Rating: My bookshelf

Reading Level: Middle School

Identity, honor, wisdom, and loyalty are all themes in this thriller of a tale. An orphan boy is thrust into an evil plot to claim power in the event of the death of the royal family. He struggles to manage lies and is definitely resistant to the plot.

Possible Concerns:

  • Violence (abuse, punches, knife wounds, slaps)
  • Murder (a boy who tried to leave the plot is brutally killed; the royal family is poisoned; pirates are hired to murder a prince…)
  • Deception, lies, and deceitfulness (sometimes appropriate when directed toward the villain).
  • A few references to “the devils” such as “I prayed the devils would…”

Overall a great tale of honor and identity, of victory over evil. Hints of Gospel appear when a true prince comes to claim his throne.

Rated Middle School more for some what violent content than reading level. I do think it is well done, i.e. appropriate for youth of that age.

Important note: The next books in the series, The Runaway Prince, and The Shadow Throne, have more references to the devils, including prayers to the devils, and needs parent supervision.