The Shadow Prince
by Stacey O’Neal
Book Blurb:
Every sacrifice has consequences.
Sixteen-year-old Rowan has spent most of his life living among the mortals—learning to control the element of fire, impatiently awaiting the day his vengeful mother, Queen Prisma, will abdicate her throne. When he finally returns to Avalon for his coronation, his mother insists he must first prove his loyalty to the court by completing a secret mission:
Kill Kalin, the half-human, half-elemental daughter of the air court king.
Willing to do anything to remove his mother from power, he agrees to sacrifice the halfling. He returns to the mortal world with his best friend, Marcus, determined to kill the princess. But as he devises a plan, he starts to question whether or not he’s capable of completing such a heinous task. And what price he will pay if he refuses?
My Review:
This is a prequel Novella to Stacey O’Neale’s first novel Mortal in the Mortal Enchantment series. I think it was a good start. While I had some issues with it I won’t be to critical. Roman’s character is a little cocky, a little sarcastic. I’m guessing a product of growing up in the human world rather than in Avalon. His best friend is a Gabriel Hound, the servants of his people. Admittedly this part confuses me. If the Gabriel Hounds are the servants of his people and he grew up on earth how did they become best friends and how did his mother (who is a cruel woman) allow this.
Roman is sent to kill Kailin the daughter of the King of the Air court. A girl no one has ever met because she has also grown up in the human world with her mother. His mother believes she is the next akasha (someone who controls all four elements) so she must die. Roman knows it is wrong, but in order to save his people from his mother’s cruel reign he agrees.
We don’t know a lot about Kailin at this point. She is living on earth with her Mother until her 16th birthday when she will then return to Avalon and assume her position by her Father’s side. I am guessing, based on the novella there will be a love interest her between her and Roman. But for right now she is just the King’s daughter.
There is a lot of action for a novella and the plot is thick. I am not sure it drew me in enough to run out and buy the novel when it comes out, but if you like elements, and hell hounds you might want to check it out.
PG – It’s a YA novel and other then some death and dismemberment which isn’t to graphic it is pretty clean.
Stacey O’Neale started her career in publishing as a blogger-turned-publicist for two successful small publishers. She loves to write stories with swoony paranormal heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing.
When she’s not writing, she loves blogging and fangirling about books on twitter. Occasionally, she leaves her computer to go outside.
THE MODEST VERGE 