The Oddling Prince

This book was oddly addicting. I couldn't put it down and by the end, I really really enjoyed this book.

This beautiful story follows our main character Aric (Yes! Finally a male protagonist in YA fantasy) and he is the young prince of a lonely kingdom in Northern Scotland. His father, the king, is dying because of a strange and spooky ring around his finger but luckily, a fae (that's right! Faeries!) suddenly appears and saves the king by removing this ring. Well, not all is what it seems when history reveals itself. I really don't want to spoil anymore than that.

The writing style is easy and straightforward. Nancy's choice of words just roll off the tongue which also allows it to be a very quick read. Aric is a freaking teddy bear and is too precious for this world. I'm so tired of mean angsty princes but we get the opposite with Aric. He's honest and forgiving. Actually, I fell in love with all of the characters. There are so many great friendships.

For a fantasy setting, this book will ease you into a very atmospheric world with a homey feel and it'll leave you wanting more. I know when I'm stressed out, this story will have my back.

Gorgeous and magical! Nancy’s early fantasy was always full of love, friendship and heroism and at the core of her stories, acceptance and being true to yourself. Doing what is right, even when what is right, isn’t always what is going to make you happy. This was an beautifully done call-back to her beginnings, and everything I fell in love with thirty-plus years ago, is present here.

If you’re unfamiliar with her early fantasy you may find the writing awkward at first until you get used to the style. It’s not that it’s overly complicated but it is more like poetry or a ballad, in the way it rises and falls in rhythm. It’s beautiful and is as much a part of the story, as the setting and the characters, lending it a feeling similar to an old folk tale.

The story tells of the deep friendship and love between the found brothers and their willingness to do anything for one another which contrasts the relationship that the king had with his own brothers, and their willingness to sacrifice one another to get what they want. Much like in a folktale there is a quietness to the underlying message of greed and putting yourself first and how unhappy you can become because of it.

The book isn’t perfect by any means, there were some confusing moments with the Why’s of the ring, and a few plot points that are a bit hand-wavy- but my last star is always about enjoyment before it’s about perfection, and I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Five stars from me and a hope that Nancy Springer will continue to visit her early fantasy.

Other notes-
Princess Marissa was utterly charming. I fell in love with her spunky cute self in a matter of a few paragraphs.

The Oddling Prince is a beautiful story about two brothers, one fae and one mortal and their unwavering love for each other. Beautifully written, Nancy Springer creates a rich and magical world that is so easy to get wrapped up in to. I had a very hard time putting this book down! The story was so unique and the characters were genuine. A perfect book for fantasy lovers.

The Oddling Prince, by Nancy Springer (Tachyon Publications) is pure, classical Nancy Springer. In a faroff land, not unlike northern England, a king returns from a mysterious absence, wearing a magical ring that rapidly drains his life force. Just as he is about to perish, a young man appears, riding a steed of untamed light, and lifts the curse. The narrator, the king’s son and heir, befriends this stranger, his half-fae half-brother. But all is not well, as residual evil poisons the king’s mind and danger lurks just beyond the borders. Springer’s style sometimes reminds me of Tanith Lee, yet is completely her own. The love and fidelity of the two brothers, the steadfast discernment of the queen, the twists and turns and unexpected character developments, all kept me enchanted, page after page. Springer is in fine style!

I enjoyed this book- read it in one sitting- to me, it was like a cross between The Princess Bride and Poe’s The Raven. It’s written in that old school fantasy lens where even real world problems come across as fantasy, which I found it to be an excellent way to address real-world problems, the main one being loss of love within he family unit, and hatred of the unknown. I loved the instant bond between the brothers and how nothing can break their love for each other, and how even in historical times where women were not allowed any power, Queen Evalin is not one to be trifled with. She’s regal and powerful in her own right, regardless of husband or son. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys light fantasy.

I’ll be leaving reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

4.25 stars
"My king," said Albaric, "Aric will not die. For if he does, I will go with him, and he knows it."

In a land, far far away, two complete strangers meet on a tragic day when the life of the king seems to be doomed, and with just a glance an unbreakable bound of love, loyalty and brotherhood is born.
This is the story of Aric, heir of the king and prince of Calidon, and Albaric, the oddling prince. A story that shows the power of brotherly love, such a great power able to defy even the love felt for one's parents. Such a great power able to defy even death.
"We were mistaken," I told her. "I was not a marvel, to be so transparent like glass. I was merely incomplete."

I don't even know where to begin explaining this heartwarming/heartbreaking novel, but I do know one thing: Aric and Albaric are one of the most well-written brotps I've ever read about. They're so different in their origins and their "race", one human and one half Elf, but what keeps them together is the trust they have in each other, that sharing of thoughts and feeling, that mutual brotherly love that nothing can break, not even a father. It was truly moving to witness how much they take care of each other, how they can understand with just a glance when something's off, how words are not necessary to convey what they feel.
Sometimes I felt like they were simply two faces of the same coin, two halves of the same painting, two sides of the same personality.
This is why, despite my tears, I couldn't help by being happy when reading the ending, SPOILER when these two separated halves finally become one with that moving image of Albaric transforming into a wave that soaks Aric merging two souls in one single body. END OF SPOILER
"A king is a man who wears a crown, but after a while the crown begins to wear the man."

Despite the brotp being the main reason for my high rating, there's something else that left me fascinated: the depiction of human corruption represented by the king. Or better, how human souls can be corrupted by greed, envy, fear, jealousy, mistrust and... shame. That's right, being ashamed of themselves is the first step for starting envying and even fearing others because we think they're better than us, and the second step is hating them. Wanting them to disappear. Shame can lead to madness even the kindest man, as the story shows. But it also shows that there's always place for redemption and forgiveness.

There's no doubt that Albaric was the one who's stolen my heart with his innocence and yet his cleverness, his courage and strenght and yet his need of love. He's truly an oddling prince, but oddling as "mysterious, heavenly, pure, special, lacking of any vice and sin".
But there was somebody else who caught my attention and, unfortunately, didn't get the space she deserved: Marissa. She's also an "oddling princess", in a certain way. She's different from the other people because she does actually pay attention to the people around her and can understand things that superficiality hids to mortal eyes. And, exactly like Albaric, she's hated because of her "diversity" by one of those people who should cherish her the most: her fater. Despite this and her young age, she proves to be a brave, clever young woman who does not fear to speak the truth to make the good prevail.
"There is poetry in him now," Mother said serenely. "And, I hope, music."

Last but not least, I'd like to take a moment to appreciate the writing style. It had a song-like quality like the old tales, like the ballads sung during the XVII century, full of poetry and beauty and music. As a non-native English speaker, it's been hard sometimes to understand the meaning of some rather unconventional words, but this did nothing but enhance the magical atmosphere of the whole story. I was enraptured. I was fascinated. I was in love.

In the ancient moors of Scotland, the king of Calidon lies on his deathbed, cursed by a ring that cannot be removed from his finger. When a mysterious fey stranger appears to save the king, he also carries a secret that could tear the royal family apart.

The kingdom’s only hope will lie with two young men raised worlds apart. Aric is the beloved heir to the throne of Calidon; Albaric is clearly of noble origin yet strangely out of place.

Although a fairly short book it is epic-best book I have read so far this year!!!

My rating is 4,5 stars.
I loved this book. Granted there are things that I didn't particularly understand or agree with, still I loved that book. There's the story where you have magic, kingdom in Scotland, rivalry, fear of rivalry, fathers sons relationships, brotherhood.
I loved Marissa, such a funny charcter. I so often hated the King which I think speaks positively of the book if it could produce such emotions. It's hard to describe the book without spoilers, so I won't do it, but I absolutely recommend to read it.

Nancy Springer has still got it!

The Oddling Prince is a wonderfully fantastic story of two brothers. One, Aric, has been raised as the king’s heir; the other, Albaric and son of the Queen of Elfland, has been lost to memory. The King of Calidon is cursed with a ring that he cannot remove that sickens him, and he’s unable to eat or drink. As he lies on his deathbed, Albaric appears to aid him. Aric and Albaric are immediately bonded, brothers inextricably drawn to each other, adoring each other. Yet the King has no memory of his time in Elfland or loving and teaching Albaric as he grew.

Wound through the story are songs and the myth of the White King. As the King recovers his health, his soul seems wounded as he changes from a kind and just king to a hateful, violent tyrant. As the violence escalates, the kingdom withers, and an old enemy resurfaces. Can Aric and Albaric save their father and the kingdom?


If you love fantasy and rich nuanced storytelling, you’ll love The Oddling Prince. The story is superb, the writing glorious, the world-building subtle and immersive, and the characters are complex. A very satisfying read and an instant reminder of why Nancy Springer is one of the best fantasy writers ever, up there with Diana Wynne Jones, Brandon Sanderson, and the other greats. So glad she came out of “retirement” to gift us another soul-searching read. Highly recommended.

If you haven’t read any other Nancy Springer books, you owe it to yourself to grab some of her other series and start reading. You’ll be glad you did.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

I adored this book! Old Scotland mixed with Fae and war. Two brothers that know nothing of each other and bond. It was an epic fantasy and I just want more!

Aric is seventeen and heir to the throne of the kingdom of Calidon. His father has taken ill and seems to grow sicker everyday. The cause seems to be an enchanted ring that no one can remove and things look bad for the king. Just when hope seems lost a Fae sprints in and removes the ring saving the king's life. His health steadily returns and everything Aria thought he knew was wrong.

Albaric is the son of the Queen of Elfland and Aric's half brother. When he saves his father from death he is surprised to find his father has forgotten all about him and he has a half brother that is human. He stays, trying to rebound with his father and get to know this brother as war looms over them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ecopy of this book for a fair and honest review.

“A breath of fresh air, wonderful world building and a must read for Fantasy lovers.”

P L O T

Nothing complicated, I felt at ease when reading this book. There is a bit of drama, lots of magic, and I didn’t have to worry about romanticizing anything because this isn’t a romance book but a book about two brothers and finding their place in the world and being happy.

From the very first chapter until the end, I couldn’t stop reading. Early in the book during breaks I would talk to my mom about this amazing book I just started and I even caught her interest.

His suffering was not simple but a vast and fearsome tangle of many hurtful thorns.

C H A R A C T E R S

There aren’t a lot of characters to be confused with which is one of the reasons why I enjoyed this book very much. Everyone had taken their own journey in this book but it was the two Prince’s journey that was the center of it all.

Aric

Son of the King, thinks his mother would be a better King if she weren’t born a woman. He feels incomplete and is seeking something but doesn’t know what it is.

I knew that my quest in life must be to find him peace.

Albaric

A Prince who doesn’t belong in the world he was born in so he sought love and belongingness elsewhere.

Both are pure of heart and would put others first before themselves.

W R I T I N G

Nancy Springer has a gift for fantasy writing. It’s not an easy read with that old Scotland language with the English words getting mixed up, but it is a joy to read. The world she created and the magic that came a long with it is something I’ve never read in any other book before. It’s very unique.

O V E R A L L

I love this book, the way it is written, the characters, the world Springer created. Everything felt magical and I truly felt like I was in the world with them. I am so blessed to be one of the people who got to read her work and surely this will not be my last book written by her.

When I opened up this book I was delighted by the lyrical quality of the prose, then about five chapters in it began to annoy me, but I pushed through that to find a very strange tale, somewhat medievaloid. By the time I got to the end I really liked it. It certainly didn't go in the direction I expected. It's a book about unintended consequences, love and loyalty, and the darkness of the human soul. It's very fairy-tale like in feel.

Set in ancient Scotland, the king of Caledon lies on his deathbed, cursed by a ring that he can't remove. His life is saved by a mysterious fey stranger, Albaric, to whom the young prince Aric (age 17) is immediately drawn. It turns out that Albaric is also the king's son from a time-out-of-time spent in the Fey world as a captive lover of the fae queen. The king can't accept this forgotten time and will not accept Albaric. Aric and Albaric bond and from then on we see the king's descent into darkness, directed against not only Albaric, but against those he loves.

Aric is an honest and noble character, trying to balance his (deteriorating) relationship with his father and his loyalty towards Albaric. Part way through we meet Marissa, the daughter of an enemy who becomes Aric's intended, though she's actually a hostage for her father's good behaviour. She's a great character and although she doesn't get a lot of page-time, she makes the most of it.

There is an unexpected (magical) resolution which I didn't see coming, but which fitted the story perfectly.

I guess this is YA, but it crosses boundaries.

(This E-ARC is from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

For fans of The Lord of the Rings, The Oddling Prince is a tale of two brothers and their father, the King, and a ring of power that has plans of its own.

The Writing and Worldbuilding

The beginning of this book was somewhat difficult to really get into, as the book was written differently than any book I've ever read before, with a very storybook, almost Shakespearean style. I feel that it would be great as an audiobook, because the 1st person narrative has many asides and interjections from Aric, the protagonist, that it seemed to be a story being told. Once I got used to it, I really enjoyed the writing. There are many terms that might be unfamiliar to many readers, so I would only suggest this to people who are fluent in English and at high school reading level or greater.

I loved the world! Elfland was so intriguing, and the fey elements of the story were very well done. The prophecy of the White King was wonderfully interspersed throughout to maintain suspense without being overbearing or exposition. I absolutely loved the ring! It had the potential to just be a LOTR copy, but instead it was unique and interesting and acted as a great plot driver. It really was a chaotic neutral force sometimes, and almost seemed to be a character in its own right.

The strange bromance between Aric and Albaric really could and should have been done better though. It was insta-love, really, and didn't feel familial until over 50% into the book, because Aric kept commenting on how beautiful and lovely and wonderful and astounding and skilled Albaric was like some lovesick puppy. Some of their behavior, like touching each others hands and cuddling felt like was I do with my sisters, and as men of their era, that was odd though not unwelcome. It was Aric's constant praise of Albaric that was so off-putting. Siblings don't act that way.

I loved how the conflict with the king grew slowly and deeper with each chapter. It really kept me intrigued and on the edge of my seat.

The Characters

Aric: Besides his creepy obsession with his brother, he was a really fun character! I loved his sense of humor and his carefree, fun nature. He was kind of ADHD but I loved that, and found him so incredibly endearing.

Albaric: He was definitely my favorite character! His struggle with being a previously immortal being trapped in a mortal body and with unrequited love for his father was so well done and unique. I've been really wanting a well done fey character ever since I read A Court of Thorns and Roses and found it incredibly lacking in every magical regard (besides other things) and so this character and this book really hit my fantasy spot. Also, his humor and banter with Aric was fantastic! I love utterly clueless but well-meaning characters so much!

King Bardaric: He was so interesting. His dark descent into madness was such a great character study and really kept me guessing and second guessing its origins.

Queen Evalin: She was so great! She is seriously the best, strongest, most elegant lady I've ever read in any book. She's seriously what I needed right now. She's so supportive and wise, and so determined. I really loved her.

Marissa: She was somewhat of a surprise, and I was determined to not like her (given the fact that I didn't much see her point at first) but her girlish charm won me over and I relented.

Conclusion

This might be a new favorite, I'm not totally sure yet (might need to let it settle for a bit) but either way, it was a great fantasy adventure, and really gave me everything I needed when setting out to read a book from such a genre. It made me feel nostalgic, for what, I don't know, but nostalgic nonetheless. I seriously really enjoyed this and I want all of you to read it too once it comes out, because it's totally worth it.

This was a totally different take on the fae and I found it to be a beautiful story full of love and understanding. It is about two brothers who find each other and will do what ever it takes to keep each other alive. It is historical fiction with a touch of magical realism.

Aric is the prince and only child of Queen Evalin and King Bardaric. He is often described as young and unsure, and people worry that he will not be strong enough to be king. Albaric is the fae son that the king does not remember. Raised in Elfland, but not loved there, he comes to help the king recover from his illness. The king takes an instant dislike to Albaric and can not understand his son’s fascination with him. What unfolds is a wonderful story of loyalty, what it means to be brothers and doing everything with in your power to save the ones you love.

Aric was a fascinating character with a lot going for him. He was a young man on the brink of adulthood, but unsure of his place in life. He was devoted to his king and his people, but wasn’t sure he wanted to be king.

Albaric was also a great character. Half fae and half human and totally out of his element. He knew next to nothing of the human world when he arrived, but was determined to get the king to notice him and perhaps love him as he did in Elfland.

The story centers around Aric and Albaric’s relationship, and how they save the kingdom and the King and Queen from death and destruction. It is historical fiction set in Scotland and the setting is just beautiful. There is a small romance, although it is very period appropriate. Lady Marissa is the daughter of a rival kingdom, and a seer. She is a delight, and I loved see their relationship develop.

The writing is suburb and you really feel like you are there with all of the sights and sounds of medieval Scotland. The magical realism is not overpowering but adds a nice subtle touch to the story. The ending was not at all what I expected, but beautiful and perfect.

A beautiful and riveting story of loyalty and what it means to be brothers. Although slow at times, it is a truly magical story that should not be missed.

The fact that the protagonist is a guy is awesome... story was amazing. I couldn’t put this book down! I fell in love with the characters, all the attributes and hated others lol but that’s the beauty of books.. definitely connected with this one.

This was an arc that I received from Netgalley, but also a library book as well. I read the paperback edition instead of the PDF file version, but plan on reading that as well sometime in the future to build upon this review. This is my first read from Nancy Springer, a rather prolific author who generally writes fantasy and young adult. While I really enjoyed this, enough to give it five stars, I’m not entirely sure it’s my most favorite book of the year.

Let me explain.

This book was odd, in the fact that it had beautiful prose, epic battles, family in distress, fey, a magical ring that causes a lot of trouble, and brothers who love one another but are worlds apart. It’s a cleverly told fantasy story that builds up to a happy ending.

It comes from the title ‘odd’, due to the fey characters. The way the characters speak seems so strange sometimes, “Forsooth” and “Troth” are two of the many words throughout the book that seemed strange to me. I understand it comes from that time period, from the Scottish Highlands a place that I love to read about. Though it didn’t feel like it was of the scottish moors, rather it felt like an entirely different world that this book took place in, with a different language structure. While not at all unpleasant, it was definitely odd and unusual.

I did like all of the characters, aside from King Bardaric who seemed to be a bit of an ass for reasons unknown towards his two sons. While it was explained later on towards the end why he was so hateful and cruel towards them, I was still unsatisfied with those explanations. And his constant worry for others attempting to overthrow him to take the throne-what of it? It’s just a throne, it’s not like it’s the most important thing in your life, which is actually that of your wife and sons. You need to pay attention to them, not that chair that holds such power. Power isn’t the best thing ever, you know.

I did like how the women were represented in the book, though there was one instance where women who were close to thirty were represented as ‘old maids’ whereas it was perfectly logical to marry a 13/14 year old girl instead. I get that in that time period, people died closer to their 50’s, than they did nowadays towards their 70s/80s, but I still didn’t care for that at all.

The two main characters, Aric and Aldaric, were both interesting and unusual. I liked both well enough, but I felt that Aric could be a bit dense from time to time, while Aldaric was a bit strange, due to having been raised with the fey. I also liked their horse, Bluefire, who was pretty badass for a horse towards the end of the book.

The story was entertaining, and I definitely want to own my own copy eventually, preferably in a nice hardback edition that will sit with the rest of my favored fantasies. It’s a beautiful, unique, and gorgeous story that should be read by all ages. Nancy Springer has shot up high onto my list of favorites, and I am determined to go out and find more of her books, and devour them.

Final rating is 5/5 stars.

Until next time,
-Pass Me That Book.

I am such a sucker for anything resembling a retelling of a fairytale or with Celtic/Scottish/Greek/Italian mythology linked to the storyline! In this case, it was Scottish folklore that drew me in as well as that gorgeous cover that I could just stare at for long periods of time to appreciate all the intricate designs!
This story takes place in the kingdom of Calidon in long forgotten ancient Scotland. Two brothers five for the throne one human and one fey. After the king falls ill from a mysterious illness and appears to lie dying, the kingdom is aghast when a fey child shows up claiming to be the son of the king and heir to the throne as well. Everyone is wary of Albaric except his brother Aric who finds a kinship with his long-lost sibling. The brothers vow to overcome the evil that has crept into the king thus causing him to fall ill.
It was so easy to become emotionally connected to this book and its characters. I immediately loved Aric because he is written as a humble well-liked character who strives to be great as his father but doubts his own abilities to fill the role that he will one day step into. Aric immediately connects with his new brother and feels his brothers sense of hopelessness and rejection when their father doesn’t seem to recognize him. Albraic is completely heartbroken when his father doesn’t recognize him after being his companion in the fey realm. Albraic is ready to embrace the mortal world and take up the crown if that means destroying the threat that hovers over his father. The rest of the cast is also very in-depth and multi-layered.
I became so engrossed in the story that I could not put it down! I totally empathized with the characters and felt like I was there seeing the world through their eyes. I would totally recommend this reading money who loves fantasy and middle-grade stories!
Thank you Netgalley and Tachyon Publications for allowing me access to this title exchange for an honest review.

Hello, hello! It’s the last Wednesday in May, which means it’s time for another book review. This time, I decided to get into a fantasy novel to mix things up a bit. Cozies and thrillers are great, but sometimes you just need a break. So, I requested a copy of The Oddling Prince by Nancy Springer from NetGalley. It came out earlier this month from Tachyon Publications. As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. With that out of the way, let’s get on with it!

The Oddling Prince opens with Aric’s father, the king of Calidon, on his deathbed. A ring of unknown origins is sucking the life from him, and no one can figure out how to remove it short of cutting off the appendage, which no one dares to do. At least not until a stranger arrives on a horse that disappears when he dismounts. The stranger saves the king without mutilating him and reveals a secret that only Aric immediately accepts as true. This leads to adventure and arguments and secrets and a level of brotherly love that verges on the incestuous at times.

I fully admit that this book caused my inner yaoi fangirl to come out. If you don’t know what yaoi is, the best way I’ve heard it described is that it’s beautiful boys kissing beautiful boys. Granted, it tends to go much farther than that, but I won’t go there because the book doesn’t. So, if you’re reading it and get some strange vibes that make you want to put it down, don’t worry. It’s really just creepy levels of brotherly love. For the yaoi fanpeople, you will be slightly disappointed. But hey! At least Aric and Albaric came together in the end. *winkwinknudgenudge* Just in a completely different, but equally satisfying way.

But seriously, I found this story quite enjoyable. The characters were relatable despite being royalty. The plot was fun and had a lot of twists. My only complaint with this one is that the pacing is awkward. It feels like everything happens over the course of a few days, maybe weeks, but there are lines that suggest months have passed by. Honestly, I wouldn’t be able make a timeline for it even after finishing it, because I’m still not entirely sure whether days or weeks or months passed. That issue screws with a couple of other things, such as the relationship arc between Aric and Marissa. There wasn’t a sense of love at first sight, so when it seemed like they randomly fell in love after a couple of days, it felt like an afterthought. But if months passed, it makes a bit more sense.

As far as the writing goes, be prepared for older language and a rhythm reminiscent of fairy tales. It’s a little jarring at first, but it’s interesting. I learned things like a believable difference between calling a king “Sire,” “Liege,” and other things. Whether the information is entirely correct, I don’t know. I haven’t researched it yet. But it made sense in the story. And the author made the information feel like a natural part of the story instead of an infodump. It was really interesting

Ultimately, The Oddling Prince was a fun read. It seems like it’s going to be a standalone, but on the off chance there are more, I’ll pick them up. I also plan on looking for other books by Springer.

Overall, I’d give it four out of five stars. It’s a quick and amusing read. If you’re into fantasy or fairy tales or just looking for something light to read between things, I’d definitely suggest giving it a shot.

This was such an interesting read! It's different from my normal fantasy reads as it doesn't have that much romance in it, but I wanted to read more about siblings and royals, and this seemed perfect. Then I read that there were faeries involved and I just /knew/ it would be perfect.

The plot was enjoyable, plenty of twists to keep me turning the page, and it was well-written. I found the writing to be intricate and beautiful in most parts (confusing in some), which helped absorb me in to the story and historical setting. The only thing I found jarring was the pacing, as it bounced around a lot of the time. Slow in some places, then it picked up, then I wasn't sure how long the course of the narrative took place. Little things like that don't tend to bother me that much if the plot isn't overly boring, and luckily it wasn't! I really enjoyed the narrative.

I loved the characters the most! It was too easy to read into Aric and Albaric's relationship as brothers as something more, but I did enjoy their brotherly bond. Aric is kind and generous, and the two have an instant connection and understanding between them. Although it felt quite sexually charged between the brothers, it subsided easily when Marissa was introduced. Sadly, I enjoyed the brothers' relationship far more than Marissa's contribution to the romance, but I liked her as an individual. It didn't matter to me that the romance wasn't heavily present because I felt the characters bonded well. I also loved Queen Evalin because she was such an enjoyable character. She was strong and level-headed, and I needed that.
And Albaric! The journey of how he came to be was so admirable. A journey I truly enjoyed reading. His bond with his brother felt so genuine, and the two of them seemed like wholesome, good people.

Although the writing seemed difficult to digest sometimes, this was a good read. I was engrossed and the characters were easy to empathise with. I was quite pleased when I finished it, finding that I enjoyed it. It's very different to my normal reads, but it was a pleasant book.

The Oddling Prince was a bit of a sleeper surprise for me. I enjoy King Arthur tales and this had the same feel as those legends of lore. Much like when Aric first set eyes on Albaric, I was attached to this book from the start. So many YA fantasy titles today have a love triangle and spends too much time on "does s/he love for me the way that I love them." There was none of that nonsense here. It's a story of true friendship, brotherhood, and loyalty. A story of reflection of the demons we each have in our soul and how to overcome them. I haven't read anything else by Nancy Springer, but I will definitely be checking out her other titles.

This was absolutely beautiful. What got me first was the writing style. It was quite prosaic, elements of older English mixed in, as well as poems and songs. It seemed to flow in a tranquil way, calm. I don’t know another way to describe it, but I fell in love with that writing style.

I have to admit, that in the beginning I had some problems finding into the story. But the more I read, the deeper I got sucked into it, understanding the characters more and more. The setting is a war-torn Scotland, but in the beginning the reader does not realize this completely. We get an introduction to the fey first, and while they are beautiful and wicked, they are not evil. Yes, they manipulate humans but they can also feel for them, though not like them. So this makes for some tension between some of the characters.
The king is on his death bed, a strange sickness taking him over. The source seems to be a ring he is wearing but that does not come off his hand. He can only be saved by a stranger, a fey named Albaric, who is the king’s son from the Queen of the fey. While the king does not accept him, even loathes him, the king’s human son, Aric, finally feels complete. The two brothers become inseperable, even defying the king. I loved the relationship between the two of them. It was so wonderful, the two boys love each other unconditionally, they are two parts of a medal. Where one has a weakness, the other has his strengths.

To be honest, I loved the relationships in general. I also loved to see how they change (or don’t change), when the king gets sucked into the madness of the cursed ring, when he starts seeing treason everywhere, wanting to get rid of everyone and everything. But despite everything, the people around him try to save him and his kingdom, all the while finding happiness on their own.

I also liked how the story was centered around the two brothers and their relationship with their father. Even though there is a love story as well, it only has a small part, but a beautiful one nonetheless. Even this relationship is pure gold.

While I thought this was going to be a hard read, I enjoyed it all the more. The writing style, the story, the characters. I came to love everything in the end.

I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley for review purposes.

I have apparently never read any Nancy Springer before, and what a pity, because this book was wonderfully beautiful in all the best ways. Her writing reminds me of a combination of Dahlov Ipcar (A Dark Horn Blowing) with a dash of Peter Beagle. No, there were no unicorns in this book, but the utter dreaminess of the story took me back to The Last Unicorn.

In this story, Prince Aric of Calidon (at one point there seems to have been a typo of Caldor and it made me giggle a bit) is about to lose his father the king, Bardaric, to the power of a supposedly evil ring. No one knows where the ring came from or why it is wasting him. As the moment of his death arrives, a man blazing white shows up at the castle and, amid a huge spectacle, saves the king's life. He reveals himself to be Albaric, the half-fey son of the king, conceived while the king had been held prisoner by the queen of Elfland. Bardaric doesn't remember this because the queen sent him back to the moment she had stolen him, with the ring she had placed on his hand. The king refuses to accept Albaric as his son, instead choosing to believe he is a "fetch," or evil fey thing come to steal his own son and possibly the throne.

Aric, on the other hand, immediately and intensely loves his new half-brother. The two share a connection almost unbelievable, but it is so real that neither can deny they are brothers and bound to one another. Meanwhile, King Bardaric grows ever more distrustful and sinister. The brothers must find a way to return him to himself, a previously generous and good king, before he kills everyone around him. Intertwined with this story is the legend of the White King, the one who will come and restore the kingdom to peace. Bardaric is more and more afraid of someone, anyone trying to steal his throne that he even begins to loathe his own son.

I enjoyed the story, the pacing, and the characterization. At times the relationship between Aric and Albaric was a bit over-the-top, and I pretty much saw something of what was coming at the end as soon as the White King was mentioned. But this is absolutely a fey story - it draws you in slowly, entrances you as if you're in a dream, and then knocks you over the head with how beautifully it's written.

Highly recommended for fantasy readers of all ages - especially those who love the dreamy quality of Peter Beagle and others. I loved every minute of this and plan to add more Nancy Springer to my (constantly growing) TBR pile.

Sadly, I was really not a fan of this one. What stopped me from getting into this story and from connecting with any of the characters was the writing style. It tries to sound like it's written in Old English which might sound like a good idea in theory, but the execution of it felt kind of clunky and awkward and puts a barrier up between the reader and the main character. For example, the way a lot of the sentences were constructed felt quite strange - "only let me touch once more your face" - and there were random repetitions of words that didn't make much sense. There were also 'old' words thrown in to make it sound more legit I guess (?) such as "perforce" which did nothing for the world-building. There were also unfortunate instances of queerbaiting in parts which really put me off reading this. It's a relatively short book so I did consider attempting to finish it but I would have ended up disliking it more and just giving it an in-depth rant review and rated it really low, so I thought I'd save myself the trouble!

This story was beyond beautiful and so well written it was a first for me from the author and I’m so glad I took the chance to read this , exceeded all my expectations definitely need to re read it
Stroy🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
Characters 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
Writing style 🤩🤩🤩