THE FIRE PRINCE is a classic fantasy tale with a reluctant hero traveling on a quest with companions to break a curse. THE FIRE PRINCE, book two of The Cursed Kingdoms trilogy, picks up right where The Sentinel Mage left off, but Gee does a decent job at explaining much of what happened in book one. This is good, since book one was published 3-1/2 years ago.
An ancient curse is spreading across the land, turning everyone who drinks the cursed water into a wild killer. To combat the curse, a royal personage who is also a descendent of witches must spill their own blood on three stones across the kingdom. Only Prince Harkeld meets these criteria and can save The Seven Kingdoms from the curse before it kills everyone. Harkeld's evil father Esger has put a bounty on Harkeld's head to try to prevent Harkeld from breaking the curse, thus leaving the nearby kingdoms ripe for Esger's takeover. Harkeld must hide from the populace as he and his companion mages race to reach each of the three stones. Harkeld is also pursued by Fithians- assassins who want to kill all witches.
Harkeld has been raised to regard witches as abominations, so the shapeshifters among the mages take turns shifting into a human-appearing armsman, Justen, who keeps Harkeld more calmed as they travel. Justen also guards Harkeld closely as the group pelts across the countryside to reach the second of the curse-breaking stones. Innis, the young and talented female shapeshifter who is breaking a Primary Rule in shifting to Justen's male body, is romantically drawn to Harkeld. A brief love triangle occurs in book two. Despite his fear and distasted for sorcery, in order to save his life and his kingdom, Harkeld is now learning how to use and control his fire magic.
There are two other entwining plots continuing in THE FIRE PRINCE. One concerns Princess Brigitta, Harkeld's half sister. Left behind in the palace, intrigue and danger stalk her and those she loves, including her armsman and her handmaiden as well as her little brothers. The third shows JaumΓ©, a young farmboy whose family members were some of the curse's first victims. JaumΓ© has fallen in with the Fithians tracking Harkeld and is struggling to fit in with this band of hardened killers.
THE FIRE PRINCE is easy to read and fairly engrossing. While the plot is fairly straightforward, Gee provides compelling descriptions and a dense of sustained tense drama throughout the story. The pacing was excellent, and I find myself chomping at the bit to get my hands on book three as soon as possible.
The long awaited and much anticipated sequel to 2011's The
Sentinel Mage. The Fire Prince continues the saga of Prince
Harkeld, Innis the shapeshifter and the imperiled Seven
Kingdoms.
The Seven Kingdoms are in the grip of an ancient and
terrible blood curse. Thousands have died. Thousands more
will die. Only one man can end the curse.
The fugitive Osgaardan prince, Harkeld, is that manβwhether
he likes it or not. But the bounty on Harkeldβs head is
high. He has outrun his fatherβs soldiers, but he canβt
outrun the assassins who seek himβFithians, trained in the
art of killing. Even the Sentinel mages who guide and guard
him are no match for Fithian steel. Faced with the
ever-present threat of death, Harkeld must learn to use his
fire magic. Or die.
Meanwhile, dark plots are unfolding in Osgaardβs gold-tiled
palace, snaring Princess Brigitta and those she loves. And
in the eastern kingdoms, young orphan JaumΓ© journeys with a
band of mysterious and dangerous fighters, heading north for
a purpose he does not understand.
No excerpt available.
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