On the day of his birth, Prince Alexos is revealed to be the long-awaited champion of Athene. He grows up lonely, conscious of all that is expected of him. But Alexos discovers that being a champion isn’t about fame and glory - it’s about sacrifice and courage. Alexos follows the course of his destiny through war and loss and a deadly confrontation with his enemy to its end: shipwreck on a magical, fog-shrouded island. There he meets the unforgettable Aria and faces the greatest challenge of his life. ( )

This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.

I . . . really don't know if I liked this book. I suppose if I have to think so hard the answer is "no," but it just isn't that simple. On one hand, I loved it. It was deep, moving, and meaningful, with a lovable main character and an emotionally manipulative plot. On the other hand, I spent most of the book semi-loathing said main character, because I didn't know if I could bring myself to love someone who had done what he did. I both empathized with and despised Alexos, and my stomach twisted (and still twists right now, actually) at the horrible event that happens a third of the way into the book.

On the other hand, I loved Alexos for how much his father and the gods put him through. He never really gets a childhood, loses his ability to walk correctly to a summer sickness that sounds a lot like polio, and is practically cast aside by his ruthless father after becoming crippled. Despite all this (and perhaps even because of some of it), he is strong, good, and kind, wishing for nothing more than to make his kingdom a better place. I only wish a certain event had not happened, or at least not happened the way it did, because I could have really, really, loved Alexos for everything he went through. As it was, I couldn't help feeling (horrible as it sounds) like perhaps he deserved everything that happened to him. If I read the book again now I would probably like it a lot better, but I still hate The Chosen Prince for the way it utterly horrified me just far enough in that I couldn't stop reading, but early enough that I spent the majority of the book miserable.

A lot of the other reviews I've read of this book complain about the narration, which is third person present, calling it clumsy and distracting. The only times I had any trouble with it were when something was being talked about in past tense. I'm so used to reading third person in past tense that I had a hard time remembering that when say, the narration talks about what Alexos did, it's talking about something that happened before the scene I'm currently reading. This was a relatively minor issue, though, and overall it worked fine for me. Props to Stanley for trying something new!

I absolutely love Diane Stanley's Silver Bowl trilogy, and her standalone Bella at Midnight is a fun fairy tale retelling that isn't wonderful, but isn't horrible. This, however, almost feels like a different author wrote it altogether, and I don't think I'm as big a fan of this author as I am of the other. I do love The Chosen Prince, but I also hate it. And I don't think I'll be recommending it to anyone any time soon, just because I don't want to be the one to recommend something so horrifying, but I can't really give a very good warning about it without spoiling the whole story. So if you're deciding whether or not to read it, I can't really help you. I'm sorry! ( )

The auguries at Prince Alexos' birth pointed to an interesting collection of traits: strength and weakness, wisdom and foolishness, virtue . . . and greatness. Is Alexos the chosen prince, prophesied long ago to heal a kingdom split apart by pointless war? When tragedy strikes, it seems as if Alexos cannot be the chosen one, after all -- but perhaps the goddess Athene still has other plans.

I wanted to like this book -- and I did, to some extent. I think the main barrier to my mind was the writing style. The author chose to use third-person present tense, and that unusual choice meant that the writing never got out of the way of the story; I was always aware of it, never fully immersed. I found the main characters satisfyingly complex, though some of the secondary characters (the king, for instance) were hardly more than stock characters. The plot moved along smoothly and I never felt that it was dragging, and the book deals with interesting themes of morality, destiny, and freedom. If you can get past the narrative perspective, I think this is a worthwhile read, particularly to readers who enjoy books set in the ancient world with overtones of mythology. ( )

Anyone who has given this book a poor rating didn't really get into the themes of this heart-wrenching tale.

I received this book from a friend online who agreed to review it via Netgalley, but didn't quite connect with the story. That said, I have no connection to the author, publisher, or anyone involved in its production.

The bad: It was told in a formal and somewhat distant tone. (Omniscient present tense.) I've never read a book from that perspective and the way it was narrated periodically pulled me out of the story. I can see where it might be off-putting to potential readers. I'll admit to questioning if I should continue on. There was even a point 1/4 to 1/3 of the way through the book where I debated putting it down because of a tear-inducing plot twist...but when a book actually draws tears, I know I'm invested in the characters.

The good: So often we read about people who are just struggling to get by with whatever morals they happen to possess. It's rare we read about someone who is truly and honestly trying to be good in every way possible. I suppose that's what won me. Alexos is very human, like each of us, but he realistically suppresses all dark urges to lash out in favor of doing what's right. His struggle is near-tangible. He is exactly the kind of role model middle grade readers should be following, especially in the day of self-interest and self-preservation.

Another fault of our society is a resort to violence in place of mercy and tolerance. Both extremes were brought to the forefront through story conflicts. What was perfectly illustrated was the difference a little more kindness and understanding makes on those who are perceived even as enemies. I found myself softening through the story and questioning if I ever behaved too rashly with others.

So there you have it. The merits shine through. There is a happy ending, but only after significant struggles and heart ache. Is the story perfect? By no means--but as an avid reader, I submit that there is no such thing as a perfect story. I love this one for its heart and courage to perpetuate strong morals. If you have a gripe with that, I don't know what to tell you. Go take a happy pill.

Content warning: unkindness and a war backdrop. ( )