The Shadow Prince (The Shadow Prince #1)

by David Anthony Durham (Author)

The Shadow Prince (The Shadow Prince #1)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

In this middle grade solarpunk novel set in an alternate Egyptian universe, twelve-year-old Ash must compete and survive to become the shadow--and protector--of the prince.

Five deadly tests, only one shadow prince.  Growing up in a village in the middle of the desert, Ash thinks his future holds nothing but sand, sun, a few annoying bullies, and lots of boring chores. Boy, is he wrong! On the night before his twelfth birthday, Ash learns that he was born on the same day as Prince Khufu, which makes him eligible to compete to be the prince's shadow, a coveted position as the friend and bodyguard of the boy destined to be pharaoh of all of Egypt.

At first, Ash can't believe it, but when a floating royal barge takes Ash and his mentor to the bustling, magical, solar-powered capital, things get real. What awaits Ash and the candidates is deadly--five days of dangerous tests filled with demon fighting, monster slaying, and magical spells--each overseen by a different Egyptian god. Ash finds two friends willing to fight by his side--the first friends he's ever made. But there are candidates who will lie, cheat, and even harm others to win. Not all will survive, and only one can become the prince's shadow. To make matters worse, Ash is up against Lord Set, the devious god of chaos, who is secretly working to make the candidates fail.

But if they do, the very survival of the kingdom is in peril. Can Ash and his new friends save Egypt? And will any of them survive to become the shadow prince?

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School Library Journal

Gr 3-7-This entertaining fantasy, set in an alternate solar-powered ancient Egypt features Ash, a poor orphan boy of unknown parentage, whose skin tone is described as "the same red-brown as Egypt's." Picked on by other village boys, Ash is secretly being taught demons' traits and fighting skills by his mentor Yazen-for what, Ash doesn't know. On Ash's 12th birthday, Yazen confesses he's been mentoring Ash because he is one of the children born on the same day as the prince. Ash is destined to become one of the candidates in a multiday contest where the winner becomes the shadow to Prince Khufu, the future pharaoh of Egypt, charged with keeping the prince safe. Ash and the other diverse candidates (including a lioness) have to fight magical demons and monsters commanded by different Egyptian deities. A few candidates befriend Ash; others are hostile, like arrogant Sutekh and snotty red-headed Kiya. Prince Khufu's unscrupulous older brother Rami has also enlisted the deceitful god Lord Set to sabotage the candidates, so the rule of succession reverts back to him. Adult author Durham's middle grade debut is full of action, political intrigue, inventive solar powered gadgets, and quirky creatures. Ash is a sympathetic character who discovers his own self-worth and a surprising talent while competing in the grueling competition. VERDICT An exciting, magical series opener perfect for fans of Rick Riordan, Kwame Mbalia's Tristan Strong, and Jonathan Stroud's "Bartimaeus" series.

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Kirkus

Solid and earnest.
David Anthony Durham

David Anthony Durham is a Caribbean novelist born in New York and raised primarily in the Mid-Atlantic area. He holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland, and has taught at the University of Maryland, the University of Massachusetts, The Colorado College, the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation, Cal State University, and Hampshire College. David has written seven books for grown-ups and The Shadow Prince series for middle grade readers. You can find him at davidanthonydurham.com

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781643794280
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Tu Books
Publication date
September 20, 2021
Series
The Shadow Prince
BISAC categories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV052000 - Juvenile Fiction | Monsters
JUV012050 - Juvenile Fiction | Legends, Myths, Fables | African
Library of Congress categories
-

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