Publishers Weekly
08/12/2024
Sixteen-year-old Prince Edmund of Saben is predestined to be a great and beloved king. This and his title as a Prince of Fortune—a magic user capable of controlling the weather, an ability that enhances crop growth and makes him revered among the nation’s people—marks him as a coveted marriage candidate. With a prophesied confrontation on the horizon with Honal, a secretive nation that split from Saben following a civil war, diplomatic alliances are more important than ever. But when Edmund and Lord Aubrey Ainsley, also 16, cross paths, all political plans are thrown into disarray. Though Aubrey is a seer, he’s not considered nobility, yet his charm and confidence melds immediately with Edmund’s shy and anxious nature. Now they must navigate the politics of their courtship, all while the war begins in earnest, with Honal launching brutal attacks enhanced by mysterious magic. Debut author Tirreno excels at crafting a bewitching backdrop of courtly intrigue and fictional international politics that highlights differing social dynamics and the effects of war on lower-class citizens. Readers will root for Saben’s victory alongside Aubrey and Edmund’s sweetly unfolding romance. Main characters read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Oct.)
Kirkus Reviews
2024-08-03
The story of two young men in love who are caught up in war and others’ expectations.
Lord Aubrey Ainsley is excited to attend his first event at Talstam Palace. There, he meets heir to the throne Prince Edmund, who’s also 16. The two strike up an amiable conversation before Aubrey saves the prince’s life during an attack by political protestors. Edmund finds himself reluctant to leave the young man’s side during his recuperation. Soon, their friendship blossoms into a deep attraction. But Edmund is a rare Prince of Fortune, someone who’s able to magically influence the weather and plants (the rest of the royals control other elements), and he’s slated to lead the country to greatness. He feels burdened by pressures that prevent him from leading a happy life of his own choosing. In alternating third-person narratives, Tirreno’s debut gives romance fans the chance to revel in the love of a happy couple, while adventure-seekers will particularly enjoy the second half of the story, after Aubrey joins the army. Aubrey has prophetic dreams, and some citizens are Seers, people whose “visions always come to pass”—a worldbuilding element that weakens some of the suspense; the intriguingly imagined antagonists also remain largely offscreen. In this fantasy realm of racial, gender, and sexual equality, Aubrey is pale, and Edmund, who has “rich olive” skin, is biracial.
An entertaining blend of romance and action.(Fantasy. 14-18)
