A Prince Among Killers

March 1, 2010
Gr 7-9-Picking up where "Assassin's Apprentice" (Bloomsbury, 2009) left off, this story finds Aron wandering through the Deadfall of Eyrie with another apprentice as punishment for a fight. After the two teens barely escape with their lives, Aron faces more tests and struggles as he tries to come to terms with his Graal, or magical ability. After he finds Nic, Eyrie's lost heir to the throne, it is up to him and Dari, a shapeshifter, to confront their destinies and figure out how to save Eyrie from sinking into unending war. While ripe with promise, the book becomes too bogged down in world-building and description. There is much lag time between battles, and all of the complicated relationships begin to take their toll on the story's pacing, making it difficult to follow exactly what is going on. The love triangle between Aron, Dari, and Stormbreaker, Aron's master, is highly melodramatic, and Dari's switch from her relationships with the two men to loving Nic seems rushed and stilted. While there are moments of stirring beauty and fierce, magnificent battles, this story and its characters fail to engage readers fully. They will be completely lost if they haven't read "Assassin's Apprentice". Give this to fans of that book."Necia Blundy, Marlborough Public Library, MA"

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