The Secret Prince

by D. Anne Love

Informed at the age of twelve that he is the long-awaited prince of Kelhadden, Thorn sets off on a quest to find the magical amulet that will enable him to dethrone the evil usurper, Ranulf.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fiction

Hardcover

First published February 8, 2005

About the author

I was born in western Tennessee, the eldest of four children. My father was a lover of books who taught me to read even before I started school. My mother was (and still is!) the world’s best mom and a lover of music who sang in the kitchen as she taught me to cook.

I enjoyed playing games and riding bikes but my favorite activity was reading. Among my favorite authors were Lois Lenski, Louisa May Alcott and Harper Lee. I was in love with words and stories, with the feel of paper as I turned the pages, with the smell of ink.
Major, the golden retriever

In high school, and later, in college, I discovered newspaper writing and worked for the paper to help pay for my education. I became a teacher, and later, a school principal, and then a college professor, but I never forgot my dream of someday writing books. In 1989, I began writing full time, and in 1995 Holiday House published BESS’S LOG CABIN QUILT, my first novel for young readers.

Since then I have published a number of other books. Writing is still my full time job, though I spend a lot of time visiting schools, talking to students and teachers about my favorite subjects: books and reading!

In addition to Texas, I’ve lived in Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, and California. Currently I live in central Ohio with my husband Ron, and Major our rambunctious golden retriever. But Austin, Texas is, and always will be the place I call home.

Reviews

[Racheal · Rating 2 out of 5]

the book is about a young boy named thorn and his quest to find his real true self and the lost amulet of Kelhadden it is fiction but it is an good book.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually really like fantasy and the premise of this book was interesting, but once Thorn, the secret prince and main character, set off on his quest it wandered confusingly and much of it was trite or formulaic. Thorn's reasoning through much of the book doesn't make sense to me. While the quest tries to be epic that effect is frequently countered by Thorn's belief he'll be done with it in a day or two and one he has the amulet, the object of his quest, that he will just automatically take back the kingdom without effort. Which he does. The only suprising secret twist to the book at the end is very unsatisfying as well. I admit this book is from the juvenile category, so maybe it would be better for kids (I read through it in a day), but I doubt it since I've read many better books in that category.

[Kelly Holmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good, but I liked The Puppeteer's Apprentice better. I had a little trouble connecting to the main character in this one--I think it's because it's one of those books that starts off with a view into another character's life and you don't meet the main character until a few pages in. But it was well-told and had a great plot.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'd at 50%. Nothing made any sense to me and the plot as a whole relied way too much on coincidence and "oh, I just happened to meet this one person who has/knows exactly what I need."