4 out of 4 stars
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In Pursuit of The Pale Prince by Mark Wallace Maguire falls in the genre of sci-fi/fantasy or young adult fantasy.
The book is about a 12-year-old boy Arestus, who lives in The Woods. His father died of a mysterious disease and his mother remains ill. His uncle Axton comes to visit his mother. Has he come for condolence? Or he has a bigger fish to fry?
Arestus’ mother gives Arestus the responsibility to deliver the crown of Ellesund (the last great king) to the Pale Prince. The crown was found by his father and it holds a great importance. It can play a tremendous role in the war which is about to begin between the North and Southwen. On his way to the North, he meets some friends in the form of Hendelf and Cirin.
The story is told from the first-person point of view. It is a narrative story that is told by Arestus. It has an easy-to-understand diction that provides an enjoyable read. The story is a blend of emotions, war and humour. All these factors are perfectly intertwined which is the beauty of a narrative tale. The unpleasant subject of war is described in a best possible way to avoid gory scenes and to make it readable for young children. Humour is interwoven with the story to make it light-hearted. I loved the way the author used humour in the deadliest and scariest situations. Wallace doesn't let a reader to be in dread at any moment. Although, the first half of the book is void of humour but as the book proceeds into a gloomy phase, humour is introduced through the character of Hendelf.
The underlying theme of the story is the courage and bravery. It emphasis on being brave and to cast off unnecessary fears. There is a hero inside everyone of us. All we need to do is to discover that hero. Living a life full of mischief would bring no good. We have to find a purpose in our lives. A good purpose, that can bring hope and happiness in the world.
There is nothing that I disliked about this book. Only the end seemed a bit sudden. Otherwise, the book was fascinating and provided me with an escape from distress. It is professionally edited as I was unable to find any error except two minor typos. I think there should be a sequel to this book as the story can easily be extended to a series of adventures.
I would gladly rate this book 4 out of 4 stars for its marvellous writing style. I would suggest this book to all fantasy fans and especially to the children around 10-15 as they would enjoy this novel most.
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In Pursuit of The Pale Prince
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