As brothers, Xavier and Evan are used to battling each other. But now they’re discovering that there is a much bigger battle going on all around them. And it’s their turn to fight. The Prince Warriors is the first book in Priscilla Shirer’s epic new series that brings to life the invisible struggle ensuing in the spiritual realm. Xavier, Evan, and their friends have typical lives until they enter a mysterious land called Ahoratos. There they meet their guide, Ruwach, who offers wisdom and direction as the kids’ initial adventure begins—an adventure filled with armor and danger and a very real enemy.
Written by New York Times Best-Selling author Priscilla Shirer, The Prince Warriors series was created for middle-grade readers and will include the fiction trilogy as well as The 365 Prince Warriors Devotional and the Unseen app.
Priscilla Shirer is a wife and a mom first. But put a Bible in her hand and a message in her heart and you’ll see why thousands flock to her conferences and dive into her Bible study series’ and books each year.
A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, Priscilla holds a Master’s degree in Biblical Studies and considers it a privilege to serve believers from every denomination and culture by helping them to know the truths of Scripture intellectually and encouraging them to experience these truths practically by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In addition to Priscilla’s participation in many church and para-church conferences across the globe each year, Going Beyond Ministries hosts AWAKEN – an outreach event in their hometown designed to encourage and mobilize women locally. This free gathering brings together thousands of women from different denominations and backgrounds several times a year in an effort to stir revival.
Going Beyond Ministries also equips believers through books and Bible study resources. Priscilla has authored over a dozen video driven studies for women and teens on a myriad of Biblical characters and topics including Jonah, Gideon, the Exodus, discerning God’s voice, The Armor of God.
Her books include Discerning the Voice of God, God is Able, and two New York Times Bestsellers – The Resolution for Women and Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan for Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer, which was named the 2016 Christian Book of the Year. Her latest offering is a 365-day devotional called Awaken: 90 Days with the God Who Speaks. In 2016, Priscilla ventured into the world of children’s publishing with The Prince Warriors, a fiction 4-book series and accompanying 365-day devotional (Unseen) designed to equip tween boys and girls for victory in spiritual warfare.
Priscilla has been married to Jerry for 20 years. Between studying and writing, she spends most of her time cleaning up after (and trying to satisfy the appetites of) their three growing boys – Jackson, Jerry Jr. and Jude.
I love this book!!!!!Even though Im not exactly a christian (yet but keep praying 4 me) it gave me time 2 think about my spirital life. But on the other hand i totally love, love, love, love with a capital L!!!!!!!! Thats how must i love this book and the only reason im reading it is becuz sum1 gave it to me as a gift even tho im almost 17 but i LLLOOOVVVEEE it any way.
This book (and series) is not my level . . . but I'm not it's intended audience. 😂
It's meh overall. Wonderful fantasy vibe and unique author voice. I enjoyed how she connected the spiritual with the physical. Not enough people realize how important that is.
Anyways .... I recommend to Christians who are 12 and under.
When you come to Ahoratos, you must put on your armor quickly as possible. You cannot be here without it. You can always find it in the Cave, and you must enter the Cave through the Water; It is the only way in. Do you understand?...The world you live in day to day-that world is but a shadow of the Real World. This is the world where the battles rage, where your real enemy lies.
What a fun adventure to read with your kiddos. A read that together you can discover biblical truths that will encourage faith and the love of God and to others. Four kiddos find themselves in the world of Ahoratos where they learn to wear the armor and how to use it. Where deception is everywhere but the armor helps them to see the truth. It is a place where they discover those that are imprisoned and what it means to be set free.
What is great about this read is how you can apply it to the world of Ahoratos to the world we live in now. A great conversation to have with your kids and to enjoy the love of reading. Looking forward to the next installment.
A Special Thank you to BH Publishing House in supplying a hard copy to review and post an honest review.
This is a very engaging, spiritually rich adventure that pulls young readers and even adults into a vivid unseen world with an epic action packed adventure. A great Christian fantasy.
We follow Xavier and Evan with so many high stakes. The mysterious creature Ruwach introduces them to Ahoratos - the true realms where spiritual battles are fought.....the story goes on from here with these ordinary kids as Prince Warriors in battle.
The message is clear. You have everything you need. God equips us with the armor and strength we need for the battles we face. The allegory in this had some great spiritual parallels.
The worldbuilding was really good, enjoyed the pacing - very fast and included themes of courage, identity and faith woven into a very adventurous story. Definitely a page turner!
I think if you like Narnia, Pilgrim's Progress...or stories like that, this would be for you!
DNF. IM SORRY BUT I CANT EVEN RIGHT NOW. As soon as the guy was like ‘this is The Book, it was written by The Source(?).” I was so done, I just couldn’t do it anymore.
I’m not really going to do an in-depth review, I’m just going to list some of the reasons this book got such a low rating from me. Please note, I am NOT the intended audience for this book, and don’t get offended if you loved this book.
-the storyline was rather dull and boring, it didn’t really grip me at all.
-the characters were non relatable (not only to me, but Idk anyone who acts like any of the people from the book)
-everything was just confusing, and the whole first half was spent trying to get my feet onto the ground. Not fun for a reader.
-there were some good morals (yay!) but sadly, they were all based upon and slightly saturated in Mrs. Shirer’s charismatic doctrine.
-I was also REAAAALLY confused about the allegories she was trying to create...(????)
-can I say that she TOTALLY messed up when she put ‘TRUTH’ on the belt. But I’m not even going to go there rn 😂
-the beginning was just flat out boring. Like? The heck?
-the whole ‘many are chosen but few come’. HEAR ME OUT FOR A SECOND. Okay, the premise is biblical, but at the same time- NONE OF THE KIDS WERE ACTUALLY GIVEN CHOICES AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANTED TO GO TO AHORATOS (although it was implied they wanted to). I mean, come on. If a creepy hooded figure came into my room in the middle of the night and told me to jump out the window, what could I do? Go back to bed? Hehehehe I think not
-there were a lot of cliche elements but I’m not gonna go there either rn cause I’m literally brain dead rn
-It seemed like a cheap ripoff of Chuck Black and Dreamtreaders by Wayne Thomas Batson.
To wrap up, PRISCILA SHIRER PLEASE JUST STAY IN THE ACTING BUSINESS AND STAHP WRITING FICTION. An okay book for younger audiences. I’d be careful suggesting it to anyone. (So much for a non in-depth review 😂) Happy reading!
This book has a really cool premise, and there were a few things I liked about the story, but I felt it didn't quite deliver what it promised.
The fantasy world was pretty random and abstract: it was more of a romp through a malevolent Candyland than anything close to the Chronicles of Narnia. I actually thought the setting was pretty neat in it's own right, but if you're expecting Narnia, you might be disappointed. The kids' super-powered armor is cool, I'll say that much. And the story world is described fairly well for a kids book. Ahoratos seems like a neat place to visit. It reminds me of the imaginary worlds my brother and I used to play in as kids.
I really appreciated the theme of trusting God and His instructions even when it looks difficult or totally crazy. Though the main theme didn't actually have so much to do with a practical exploration of the Armor of God like I had expected, the actual theme was quite profound and integral to the story.
The main thing that got to me with this book is that the characters really don't have a compelling goal until about two thirds through the book. Up to that point I still wasn't sure what was going on. The kids are trying to get to a certain place, but there's not really any good reason for them to go there. I understand the maxim about the journey being more important than the destination, but it's still disappointing when the destination doesn't have much of a purpose.
After they finally do get to said destination, the story picks up. When the kids apply the truth they've learned in Ahoratos to their normal lives, there are a couple of genuinely touching moments that make the ending a lot better than the beginning.
The setup portion of the story dragged and was pretty long as compared to most fiction. I think this is partly due to the fact that there are four main characters, and their first entries into the land of Ahoratos are all described separately from their own perspectives, even though they all get in within a few minutes of each other, and they basically all experience the same thing.
I found I didn't like the characters much. They were a bit stereotypical and didn't have many distinguishing characteristics. They also came a cross as a bit young, even for kid's fiction. I can't quite place it, but something about the tone toward the characters seems to underestimate kids. The characters seems to represent kids in general as kind of wimpy and less intelligent than they really can be.
In short, the book is okay. I would be comfortable letting my little siblings and future kids of any age read it, but whether they would stick with it to the interesting part might be another story.
This book was sent to me by the publisher to review. It is a book written for preteens/teens. It is written in a format similiar to <1>Chronicles of Narnia. The author, Priscilla Shirer is an exc ellen writer and speaker. She is well known for acting in the movie War Room, speaking at Woman rallies, speaking about prayer, and being Tony Evans daughter. I've have read a couple of her books on prayer and they are excellent. This book is no different. Even though it is written for preteen/teen boys everyone can take away Biblical truths from the book. The focus of the book is on the Armor of God! on the book of the book is the following "... the first book in Priscilla Shirer's epic new fiction trilogy, brings to life the invisible struggle ensuing in the spiritual realm. Filled with heart-stopping adventure, captivating humor, and intriguing mystery, this book promises to be an action-packed page turner that you won't want to end." could not agree more.
I teach at an advanced/gifted school and know the types of books my students read. This is one of those types of books. If you have a young person that likes to read this is an excellent book for him!
A wild adventure as some kids find themselves following a mysterious voice into an unseen world.
I believe this is meant to be allegorical but I honestly was confused a lot of the time as to what each aspect represented. And there didn’t seem to be a strong REASON as to why certain things were happening…it was just because…🤷🏼♀️
I liked the elements of the armour of God though.
Not sure if I will continue this series, but it might be fun for a younger audience
“The enemy’s ways are anything but original. He’s been trapping people the same way since the beginning of time.”
As brothers, Xavier and Evan are used to battling each other. But now, they’re discovering that there is a much bigger battle going on all around them and that it’s their turn to fight.
What a cool book for middle grade readers. I picked this up thinking my boys would like it but wanted to dive into it first. Its action packed with faith elements all intertwined. There are so many wise and thought provoking tasks throughout it. The Prince Warrior is fiction but embedded within the books are some secrets – little hints that can lead you to discover and understand spiritual truths. I look forward to the rest of the series.
Excellent story filled with spiritual truth . It's directed toward middle school grade readers but it kept 56 year old woman's attention . While reading I kept thinking it would be a great book to read together as a family. There is enough action to capture reluctant readers imaginations. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series and recommending it to our Church librarian.
I thought this book was a good allegory of Christian spiritual warfare and it’s simplicity being perfect for its intended audience (8-12 year olds). I wouldn’t mind my children picking this up one day.
The audiobook on Libby reapets some of the chapters so that was kind of annoying other than that the story was great and the audio book was an audio drama! 😁
There are parts of The Prince Warriors that I loved, and other parts not so much. That's pretty true of almost every allegorical type of story that I've ever read, though. I can even say the same for one of my most favorite authors of all time! There's just always theology that I disagree with hidden(sometimes not so much) within the story. This book was no exception. I didn't agree with every little thing that was implied, but I also loved so much of the examples shown out in "real life" fiction.
Also, it dates itself with a phone app being a semi-big part of the story, at least towards the end. Without that, I feel it could have had more of a classic feel to it, but with the app, it seemed like it was working too hard to appeal to a modern, young audience. (Yes, I understand the target age IS a modern, young audience.) ;) (After reading the official description, I realize the inclusion of the app in the story might very well be an advertisement for the Unseen app, which annoys me to no end, just to be honest!)
Those things aside, I actually really liked the book. There's lots of food for thought scattered about, and it's something I'd love for my boys to read a bit down the road. It's an excellent book for reading discussion, and even a great family sort of "book club" pick. I do think that this book will appeal more for the younger crowd, and maybe a little more in the boy crowd, though I'm sure plenty of girls will enjoy it, too. I can think of several young readers right now that I think will love this book!
While a good portion of the story takes place in a fantasy world, Ahoratos, I loved that the other portion dealt with issues any average child will deal with: sibling squabbles, punishments, mean kids. Yes, some of the outcomes were unrealistic and too pretty, but it still provided good lessons in the form of an entertaining story.
Overall, despite a couple of complaints, I really like this book and the whole idea of it. I'm looking forward to my boys reading it and the discussions that I pray will come from it.
*Note: The Prince Warriors is the first book, in what will be a trilogy. While I can't call the ending a complete cliff-hanger, it does leave you knowing there's more to the story.
**I was provided a review copy, in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Prince Warriors opens with brothers Xavier and Evan being typical brothers, which means sibling rivalry on steroids. There is an age gap and personality difference in the two that makes them sometimes appear to be like oil and water. Their conflicts are an ongoing thing until one day they are mysteriously transported into the unseen world. There they must learn to not only work together but fight side-by-side using the armor that they have been equipped with.
This novel is a must read for middle-grade boys (and girls too!). It is a fast-paced epic saga that captures the adventurous essence of boys while subtly teaching the importance of fighting the true enemy. I enjoyed the overall story. I found it entertaining and even downright funny at times. (I loved the momma!) But what I appreciated the most was the spiritual focus of putting on the full armor of God to fight the ultimate battle.
So many times we get caught up in fighting with those that aren't really our enemy. We see our kids in constant battles with each other. We see fellow Christians battling it out over doctrinal differences. All the while there is a more important battle being waged in the unseen realm that truly is life and death. The Prince Warriors uses those very facts to remind the reader of the importance of standing strong.
I would recommend this to any family that has boys. It is written to appeal to their need to be warriors. I do think that adventurous girls would enjoy it as well. I did. I think it would be a wonderful book to read aloud as a family. It would be entertaining and also teach a very valuable life lesson. That's a win-win.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
Xavier and Evan realize that there is a larger battle going on than most siblings experience. Evan is reading a book about a fierce warrior who is a prince and lives in Ahoratos, a land filled with beautiful castles and mountains. The book seems to come to life, and the brothers find themselves in Ahoratos, where they meet their guide Ruwach. He informs them that they are princes who must always be equipped with their armor, as the battle and enemy are real in Ahoratos. Cryptic messages and biblical truths are given to them throughout the story. Will it help them with their battles?
This is the first book in the “Prince Warriors” series, and it is based on Ephesians 6:10-18. It is designed for middle grade readers (ages eight through twelve), but it could be enjoyed by adults, too. It is appropriate for boys and girls. The characters and dialogue are realistic in this quick read. The characters show the reader the power of prayer and remind them that everyone is designed to be a warrior. There are some illustrations and strong spiritual tie-ins.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was a little on my guard, listening to this book with my kids, because when I’d searched for reviews, I found accusations of heresy leveled at the author. I’d read one of her books before (Fervent), and did not encounter anything contrary to my Protestant faith.
Pros: kids loved the audiobook and were totally engaged. They picked up in some things that were clear referenced to scripture (such as armor, and the belt being Truth). They were invested in the characters (especially since one shares a name with one of my kids!), and I think there were some good moral lessons (be kind to those different from you, follow instructions even if you don’t fully understand why yet).
Cons: writing was lackluster, characters pretty basic. There was a distinct rhythm to the sentence structure that drove me mad to listen too. A lot of the morality of the book was really on the nose.
Some things had a clear biblical or spiritual correlation, others didn’t. So it’s possible that there’s theology that I don’t agree with, but I couldn’t distinguish.
On the whole, it’s a fun listen for a day in the car. But it’s not literature.
My 9 and 6 year old loved having me read this aloud to them. They begged for more chapters each night. I loved seeing the comparison to our real spiritual battle and making the connections for them. It led to great conversations with much depth about the battle they are in.
Really, I'd shave a fraction off the 3rd star if I could, but I soppose it depends on what you are looking for.
This is Christian fiction for boys, heavy with thinly veiled analogy. The message is that real life is spiritual warfare. Plenty more 1 for 1 direct correspondence messages. Prisoners in the enemy's dungeons are reminded 'once freed, always freed.' Armor includes a belt labeled truth that holds everything together. Mysterious instructions and warnings the kids receive are Bible verses.
Probably best enjoyed by kids around 10-14.
Not great literature. Not timeless. Kids say stuff like 'come on dudes, let's bounce.' References to Star Wars and Thor. Capiche is spelled capeesh, and while it turns out this spelling is now recognized by online dictiinaries, I do not have to like it.
I would prefer this as a movie, but it might be an fun book for a Christian based boys' book discussion group.
I like the way that Priscilla Shirer talks about Christians being part of the family of God and that by knowing the truth they can be set free. The Scriptures say to put on the belt of truth like the psalmist David said, "The heavens declare the glory of God the skies proclaim the works of his hands." We always have a spirit in our hearts. The Prince Warriors talks about four young kids learning how to defeat the enemy. They find themselves in a cave where they find The Book. They travel wherever they go, whatever the cost to find what is real. The guide tells them to learn the ways of the armor. This story teaches a real spiritual truth. Spiritual battle is real. Our battle is against the Devil. Like in this book we are warriors in Christ but God has our backs when we are being tempted by Satan. I really liked this book and hope others will read this book too and that it draws them to Christ.
There are evil butterflies called Ents. That is terrible. The name should be copyrighted, and if you don’t know what Ents are, I won’t tell you here because you really SHOULD know. If you don’t I will be EXTREMELY frustrated!!!
Also, I am a girl and this book was written for boys (although it was by a girl) so I didn’t like it as much. It was also pretty much an elementary book, even though I think it was supposed to be middle grade.
Also, very bad writing. Also not emotional at all. Also kinda boring. Also didn’t describe characters well AT ALL, and we she did, you were like, “whoa! that guy DOESN’T look that way!” because she didn’t tell you before.
Good character development, I guess.
Anyway, pretty mediocre book, don’t read if you are a teenage girl like me. You won’t like it.
Our son loved this book, but my wife and I were so glad when we finally finished it. The story itself was good, but it had a tendency to wander and ugh the grammar was horrible. Whom ever edited this book should get put in time out. This was supposedly the best Christian adventure book out there for young boys. What’s sad is that’s probably true when you only look at those few publishers. I hope the writing improves in the next book because we got him the entire series for Christmas and last night he went right to the shelf and pulled the next one down to start tomorrow night.
I read this out loud to my kids (ages 6, 8, and 9) and they loved it; from my perspective as an adult, it was very...mediocre. The author makes a noble attempt at shaping the story around Biblical imagery and does a fair enough job, though I've seen other books (like the short stories in Peter Leithart's "Wise Words") that accomplish this much more successfully. But overall, not too bad for a kids' book.
I really wanted to love this, I was so excited that Priscilla Shirer had written a fiction series...however, it fell a bit flat for me. I realize that it is written for kids and that may be part of my struggle, but as a general rule, I enjoy kids and YA books as much as anything else. The story line was repetitive and a tad over dramatic. It wasn't terrible, but I'm not inclined to finish the series.
You know,over all the virtues to this book was the only thing I liked and thought was impacting.....everything else was just way to adolescent,the characters were not very strong and developed. I would recommend this book to 10-12 year olds.
Great book ,the story line was incredible not to mention that when Ruach first came he gave them (Xavier & Evan)a choice of whether or not to follow him and I can absolutely relate to Evan he’s just like me!!! -Caleb