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Searching... Salem Main Library | J Bell, H. | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Perryn is a hopeless prince. His drunken father scorns his love of books, the master of arms ridicules his swordplay, and someone in the castle may be trying to kill him. But Perryn's books are his best weapons to stop the dragon that is destroying his kingdom, and to earn his father's respect.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Prince Perryndon wants nothing more than a chance to be a scholar, while his father wishes only for a warrior son. When Perryn stumbles across a prophecy that might help him to destroy the black dragon devastating the kingdom, he runs away from the castle hoping to find the elements described in the forbidden book of magic-a true bard, a unicorn, and a unique sword. With the king's men searching for him (and someone trying to kill him), Perryn discovers that nothing is as he imagined. The bard is in prison, the unicorn is terrified of every danger, and the sword is rusty. The prince must use his wits to discover his true worth in order to save the kingdom and himself. Bell has crafted a coming-of-age story that engages adolescents who are themselves trying to determine the path to selfhood. Prophecy has all the essentials of a good fantasy adventure and moves quickly enough to connect with reluctant readers.-Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Bell (The Goblin Wood) lays out the premise before her medieval tale begins: "This is the story of Prince Perryndon, who set out to slay the black dragon guided by the words of a prophecy." Chapter heads emulate stanzas from a bard's tale of a heroic quest. For five years, the 14-year-old prince has exhausted the castle's vast library hoping to discover how to slay a dragon, since one is laying waste to his father's Kingdom of Idris. Perryn finally spots what he has searched for, but the king is uninterested. Instead, the prince finds himself locked in his room. Seeking answers from the magical Mirror of Idris, Perryn learns that his own life is in danger: Cedric, his father's master of arms, is in alliance with the Norsemen, who are threatening Idris with the dragon's help. Cedric plans to kill the prince to prevent him from slaying the dragon. Suspense grows as Perryn searches for a true bard, a unicorn and the Sword of Samhain in order to defeat the dragon. (The Sword of Samhain turns out to have a sense of humor: "Hot fights and hotter women! A battle! After all these years. Let me at'em," it says. Readers will cheer for Perryn as he races to fulfill the prophecy in order to save the kingdom and prove to his father that he has what it takes to serve as a worthy successor. Ages 10-up. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
(Intermediate) Prince Perryndon's scholarly research pays off when he finds a prophecy hidden in the castle library: the dragon ravaging his father's kingdom can be slain by a true bard, one who is accompanied by a unicorn and wields the mythic Sword of Samhain. So, despite his bitter father's scorn and a master of arms who plans to kill him, Perryn sets out to assemble the elements of the prophecy and prove himself worthy to rule. The writing and characterization are simple and accessible, leading readers through the logical progression of the stepping-stone plot, but each skill gained and every ounce of courage and self-confidence won by Perryn in his quest are used masterfully in the unexpected yet (in hindsight) inevitable denouement. Though the story is pitched for younger readers, Bell's previously touted political and emotional sophistication (The Goblin Wood, rev. 5/03) is in full evidence here, making the tale subtle enough to capture older as well as younger readers in its spell. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Gr. 6-9. You'll be the forty-fifth warrior-king and not some worthless scholar, the king of Idris tells his 14-year-old son, but Prince Perryn much prefers academic pursuits to his warrior training, and he longs to postpone knighthood for a stint at the university. Then he uncovers an ancient scroll that details how to slay the dragon that is terrorizing the kingdom, and he learns that the king's most trusted advisor is a traitor intent on destroying the kingdom. So begins a classic hero's quest, and, with the murderous traitor in pursuit, Perryn sets out to kill the dragon and restore peace. Bell expertly maintains the delicious suspense to the last page, and she layers the breathtaking action with a cast of fully realized magical creatures and universal coming-of-age questions: How do you reconcile a parent's desires with your own? Is book learning or messy experience a better life guide? Perryn's authentic, urgent feelings--the hurt, misunderstanding, and increasing openheartedness--will draw readers as much as the wholly satisfying, escapist adventure. --Gillian Engberg Copyright 2006 Booklist