interests. And I just about screamed at the aro rep!

While this isn’t any sort of groundbreaking fantasy, I really enjoyed the nature spirits and how they tied into the magic system. I had a good time and am interested to see where this goes in the next book. Ashoka’s determination to not become like his father has got to mean that he’s going to slip into villainy at some point and I am here for it.

3.5/5 Stars

A Prince Without Sorrow is a debut novel that blends political intrigue, witchcraft, and deep philosophical questions about power and violence. Drawing inspiration from the Mauryan Empire, Maithree Wijesekara sets up a world where earth spirits roam, witches are hunted, and a young prince must decide whether to embrace or reject the legacy of bloodshed left by his father. At its heart, the book thrives on the juxtaposition between its two leads–Shakti, a witch shackled by a pacifist code yet consumed by her desire for revenge, and Ashoka, a prince raised to conquer but yearning for peace; both are defined by the expectations placed upon them and both struggle to break free.

There was definitely the potential of something interesting here...I was very intrigued by the idea of Ashoka’s character and how he made sense of the world he lived in with a family so different from himself; it took place in a queer norm setting with explicit asexual rep, MLM yearning, and mention of same sex couplings throughout which is always great to read in a fantasy book; and its themes of oppression, rebellion, and feminism (a group of powerful witches standing against a tyrannical empire) hit a sweet spot for me as a fantasy reader.

The plot started out strong and I was instantly pulled into the story but unfortunately the pacing did not maintain the momentum from the beginning and the plot was quickly overshadowed by advancing character introspection and political machinations rather than action. The character arcs were easy to anticipate and they did make sense with how each character was portrayed, but I continuously felt that there wasn't enough backstory to fully understand their “WHY” without just being told (and there was a fair bit of that). I felt similarly in regards to the worldbuilding and magic system which was unique and held a lot of promise, but did feel like it needed more depth to fully bring it to life.

This book is comped to The Jasmine Throne (a favorite of mine) and while it did feel similar in setting and I was at first thrilled by the similarities, the prose is really where it differs. The prose was heavy handed and the language anachronistic at times which would have been an easy fix with a little more intentional editing.

BE WARNED: THIS IS NOT A ROMANTASY (despite being the second genre listed on goodreads). There is no romance here, though some yearning is present that will likely be developed further later on in the series.

I truly did see some potential here and I remain cautiously optimistic that some of the failings in execution can be finetuned in the series next book because at the end of it all, this novel asks its reader a compelling question about whether violence can ever be justified in the fight for liberation –and I’m kind of committed to finding out how our characters will interpret the answer.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the review copy of The Prince Without Sorrow.

This is unfortunately the case of great bones, no meat. What should have been fantastical world-building and character development ended up being surface level with no nuance or depth and honestly felt like ATLA fanfiction where Aang grew up with Zuko and Azula instead. Every opportunity for something meatier was left uncooked. It was just so frustrating to see what it could have been and no risks taken to make it more than it was. I was so hyped for this and now I'm left salty and disappointed.