A True Prince (Living Ice Book 6): A Portal Progression Fantasy Series

Living Ice #6

by Dmitry Sheleg

The next books of the series!
Master of Circumstance (Living Ice Book 7):
Power Speaks Loudest (Living Ice Book 8):

This world resembles our own, the difference being that aristocratic clans with magical abilities hold all power here. Those without magic are called “nulls” and seen as nothing more than failures.

Ivan, our hero, had been marked for death—until an old warrior saved him, and the spirit of his mighty ancestor gave him magical talents. And now Ivan has inherited a princely title.

However, being a young head of a noble house, he is a prime target for the empire’s ambitious aristocrats. One wrong step could lead to conflict.

Yet Ivan is far from weak, and he’ll yet prove to his enemies that he is a true prince.

Genres: Fantasy

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2025

Reviews

[Akshay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A True Prince (Living Ice Book 6) by Dmitry Sheleg

⭐⭐⭐⚝ ⚝ (3 / 5)

By the sixth installment of a progression fantasy series, readers usually know exactly what they’re getting. Power growth, wider conflicts, and the slow unveiling of the protagonist’s ultimate role in the world.

A True Prince delivers all of that—but with a noticeable shift in scale. What began earlier in the Living Ice saga as a story of survival and personal advancement now moves decisively into the territory of leadership, responsibility, and political destiny.

Dmitry Sheleg continues the arc of the protagonist’s transformation from talented outsider to legitimate power player within the world’s complex hierarchy. The title itself signals the thematic focus of this volume: recognition. Not just recognition of strength, but recognition of status and legitimacy.

The progression mechanics remain the backbone of the story. Training sequences, skill evolution, and strategic combat encounters continue to push the protagonist forward. However, the emphasis here shifts from raw advancement to controlled mastery. The character has already proven capable; now the question becomes how that power is used and what consequences follow.

Where the novel works best is in its sense of escalation. Earlier books were concerned primarily with localized conflicts and immediate survival. In A True Prince, the narrative expands toward factional maneuvering, political alliances, and the larger geopolitical structure of the world. The protagonist is no longer just navigating danger—he is beginning to shape it.

Several elements stand out:

Consistent Power Progression — The advancement system continues to feel logical and earned rather than arbitrarily inflated.

Wider Worldbuilding — New factions, political tensions, and hidden agendas deepen the setting.

Shift Toward Leadership — The protagonist begins acting less like a survivor and more like a strategist.

At the same time, the book occasionally struggles with pacing. Like many mid-to-late series entries in progression fantasy, it spends considerable time positioning future conflicts rather than resolving immediate ones. Some scenes feel transitional—necessary for the series but less impactful on their own.

Character development also remains somewhat restrained. While the protagonist grows in power and influence, the emotional and psychological layers sometimes receive less attention than the mechanics of advancement. Supporting characters largely function as allies, rivals, or narrative catalysts rather than fully independent personalities.

Still, Sheleg maintains one of the series’ strongest qualities: narrative clarity. The action is easy to follow, the system rules remain consistent, and the stakes steadily expand without becoming chaotic. Readers invested in the earlier books will find the trajectory satisfying.

Thematically, A True Prince revolves around the idea that power alone does not grant authority. Legitimacy—whether political, social, or symbolic—must be earned and recognized by others.

By the end of the novel, the protagonist stands on the threshold of a new role within the world’s power structure.

He is no longer merely surviving.

He is becoming someone the world must reckon with.

And in a progression fantasy series, that transition—from fighter to ruler—is where the story often becomes most interesting.

[Murphies_law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Build up and some vendettas

The book is not bad but also nothing to write home about.

The Mc tries to become stronger, fights against multiple aggressors and the Atkuvians continously shine. Anyhow, the book lacks thrill,mysteries and humour to be really good. I found it once more rather dry.

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

truly I thought that I would finish this book today and be caught up on this series. turns out I received an arc for book 7 on the same day that book 7 was published, which is today. so I'm still behind! LOL
this one is more intrigue than anything else. lots of planning and going after enemies. the solution for the main bad guy in this one was right under my nose the entire time and I freaking missed it until I read it in print and then I was like I should have seen that coming. still it's a decent read a good way to spend a day. if you made it this far then I recommend book 6. if you haven't started this series yet then I recommend you start with book one and don't start with book 6 cuz you won't know what's going on. LOL anyway enjoy!

7/10 this review is based off of the arc that I received. I did send the publisher a nice big list of mistakes that need to be fixed. still a good story and since I was late with it hopefully they found most of what I sent them before publishing. on to the next book!

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a review copy of this book.
A True Prince is book number 6 in this series, and it's here where we begin to see the culmination of all that the series has been building towards. (ok, probably not the culmination, but even so,) The main character gets to actually unload for once, and despite plenty of obstacles put in his way, he manages to remove a rather strong enemy from the board albeit not entirely by his own doing, but isn't that what makes this series so much fun to read?
Looking forward to the next one.

[Tony Hinde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheleg does well to keep the pressure on the protagonist forcing him to keep stretching for more assets, skills, and allies. The never ending supply of enemies could be seen as a game of whack-a-mole but doesn't feel that way. There's a sense that Ivan is moving ever upward while greater and greater mysteries crest the horizon.

[Queen Suga · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

We pick up where we left off last time. And it’s a rollercoaster ride that never lets up from beginning to end. More world building, more intrigue, better fights and more magic.

[Grant Merrifield · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 out of 10.

Would highly recommend.
Great to vist this universe again.
I wish I could read the next four books in the series right now.
That's how good they are.

[Ray Ritchey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Wow - politics at the highest level are deadly, and create a story with. On stop action with demon worshippers in the background.

[Teresa Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good

This series is a lot of fun with plenty of action and strategy wrapped around continually evolving magic. I’d be interested in more series by Dmitry Shelleg

[Michael Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone

[Dantegideon · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have some rather dry venture capital stuff but also some interesting battles. Not sure which is going to win out.