PRINCE OF FORTUNE

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.