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The Winter Prince

The Winter Prince

List Price: $6.99
Your Price: $6.29
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: highly recommended
Review: "The Winter Prince" is a beautiful, haunting, vivid book. I could go on at length with complimentary adjectives, but instead, a few things that make it stand out:

The relationships. I read the last few chapter with my heart actually pounding; the book has enough tension that it would need an army of masseuses (or a fascinating climactic scene) to smooth out the wrinkles.

The main character. Every once in a while I come across a character who seems startlingly, refreshingly unique. Sulien of Jo Walton's THE KING'S PEACE and THE KING'S NAME was one, and Medraut is another.

The voice. THE WINTER PRINCE is beautifully written, but more interesting, to me, is the thread of second person that runs through it, from Medraut to Morgause. I'm a sucker for interesting uses of second person, and this one fits the story perfectly.

This book made me care about its characters, and then it made me glad I cared. I can't think of any higher recommendation.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Beautifully written, intense account of a boy's relationship
Review: "The Winter Prince" is a beautifully written, intense account of a boy's relationships with the various members of his family and his desperate attempts to free himself from the stigma of his birth. The book is unusual in Arthurian canon because it presents Medraut (Mordred) as a decent, caring person rather than a villain. All he wants is to be loved and trusted, and when being a decent, caring person fails to earn him love and respect, he decides to hurt those who have refused to accept him. This book speaks to all the young people who are children of divorce, torn between parents, jealous of younger siblings, and needing to be accepted on their own terms.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I can't, I can't, I love you
Review: All the feelings inside burst with those words. What a story, what a passion! I just cried when I read it. Bravo to Ms. Wein \(^o^ )/

I won't recite any summary here since it's already been done. I thought I would never ever want to pick anything related with Arthurian legend since it has been depicted many times through movies. But voila!! This book is not talking on the legend, but about the people, especially Medraut, which is considered the irony antagonist, being the high king's first born but not the heir to the throne.

If I hated Medraut in Arthurian movies (The Mist of Avalon, The First Knight, etc), I LOVE this Medraut. I care what he felt, why he did this/that. It was such a feat! Food for mind!

I'm off to pick up Coalition.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Delicate "Prince"
Review: Among the fantasy books brought back into print by Firebird Books is "Winter Prince," a startlingly vivid and intense little book. Few Arthurian novels handle a complicated relationship the way Elizabeth Wein's story does, about two very different young boys.

Medraut is the son of King Artos and his sister Morgause -- a child of incest, who can never become High King. Instead, legitimate twins are born, Lleu and Goewin. When sickly Lleu is fourteen, Medraut arrives to find him terribly sick. He heals his half-brother, and stays with the High King's family. This gets him away from his malevolent mother, but it's hard for him: He envies Lleu's position, his authority, and the fact that he won't kill even an animal. He isn't suited to be High King, but Medraut is.

But things get even worse. A disaster causes Artos to strip Medraut of his authority. And Morgause arrives for a visit -- and Medraut finds out that she is poisoning Lleu, hoping that if he dies, Medraut will become the king's heir. But a fight with Lleu, and an offer from Morgause, will drive Medraut to desperate lengths, in which the hunter will become the prey.

"Winter Prince" has a delicacy and harshness to the story. It's a story about two brothers who envy and love one another, and how they struggle to deal with their feelings. What's more, they're not just competing for the sense of who is on top, but also for Arthur's affection and acceptance. Lleu has it, Medraut wants it. It's a weird, complicated relationship, made even more so by Medraut's bitterness and Lleu's moderate brattiness.

Having the book written as a long story told from Medraut to Morgause (whose incestuous pursuits don't end with her brother) also makes it seem like he's finally exorcising his demons. The writing is detailed and almost like a dream at times, especially during the chapters with Lleu and Medraut alone in the woods.

Medraut is wonderfully-written; he's tormented and bitter, but it's impossible not to sympathize with this guy. Lleu is more of an enigma, but is also sharply-written and very vivid, a different kind of person. Morgause is a walking poison pillar, exactly as she should be; Artos, Ginevra and most of the other supporting characters are rather nebulous.

"Winter Prince" is a bittersweet little tale that has rightly been brought back onto bookshelves. It's a unique twist on the typical Arthurian story, full of darkness and light. Highly recommended.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Delicate "Prince"
Review: Among the fantasy books brought back into print by Firebird Books is "Winter Prince," a startlingly vivid and intense little book. Few Arthurian novels handle a complicated relationship the way Elizabeth Wein's story does, about two very different young boys.

Medraut is the son of King Artos and his sister Morgause -- a child of incest, who can never become High King. Instead, legitimate twins are born, Lleu and Goewin. When sickly Lleu is fourteen, Medraut arrives to find him terribly sick. He heals his half-brother, and stays with the High King's family. This gets him away from his malevolent mother, but it's hard for him: He envies Lleu's position, his authority, and the fact that he won't kill even an animal. He isn't suited to be High King, but Medraut is.

But things get even worse. A disaster causes Artos to strip Medraut of his authority. And Morgause arrives for a visit -- and Medraut finds out that she is poisoning Lleu, hoping that if he dies, Medraut will become the king's heir. But a fight with Lleu, and an offer from Morgause, will drive Medraut to desperate lengths, in which the hunter will become the prey.

"Winter Prince" has a delicacy and harshness to the story. It's a story about two brothers who envy and love one another, and how they struggle to deal with their feelings. What's more, they're not just competing for the sense of who is on top, but also for Arthur's affection and acceptance. Lleu has it, Medraut wants it. It's a weird, complicated relationship, made even more so by Medraut's bitterness and Lleu's moderate brattiness.

Having the book written as a long story told from Medraut to Morgause (whose incestuous pursuits don't end with her brother) also makes it seem like he's finally exorcising his demons. The writing is detailed and almost like a dream at times, especially during the chapters with Lleu and Medraut alone in the woods.

Medraut is wonderfully-written; he's tormented and bitter, but it's impossible not to sympathize with this guy. Lleu is more of an enigma, but is also sharply-written and very vivid, a different kind of person. Morgause is a walking poison pillar, exactly as she should be; Artos, Ginevra and most of the other supporting characters are rather nebulous.

"Winter Prince" is a bittersweet little tale that has rightly been brought back onto bookshelves. It's a unique twist on the typical Arthurian story, full of darkness and light. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: For those who rivals with siblings...
Review: An illegitimate son of a king, Medraut, is convinced to deceive his half brother, the heir to the throne of England, by his evil mother. After years of nurturing his brother, Medraut realizes he's always detested his brother. While this is no novel of laughter, it is a story of loyalty and rivalry. It is a reading recommended for older teens who might have a better understanding of monarchies, or atleast those who are fascinated by medieval stories of kings and princes. Unlike other books, The Winter Prince starts off easy to understand, has its slowness in the middle, and ends with a better understanding of what it means to be a responsible, older sibling.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This book makes you feel.
Review: As soon as I read this book I fell in love with it. The characters were powerfully written, especially Merdraut. I hope Elizabeth Wein writes a sequel because I can't believe this is the end.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: BEST BOOK EVER
Review: I have never cried at a book before or since this one. The Winter Prince is the most stunningly touching book that I believe exists. I love every character for one reason or another. It is a terrible crime that this book is out of print. My only regret is that this is passed off as a take off on Arthurian legend, since it is only mildly related and is far better.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Most Coolest Book!!!!!
Review: I love this book!!!!
Its great!!
It has a great story and avencher!!
Sorry for spelling!
I think this book is great!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This book brings forth a side of myself I never knew existed
Review: One of the most amazing books I have ever read is The Winter Prince by Elizabeth Wein. The characters in this book are so real that it almost makes the reader feel like he or she could just reach out and touch them. I found myself inside the plot- being Medraut and feeling his utter confusion. He was torn repeatedly between his affection for his father and brother and his strange, rebellious devotion to his mother. The author had a very compelling way of expressing the envy and love of Medraut for his half brother Lleu, a way that seemed almost to justify both sides and bring the reader even further into the story. I had a sort of breathless awe when I put the book down several months ago. I haven't read it since then but often I am reminded of its subtle power that I am sure would make a blockbuster movie.


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