ARC Review: The Oddling Prince by Nancy Springer

The Oddling Prince
by Nancy Springer
Published by Tachyon Publications
eARC
Young Adult, fantasy

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.

The Oddling Prince is an odd mix of middle grade, young adult and fairytale; it reads like a middle grade, but the ages and themes are clearly young adult, and it all feels like whimsical fairytale. It is confusing mix, but it works once you abandon all the expectations that comes with those particular genres. It's whimsical fairytale - sometimes the actions of characters or plot twists won't make sense, but it's told in such way that it makes reader to forget it.

The setting drew me in, and it's what I loved most. It's never really specified when the story takes place, but it's ancient Scotland. There's moors, forest, raging sea and ever changing wind. Springer's descriptions are so vivid that I could feel the wind, smell the sea, and see the moors. Absolutely wonderful, I wish more books would take place in Scotland, especially in the medieval times or even earlier.

The Oddling Prince stars Aric, who's a prince of the kingdom of Caldor, and Albaric, who's mysterious fey that arrives just in time to save the dying king. Both are very likable characters; Aric is loyal, kind and fierce, and he takes Albaric in with such loyalty that it amazed me. Albaric is more careful and has less confidence, but he's so adorable. Aric and Albaric have a strong connection and it's great to see how they react to things and how they grew.

So why I didn't fell head over heels for The Oddling Prince? The plot is a little all over the place, there are many twists and turns and it feels like the story never takes a breather. It is also quite convenient; all hardships are solved quickly and the stakes are never high. It's thoroughly enjoyable story, the setting and main characters are great, but the plot is little weak and nothing is brilliant. A good story, but not mind blowing. I do recommend it if you're looking for whimsical fairytale or want to read a book set in ancient Scotland.

3 of 5 stars

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(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)