PRINCE EWALD THE BRAVE

In Madeley’s prequel novel, a young prince must choose between his loyalty to his father or his duty to the people.

Prince Ewald is the eldest son of the ruthless and violent King Jonnecht in the land of Kensrik. He has a younger sister, Princess Isabel, who has many secrets, and a younger brother, Bonifaz, who doesn’t trust anyone. Their mother, Queen Dulcibella, does her best to protect her children from her bad-tempered husband. One day, Isabel approaches Ewald with a proposal: She’ll show him “the life [she] call[s] fun,” and in exchange he’ll allow her to control of all aspects of the evening. He agrees and, to his surprise, finds that Isabel has been leaving the castle to party with strangers—something he soon enjoys, as well. Eventually, however, Jonnecht discovers their secret and punishes them severely, brutally attacking Ewald while Isabel runs away to hide. Dulcibella tries to protect them, but Jonnecht disowns Isabel, claiming she’s corrupted the prince. When the storm of Jonnecht’s hatred calms momentarily, Ewald understands that his father is beyond redemption and must be stopped. Madeley offers a great tale of royal intrigue; it’s a prequel to his Gift-Knight Trilogy, but it can easily be read on its own. Ewald is an appealing hero, overcoming his fears and revealing a heart of gold in his defense of loved ones. His quest to end his father’s reign of cruelty is a complete character arc with a satisfying ending, aided by a brisk narrative pace and well-developed characterization. The story’s depiction of Dulcibella, Isabel, and Bonifaz effectively shows the different ways that people deal with abusive situation, and how they learn to survive them. Newcomers are likely to be as pleased with this installment as those familiar with the author’s previous series.

A fine fantasy story with a satisfying narrative about family struggles.