The Prince of Shadow by Curt Benjamin

From the Publisher

This first novel in the Seven Brothers series draws upon the rich legends, cultures, and traditions of the East to create an epic tale.

Llesho was only seven years old when the Harn invaded Thebin, slaying his father and selling the boy into slavery.

On Pearl Island, he was trained as a diver-until a vision changed his life completely. The spirit of his long-dead teacher revealed the truth about Llesho's royal family-his brothers were alive, but enslaved, living in distant lands.

Now, to free his brothers-and himself-Llesho must become a gladiator.

He must go face to face with sorcerers.

And gods.

And more.

Publishers Weekly

In this likable fantasy adventure, the first of a multivolume saga with an Asian flavor (reinforced by the samurai-like warriors on the crude if effective dust jacket), Benjamin often resorts to good luck to pull his hero out of trouble. Llesho is only seven, the youngest of the royal family of Thebin, when the Harn, a fierce and unsophisticated warrior people, murder his sister and parents, the king and queen, and sell him and his six older brothers into slavery. Confined for years to Pearl Island, where he proves himself an adept pearl diver, Llesho doesn't realize his brothers are still alive until the ghost of an elderly adviser appears during a dive and gives him a black pearl, squeezing it into a small bead and inserting it into a dental cavity where it will be undetectable. Mindful of his noble background and yearning to find his brothers, Llesho volunteers for gladiator school as the first step toward freedom. He studies with several teachers who seem to appreciate his special character, but one, Markko, has evil designs on him. The teenage Llesho eventually battles Markko, leads an army and reaches the kingdom of Shan, where he locates two of his brothers in a slave market. Despite a somewhat plodding style (torpor especially sets in during the war scenes) and superficial characterization, the vivid fantasy elements revive the plot whenever it slips too far into the doldrums. Lacking any sexual episodes, this coming-of-age story will appeal to younger readers as well as to those with more traditional tastes in boyish adventure tales. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

VOYA

Fantasy fanatics who waited with baited breath for the film adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring might find this first title in the Seven Brothers series a passable piece of reading to help fill the void until the next high fantasy comes along. Llesho was a prince years ago, but as the story opens, readers learn that he is forced to dive for pearls along with others of his race, who all have the ability to hold their breath underwater for thirty minutes at a time. Llesho lives in this fashion until the ghost of his recently deceased mentor visits him and sets him on a mission that will change his life forever. Taking pieces from Arthurian quest stories and Greek myths and giving them an Asian twist, Benjamin does not offer much original; however, the nonstop action and fantastical setting might keep readers from dwelling on the derivative story line. With many sexual references and large doses of combative violence—not to mention the many characters that only more sophisticated fantasy readers will be able to keep straight—this novel is definitely for high school age readers. It is not a must—purchase, but it will fit right in for libraries where there are older teen readers clamoring for a low concept-high fantasy mix. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P S A/YA (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2001, DAW, 426p, $23.95. Ages 15 to Adult. Reviewer: Shari Fesko SOURCE: VOYA, February 2002 (Vol. 24, No.6)

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Table of Contents