The Orphan Prince

Jeremy Lee
iUniverse, Inc (2005)
ISBN 9780595362172
Reviewed by Kim Peterson for Reader Views (8/06)

As a young boy, Prince Ari witnessed his father’s assassination. His father’s murderer, the legendary swordsman Black Wolf, still haunts Ari’s nightmares.

The youthful heir to the throne leads a lonely life in the castle. His uncle, Lord Peran, rules until Ari comes of age, but he lavishes no love on the child. Ari spends much of his free time with a servant boy, Kai, against his uncle’s wishes.

The heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Dinan turns eleven and a birthday celebration is held to honor him. In a surprising plot twist, Black Wolf reenters Ari’s life by arriving uninvited at his birthday festivities. He will speak only to the prince. Ari consents when he realizes that Black Wolf has not come to kill him and that there must be a reason that he spared him five years ago. The Narsian swordsman presents him with King Idan’s sword and another gift that comes with a story. The onlookers interfere and Black Wolf returns to his country without telling his tale or answering Ari’s question about why he killed King Idan.

Determined to know the truth, Ari convinces Kai to journey with him to Narsus. He plans to find Black Wolf and learn why his father’s killer dared to come see him. Ari disguises himself and takes his father’s sword. He and Kai travel to Narsus where the two young boys encounter dangers in the land of his enemies and in the Ancient City, a ruin left from the days of the Great Destruction. Ari experiences a number of close calls before he finds Black Wolf.

When Ari finally hears Black Wolf’s story, he learns the truth about his father, Black Wolf’s tragic choice and the terrible hatred and wars that led to the Great Destruction. Ari returns home a much wiser, more mature boy.

Lee tells a thought-provoking story that at first seems to be set in the old days, but actually looms in the future. This book for tweens (8- to 12-year-olds) provides a strong moral about what can happen if prejudice, hatred and war continue to abound in our world today. Young readers will get the point of the story easily, yet thrill to the adventures experienced by Ari and Kai. Ari makes many tough decisions, some good and some bad. Readers will identify with this prince who wants to belong and wants to know the truth about the world he lives in.

Although the book targets juvenile readers, adults will find depth in the story, too. I am hoping for a sequel to see if Ari becomes a wise ruler because of the lessons learned on his journey.

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